Today we get our first taste of 3121 with the release of Te Amo Corazon.


Lets go back and remember our first look at other Prince Albums from the past. Any thoughts or comments ? where you were , how you felt about these tunes when you heard them for the first time and what hope and excitment you had for the forthcoming album.?

When Doves Cry (Purple Rain)
Raspberry Beret (ATWIAD)
Kiss (Parade)
Sign O' The Times (SOTT)
Alphabet Street (Lovesexy)
Batdance (Batman)
Theives in the Temple (Graffiti Bridge)
Gett Off (D&P)
Sexy MF ()
Letitgo (Come)
I Hate U (TGE)
Dinner w/Delores (C&D)
Bettcha By Golly Wow (Emancipation)
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Rave Un2)
Musicology (Musicology)
Te Amo Corazon (3121)


For me , it was utter joy and excitment up til Dinner W/ Delores. With that tune and the ones that followed I havent felt the same magic I used to when i first heard Alphabet , Raspberry or Gett Off for example.

The first single from SOTT was If I was your girlfriend, I loved it and I knew it would be a great album.

Meloh9 said:

[Edited 12/13/05 12:03pm]

newpower99 said:

BTW... U 4got PURPLE RAIN!!
[Edited 12/13/05 11:55am]

>>>>BTW... U 4got PURPLE RAIN!! <<<


[Edited 12/13/05 12:03pm]

newpower99 said:

Yeah the first song being played on radio was If I was your Girfriend, it didn't do well. And the record company quickly released the title track as a single. The first single probably should have been Housequake. People were crazy about this song. But Prince seemed to loose interest in promoting the album in the states, and Times only sold one million copys worldwide.

Meloh9 said:

Really?...Cuz I remember Prince saying in old interviews that he wanted to release "Housequake" as the lead-off singone on SOTT, but WB "was too scared", in Prince's words...so they chose "Sign" instead. And I think in the liner notes of The Hits it said that "If I Was Your Girlfriend" was chosen as the second single, but bombed, so they quickly put out "U Got The Look" to keep the sales going strong.

By the way, SOTT sold over 1 million in the U.S. alone...so I'd like to think that worldwide sales were at least 2 million, especially with Prince taking the SOTT tour worldwide (he skipped the U.S. completely).

Byron said:

from what I know it sold 1 mill worldwide. It really didn't do that well.

IIRC, Cream was the first single from D & P in Europe. Also I would tend to call TMBDITW the first single from The Gold Experience.

Meloh9 said:

According to The Vault, it SOTT sold 1.6 million in the States and 1.6 million worldwide. 3.2 million ain't too bad.

And in the UK 'Gett Off' was definately before 'Cream'.

After 'The Most Beautiful Girl' I would say Prince's first singles were bad choices, and often his second and third too, usually r'n'b ballads. Actually Musicology was one of the better ones.

I feel the same way. I remember hearing "I Hate You" for the first time on radio. I wanted to know when this was going to be in stores. I called radio stations and record stores. I wouldn't do the same for the new single.

metalorange said:

I don't really remember Prince promoting SOTT in the states, aside from the concert film. America didn't get a tour. I could be wrong.

Meloh9 said:

no tour, but...

They did release several singles and a feature length film. That's more promotion than most albums get.

newpower99 said:

Universaluv said:

point taken. either way it is my favorite era and one of the best albums I have ever heard. So I think I like finding reasons to talk about it

Meloh9 said:

You are not wrong there.

The tour was planned for for America, but Prince let the whole Black Album/Lovesexy thing get in the way. He settled for the SOTT film release instead.

SOTT was the lead single from the album worldwide though. IIWYGF was also a worldwide second release, after the album had dropped. After that, different countries went different ways. As they did with much of the 80s.

When Doves Cry (Purple Rain)
The whole Purple Rain album piled on me all at once and began my Paisley adventure!

Raspberry Beret (ATWIAD)
Actually bought ATWIAD since it was out before the single. When I got the album raspberry was one of my favorite cuts and was excited to see the video and get the 12" extended version...very cool opener.

