Everybody on this org has talked about htis at least once. Prince recording an awesome song but never release it as a single. Well I have a few that I love and wondered why? First song I like to mention is Adore. This song is awesome. GREAT! Everybody from they momma to their dog love this song. And Prince didn't release it as a single. Why? That's one of life's questions I guess. This song was and still is a staple of late night radio. Instead, he or WB decided to release "If I Was Your Girlfriend". Don't get me wrong, I like the song but it didn't exactly tear up the charts if you know what I mean. I think Adore would have. But I guess that's why it's a classic for the simple fact it wasn't released. I think it would've been more of a classic if they released it. Okay! Next song, Partyup. Funkin' at its best. Not a single though. Should've been but correct me if I'm wrong, it could've been a b-side to "Uptown". I'm not going to take to much of your time so I'll just list a few other songs and see if you agree with me. Or, if you have some I didn't mention feel free to list that or those songs. Thank you! Here are the others:

Private Joy, The Beautiful Ones, Live 4 Love, Shhh, and DMSR.

There could always be a chance, that I don't know what was released as a single, because, running out and buying the whole cd everytime they came out, put Prince's music at my fingertips...

However...I will list some songs that I believe deserved repetitive air play.
Pink Cashmere
Don't say U Love me
Spirit
Open Book
Starfish and Coffee
It's gonna be a beautiful night
Gotta broken heart again
Love 2 the 9's
The Everlasting Now
When U love somebody
Paisley Park
Push
Willin' and Able
Sweet baby
Money don't matter
One Kiss at a time
EmaleLife 'o' the party
If eye was the man in your life
Dear Mr, Man
Black Sweat
Somewhere Here on earth

The list is long and illustrious. In my head, I have a whole alternative Prince single releases from 'For You' to 'PE'.

Prince's decisions on single releases has been pretty wacky almost throughout his whole career - but it's just proof that the guy is less interested in squeezing out every last dollar from a record with military precision and just getting stuff out there and then working on the next idea.

I think Parade, SOTT and Lovesexy were especially mis-managed, and more could've been made of 1999/PR/ATWIAD and definately of Come/TGE too.

***"Private Joy"---the best song on 'Controversy'.Shoulda been the third single,after "Let's Work".I bet this song would have been Prince's first big crossover hit.

***"Lovesexy"---shoulda been the second single.

***"Automatic"

***"Girls And Boys"---It was released as a single outside of America,but I think it should have been the official second single in the States,too.

***"The Future"

***"It"

***"Sleep Around"---woulda been a cool first single from 'Emancipation'

***"So Far,So Pleased"---Yes,the 'Rave' album has its flaws,but when it's good,it's very good.This song had "hit" written all over it.

the list could go on & on...he's got 2 many hits, Shut up already, damn!

Tame said:

Message to Tame. Money Don't Matter Tonight was released as a single.

LoDog said:

i dont think adore would ever have been a hit, it is a song that has grown on fans over the yrs. If i was your girlfriend, was probably the most obsure release ever, for alot of reasons, including not having a video, but that is prince , today the song is recognised as a work of art

I always thought "Paisley Park" should have been the lead-off single in the U.S. I could see it getting released early spring (before the album) then save "Raspberry Beret" for the big summertime hit.

I also thought "Walk Don't Walk" could have been a hit for him. Maybe as the 4th single off D&P. It could have benefited from a little remixing to fill it out, though.

Prince doesn't make mistakes.

December1984 said:

A few months before the D&P album was released,I had heard that "Walk Don't Walk" was planned as a future single.In fact,Prince was planning a video for it,to be directed by Lisa Bonet ("The Cosby Show").Don't know whatever happened to those plans,but I think it would have been an interesting single.

SoulAlive said:

Good Choices!

mentalist said:

thank you

December1984 said:

I agree! "Paisley Park" should have been the first single.It's the strongest song on that album.Release "Paisley Park" (early spring),then "Raspberry Beret" (summer),then finally release "Pop Life" as the third single (late summer).

It made no sense to release "America" as a single.That song is nothing special and the music sounds just like "Baby,I'm A Star".


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[Edited 1/18/08 5:43am]

Do we have a lot of time? That's been the most frustrating part of being a fan of his. He has made so many God awful choices when it comes to choosing singles. Here's my list and they may go alongside with what others have said.

