Okay, I realise this will strike at the core of many orgers' key beliefs but I have recently come to the conclusion that the ballads, taken as a whole, are almost totally without fault, and in themselves represent a life's work of absolute total genius.

I certainly wasn't always of this opinion. When I was younger I groaned at the likes of When 2 R in Love. I got rid of my copy of Diamonds and Pearls when I first got it because I thought the title track was the tackiest, sugariest thing I'd ever heard. But since then i've matured a bit and now find the ballads to be one highlights of Prince's music. Diamonds and Pearls is now one of the most listened to tracks in my collection. The other day I made the following compliation of (just about) all the ballads together, and I couldn't believe how freakin amazing it was.

I'm sure there are gonna be lots of knockers out there. I'm sure I've missed a few out and I'm sure there are a couple of tracks which people might not like. But I reckon the ballads are universally fabulous.


Baby
When We're Dancing Close And Slow
With You
It's Gonna Be Lonely
Gotta Broken Heart Again
Do Me Baby
International Lover
The Beautifiul Ones
Condition Of The Heart
Sometimes It Snows In April
Slow Love
Adore
When 2 R In Love
Scandalous
Still Would Stand All Time
Diamonds And Pearls
Insatiable
Damn U
Power Fantastic
Dark
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
I Hate U
I Will
Had U
Betcha By Golly Wow!
I Can't Make U Love Me
Soul Sanctuary
Let's Have A Baby
Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/ Wife
La-La (Means I Love U)
Goodbye
Until U're In My Arms Again
The One
Man O War
Love U, But Dont Trust U Anymore
Silly Game
She Loves Me 4 Me
A case of U
Call My Name
On The Couch
Reflection
Te Amo Corazon
Satisfied

Missing: The Arms of Orion from Batman.
The Love We Make, One Kiss At A Time from Emancipation

Glad to see you're diggin' on "The One" from Newpower Soul. I love the psychedelic harp solo in that song...or whatever the hell instrument it is, it's beautiful!!!

gcu1

pjcath said:

You missed out two of his very best... Circle Of Amour and Sweet Baby!

Two of my all time favourites.

Isnt Purple Rain a ballad?

pjcath said:

Brilliant tune!

Missing: The Dance from 3121
[Edited 4/28/06 3:56am]

Totally agree

no matter how bad I've thought some of his 90's / early 2000's albums have been, it's usually the ballads that I still like.

There's a few exceptions:

Diamonds and Pearls
Blue Light
Dinner with Delores

All a bit cheesey !

I always regarded Head as kind of a fast-paced ballad.

Y'know,

How he meets up with a virginal bride,
but because of his spunk,
she ended up marrying him him instead....oh...

e..excuse me

I'm getting all perklempt just thinking 'bout it....

when the songs are distinct, he is gold..

when he rehashes that same r&b/blues tune he has been repeating since Adore:

I'm sorry, but I never cared for the ballads (save for "The One") from C&D or NPS. That said, some of P's ballads ("Adore," "Pink Cashmere," "Call My Name") rank among my all-time favorites.

jillybean said:

I love "Pink Cashmere", and I like "Adore", but I think P's ballads are usually pretty boring. For some reason, I don't consider "Purple Rain" a ballad, or even "I Hate U". Too much energy in the performance. When I think of his ballads, I think of "Arms of Orion", "Scandalous", "Insatiable". Stuff like that.