Kiss (Parade)
Actually heard this FIRST on the radio while laying in bed. It hit me by surprise, since I didn't know it was coming out. All I know it was unlike anything I had ever heard before. Defintely was the nail in the coffin to becoming a full fledged Prince fan!

Sign O' The Times (SOTT)
First time I heard this was on the radio, kinda! I was in a laundrymat and the washers and dryers were so loud, I could just make out the basic melody... and I was ITCHING to hear it again! soon as I got home, I tried to request it off the radio, but they were like, we just played it recently...had to wait til I finally did hear it again, but of course loved it and it followed with a kick ass classic album!

Alphabet Street (Lovesexy)
Caught this on MTV for my first listen. Loved the song and the video was pretty cool, if not cheap looking, but it was too short. But was a big fan, taped it off the radio and played the hell out of it before Lovesexy came out. Then Lovesexy was Just something else!

Batdance (Batman) MTV again. 1st time I heard this, I wasn't quite sure what to think of it, since it didn't really sound like a song to me. but everyone else was digging it...cuz Batman was the hype. Soon radio played it enuff for me to enjoy it...somewhat

Theives in the Temple (Graffiti Bridge) - Casette single. Absolutely enjoyed it, then I was disapointed when I seen the MTV video and the single didn't have that little drum break down thingie...then to my delight it was on the maxi single and hearing the extended version made that song much more for me

Gett Off (D&P) - My first taste was actually a mixture of the single, maxi single, the video single and the infamous MTV Awards performance. So this song with so many different media could have beena bit much, but I was so in love with the beat of it.. and the lyrics were funky, so having all the different versions and such was more of an experience, then just a song.

Sexy MF () another casette single and video single. Was just starting to get into rap music..not these days, but at the time I was really enjoying seeing Prince in new terrotories. I actually did like Tony M during those periods. But it was a bit surprise to hear the lead single with cursing. So u knew it wasn't going to be on radio or tv.

Letitgo (Come) - Had most of the Come album from bootlegs before the album was out, so I would have been excited if one of those songs were chosen as the lead single. but then I heard it was Letitgo....was excited, cuz of were Prince's music was at the time. Then when I got the single I was like...WHAT? this aint Race, or Pheremone or Come (Not the album versioN!! LOL)..and the B-side SOLO? I'm like...how is he going to sell a kick ass album with this song?! Well Come did come out...and I was dissapointed with the new arrangement of the song "Come" and the album just didn't flow like the mix tapes I made of what was available at the time.

I Hate U (TGE) - Again, another album we had heard well before its release. Now the album is Still an absolute masterpiece..but to choose "I Hate U", on top of that film a video and not release it really went againt prince really really wanting this album out there. and he had already released TMBGITW, so to do a proper lead single with I hate U was....not a happy decision, for me anyways, maybe Endorphinmachine would have done better, then again if he hadn't rearranged the song the way he did.

Dinner w/Delores (C&D) got this as a promo casette single from the Prince family. I think I liked the song that much better that it seemed like a gift. Strange I know... and the melody was cool, but the lyrics needed some work, Brotasorous??? but then seeign him promote this on TV was cool...but was even more excited about Zannalee on the Today show, then bought the album that afternoon and was disapointed taht the performance of Zannalee, was quite different than the cd version

Bettcha By Golly Wow (Emancipation)
Felt kinda like I did with "I hate U"...another lead off ballad and a cover version none the less.. At the time I was thinking with Emancipation as a THREE CD set, why couldnt' he A) pick a better song and B) release a single taht he actually wrote himself.. it felt like karaoke nite when I first heard it.

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Rave Un2) - Good song, yet a bit disapointed, since prince was so excited about the Rave album...it was OK..but...not his best/

Musicology (Musicology) - I actually thought this was a really nice lead off single, since Prince was pretty much out of the public loop and some of the younger kids enjoyed this as well. I think he did this one right.