D.M.S.R.
Automatic
The Beautiful Ones
Condition of the Heart
Girls and Boys - may have been a single in the U.S. but I don't think so
Anotherloverholeinyohead - same as Girls and Boys
Housequake
Forever In My Life
Strange Relationship
Adore
Lovesexy
Vicki Waiting
Trust
Still Would Stand All Time - could have seen this a single when the Gulf War happened in 1991
The Question of U
Willing And Able
Love 2 the 9's
Damn U - for the pop side, it was released only as an R&B single
The Continental
Blue Light
The Maxx
And God Created Woman
Pheremone
P Control - with HEAVY editing
Shy
Shhh!
Billy Jack Bitch
Sleep Around
Soul Sanctuary
The Love We Make
New World
Face Down
One Kiss At A Time
So Far So Pleased
Man O War
Baby Knows
A Million Days
Love
The Word
Lolita
The Dance
3121
Somewhere Here on Earth
The One U Wanna C

That's my list right here.

Nothing Compares 2U.....he certainly dropped the ball giving that one to O'Connor. I hate the kudos she gets for it when all she did was have a blubber in the music video!!

DaveT said:

Them tears were coming down with a vengence in that video.

DaveT said:

Actually,Prince didn't "give" this song to Sinead.He wrote and produced it for The Family in 1984.It appeared on their album.Sinead covered it in 1990.Her manager back then was Steve Fargnoli (Prince's ex-manager).I bet he's the one who introduced her to the song.

Somebody mentioned "The Beautiful Ones".I've always felt that this should have been the fifth and final single from Purple Rain' instead of the so-so "Take Me With U".They would have had to make a single edit,removing some of the loud screams at the end.I don't think that would have worked on pop radio,lol.

other songs that should have been singles:

***"When U Were Mine"---In 1980,Prince was still regarded as an R&B/funk artist,so I think Warners were afraid to release a pop/rock single by him.This song became a classic anyway.

***"Hide The Bone"---This song should have been the first song on 'TGE' and released as the first single!! It would have been regarded as Prince's funkiest jam of the 90s.A missed opportunity.

***"Can't Stop This Feeling I Got"---I was so disappointed when Prince released the lame "New Power Generation" as his second single from GB,instead of the superior opening track."Can't Stop..." is fast,vibrant and reminiscent of "Let's Go Crazy".

***"Strollin"---Don't laugh,but I really think this could have been a single.I think it should have been the final single from D&P,instead of "Money Don't Matter 2Night" (a song that many people didn't really understand).Prince has mentioned that he wanted to release "Strollin" as a summer single,to chill people out.Warners objected.I think it would have been a "sleeper" hit....a song that catches people by surprise and becomes an unlikely hit.

i think the beautiful ones is one of them songs which should stay on the album as a gem for the cd...a song that is a treasure for those who have ventured into the album and experienced it in its fullest. albums always need the tracks that are hilights of the cd which havent been released, makes it better for fans and shows those who listen to just the 'hits' to be foolish.

i do very much agree that private joy and sleep around should have been released.

DaveT said:

Don't think he'd be playing it live now if it wasn't for her version. Don't you think (despite her being a cock) that her version is amazing?

I feel for you

When yo were mine

Erotic City (as an A-single)

17 Days (as an A-single)

Hot thing

Can't stop this feeling I got

2 the 9's

So far so pleased (though I know he wanted to)

Love

The 1 U wanna C

SoulAlive said:

...uhm... actually it WAS released as a single in the U.S.

I bought it. I heard it ONCE on the radio.

Probably he had tired of the album and wasn't interested in promoting it by the time it was released.

PrettyMan72 said:

x 1,000

PurpleJedi said:

Was it really? I always assumed that the three singles in the U.S. were...

"Kiss"
"Mountains"
"Anotherloverholenyohead"

PurpleJedi said:

Wow,I can't believe I forgot this one! This definitely should have been a single.It should have been the second single,instead of "IIWYGF" (a cool song,but too weird to be a single).

JoeTyler said:

More excellent choices!!!

I would add Electric Chair, Dolphin and Prettyman.

Prince once said in an interview that he wanted to release "Anna Stesia" as a single,but Warners objected because the word "God" is used in the song.What do you guys think? Could it have been a single? I don't think too many pop stations would have touched it.

^ Great song, but I don't think it would have worked very well as a single.
I think the title track should have definitely had a single release though.