I was just listening to "I Wish U Heaven" and there is this short run at 2:05 that leads into the phrase "I wish you heaven". I always wondered how he did that, I think it's a keyboard line that leads into the vocal.

Alright, what are yours? Come on, do tell!

[Edited 5/12/17 14:44pm]

For his 80's material I love how creative Prince got with the use of the Linn LM-1. Listening to SITW, or SAIMH, Dorothy Parker, etc., just how this drum machine can fit so well and create such a sonic vibe that was really unique. So I always like listening to the deatails of how the LM-1 was used

The beautifully lilting call-and-response vocals in the 2nd verse of ANOTHERLOVERHOLENYOHEAD between him and Wendy and Susannah.

I think the story about "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker", which half the board being out, and not having a lot of treble or high end on it is pretty fascinating. Most people would not put something like that out.

"Forever In My Life" with the offset backing vocals is very interesting as well. Again, most people wouldn't put that out. They either scrape it, or start over from scratch.

I think using the lead line from "Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic" later in "The Max" from is an interesting reuse of material. The same goes for "The Ball" becoming " No".

It took me years to realize the synth line from "U Got The Look" became the basis for "8" on the first Madhouse album. Two totally different songs, using the exact same synth line. That is amazing to me.

There is some hidden lyrics on "Irresistible Bitch" around the drum track that you really have to listen hard to hear. It's so buried, but such a great find. We've heard that songs for 30+ years, and I've yet to hear anyone mentioned it until the Org.

It's also fascinating to hear him just go off on a groove and make other songs from it. Like the EPs for "Cream" or "New Power Generation" or "The Beautiful Experience".

soladeo1 said:

The beautifully lilting call-and-response vocals in the 2nd verse of ANOTHERLOVERHOLENYOHEAD between him and Wendy and Susannah.

I love that. It is such a great build up. Also, how Susannah, Wendy, Lisa, and Sheila are mixed in different channels. Two on the left, and two on the right.

all the CRAZY vocal details/multitracking on friend, lover, sister, mother/wife.

This always brings a smile to my face: Prince clicking his tongue at the very beginning of 'Standing At The Alter' by Margie Cox right after she whispers 'Why?'.

There's a little double bass note in Escape 2/3 of the way through. It catches my mind every time - I usually rewind and replay it a few times. I think it's perfect.

The way all the parts lock together in When You Were Mine...

In Adore, how all the vocal lines cascade into one another

Too many to list.

But the first coming to my mind is the magical transition between "Lovesexy" and "When 2 R In Love".

Namelessfan said:

There's a little double bass note in Escape 2/3 of the way through. It catches my mind every time - I usually rewind and replay it a few times. I think it's perfect.

I need to check that...

Wow, so many....The details in Purple Music are so, so dense...the way he sings a rather simple set of verses, yet the melody keeps evolving thoughout. Also, I LOVE the sonic detail in Neon Telephone when he has the backing vocals answer what the lead vocals are saying. Plus, that crazy switch-up at the end when he's talking on the phone and the whole vibe of the song suddenly turns very strange...those are just 2 but he was always about the details

Phishanga said:

Namelessfan said:

There's a little double bass note in Escape 2/3 of the way through. It catches my mind every time - I usually rewind and replay it a few times. I think it's perfect.

I need to check that...

It's @ 3:02 on the b-sides track

He does something on the bass in the very end of ´Let´s work´ that makes all difference to me. Everytime I listen to that song, I am waiting for that.

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And lots of examples I am forgetting. One of my fave things of Prince was the arranger side.

1.47 on Scandalous when he kind of rolls his tongue in the middle of a line - so cool

Man, there's got to be about 1,000,000 of them! Here's some that spring to mind, probably because I just heard these songs:

1. "Mr. Goodnight" - When Prince says the lady will be taken to a private jet, you can hear him whisper "Gee Five". That means a Gulfstream V jet, which is one of, if not THE, finest private jets in the world

2. "Lovesexy" - There's a little guitar run underneath the line "But with it I know heaven is just a kiss, just a kiss away" that is so different and so awesome that the first time I heard it, I seriously almost drove off the road!

laytonian said:

. His little spoken vocal statements inserted in between lyrics, like "never too late" in Moonbeam Levels. . For some, you need headphones to discover. .

THIS..

I only recently listened to Princes Music with headphones..

Its a whole NEW experience..

there are layers upon layers....

COME for example...he sounds like he is slurping ummmmmm......something.?..

Clocks ticking Roosters Crowing Discordant harmonies that shouldnt sound right but the so DO...