Te Amo Corazon (3121) - Again not too pleased with a ballad, its a pretty song, mind you, but very typical, we've heard this type of song before. We know what Prince is capible of and I was hoping he would have showboated that with the 3121 release... I mean he is...with the multimedia...but.. wrong song I'm afraid. I'm still excited about 3121, but not like I was about SOTT or Lovesexy or Gold Experience, ect.

I'm actually quite surprised at the luke-warm reception 'Ta Amo Corazon' seems to be getting from a lot of people -- from general apathy at best (that Prince is old and resigned to '3 out of 5 stars' life sentence from here on in) to out right vitriolic disgust about it.

I think it's better than Musicology - I definately thought that was Prince's autopilot at it's most insipid - Not to mention the paradox of the songs message about 'missing the feelin' music gave you back in the day' -- Yes, Prince, we remember, now how come this song sounds so dull and lifeless, that feeling you're singing about, don't you think it would've worked better if the music in the track matched the sentiment of it's lyric?

I think TAC perhaps is not the best lead single for a new commercial label album. I really don't get Prince's fascination with leading albums off with a ballad. I think it stems from TMBGITW - his last 'big' hit single -- I think he might be thinking 'Well it worked before, let's try it again'.

I know here in the UK, a lot of casual listeners want something upbeat -- I remember when he performed 'Baby Knows' on (I think) TFI Friday and TOTP - and there was a lot of positive reaction to the song - but Prince didn't release it as a single, and we all know the stupid job they did of promoting TGRES, with the delayed video and all.

Casual listeners by this time just weren't gonna chance buying another over-blown masturbatory Prince record - I think this late 90s period was really the lowest in Prince's career - All the stuff had really tested his audience, and as he became more of a joke music journalists could get a cheap gag off, the more people began to care less and less what he was upto now he'd gone 'crazy'.

The fans that were left stuck it out in hope that being free from Warners would live upto the hype and self-agrandising ideas of a very bitter and increasingly repetitious Prince in interviews.

As the time went on, and it looked like Prince really couldn't deliver on what he made out to be the greatest thing he'd ever made ('The album was born to make') and Prince's messy and unprofessional ventures into direct sales and internet awareness - even those fans who held out through the crazy mid-90s were doubting him, Rave, for me was the clincher for me, I'd really had enough of these albums were it all sounded so lifeless and 2 tracks out of the 17 that were half-way decent (if I was being forgiving).

I didn't really like Musicology as an album, I thought he took 1 step forward (back in the commercial music/media game) and 2 steps back (TRC represented a real change of direction I thought - then he want back to that old Emancipation/NPS/Rave sound and ideals).

I'm trying to keep an open mind about '3121' - (since we've only heard one track, and that less than 24 houra ago) - it would be unfair to judge it before it's even available - But I can't help but feel a (sadly all too comfortable) dread that it is going to be more of the same - Musicology pt.2

We'll see soon enough I guess.....

First tastes


1999 - 1999. I thought it was a boring song, though I liked Little Red Corvette
Purple Rain - Let's Go Crazy. I loved it. The guitar solo at the end blew me away.
ARTWIAD - Raspberry Berret. I loved it. Although by now I was a huge Prince fan so I loved everything he put out
PARADE - Kiss. I liked it but thought it was strange
SOTT - SOTT. I thought it was boring, but was blown away by "U Got THe Look".
LoveSexy - Alphabet Street. I thought it was ok.
Batman Album - Batdance. I hated it, but was glad Prince was selling albums again.
Graffiti Bridge - Theives in the Temple. I thought it was boring.
Diamonds and Pearls - Gett Off. I saw the video and was blown away. I loved it.
- Sexy MF. I didn't like the song and thought Prince's rapping was embarrasing. is one of my favorite albums though.
COME - Lettitgo - I thought it was boring.
The Gold Experience - Dolphin. Saw it on Letterman. Loved it.
Emancipation - Betcha By Golly Wow. Thought it was awful.

I don't know why you wanted to start with the "Purple Rain" album but anyway, I loved all the lead singles of the previous albums starting with "Uptown" from the "Dirty Mind" album and very anxiously awaited the release of the new albums.

