“Nothing Compares 2 U” is a song deeply intertwined with the legacy of Prince, though its journey to global recognition took a fascinating path. Initially penned by Prince for his side project, The Family, this track would eventually become a defining anthem in the voice of Sinead O’Connor before Prince reclaimed it in his own inimitable style.
Penned by the prolific Prince, “Nothing Compares 2 U” first emerged on The Family’s eponymous debut album in 1985. While Prince was the creative force behind seven of the album’s eight tracks, “Nothing Compares 2 U” stands out as the sole song where he received official songwriting credit on the release. The original recording sessions for Prince’s rendition date back to July 15, 1984, at the Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. This initial version featured Susannah Melvoin on backing vocals. Vocals by St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin, along with orchestral overdubs by Clare Fischer, were added later in late 1984 and early 1985, enriching the song’s texture.
Despite its initial release with The Family, “Nothing Compares 2 U” remained relatively obscure until Sinead O’Connor’s breathtaking cover in 1990. Her rendition transformed the song into a global phenomenon, topping charts worldwide and becoming synonymous with her powerful vocals and emotive delivery. The immense success of O’Connor’s version brought Prince’s songwriting prowess to a broader audience and, interestingly, prompted him to incorporate the song into his own live performances.
From 1990 onwards, “Nothing Compares 2 U” became a staple in Prince’s concerts. In 1993, he released a live version on “The Hits 1” album, featuring Rosie Gaines on shared lead vocals, recorded at Paisley Park Studios in January 1992. This inclusion signaled Prince’s re-embracing of the song within his own discography. Further solidifying its place in his live repertoire, another live iteration appeared on his 2002 live album, “One Nite Alone… Live!”. This version, capturing a performance from the same show as tracks like “Xenophobia” and “Raspberry Beret”, demonstrated the song’s enduring appeal in Prince’s concert setlists.
The inspiration behind “Nothing Compares 2 U” is said to stem partly from Sandy Scipioni, Prince’s personal assistant during the 1980s. Scipioni’s sudden departure following her father’s death reportedly resonated deeply with Prince, sparking the emotional core of the song. While their relationship was not romantic, the sense of loss and absence is palpable within the lyrics.
In 2018, a previously unreleased mix of Prince’s original 1984 recording surfaced, offering a fresh perspective on the song’s genesis. This version, mixed by Tony Maserati to echo Prince’s original intent, features the Clare Fischer orchestral arrangements subtly woven into the mix and includes Susannah Melvoin’s backing vocals, elements not prominent in The Family’s release. This 2018 version became widely available digitally and was later included as a bonus track on the posthumous “Originals” album in 2019, further cementing “Nothing Compares 2 U” as a significant piece in the Prince canon, regardless of who performed it. The journey of “Nothing Compares 2 U” showcases not only Prince’s songwriting genius but also its capacity to resonate across different interpretations and generations of music lovers, proving its timeless quality.
