I know Prince's music tends to use so many elements that it's hard to label but which cuts do you consider classic soul/R&B?

Do me
Insatiable
scandalous

beautiful ones..

i dont understand why this song is missing on The Hits 1,2

does anybody know y?

heebong said:

Not a hit

Handel said:[quote]

heebong said:

Not a hit

Then again neither were some of the songs on that comp. Still, I reckon it was due to lack of space.

As for R&B, I tend to veer for those less obvious songs such as "Baby, You're A Trip". It's a simple stripped down demo of a beautiful plea for love, cracking with emotion

The Holy River
Reflection
Sometimes It Snows In April

Silly Game from Rave is an ultimate Prince classic soul song.

HOT WIT YOU - RAVE
LET'S WORK - CONTROVERSY
I FEEL FOR YOU - PRINCE
LADY CAB DRIVER - 1999
PARTY UP & HEAD - DIRTY MIND
THE BEAUTIFUL ONES - PURPLE RAIN
ADORE - SOTT
LETITGO - COME
ANOTHERHOLEINYOURHEAD - PARADE
CRAZY YOU & SOFT N WET - FOR YOU


THAT'S JUST A FEW I CAN ROLL OF THE TOP OF MY HEAD

Call My Name, classic R&B.

LOVE - 3121

Interesting choices. Some I feel fit better in the funk category but great songs none the less.

debbiedean2 said:

Excellent answers!

Adore and Do Me Baby .

Dark!

Probably what do you identify as soul. Do u mean swish Motown pop soul like the Early Temptations or something more rootsy like Howlin Wolf or any other Delta Blues singers.
I think my criteria tto measure it on is.

1. Darkish brooding woman done me wrong lyrics, or funky inyoface horn based pride lyrics.
2. Deep growling black sounding voice (NO FALSETTO POP)
3. Melisma
4. Conviction in the voice.
5. Churchy, gospelly organ background
6. Aretha type, Solomon Burke type factor.

In this case, Prince is hardly Solomon Burke or even Sam and Dave but some songs come close and are exceptional versions of the soul genre. These are.

DARK (excellent especially in voice and subject matter)
ADORE (His best black sounding song)
SEX IN THE SUMMER (Very deriative, but some good devices used and a lyrical shoutout)
I.C.P.C (Voice incredibly)
Dear Mr Man (Subject matter very Marvin Gaye/Curtis Mayfield)
MUSICOLOGY Soulful period, a good slowed down James Brown
SATISFIED (Only Ok but authentic sounding).
THE HOLY RIVER (A pop feel, but good conviction, gospel factor)
ANNASTESIA (Half soul, half white prog rock, but the god is love bit is very gospel even if the instrumentation and the Annastesia come to me part isnt).

There are probably others but these leap out at me.

tane1976 said:

Well done tane!

DEF. Adore and Call My Name!
Others like: The Work (JB style soul-funk sound)
The One
Sacrifice Of Victor

Those are the best ones off the top of my head.

What about Incense and Candles? Or is that too hip-hop?

united1878 said:[quote]DEF. Adore and Call My Name!
Others like: The Work (JB style soul-funk sound)
The One
Sacrifice Of Victor

Those are the best ones off the top of my head.[/quote I agree!

HalluRain said:

Nah its more poppy ans weet, but it passes for a good imitation of Too Much, Too Little by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams or reunited by Peaches and Herb maybe.

Adore, Soft & Wet, Insatiable, Money Don't Matter 2nite, Damn U, Sexy MF, And God Created Woman, The Beautiful Ones, I hate U, The Most Beatuiful Girl in the World, I wanna be yr lover, Housequake, Lady Cab Driver,

And of course:
Sleep On The Couch
Satisfied

"The Beautiful Ones" has nothing to do with "classic soul/R&B". Let's get that straight.