Prince Estate Releases Unreleased "With This Tear" Before 10th Anniversary

The estate of Prince released a previously unreleased recording of the ballad "With This Tear" on Thursday, marking the eve of the 10th anniversary of the musician's death on April 21, 2016. The piano-led track, originally recorded by Prince at his Paisley Park studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, in November 1991, is now available on streaming platforms and accompanied by a YouTube video featuring archive footage from his career and a spoken-word introduction in which he reflects on his early musical dreams.

Prince composed, arranged, produced and performed all instruments on the song, delivering a stripped-back version that highlights his vocals and piano work. The release, issued through NPG Records and Legacy Recordings, includes a new mix and master by Grammy-nominated engineer and producer Chris James, a longtime collaborator who also contributed to Prince's albums HITnRUN Phase Two, Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum. Although unofficial leaks of Prince's demo had circulated online in the past, this represents the first official version under his name.

The composition has a notable history tied to fellow artist Celine Dion. Prince offered the song to her in the early...