It seems to be a shared thought that SOTT is the best Prince album out there, by critics and fans.

It also seems to be a shared thought that the track "It" is the worst track of that album.

Not to me. I think its a blast!

Its very Prince. Sparse on instrumentals and vocals speaks for them selves.

And a super track to beatmix with on the turntables btw...

I have heard of the track being regarded as filler, each to their own.

I like it, i like the cold sound to it.

I think its one of the 'lesser' songs on Sign of the Times, but it really ain't a bad song and it sure has his place on Sign of the Times.

Compositionwise its a bit generic IMO, but those synth stabs, the beat, the eery synths in the background (a 'trick' he uses very often on the album) and his vocals give the song an 'edge' IMO.

Lyricwise and the way he sings it, it sounds like he is SO obsessed with sex that it almost hurts, its like an addiction he can't let go.

On earlier albums he was often celebrating lust for the lust, on IT he shows obsession with lust can have his downsides (I mean, he sure doesnt sound 'happy' on this song.. lol).

Next to that the cold, bleak sound of IT offer a great contrast with Starfish and Coffee.

would make an awesome b-side (that album needed a couple more), but it's one of the weaker ones on the album that could either be axed to whittle it down further or replaced with some of the really awesome stuff that didn't make the final cut when it was reduced to two discs.

No.

Its a fantastic track! The synth line, the screaming vocals, the stompin' beat! Filler?? Come on....Slow Love is the worst song on there and its not that bad. SOTT is brilliant, all the way through.

the debate rages on he should probably switched IT to SHOCKADELICA

I love the song.

IT is classic minimalist Prince

IT contains a blistering guitar solo

IT captures Prince's sexual frustration / desperation with a relentless, pounding drum beat,

great synth strings and a throbbing bass line

IT contains the great backing line: "fucking on my mind..."

IT is a song of two parts IMO, the first 3 and a half minutes is Prince pleading,

consumed by sexual desire, possibly prowling the corridors of Paisley Park,

all heels and hard on...

(Ok, I know Paisley Park wasn't built at the time, but I like the idea!)

The second half of the song is what Prince does when he finally gets his little paws

on the object of his affection, just listen, it's all there, a lot more subtle

(but ultimately more effective) than Orgasm off the Come album..

Final thought:

Prince was clearly lusting like crazy over some lucky lady during the time this song was recorded.

IT was recorded on 11th May 1986. The day before, he recorded both Frustration and If I Could Get Your Attention.

Clearly he was smitten!

[Edited 12/30/10 11:03am]

[Edited 12/30/10 11:03am]

Cornelius1973 said:

Compositionwise its a bit generic IMO, but those synth stabs, the beat, the eery synths in the background (a 'trick' he uses very often on the album) and his vocals give the song an 'edge' IMO.

Spot on.

jonylawson said:

the debate rages on he should probably switched IT to SHOCKADELICA

I've never thought about that, but that would have been perfect.

jonasjonas said:

It seems to be a shared thought that SOTT is the best Prince album out there, by critics and fans.

It also seems to be a shared thought that the track "It" is the worst track of that album.

Not to me. I think its a blast!

Its very Prince. Sparse on instrumentals and vocals speaks for them selves.

And a super track to beatmix with on the turntables btw...

I looooovvvveee that song!

It is a great track. The fault lies in comparing a song on an album where some songs are so massive they take your cock to intersteller space.

jonasjonas said:

It seems to be a shared thought that SOTT is the best Prince album out there, by critics and fans.

It also seems to be a shared thought that the track "It" is the worst track of that album.

Not to me. I think its a blast!

Its very Prince. Sparse on instrumentals and vocals speaks for them selves.

And a super track to beatmix with on the turntables btw...

I love it! It's so "sex"- like a frustrated stalker.

I have to be in the mood or it's getting skipped.

The thing is with (great) double-albums I think: all songs don't have to be 'masterpieces', sometimes the way several songs are frequenced just ad up to overall effect (1+1=3). Just look at the White Album of the Beatles for example: not all of the songs on that album are top-notch, some are like experiments, but they 'fit' into the overal experience.

As I said I love the contrast between the cold, bleak sound of It and the more playfull, 'childlike' sounding Starfish and Coffee.

Next to that it is one of the few songs on 'Sign' (next to Hot Thing) that represents the cold blooded 'lust' that is simply part of Prince musical / lyric package, a part that should definitely be 'there' on album that is his arguably considered to be his best and most career defining album (sorry folks, Purple Rain just isnt that album... lol)

[Edited 12/30/10 13:14pm]

One of the few songs that he is outright (w/o synonyms) directlly honest with how he feels about a sexual encounter/relationship. It's cool, yeah Me listen to it too

I love the song..

no u are not. love the track. its sprawling the album. good fit me thinks

It's a good tune, but I don't think it fits on the album. It really is the only flaw I see in SOTT. It should have been a b-side. There are a whole lot of great tunes from that era that would have been better, IMHO (Rebirth of the Flesh springs to mind).

Let's say, he gives his all to make it sound better than it actually is...

this song paired with forever in my life has become my favorite track on sott. my favorite part is the last 2minutes of the song when he just kinda funks it out for a while. i dig it

"It" does what he was trying to do with tracks like "Witness 4 the Prosecution" and "The Cross" a little bit better, imo. That minimalist funk/rock backed with soul lead vocals. To me, "It" is the first glimpse you get of where Prince was really going with his music. You could almost see it as a precursor to tracks like "Dance On" and "The Future".

[Edited 12/30/10 14:42pm]

Spinlight said:

"It" does what he was trying to do with tracks like "Witness 4 the Prosecution" and "The Cross" a little bit better, imo. That minimalist funk/rock backed with soul lead vocals. To me, "It" is the first glimpse you get of where Prince was really going with his music. You could almost see it as a precursor to tracks like "Dance On" and "The Future".

[Edited 12/30/10 14:42pm]

bang on m8

I love "It" it's one of the best tunes on the SOTT album.I like the hard,pulsing beat and the naughty lyrics.This is classic Prince and should have been a single.

I LOVE this song! It sounds so classic 80s and just.. amazing. great honest lyrics

It is a cool track. Definitely shouldn't be considered the worst track on the album. There are no "worsts" on the album.

I love that beat.

One of my faves. ALRIGHT!!

It's the only song from SOTT that I never heard on the radio. I love It ! The track that is !