Not a new topic, but since Prince owns the master tapes to his music released Emancipation and beyond, theoretically he could release a 2 CD compilation (or less ambitious, a budget release) showing off his best of the best from this period of his career. So what should he put on it?

I suppose the one absolute-entry without debate for me at least is "She Gave Her Angels." I know 20Ten was mediocre, but "Laydown" was used by TNT and it's the sort of very solid track that would shine best on such a collection. From that same album, I would also add a track I absolutely adore: "Act of God." I'll consider others to add along.

But really, I wish Prince would seriously consider such a disc. The mainstream perception, fair or not, has been that he hasn't done anything worthwhile since 1995, and I think most of us would agree he's produced good tracks since then. Enough for a good CD. Who knows, maybe it would cause people to re-examine this particular career canon and discover some of these gems for themselves.

RRA said:

"Laydown" was used by TNT and it's the sort of very solid track that would shine best on such a collection. From that same album, I would also add a track I absolutely adore: "Act of God." I'll consider others to add along.

I hate both of those songs, but I like the rest of 20Ten (kinda).

He had probably considered it at one point (he announced an album called "The Very Best Of ").

If the goal is to win new fans with the set, it should be only one disc, considering that the average person will have never heard of any of the songs, therefore probably wouldn't want 2 discs worth.

If you're going with his singles/most popular songs from Emancipation onward, the compilation should look something like this:

1. Somebody's Somebody
2. The Holy River
3. Betcha By Golly Wow!
4. Come On (technically an NPG Song)
5. The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
6. The Work, Pt. 1
7. Musicology
8. Call My Name
9. Te Amo Corazon
10. Black Sweat
11. Fury
12. Guitar
13. Crimson and Clover
14. Dance 4 Me
15. Laydown

Now, if you're going for best songs (instead of singles/popular songs) from '96 onward, I'd ditch about half of those songs, and add: Soul Sanctuary, The Love We Make, She Loves Me 4 Me, A Case Of U, When I Lay My Hands On U, The Word, Somewhere Here On Earth, Wall Of Berlin and $.

[Edited 1/16/12 20:16pm]

Good lists, both of them!

It would, I assume, have to be a mixture of deep cuts and singles, since I'm not aware if he had any real strong hits that could truely stand-out to the casual listener. (excellent point you made about it needing to be 1 disc.)

Not the biggest fan of "Work Part 1" but if we're covering his Independence history, it would nice to at least acknowledge that album. Obviously N.E.W.S. is out for any track consideration, what with the 15 minute jazzy instrumentals. Too much for a one disc compilation. (Plus I didn't like any of those 4 tracks in my dream list.)

Would his singles-only releases like say "Extralovable" or "F.U.N.K." be under consideration?

~I would also nominate "Future Baby Mama" for consideration. It actually was a Top 40 hit on the R&B chart.

RRA said:

Good lists, both of them!

It would, I assume, have to be a mixture of deep cuts and singles, since I'm not aware if he had any real strong hits that could truely stand-out to the casual listener. (excellent point you made about it needing to be 1 disc.)

Not the biggest fan of "Work Part 1" but if we're covering his Independence history, it would nice to at least acknowledge that album. Obviously N.E.W.S. is out for any track consideration, what with the 15 minute jazzy instrumentals. Too much for a one disc compilation. (Plus I didn't like any of those 4 tracks in my dream list.)

Would his singles-only releases like say "Extralovable" or "F.U.N.K." be under consideration?

~I would also nominate "Future Baby Mama" for consideration. It actually was a Top 40 hit on the R&B chart.

I thought about "Future Baby Mama" because I think it won a grammy, too. But I liked the sequencing on my playlist, and that song would've ruined it.

When we had a thread like this before, somebody said the set should use the singles and somewhat known songs, so that's what I did.

Usually, greatest hits albums include non-album singles for the sake of having them on an album, so I guess "Extralovable" and "FUNK" should be included. I'm not sure how well they'd go over with casual or non-fans, though (especially the chipmunk voice on "FUNK").

I love the instrumental albums, and One Nite Alone... but I can't see the general public having any interest in those. 'The Work' and 'She Loves Me 4 Me' are really the only songs that could represent TRC, as the other best songs are too long (The Everlating Now, Last December).

Other songs that could be included: Jam Of The Year, The One, Wasted Kisses, So Far So Pleased, Man O War, Baby Knows, Cinammon Girl, Colonized Mind, Dreamer, Chocolate Box --- not that those are my favorite songs, but you want songs that non-fans would like.

Then, of course, Prince should bait the album with one or two new songs, so the hardcore fans will buy it. It would be a nice way to make some good money with little effort, and gain a wider audience for his recent music.

I would make it like thisn 1994 to present....