The "Prince" album was already out and in progress when I heard "I Wanna Be Your Lover", which I loved. The first time I heard "Soft And Wet" was during the "Controversy" era. For three years, I had thought "Prince" was the first album.

When Doves Cry (Purple Rain) Loved it and couldn't wait for the new album.

Raspberry Beret (ATWIAD) Heard it on the album, since there was no lead single. Hated it.

Kiss (Parade) Loved it and was expecting the "Old Prince" to be back. Boy, was I wrong. Very misleading lead single. Worst Prince album of the 1980s. There was elevator music on this album.....a total embarrasment to be associated with Prince in any way.

Sign O' The Times (SOTT) Was not impressed but was still very anxiously awaiting the new album because I heard he fired The Revolution so, once again, I expected the "Old Prince" to return. Listen to it, was disappointed, and started calling it "Sign O The 60s".

Alphabet Street (Lovesexy) I thought it was OK but was extremely disappointed because "The Black Album" was not released. If it had been released, I would have been even more disappointed because, once again, Prince was full of misleading tricks to keep his old R&B fans coming back by naming it "The Black Album" (so they would think the "old Prince"....the one before he crossed over...was coming back). Instead it was more of the same retro sound as the previous three albums except it was all funk (not the kind of funk the old fans would want).

After the disappointment of not having "The Black Album" (an album which I envisioned to be entirely different that what it actually was)..."Lovesexy" was just what I thought...more of the same. Likeable but not the great stuff that Prince was known for previously.

Batdance (Batman) By this time, I was almost ready to give up on Prince and let him go. When I heard "Batdance", I said "Welcome back to the 1980s Prince after being stuck in the 1960s and 1970s since 1985". I couldn't wait for the new album and was pleased. It wasn't as strong as the pre-1984 stuff but it was cold and dark and sounded like the decade it was recorded in instead of previous decades. I thought maybe Prince had gone broke from all that "artsy/fartsy" stuff and had gotten back on track. Little did I know, he had developed a following overseas that preferred that shit over the modern stuff.

Theives in the Temple (Graffiti Bridge) Hated it but wrote it off as a weak lead single and anxiously awaited the new album and movie because it was supposed to be part two of "Purple Rain". The only decent shit on the album was from the protegees. Some of the slow songs on this album made the dull songs on "Parade" sound as strong as "Controversy".

Gett Off (D&P) By now, I knew the "old Prince" was gone and never coming back. I thought the song was "decent" and was expecting a "decent" album. When it came out, it was just what I was expecting. I wanted to put my foot in his ass for having bullshit like "Jughead". He had been living in the past almost exclusively since 1985 and when he comes to the present, he picks the worst genre out there....hip hop.

Sexy MF () The first thing I immediately thought was it sounded similar to "Get Off". I expected a decent album and I got what I expected. Just like I wanted to put my foot in his ass for "Jughead"....I wanted to put my other foot in his ass for "The Flow"

Letitgo (Come) It was simply OK. I was expecting a bullshit album but I enjoyed it all the way through (for "new Prince") except for the song "Solo". I loved that he used house music on "Pheremone" and "Loose". At least he was living a little bit in the present.

I Hate U (TGE) Loved it. By this time, hip hop had totally taken over the airwaves and I actually wanted Prince to live in the past. My foot was aching to go in his ass for "Now".

Dinner w/Delores (C&D) I never heard a lead single but I hated that song. The only two songs on this album I liked and still like are "Chaos and Disorder" and "I Like It There".

Bettcha By Golly Wow (Emancipation) I thought "why the hell is he remaking a song". I love The Stylistics version and Prince's version as well but his ass does not need to be remaking anybody else's songs. I was happy with Disc 1 and 3. I was very disappointed with Disc 2. I absolutely loved "In This Bed I Scream". It sounded like the "old Prince".

Crystal Ball: I loved a lot of it but it was still a disappointment. All the hype about old unreleased songs but Prince releases mainly the ones after his style change in 1985. He just ain't gonna do right for nothing. Another slap in the face to the "old school" fans. "The Truth" was included in this set.....worst Prince album EVER. I would have really been pissed if I had bought it separately.

