Studio Album · No. 1
For You Songwriting Credits by Prince
Produced by Prince · Engineered by Tommy Vicari, David Rivkin, Steve Fontano, Dave Roeder
Holds writing credit on 9 of 9 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Prince carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Prince made his debut at 19 as a near-total auteur: he produced, arranged, composed and performed every track, playing all the instruments including guitars, keyboards, drums and percussion. His Warner Bros. contract had granted him full production control, almost unheard of for a new artist, and he famously stacked dozens of vocal overdubs on the opener 'For You.' The only outside hands were Patrice Rushen on synth programming and Chris Moon, who co-wrote 'Soft and Wet.'
For You is the debut studio album by Prince, released in April 1978 on Warner Bros. Records and produced entirely by Prince himself at just nineteen years of age. Recorded largely alone at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California, the album showcased Prince's extraordinary one-man-band capabilities, with him playing almost all instruments including piano, synthesizer, guitar, bass, and drums. 'Soft and Wet' became a minor R&B hit and introduced Prince's signature mix of funk, soul, and sexuality that would define his early career. Although the album sold modestly at the time, it announced the arrival of a uniquely self-sufficient artistic vision unprecedented in pop music. For You remains a remarkable debut that foreshadowed one of the most prolific and genre-defying careers in the history of recorded music.