“Little Red Corvette” is a song by American musician Prince. Released as a single from the album 1999 in 1983, the song was his biggest hit at the time, and his first to reach the top 10 in the US, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It was also his first single to perform better on the pop chart than the R&B chart.
The song combines a drum machine beat and slow synth buildup for the verses and a full rock chorus. Backing vocals were done by Dez Dickerson and Lisa Coleman and the guitar solo was also played by Dickerson. In the song, Prince narrates a one-night stand with a beautiful but promiscuous woman (the “Little Red Corvette” of the title); although he enjoys the experience, he urges her to “slow down” and “find a love that's gonna last” before she destroys herself. In addition to the title, he uses several other automobile metaphors, for example comparing their lovemaking to a ride in a limousine.
A 12" dance remix of the song was released to accompany the single, and it continues where the album version fades out. The US single was originally released with the album track “All the Critics Love U in New York” as the B-side, while in the UK two separate single releases had it backed with “Lady Cab Driver” or “Horny Toad”. Separate UK 12" releases had the song paired with “Automatic” and “International Lover”, or “Horny Toad” and “D.M.S.R.”. Later, it was released as a double A-side with “1999”, thus peaking at number two in the UK in January 1985.
The single was released with another 1999 track, “Let's Pretend We're Married”.
On Prince's 2006 compilation album, Ultimate, the dance remix of “Little Red Corvette” was a featured track.
Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at number 29. It rose to number 20 one week later. It has sold 919,131 copies in the United States.