17 Days as a single and not a B-Side would have been just as big as When Doves Cry IMO

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.

Crucial - defintely (Did he even release singles when he finally released Crystal Ball?)

The One - edited

Any song from 1999 that wasn't a single. It's that consistent and that good.

When U were Mine

I Hate U

Shh
Somebody's Somebody (was this a single?)

Strange Relationship

Not on topic, but if he would have recorded a Prince-ish version of Manic Monday (which he gave to the Bangles) and of Uncle Sam (which he gave to Tevin Campbell), they would have been huge. Obviously, Manic Monday was huge anyway.

coltrane3 said:

I definitely agree w/Shh... I would have loved to have had that played as much as they played & played... & played Tevin Campell's version.

shaedove99 said:

tevin's version was better

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."

"Illusion Coma..." instead of ballads

"3121" with a sureeal concept party video or "Lolita" with some upcoming model. Fury is very boring as far as mass excitement appeal in my opinion.

As far as "Housequake" Prince has a record of believing songs are too cool to be an a-side single, especially the wicked dance ones. Irrisistible Bitch, Erotic City, Housequake, P-control... etc. And he went even further underground cool with the non release of "Days of Wild"


I think "Now" would have hit if pushed by the record company.

ufoclub said:

hmmm. i don't think i like any of those choices. except "3121." sorry

I agree w/ most of those, my only thing with "17 Days" is - what would it have replaced? There were no weak links on "Purple Rain", and that album already had 5 singles. And I would think "Baby I'm a Star" would be a single before "17 Days."