I've been listening to Crucial a lot lately, and it's become one of my favorite Prince slow jams! Of all his Philly soul inspired tunes, I think this one recreates that sound most faithfully (without sounding at all like a cheap imitation). The falsetto, the sitar, the orchestral sound, the layered vocal harmonies - and on top of that, he makes it sound distinctly Prince with the added bonus of the killer guitar part.

I think it's my favorite of the Crystal Ball tracks, and definitely one of the best from the Sign O the Times era.

AHHHHHh!!!!!

Crucial rox my sox.

We can love it all by ourselves

RipHer2Shreds said:

I like that song. I mean, I don't LOVE it--but it beats songs like "Insasiable", "Pink Cashmere", and "Let's have a baby"

I remember getting stuck on this track the first time I listened to CrystalBall, I listened to it at least six times over before moving on...

Great Song...Beautiful...

Zelaira said:

Love it

this is so beautifu l....i would love to hear it live
has he ever played it live ?

Absolutely in my P top 3 (if not the 1st....)
Loved it from the first time I listened.
Even tought I really love it also, shame on the CB released version... over 2 minutes butchered to make room for a 16-min version of "Clooren Baconskin"... I will never understand why.....

Love is a strong word... I like it a LOT

Great song, but not nearly as good as Adore...

the sax solo version is the best one!

RipHer2Shreds said:

I still haven't heard this song. It must be da bomb.

Crucial has to be my favorite ballad on Crystal Ball. I'm not sure if I like it more than Adore, but I absolutely love this song and listen to it over and over again!!!

When I first got the CB, I could not stop listening to "Crucial". I always ask myself, "Why in the world didn't he use this track?" It shows another side of Prince.

A beautiful track, no doubt. I listen to songs like that, and then wonder how the same guy could offer up something as bland and uninspiring as Call My Name. I can understand, though, the difficulty in deciding on whether to put Crucial or Adore on an album. They're both just gorgeous.

I absolutely adore this song. For some reason, it always makes me think of Alexa de Paris and that dancing scene from UTCM (Cabbagehead!)

I still haven't heard the full-length version.
[This message was edited Fri Jul 30 10:01:59 2004 by FunkMistress]

FunkMistress said:

In that case I pity you because you're definitely missing out.


.

giotto said:

I'd rather be Orgnoted than pitied.

It's second-my favorite mid-tempo song of all, behind only "The Holy River". I like the unreleased version that was on the "Miles Davis and Friends" bootleg better though.

Definitely a fan. I can never play it once. That songs the jam.

YES, YES, YES!!!!!

Finally someone who LOVES that song. I didn't think anyone out there new that song but me.

That's my FAVORITE of all time!!!!!

RipHer2Shreds said:

Yes this song is powerful!!! Whenver I hear someone quoting Kevin Smith and dissing ab album that they have obviously never heard. I ask them how can you not like Crucial? They usually ask me what song is that. After they go back and listen too it, it becomes their favorite song too. This song has everything and if it were released as a single it might do him some good sales..... not that he needs it now a days.

Peace

CocoSweet said:

Same here. I always play it a few times in a row. Thankfully, my bf hasn't yet tired of hearing it.

This is a VERY good track and Prince doesn't get better than this.

But don't you think that the production values are a bit poor? All sounds a bit muddy sometimes - but maybe that's an intentional atmosphere he's creating.

MrGeorge said:

I don't think it sounds muddy at all. I think the production is on par with everything else that came out around the time of Sign O the Times - excellent.

i love this song!!!
CRUCIAL rocks!!!

i love that song, open book is my 2nd,, it rocks also both songs are so sad,