New Power Soul: Hip hop bullshit.

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Rave Un2) I wanted to put both feet up his ass and fuck him with them for this album. First of all, the lead single was midtempo hip hop sounding bullshit that even had a damn hip hop bitch on it with him. He had completely sold out all the way around....the album cover with those stupid ass plats in his head and it was bad enough he had guest stars on there in the first place but hip hop guest stars....hell to the mother fuckin' naw!

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale: Same complaint as "Crystal Ball". It's from the vault but Prince refuses to give up the good shit before 1984 and continues to cater only to his fans that he picked up in the late 1980s. Another slap in the face to the old school fans that got him to the point that he could afford to make the artsy/fartsy shit.

NEWS: As "Men On Film" would say....."Hated It!"

The Rainbow Children: Absolutely hated it except for "1+1+1 is 3" until I listened to it over and over. I like most of the second half of the album now.

Musicology (Musicology) I immediately thought "James Brown....oh well, Prince has thought he was James Brown ever since "Girls and Boys" so I'm used to this. I eventually warmed up to most of the album but both my feet were aching to go up his ass for "Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance" and "Life Of The Party".

Te Amo Corazon (3121) Not impressed at all. I'm curious to hear what the rest of the album sounds like but I'm not overly excited.
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[Edited 12/13/05 21:51pm]

Meloh9 said:

What country are you referring to? In the US, SOTT was the 1st single, followed by IIWYG as 2nd... U Got The Look was 3rd, and finally I Could Never.../Hot Thing as a double hit with Side A marketed to Pop and Side B to R&B stations.

Meloh9 said:

Again, what country? In the US, Sign O' The Times was the first single released to radio/single. When the album was released many radio stations jumped all over Housequake but, as the story goes, by the time it came to release a 2nd single it was thought that HQ had already burnt itself out in several key markets so they went with IIWYG which tanked on the pop charts, in the 60's IIRC though it went top 20 on the R&B chart.

Thanks for the input guys and gals . Especially sovembol, NouveauDance and VainAndy, great in depth reads.


To me it seems since the mid 90s hes been shooting himself in the foot with his lead singles.

I mean, what if he released Endorphinmachine instead of I Hate U first. In This Bed I Scream instead of BBGW, Zanalee instead of Delores. A Million Days instead of Musicology. I dont claim to be an expert at picking singles , far from it ..but his choices make me wonder sometimes

When Doves Cry (Purple Rain) - Marvellous, marvellous record, reminds me of being a youngster instead of a 29 year old duffer with a (tiny) bald patch.

Raspberry Beret (ATWIAD) - As above.

Kiss (Parade) - Same again, classic.

Sign O' The Times (SOTT) - Dramatic record with fantastically simple video.

Alphabet Street (Lovesexy) - Now I wasn't so impressed with this.

Batdance (Batman) - The new Batman film and music by Prince, what could be better? I was very excited when this song appeared even though I didn't think the track itself was much cop.

Theives in the Temple (Graffiti Bridge) - I dont think this song is too bad but the project itself wasn't his best work by a long way.

Gett Off (D&P) - Now I vividly remember this. I was on holiday in Scotland, bored sh1tless and freezing cold. Mark Goodier on Radio 1 played the 12 inch original version of this. I thought the flute on this was amazing and couldn't wait for it to come out, was disappointed with the version that eventually got a commercial release.

Sexy MF () - Wasn't crash hot on this at first. Have to say probably played this album more than any other.

Letitgo (Come) - Fantastic song and in my humble opinion a very, very underated album.

I Hate U (TGE) - Had waited for what seemed like an eternity for this album, didn't think the single was the right choice.

Dinner w/Delores (C&D) - Not a bad song but the album is a bit of a dud.

Bettcha By Golly Wow (Emancipation) - Again I dont think the best single choice.

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Rave Un2) - Not bad but the album is bobbins.

