Prince Rogers Nelson was one of the greatest musical geniuses of his generation, but not all of his best work ended up on his own albums. Behind the scenes, he quietly wrote smash hits for other artists, many of whom became stars because of his talent.
From pop queens to country legends, Prince’s pen touched a surprisingly wide range of music. Here are 16 massive songs you probably didn’t know Prince actually wrote.
1. Manic Monday by The Bangles (1986)
Few people knew that the song stuck in their heads on every Monday morning was actually a Prince creation. He wrote “Manic Monday” under the mysterious pseudonym “Christopher” and originally crafted it in 1984 for Apollonia 6.
When The Bangles recorded it, the track shot to number 2 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK charts. It became one of the defining pop songs of the entire decade, all thanks to a secret Prince masterpiece.
2. Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Connor (1990)
Widely considered one of the most emotionally powerful songs ever recorded, “Nothing Compares 2 U” was actually born from Prince’s imagination in 1984. He wrote it for his side group The Family, but the world barely noticed until Sinead O’Connor made it her own.
Her version hit number 1 in 14 countries, turning a quietly shelved Prince composition into a global phenomenon. The haunting music video sealed its place in pop history forever.
3. I Feel for You by Chaka Khan (1984)
Prince originally released “I Feel for You” on his 1979 debut album, but the world barely paid attention. That all changed when Chaka Khan got her hands on it five years later.
Her electrifying version, complete with a Stevie Wonder harmonica intro and a Grandmaster Melle Mel rap, turned the track into a Grammy-winning smash. It proved that Prince could write a hit so good, someone else could take it to heights even he hadn’t reached with it.
4. The Glamorous Life by Sheila E. (1984)
Sheila E. and Prince had one of music’s most creative partnerships, and “The Glamorous Life” was the song that kicked it all off. Prince wrote this funky, dance-floor-ready track and helped craft Sheila E.’s entire artistic image around it.
The song climbed to number 7 on the Hot 100 and instantly established her as a solo star. Its bold, unapologetic attitude and irresistible groove made it a standout anthem of the glittery 1980s music scene.
5. Sugar Walls by Sheena Easton (1984)
Prince had a habit of hiding behind clever pseudonyms when writing songs for others, and “Sugar Walls” was no exception. He penned this suggestive track for Sheena Easton under the alias “Alexander Nevermind,” keeping his involvement a secret at first.
The song hit number 1 on the Dance chart, number 3 on R&B, and cracked the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Its bold lyrics even landed it on the infamous PMRC list of objectionable songs in 1985.
6. You’re My Love by Kenny Rogers (1986)
It might seem like an unlikely pairing, but Prince once wrote a song for country legend Kenny Rogers. Using the alias “Joey Coco,” he crafted the tender ballad “You’re My Love” for Rogers’ mid-1980s album.
The album featuring the track peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. It stands as one of the quirkiest entries in Prince’s ghostwriting catalog, showing just how far his musical range truly stretched beyond funk, pop, and R&B.
7. Stand Back by Stevie Nicks (1983)
Stevie Nicks was on her honeymoon when she heard Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” on the radio and felt an immediate creative spark. She hummed a melody over it and later called Prince to play it for him.
He showed up, added uncredited synthesizer parts, and walked away splitting publishing royalties 50-50 with her. “Stand Back” climbed into the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Nicks’ signature solo hits from a very spontaneous creative moment.
8. Jungle Love by The Time (1984)
Prince didn’t just write songs for other artists, he literally built entire bands and then wrote their music too. The Time was one of those bands, and “Jungle Love” was one of the standout tracks Prince largely developed for them.
The funky, high-energy song peaked at number 20 on the Hot 100 and became a crowd favorite. Most fans had no idea the man behind the curtain was the same genius releasing his own chart-topping albums at the exact same time.
9. Round and Round by Tevin Campbell (1990)
Imagine being 13 years old and having Prince write and produce your very first solo single. That was Tevin Campbell’s reality when “Round and Round” arrived in 1990, introducing the world to a jaw-dropping young voice.
Prince crafted the song’s funky, playful energy perfectly to showcase Campbell’s natural charm and vocal range. The track became a beloved R&B gem and launched a career that would make Campbell one of the most celebrated young singers of the early 1990s.
10. Love… Thy Will Be Done by Martika (1991)
After scoring a major hit with “Toy Soldiers,” Martika co-wrote her follow-up single with none other than Prince himself. “Love… Thy Will Be Done” had a deeply spiritual, soulful quality unlike almost anything else on pop radio in 1991.
The collaboration pushed Martika into new artistic territory, and audiences responded warmly. The song reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, proving that when Prince lent his songwriting gifts to a willing collaborator, the results could be genuinely moving and memorable.
11. Nasty Girl by Vanity 6 (1982)
Prince had a talent for creating entire artistic worlds for his protégés, and Vanity 6 was one of his most daring experiments. He formed the trio, styled their image, and wrote their provocative debut single “Nasty Girl” entirely on his own.
The song’s unapologetically bold lyrics and funky beat made it an underground sensation that pushed boundaries for female pop acts in the early 1980s. It cemented Prince’s reputation as someone willing to challenge what mainstream audiences were comfortable hearing on the radio.
12. When You Were Mine by Cyndi Lauper (1983)
Long before Cyndi Lauper was telling girls they just wanna have fun, she was covering a Prince deep cut on her debut album. “When You Were Mine” originally appeared on Prince’s raw and daring 1980 record “Dirty Mind.”
Lauper’s new wave spin on the track gave it a fresh energy that introduced a whole new audience to the song. While it wasn’t her biggest single, it showed her excellent taste in source material and quietly honored one of rock’s most underrated catalog gems.
13. Yo Mister by Patti LaBelle (1989)
Patti LaBelle is one of the most powerful voices in soul music history, and Prince clearly recognized that when he wrote and produced “Yo Mister” for her 1989 album “Be Yourself.” The electro-funk track gave LaBelle a cool, futuristic edge that felt fresh and exciting.
It showcased a different side of her artistry beyond gospel-tinged ballads. Prince’s production fingerprints were all over the track’s punchy beats and layered synths, making it one of the more underrated hidden gems in his ghostwriting history.
14. Love Song by Madonna (1989)
The “Like a Prayer” album is considered one of Madonna’s greatest artistic achievements, and Prince quietly had a hand in shaping it. He co-wrote “Love Song” with Madonna and even contributed his own backing vocals to the track.
The duet-style collaboration between two of the biggest pop icons of the 1980s was a natural creative explosion. Its sparse, hypnotic groove stood out beautifully on an already landmark album, and it remains one of the most fascinating musical team-ups of that entire era.
15. A Love Bizarre by Sheila E. (1985)
A year after “The Glamorous Life” made her a star, Sheila E. and Prince teamed up again for the epic “A Love Bizarre.” Co-written by both artists, the song originally appeared on the soundtrack to the film “Krush Groove” before becoming a standalone hit.
At over six minutes long, it was an ambitious, sweeping pop production that dared listeners to stay for every second. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and further cemented their iconic creative chemistry.
16. 101 by Sheena Easton (1988)
Prince returned to his “Joey Coco” alias when he wrote the electro-funk track “101” for Sheena Easton’s 1988 comeback album “The Lover in Me.” The album was widely praised as a career revitalization for Easton, and this track played a big part in that renewed energy.
Its pulsing beats and playful attitude carried the unmistakable sonic signature of Prince’s production style. Fans who knew Prince’s work well could practically hear his influence in every groove, even without his name on the credits.