Little Red Corvette
Prince's breakthrough pop hit about a one-night stand, using car metaphors and featuring a guitar solo by Dez Dickerson.
"Little Red Corvette" is a song by American recording artist Prince. The song combines a Linn LM-1 beat and slow synth buildup with a rock chorus, over which Prince, using several automobile metaphors, recalls a one-night stand with a beautiful promiscuous woman. Backing vocals were performed by Lisa Coleman and Dez Dickerson; Dickerson also performs a guitar solo on the song.
- Artist
- Prince
- Album
- 1999
- Release Year
- 1983
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Prince got the idea for the song when he dozed off in band member Lisa Coleman's 1964 pink Mercury Montclair Marauder after an exhausting all-night recording session. The lyrics came to him in bits and pieces during this and other catnaps. Eventually, he was able to finish it without sleeping.
In Their Own Story
The music video, directed by Bryan Greenberg and released in February 1983, was Prince's second music video played on MTV. The first was "1999" the previous year before Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and after Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie". The video was filmed in late January 1983 at the Lakeland Civic Center during the final week of rehearsals for the second leg of the 1999 Tour. According to Greenberg, there was also supposed to be some scenes shot the next day featuring Prince and Vanity driving around in a corvette. However Prince was said to be uncomfortable with the idea, given that his videos had only featured him on stage, and it was eventually scrapped.
Reader's Guide
Released in 1983 as the second single from 1999, the song was, at that point, Prince's highest charting and his first to reach the top 10 in the U.S., peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also his first single to perform better on the pop chart than the R&B chart. Later, it was rereleased as a double A-side with "1999", peaking at number two on the UK singles chart in January 1985. Following Prince's death in April 2016, "Little Red Corvette" re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 29, rising to number 20 the following week. It has sold more than 900,000 copies in the United States. The initial US single was backed with album track "All the Critics Love U in New York", while UK releases featured "Lady Cab Driver" or "Horny Toad". An extended dance remix of "Little Red Corvette," featured on some 12" releases, was later featured on the 2006 compilation Ultimate.
Did You Know?
- The music video for "Little Red Corvette" (directed by Bryan Greenberg and released in February 1983) was Prince's second music video played on MTV. The first was "1999" the previous year before Michael Jackson's "Billie
- The video was filmed in late January 1983 at the Lakeland Civic Center during the final week of rehearsals for the second leg of the 1999 Tour.
- According to Greenberg, there was also supposed to be some scenes shot the next day featuring Prince and Vanity driving around in a corvette. However Prince was said to be uncomfortable with the idea, given that his vide
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What album features Little Red Corvette?
It appears on Prince's second studio record, titled *1999*, which dropped in 1982. This release marked a turning point where his new wave style reached global audiences.
Is the song about cars or something else?
Although it uses car imagery, the lyrics serve as an allegory for risky behavior like drug use or volatile romance. Prince intended to warn listeners about the thrill that often leads to a painful crash.
What makes the music sound unique?
The track is famous for its driving synthesizer riff combined with a gritty electric guitar solo. This fusion of funk and rock helped establish Prince as a genre-defying innovator in the early eighties.
How did this song impact Prince's career?
Its success on MTV introduced his music to a wider mainstream audience beyond just radio listeners. It remains one of his most enduring anthems and signature hits decades later.
Did anyone else write or sing this track?
No, Prince wrote, produced, and performed every element of the song himself. His complete control over the production is a hallmark of his artistic independence during this era.
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