As much as I love "Housequake," I don't see it as the 2nd single. Maybe a special 12" inch focused towards the dance-floors and R&B radio, but especially with the sped up vocals I don't see pop radio embracing it. It was just too "out there."

I think "Hot Thing" has the edgy groove, the stripped down funkiness, but is more radio friendly. It would have been the next "Kiss", IMHO.

SoulAlive said:[quote

***"Private Joy"---the best song on 'Controversy'.Would have been a cool third single.

[/quote]

I totally agree with you on this one, "Private Joy" was a no-brainer single. It should have been 2nd single, in my opinion. It was by far the most commercial track on that album, although the title track was the perfect first single.

Tilyourloveisred said:

the thread is HITS not good songs

Another one that I always felt was a huge missed opportunity: "Dance On."

Imagine it as the first single from "Lovesexy".... I think it would have done much better than "Alphabet St."

mirrorbestfriend said:

HUH n y would Dorthy not be a hit??

Tilyourloveisred said:

too weird

GottaLetitgo said:

gold went to no.10 in england!

RumAndRaisin said:

its only a hit if it charts in AMERICA sorry

Apart from all the songs already mentioned there are two (or three) others:

- I Wonder. This is a very catchy song with some corny lyrics , very suitable for a hit song.

- Love Thy Will Be Done. Already a minor hit by Martika, this could have been a huge succes for Prince. Listening to his demo version, his voice suits the song perfectly.

- Comeback. Could be a funeral hitsong....

banks said:

At that time, it got a LOT of airplay.

By the time PR came out, radio had embraced Prince's b-sides and played them like the singles. I know in Dallas many b-sides got premium airplay like 17 Days, Irresistable Bitch, Erotic City, and She's Always In My Hair.

"I Feel For You" or "Bambi" from the second album instead of "Still Waiting" (or even "Why You Wanna" in the case of "Bambi")
"When You Were Mine" instead of "Dirty Mind"
"D.M.S.R." instead of "Let's Pretend We're Married"
"17 Days"
"She's Always In My Hair"
"Adore" instead of "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
"Lovesexy" (just because I want to hear the remix)
"Trust" or "Electric Chair" instead of "The Arms Of Orion"
"The Question Of U"
"The Continental" or "Sweet Baby" instead of "Damn U"
"Endorphinmachine" and "Shhh" (and possibly "319")
"In This Bed I Scream" in place of "Betcha By Golly Wow"
"So Far So Pleased"
[Edited 6/7/07 10:53am]

17 Days
Erotic City
International Lover
Lady Cab Driver
Strange Relationship
Positivity
Joy In Repetition
I Like It There
Dolphin
Let's Have a Baby

LittleSmedley said:

Catchy tune. Compelling performance. Stylish production. What's not to like? But then, it's the song that made me a fan after dabbling with D&P, and it's one of my all-time favorites, so I'm biased

It's certainly better than Love 2 the 9's, with all of that crap with Mayte and Tony M. at the end

NorthernLad said:

I think it would have done much, much worse. Worst song on the album.

eelco said:

the two songs I most want to smack him for giving away are "Love Thy Will Be Done" and "Open Book." wtf was he thinking....

Raze said:

It's not my favorite track by any means, but I think it's the most commercial on the album.

Thematically, it's like a mix between 1999 and SOTT, and stylistically it's an uptempo, catchy and melodic song with a funky rhythm and wicked percussion. To me, it's the most standard track structurally on the album.

As a first single, with a cool video... I think it would have been a huge chart success.

Of course, there is no way to prove it!

I always see Dance On as filler

Raze said:

I agree

Open Book , of course! Another missed opportunity. I still think this and ""I Wonder" should be released someday, WITHOUT re-recording anything. They could still be quite succesfull in their original form...

What makes them so fascinating is that they are perfect examples of multi layered vocals, the way only Prince can do it.....

mirrorbestfriend said:

I disagree with that. Gold is beautiful. Its the emotional center of TGE. It is that album's Purple Rain. I also GottaLetitgo believe that song should be much more popular than it is!!

Love2tha9s said:

maybe if the single version had the guitar solo in it, it would've been bigger. or if it had been, you know, promoted at all by the artist.

Raze said:

I guess that explains it. I've never heard the single version. I only listen to it on the album. Yeah, I suppose I could see then. Thats not the same song without the blistering guitar at the end. Its like a buildup and then climax!!

Love2tha9s said:

there were actually 2 edits that contained the solo on the promo, but they're not the version on the single, and that's the one i heard on the radio (and i did hear it a few times). the fact that Gold did chart and did actually pick up some airplay is testament that people, including radio, were actually interested in this album and it could have been a blockbuster if Prince wasn't in tantrum mode.

Raze said:

I totally agree. That album was packed with hits.

Prince has made a career out of blaming others for his own bad choices, IMHO.

Raze said:

i agree with everything here

"Willing and Able"
"When 2 R N Love"

Girls and Boys WAS the second single in the UK. It only made it to no. 11 (same as A Love Bizzare).

LittleSmedley said:

Because it kicks ass!!!!!

banks said:

that's a bold statement, but 17 Days would have been huge if released as an A-Side

My picks (i only choose songs that were never released a a single):

* I Feel for you: the most catchy track on that album after I wanne be your lover.

* When you were mine: a classic Prince song, strange that they didnt release it as a single.

* Private Joy: indeed a very commercial sounding, catchy track.

* 17 days: a b-side with the quality of some of his best tracks

* New Position: minimalistic funk in the line of Kiss, the album version is a bit short, so maybe he could have extended it.

* Sometimes it snows in april: its just a beautifull balad, and also the kind of song People arent expecting from Prince.

* The Cross: this was a big fan favourite in Europe in 1987, the anthemlike caracther could have people remind of Purple Rain

* Hot Thing: Catchy, sharp funk-rock, should have been released after U got the look, instead of the bleak demo-sounding version of I could never take the place of your man.

* Annastesia: it could have flopped maybe, but also have been a great hit (but maybe the god=love part is TOO much for the casual listener).

* Electric Chair: instead of Scandalous.

* Question of You: just like when you were mine, another classic Prince track that has never been released as a single.

* Still would stand all time: another anthemlike ballad, that could have done well with the people who loved Purple Rain.

* Willing and able: a nice catchy, swinging track, but again the songs that were allready released as a single all screamed 'single' themselves.

* The Continental: Not my personal favourite, but it could have done well.

* Billy Jack Bitch: a favourite with the DJ's when Gold was released, definitely a potential single (and dancefloor material)

* I like it there: could have been a minor hit.

* Emancipation had some catchy, polished singlematerial like: Jam of the Year, Style and New World to name a few. He should have marketed this set a lot better.

* From the Crystal Ball set: Hide the Bone is shamelesly catchy pop-funk, could have been a top 10-hit.

* Man'o' war (maybe a bit too long) and I love you but i dont trust you anymore are quality-ballads from an otherwise stalled, mediocre album. Especially the second song could have been a surprise hit.

* Five Women from The vault could have been a minor hit: its a catchy blues-pop song in the vein of Robert Cray (who also scored hits with that kind of material)

* The big mistake Prince has made with marketing 3121 IMO is NOT releasing Love as a single. That song, accompanied with a good video, could have been huge.