Musicology (Musicology) - Don't really dig the title track but then again, it's not one of my favourite albums.

Te Amo Corazon (3121) - Heard it once last night but the people round my house kindly talked all the way through it.

They're all dead now.

jtfolden said:

I clearly remember hearing girlfriend ( on black radio at the time ) way before any other single from Times. I could have it wrong but I remember it like yesterday. Black radio may have had a different format for what they played at the time also, especialy in Chicago.

Meloh9 said:

Well, R&B stations in general were notorious for playing Prince songs regardless of whether they'd been officially released as a single. At one point I couldn't turn on the radio without hearing Adore.

When Doves Cry (Purple Rain)-Didn't like P then so don't remember the first time.


Raspberry Beret (ATWIAD)-My sister was a Purple Rain groupie and was talking to my parents about the song, how it reminded her of how they met. I thought it was alright.

Kiss (Parade)-Prince conversion took place mid-85. Heard this song on a radio contest against Rock Me Amadeus. It lost but I liked the song from the start.

Sign O' The Times (SOTT)-Shocked out of my ass. Didn't sound like Prince. Didn't sound like anyone.

Alphabet Street (Lovesexy)-Thought it was stupid the first couple of times, grew on me like mold.

Batdance (Batman)-Heard it on a pick it or kick it contest on radio station, audience kicked it. A week later it was on every hour.

Theives in the Temple (Graffiti Bridge)-Drove off the side of the rode. Sounded real different.

Gett Off (D&P)-Heard it on R and B station. Thought it was damn funky.

Sexy MF ()-Got that video...thought it was prince doing James Brown. Became a complete convert to this song when he sang it on Jam of the Year tour.

Letitgo (Come)-Loved it. Thought it would be huge.

I Hate U (TGE)-Didn't like it. Still don't

Dinner w/Delores (C&D)-Begged the radio station to play it. They did and made fun of it. I agree now.

Bettcha By Golly Wow (Emancipation)-Disappointed it was another damn ballad.


The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Rave Un2)-Disappointed it was another damn ballad.

Musicology (Musicology)-P does James Brown...great hook but not much of a song.

Te Amo Corazon (3121)-It's alright.

Meloh9 said:

I had a subscription to Billboard magazine back in the 80's and followed Prince's single releases up and down the charts.

It's quite possible that whatever station you listened to at the time simply didn't warm up to SOTT as a single and jumped on IIWYG when the album first came out. The local R&B station here played the heck out of Adore for what seemed like months, much more than they ever played the official singles.


This same station was, also, spinning Christopher Tracy's Parade and Girls & Boys when Parade was released.

When Doves Cry (Purple Rain) Stunning - blew me away and made me a fan immediately
Raspberry Beret (ATWIAD) Loved it
Kiss (Parade) A bit baffled by it at first but quickly fell in love with it.
Sign O' The Times (SOTT) Awesome track - chilled me to the bone
Alphabet Street (Lovesexy) Loved the sparseness of it (hated the album version though - too long and too boring.
Batdance (Batman) Thought it sounded weird. Bought it, played it until I kind of liked it, then quickly stopped playing it when I realised it wasn't very good.
Theives in the Temple (Graffiti Bridge) Really liked this one.
Gett Off (D&P) Bought a US import of it (cassette single!) and played it like mad for weeks before it came out in the UK. Loved it.
Sexy MF (prince) Really wasn't sure about it for a long time and didn't like the language. Grew to like it, but am not a fan of rap at all.
Letitgo (Come) Never heard it apart from on the album, which I think is one of his weakest, and this is one of the weakest tracks on it.
I Hate U (TGE) Dreadful lead single - a decent album but a poor track.
Dinner w/Delores (C&D) "Nice", but dull.
Bettcha By Golly Wow (Emancipation) Crap album, crap single
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Rave Un2) See above
Musicology (Musicology) Shades of the mid-section of "Batdance" I thought. It was ok-ish.
Te Amo Corazon (3121) See "Dinner with Delores". Not impressed with it.
[Edited 12/15/05 3:59am]