Musicology & 3121 are like two sides of the same coin. They're not perfect, but maybe if he's put them together he could have made one great album.

I say:

Musicology
Lolita
Black Sweat
Incense & Candles
The Word
Fury
Love
The Marrying Kind
If I Was the Man In Your Life
The Dance
3121
Reflection

would have made a kick ass album

NDRU said:

This is awesome. I'd stick Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance on there, though. I'm going to burn this to a cd.

They had different feels to me
I much prefer 3121, as it was more upbeat and fresh sounding to me

though Musicology has it's shining moments

thekidsgirl said:

Actually I agree with everything you just said.

But I think their sound is close enough--especially with an artist as diverse as Prince. And each album was close to great, but not quite great.

NDRU said:

Yeah, I see what you're saying, just to me Musicology is brown and olive green, whereas 3121 is red and bright blue (if that makes sense )

I just can't inagine going from Lolita to Musicology to Cinnamon Girl to Love

Maybe I'm just being wack, I'll stop now

but I do understand your reasoning

thekidsgirl said:

That's a pretty good description. 3121 definitely has something that Musicology doesn't. I think Musicology was a forced version of what came more naturally to 3121.

But even forced Prince can be really good. And some moments of Musicology sound easy & natural. I think Musicology (the song) works much better than Get on the Boat for example.

I like both albums but prefer 3121.

There somesongs on 3121 that I think would have fitted better on Musicoloy.

So I think I would make musicology better by doing this.

Musicology
Illusion, Coma, Pimp And Circumstance
Te Amo Corazon
A Million Days
Call My Name
Cinnamon Girl
What Do U want Me 2 Do
The Marrying Kind
If I was The Man In U're Life
Reflection
The Dance
Get On The Boat.

And then 3121 would be like this (maybe a little too short)

3121
Lolita
Black Sweat
Incense And Candles
Love
Fury
Guitar (probably recorded after but you never know)
The Word

So that leaves BLAB Satisfied Dear Mr Man and On the couch songs that are ok but I wouldn't miss too much.

Jakeasaurus said:

Yes, thought the same thing (about ICP&C)

Okay this might be a little bit out there but...

I would have prefered 2004 (the 20th anniversary of PR) to have been more of a greatest hits year. In this scenario Prince releases "The Hits volume 3" featuring material since "Emancipation" (although even more ideal would be material since "Come" but that would have to involve Warner Bros).

This album would feature the new tracks "Musicology" and "Cinnamon Girl" that would also be released as singles with the b-sides "Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance" and "Life O The Party".

The album would also be a give-away on the tour (as it was) introducing loads of Prince fans to music since 1996.

THEN...

The 3121 album that followed in 2006 would have a tracklisting something like:

3121
Lolita
Black Sweat
Love
What Do U Want Me 2 Do
Call My Name
Te Amo Corazón
The Marrying Kind
If I Was the Man In Your Life
Fury
The Word
Beautiful, Loved And Blessed
The Dance
Dear Mr Man
Reflection

Then the following would have either been b-sides and/or NPGMC released tracks

Incense And Candles
Satisfied
Get On The Boat
Magnificent
Silver Tongue
United States Of Division
Glass Cutter
The Dance (demo)

Just an idea...but of course in that fantasy world:

- Prince and Warner Bros never fell out
- Prince didn't change his name to
- The Gold Experience was released in 1994
- Chaos & Disorder had "Calhoun Square", "The Ride" and "Empty Room" on it
- Emancipation was a double album
etc etc
[Edited 2/9/07 5:18am]

I say:

1) 3121
2) Lolita
3) A Million Days
4) Black Sweat
5) Cinnamon Girl
6) Te Amo Corazón
7) Fury
8) The Word
9) Call My Name
10) The Dance
11) On The Couch
12) Reflection

One beautiful thing about Prince is that he has a playlist for any mood in life.
Had and agrument with a lover?
I Hate U, Waisted Kisses, Had U etc...
Want to make up?
Come, One Kiss at a Time, Rippopgodazippa, Shhhh.....
Want to settle down?
Forever in My Life, The One, Savior, etc.....
or just have fun!!
Play in the Sunshine,We Gets Up, Lolita...
Partying Dancing Hard?
Erotic City, Housequake (concert version)
sooooo many songs to choose from

Why is Get on the Boat such a discard to many fans?
Thats a nice funky little jam in my opinion

I really like that song, Get On The Boat
I want to ask Prince if the idea came from watching War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise. In the movie he says,"...There's room for a hundred more"

thekidsgirl said:

It's alright. I like the bass.

I agree that they're quite close in sound. I really like both albums - i certainly dont stand in this camp of fans who believe they are poor immitations of his formerly great self, but there is definite filler on both though.

Musicology
Lolita
Black Sweat
Te Amo Corazon
Illusion Coma Pimp & Circumstance
Cinamon Girl
Love
Call My Name
What Do U Want Me 2 Do?
Fury
The Word
On The Couch
3121
Reflection

NDRU said:

One of the few recent Prince songs with alot of horns that doesn't sound overwhelming. I also really dig that percussion!

thekidsgirl said:

Yeah. That song is fire

I love both albums!

thekidsgirl said:

Sheila E.