"Sister Fate" is a song by Sheila E. from the album Romance 1600. It was released as the first single from the album in 1985. The album version of the song features an organ and percussion intro and has a running time of 3:50; the single version omits the intro and has a running time of 3:39.
Music video The video introduced a new image for Sheila E., dressed in a brocaded "cloud jacket" that harkened back to Prince's "cloud suit" from his contemporaneously (1985) released video "Raspberry Beret". At the timestamp of 3:06 within the video, an image of Prince from "Raspberry Beret" is superimposed for one second over a newspaper graphic with the headline "WHO IS SHEILA E.'S MYSTERY LOVE?"
Chart performance The song stalled on the charts; it went no higher than number 36 on the R&B charts, and did not chart on the Hot 100. It peaked at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Because of the underperformance of "Sister Fate", the third single, "A Love Bizarre" (which featured Prince) was rush-released.
Formats and track listings US 7" "Sister Fate" (edit) – 3:39 "Sister Fate" (instrumental) – 3:39
US 12" "Sister Fate" (extended) – 5:45 "Save the People" – 8:28
Personnel Credits from Duane Tudahl and Benoît Clerc
Sheila E. – lead and backing vocals, drums, Simmons SDSV, congas, cowbells, timbales, shaker, cymbal Prince – Yamaha DX7, Hammond organ, piano, bass guitar, Linn LM-1, handclaps Ken Grey – Yamaha DX7 (album intro) Steph Birnbaum – electric guitars Benny Rietveld – bass guitar (album intro) Eddie M. – saxophone
Charts +Chart performance for "Sister Fate"Chart (1986)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)81US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles8US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs36US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales26
References