Layers and Layers of strawberry chocolate top fender jazz mashed potato fuzztones

Lovejunky said:

Layers and Layers of strawberry chocolate top fender jazz mashed potato fuzztones

THIS. sums it up very well. and not only in that song.

I love those crazy funny dialogues he integrated sometimes at the end of a song like in "Damn U" leading to "Arrogance" ... too funny. or the one at the beginning of "A Place In Heaven" (later he integrated it at the end of "Movie Star").

him talking something in between ... sometimes it's just a "huh" or a little laugh or ... there were so many differnet colors he could put on to ... and switching in milliseconds ...
he could do this with is voice and with any other instrument.

awwww ... so many ... have to look up all those little things y'all mentioned ...

Great stuff... some of it I'll have to back to!

TrivialPursuit said:

It took me years to realize the synth line from "U Got The Look" became the basis for "8" on the first Madhouse album. Two totally different songs, using the exact same synth line. That is amazing to me.

That can't be right, said I to myself. No, it isn't. Oh my God it is. The closing "ascension to Heaven" section of 8, has identical chords and sounds as the opening of U Got the Look! Thanks for bringing that to our attention TrivialPursuit! I suspect that there'll be many more such uncanny correspondences for us to discover in the years to come.

summerafternoon said:

TrivialPursuit said:

It took me years to realize the synth line from "U Got The Look" became the basis for "8" on the first Madhouse album. Two totally different songs, using the exact same synth line. That is amazing to me.

That can't be right, said I to myself. No, it isn't. Oh my God it is. The closing "ascension to Heaven" section of 8, has identical chords and sounds as the opening of U Got the Look! Thanks for bringing that to our attention TrivialPursuit! I suspect that there'll be many more such uncanny correspondences for us to discover in the years to come.

Once you get through the "uh.....uh.....huh huh...." stuff on "8", there are some ethereal synths that come in. Eric is playing flute, and there's a kick drum. Eventually, there is a drum fill, and more instruments come in. It's at that point the UGTL progression is much clearer and defined. Once it's all done and it's just the synths at the end, you can even more clearly hear the synth line, including some of the slight alterations he used in concert. I think the fills are different, but yeah, you can hear it clear as day.

The self-mocking "Ha!" repeated towards the end of 'The Question of U'! The flute sampled on keys or played by Prince in 'The Question of U'! Did he really play the flute or was it just something that he played on a sampler?! The not-long but majestic guitar solo in 'The Question of U'!

The "Haowh" at the beginning of Christopher Tracy's Parade. The funky ass keyboard on Girls and Boys. The cough on Raspberry Beret extended.

The way his voice sounds on the extended portion of Hello. The beat for Lady Cab Driver. The guitar solo and whole song for Annie Christian. The maniacal guitar solo and laid back vibe on Darling Nikki extended. The beat for Take This Beat/I Wish U Heaven. The "Bring it up" crescendo on The Beautiful Ones. The whole song of Papa, especially the psychedelic guitars on the end part. The guitar on the concert version of Creep! The cool as heaven feel and singing on Strollin'. The anguish and cool voice and powerful laid backness of Money Don't Matter tonight; the "oooh" voice part in Money Don't Matter tonight. The guitar solo and whole song in Let's Go Crazy. The wicked guitar run in Poor Goo. The whole of Alexa De Paris, especially the guitar on each and every single minute. The way he sings Sign o' the Times and how every single guitar note is pure soul wrenching; the "time, time" part on Sign o' the Times.

I could go on and on...but I won't. Time for someone else's opinion.

I miss dude a lot!

The cough at the beginning of the video version of "Raspberry Beret".

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The insane syncopation of the Linn Drum on "Alphabet St.".

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The looping acoustic guitar in the background of "Vicki Waiting".

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The heart-achingly-too-short slap bass breakdown in "La, La, La, He, He, Hee".

.

The clear, strong piano sound of "Starfish & Coffee".

Those weird noises on "Race" always got me thinking "Is it a guitar"? (around 3:07, for example)

I keep hearing this, maybe I'm hearing things, but I do love it so if it's not real then don't ruin it for me...But you know that chord hit at the beginning of Sexy Dancer, it also seems to end other songs....like Beautiful, Loved and Blessed. Or maybe I just love Prince on the keys.

There's also as others have mentioned all that funky bass in Alphabet Street (and really just all over the Lovesexy)--gets me every time.

Hearing his fingers slide up the guitar strings, or when he does the percussion on the side of the guitar, when he's on acoustic live is so good too.

Finally, that shaker/tamborine...sometimes it's looped, but sometimes I feel like I can almost see/feel him sitting there layering it in by hand, like on Vicki Waiting or The Word.

So many little moments of ecstasy here and there, but i just don't know how to express them properly.