Prince is the eponymous second studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on October 19, 1979 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was written, arranged, composed, produced and performed entirely by Prince, with the only known contribution from another person being “some vocal harmony” added by close friend/bassist André Cymone on Track 2.
Prince recorded the album in just a few weeks after Warner Bros. asked for a follow-up to his 1978 debut, For You. Prince had used twice his initial recording advance on the album, and it had failed to generate a pop hit (although “Soft and Wet” became a No. 12 R&B hit). Displeased at his lack of success, Prince quickly recorded the follow-up.
Overall, the album was much more diverse and well-received than For You, critically and commercially. The success of this album geared Prince towards his next, Dirty Mind, which would be called a complete departure from his earlier sound.