Hits 3:

1.The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
2.Letitgo
3.Space
4.Love Sign (with Nona Gaye)
5,Get Wild
6.I Hate U (Album version)
7,Dolphin
8.Gold (Album version)
9.Dinner With Delores
10.Betcha By Golly Wow
11.The Holy River
12.Somebody's Somebody
13.The One
14.Come On
15.The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
16.The Work prt 1
17.She Loves Me 4 Me

Hits 4:

1,Musicology
2.Call My Name
3.Cinnamon Girl
4.A Million Days
5.Te Amo Corazon
6.Black Sweat
7.Fury
8.Song Of The Heart
9.Guitar
10.The One U Wanna C
11.Future Baby Mama
12.Somewhere Here On Earth
13,Crimson & Clover
14.Dance 4 Me
15.Future Soul Song
16.Laydown
17.Extraloveable 2011

did I miss something..?

Maybe Chocolate Box, but I really dislike this song..

thedance said:

I would make it like this 1994 to present....

It's a fine playlist (though I'd change a few songs) but since some of the songs were from the WB years, I don't think Prince would go for that.

I suggested "Extralovable" especially because it was #1 on the iTunes R&B/Soul chart.

As for TMBGITW, WB owns it don't they? I'm murky on the legality behind that one and TGE in general.

I just know that for such a beloved big hit (#1 in UK, Top 5 America), the album itself is both out of print, not available (legally) digitally for download, and for whatever reason, completely left off The Very Best of Prince one disc compilation record that WB put out.

Why?

Laydown
Supercute
Extralovable
Sex Me, Sex Me Not
Pfunk
Paradigm
Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful
Mountains/Shake Your Body Down To The Ground
The Question of U (NPG Ahdio)
One Song
Van Gogh
When The Lights Go Down
Sticky Like Glue
Fury (SNL live version)
Beautiful Strange
From The Lotus
Boom
Crimson & Clover
While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Return of the b-side...
Jukebox With A Heartbeat
Underneath The Cream
Undisputed (remix)
Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
Soul Sanctuary
Wasted Kisses
Habibi
[Edited 1/17/12 22:56pm]

kenkamken said:

Laydown Supercute Extralovable Sex Me, Sex Me Not Pfunk Paradigm Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful Mountains/Shake Your Body Down To The Ground The Question of U One Song Van Gogh When The Lights Go Down Sticky Like Glue Fury Beautiful Strange From The Lotus Boom Crimson & Clover While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Now this is an interesting list (above). Supercute is a great gem. So is Boom and Sticky Like Glue. But where the hell did "Beginning Endlessly" go? That thing is epic. I also love "Compassion" with it's hippy revival song musical flavor, it successfully builds. People that think it's a retread on "Let's Pretend We're Married" are being fooled by a synth line technique that is used in tons of songs outside of Prince.

I can't stand Cinnamon Girl! Dinner with Delores? Yuck. Fury? Boring. I don't think any of those songs succeeded at gelling to my ears.

I find Digital Garden to be the most interesting track on Rainbow Children. I do like the title track as well. And Family Name. Is that what it's called?

I think something like "The 1 U Wanna C" is an obvious pop sugar gem. A Million Days? Doesn't focus into any kind of cool melody, mood, or production technique to my ears. Sounds like a vague idea that is was still vague when it was released.

I own the Hits/B-Sides box and the Ultimate double-Cd

I also made my own TGE-20tEN double compilation

it's kinda sad because some GREAT songs of the 96-10 period will be lost (aka, won't appear in any Prince compilation) ...

kenkamken said:

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Now that's an inspired choice. I don't know about the legality of getting to use that particular version, but I like that suggestion.

Also, "Somebody's Somebody" is another one that should be considered.

Prince/(1996-2011)
A Collection/2 CD Set

Disc 1 1996-2004
1. Emancipation
2. Betcha By Golly Wow
3. Somebody's Somebody
4. Come On
5. The One
6. The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
7. Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
8. U Make My Sunshine
9. The Work Pt. I
10. The Everlasting Now
11. Last December
12. Musicology
13. A Million Days
14. Cinnamon Girl
15. Call My Name

Disc 2: 2006-2011
16. 3121
17. Black Sweat
18. Fury
19. Guitar
20. Future Baby Mama
21. Chelsea Rodgers
22. Dreamer
23. Crimson and Clover
24. Dance 4 Me
25. Old School Company
26. Beginning Endlessly
27. Lavaux
28. Laydown
29. Extraloveable (2011)
30. F.U.N.K.


Something like that off the top of my dome...
[Edited 1/17/12 18:35pm]

My list....

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
Letitgo
Love Sign
Get Wild
I Hate U
Dolphin
Gold
Dinner With Delores
Betcha By Golly Wow
The Holy River
Somebody's Somebody
The One
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
Musicology
Call My Name
Te Amo Corazon
Black Sweat

Fury
Song Of The Heart
Guitar
Future Baby Mama
Somewhere Here On Earth
Crimson & Clover
Laydown