Tapping into the collective Prince music knowledge here on the forum.

I have a friend that is a progressive rock musician and normally places value on artists based on how good they can play their instruments, but he just won't take Prince seriously based completely on the Purple-One's excentricities.

I love Prince's music and know he's an excellent multi-talented musician-singer but I'd like to prove it to this friend too. I'd like to shut his mouth up!

What songs would you recommend I have him listen so he can finally grasp it too?

I know the guitar solos in both Purple Rain and Let's Go Crazy are considered among the alltime best, but what about other solos or songs that could rock his socks off? "Joy in Repetition" comes to mind, any others?

Thanks for your help.

Mogens

I think you need to get your hands on the performance of "Fury" from SNL. Make your friend watch the rerun in a couple weeks.

Got your hands on the undertaker video? That'll sway his mind.

Or this:

http://youtube.com/watch?...nce%20fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance.

*edit* DOH! Doozer beat me to it.
[Edited 3/10/06 20:14pm]

TheBigBang said:

You read my mind!

Much of the Rainbow Children.

Some of Xpectation.

One Nite Alone (piano)

and various boots... eg. My Summertime Thang (prince version)

Most songs on The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale

I (a Prince fan) haven't even once gotten through Rainbow Children, even less so a non-fan of Prince any specific tracks? You mention a SNL performance, where are those in his discography? I'd prefer ideas from his official discography. I thought it'd be easier

A temp tracklist includes:
- Purple rain
- Let's go crazy
- Joy in Rep (still have to know from what live performance, considering Prince only has one official live release "One Night Alone")

I'd prefer to prove Prince's good with his own music, not playing other people's music (like the George Harrisson HofF Performance for example).

Any more tracks that you can recommend?

Thanks

Mogens

After Proving Prince is a good musician shall we move onto Proving that Orange is the collor between Yellow and Red on the light wave spectrum?

Oh God, someone tell Roy G Biv he's needed.

Good? tisk tisk tisk, what's it that tony the tigar says?

Get an account on housequake.com.

Enter the video forum.

Place your friend in front of your computer screen and put him headphones on.

Start the video of Prince's SNL performance of "Fury" (early February 2006).

Case closed.

Alternatively: "Joy in Repetition" live, "One Nite Alone" boxset, CD3. I played that for a friend of mine who plays guitar and is totally into Steve Vai and stuff and who thought of Prince as a weird little pop star. Changed his mind.

'I could never take the place of your man' from sign of the Times

Tell him to go to housequake and hit the video forums, look at the Jay Leno version of Ballad Of Dorothy Parker, where Prince kills on Rhoads. Then, he can see the SNL performance of Fury, and then the Rock And Roll Hall of fame stuff, and the Undertaker video. that would surely shut is mouth, because Prince live cannot be touched fuckers.

2freaky4church1 said:

It's interesting to note how most recommend live performances... Thanks for the Sign O The Times recommendation. I'll got to housequake and check it out too, thnx.

Is it that Prince's studio recordings miss something? I thought I'd get much more input from his incredibly varied discography.

Greetings

Mogens

It's not that they miss something, it's just that the man is the bomb live! Most pop folks have problems to produce a live sound which comes close to decent, Prince is one of the few who can add something to his songs playing them live or show different aspects of his compositions. There are a few indeed who only work live imo ("Days of Wild" or "Rave" come to mind).

If you want to impress your friend with a studio work, you could also play the already mentioned "Sign 'O' the Times" completely for him and just tell him that most of the instruments were played by just one man - Prince.

Housequake has all the jelly.

kick your friend in the nutsac.

- God (instrumental)
- God (vocal)
- How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
- Tamborine
- 3 Chains O'Gold
- Lovesexy Live in Dortmund, Piano Medley
- I'm Yours
- Temptation
- The Dance (3121)

I know you said no playing other people's music but...

- Just My Imagination, '87 New Moring version and then the '88 Small Club one.

Whether Prince actually is a "good" musician or not is of course a matter of opinion - so it can't really be "proved"...

However, I would play the For You album.

Electric Chair
I'm Yours
Bambi

An ordinary musician can't create and play those 3 songs...

If he believes Prince aint a good musician due to his "eccentricities" then he's either pretty shallow, or looking to wind you up.

Some very good choices in here! I'd say:

The Time (for example, 'Get It Up' and it's nasty cool synth-going-into-guitar solo)

Lady Cab Driver

Condition of the Heart

Irresistible Bitch

first Madhouse album (and point out that it's Prince on everything, except horns)

2 Nigs United 4 West Compton

TRC

Xpectation

Fury and RnRHoF performances

...and some boots, maybe aftershows from the ONA tour.

And then ask him what his behaviour (or anyone's for that matter) has to do with his talent as a musician.

Great! Now Prove Graviety exists by jumping off a building and try to fly.

Is this MickG a spammer or an off-topic rambler that is called in to stop conversations? Anyway, I thank the positive comments, the great ideas and the list of songs some have taken the time to assemble. Didn't know about Madhouse, so now I have something to research too.

Regarding the shallowness, I agree, but then the screams, falsetto and the squeeks and stuff like that can turn many people off, did so with mje in the beginning, until I bought Sign O the Times and that was it.

Thanks

Mogens

MickG said:

U know Mick, I don't want to like you..but you're quite logical and highly intelligent. I can see that by your posts

Sorry Mick, all that, AND you like Buddy Christ!! (clerks2 this summer)

Today I hope to Prove Boyancy with a piece of lumber and a ten gallon fishtank filled with water.

Did it, he admitted Prince plays funkin' excellent on the guitar and keyboards. SNL Fury and Jay Leno Ballad of D. did the job! Thanks guys, you rock and Prince rocks way more!