"Drop Me Off in Harlem" is by Duke Ellington. Prince just redid the lyrics, kept the music composition, and, presto!: "If I Had a Harem".

Search you feelings you know it to be true...

whoops if this was recently discussed.

What??

"If I Had A Harem" does contain a part of "Things Ain't What They Used To Be", by Mercer Ellington (Duke's son), as well as "Billie's Bounce" by Charlie Parker.

But "Drop Me Off In Harlem" is a whole different composition, I can't see any similarities there...

oh damn, I heard the music and must have looked up too late and noted the wrong title info... what I heard was exactly the same melody that the horns do for the verses and chorus.... I'll have to wait and see if it comes up again on the big band playlist... yep it's "Things aint what they used to be"... and it's already been noted before.... kill the thread!
[Edited 1/15/07 14:03pm]