Do you know how when you listen to an album for the first time... and that #1 track either makes you anxious to hear the rest or scratching your head pondering , 'uh-ohhh... what am I in for'..?

What is your favorite opening track on any Prince album? What track almost single handedly made the album worth while for you?

And on the flip side... which #1 track left you pondering what in the hell was he thinking?!?

For me... the best #1 track has always been 1999. It was the album which hooked me in the beginning. When I heard the opening lyrics..

"Don't worry, I won't hurt U. I only want U 2 have sum fun."

little did I know I'd still be having fun 25+ years later.

However...

The worst opening... I have a tie. Both of these left me speechless in a bad way...
Around The World in a Day and Rainbow Children.

ATWIAD... grew on me as did the album. TRC... I still have issues with that album. I don't despise it like I did the first four or five listens.... but... it is nearly my most disliked official release.

What are your best and worst #1's...?

Best would be a tie between Sign O The Times, For You and Parade...


Worst... Can't Stop That Feeling I Got took an age to like... Jam of the Year...

My Favourite Favourites are, For You - 1999 - Purple Rain - Parade - Lovesexy! They have the best album intro's.

Others that I really like are Dirty Mind (the pulsing Synth at the beginning never tires), ATWIAD (love the song), Graffitti Bridge (Dear dad!....) and a mention to the NPG operator on Gold Experience (really like that too).

TRC gets my vote as the worst purely based on the slowed speech!!!!

Not quite Prince but the Radio tuning intro for Wendy and Lisa's Fruit at the Bottom going into Lolly Lolly is a favourite, as well as Jill Jones with Baby Ur a Trip!!!!

Good Thread!!!

best - come

worst - around the world in a day

I truly like all of the albums openings.

Best/worst openings?

Wow... that's a tough question.
Let's see.

Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999 get all my excited to hear the rest of the album (first time: Dirty Mind kept getting better and better. Controversy didn't stick it for me. 1999 was just all over the places )

ATWIAD: first time... I was wanting to see what more there is. These days, I'm not quite sure what he had in mind. Has little to do with the rest of the album.

SoTT: naturally I'm excited to hear the rest... Disc I fell flat for me... Disc II, "U got the Look" had me excited and the following was amazing

Le Grind: initially got me excited to hear the rest, these days... umm, dont like it quite as much as I used to and a lot of the other material surpasses it.

Thunder: Got me really excited for the rest of the album because I never thought I'd find something like that on D&P.. rest of the album was kind disappointing. These days, the rest have caught up

My Name is Prince: got me excited for the rest... but these days, I change my mind as to whether I like it as an opening or not

Come: first listen, it was one of the few tracks I touched base with AT ALL... these days: it's cool... not overally great, but not terrible

Control: first words: "What have I gotten myself in2?" (first time I heard him us that kind of language and b4 I understood the song)... sometimes it helps get me jizzed up for the rest, sometimes it doesnt so-so

NPS: never wanted to get out of a song that badly b4, but I stuck it out to the end (got unbearable during the last minute or 2)... now I just skip the hell over it

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic: first time had me what is this? type of look... it sets the standard and most of the tracks are better than it

Musicology: didnt really get in2 it so much at first (first listen was a disaster for this album, stopped after "Cinnamon girl" ended)...now its one of the best and the theme goes 4 the rest of the album "real music by real musicians... kick the old school joint 4 the true funk soldiers"

3121: after the lyric "Japanese robes & sandals"... I was interested didn't get into the song much at first, but grew on me.

Planet Earth: I immediately recognized the lyrics from last year's NAACP speech... when it started to get loud, I was intrigued, listening through it... the instrumental break had an air of "magic" about it... then the guitar solo at the very end... just blow me away I was all set for the rest
...now I kinda wish I knew what it had to do with the rest of the album
But probably one of the most impressive openings in recent memory

so..... if we're going by first impressions, Planet Earth (the song) wins hands down 4 me... I'd never been that blow away by an opening number before.
Though "U Got the Look" is a very close 2nd (opener for SoTT: Disc II).
Dirty Mind would be 3rd
The rest I really can't say because I actually have heard the songs many times long b4 I got the album (U Got the look is an exception 2 that, but b4 getting the album, I didnt know he was using the Camille voice in it)

Worst opening has to go to NewPower Soul... no questions

As for what I think now.....

Dirty Mind, 1999, Thunder and :pussy Control (on/off)... and PE to a degree

Let's Go Crazy and Christopher Tracy's Parade I'd heard on the movie b4 the album, so I don't think its fair to talk about them as album openers.
"Let's Go Crazy"... I either am sick of or it really does get things going.
"Christopher Tracy's Parade" starts up the excitement. When I heard the album the first time... I couldn't wait to hear the rest

best opening track:My Name Is Prince
worst opening track:Planet Earth

Worst:Emancipation
Best: Symbol

Even though I'm sick of it, I would have to say "Lets Go Crazy" was the best album opener.

Next would be My Name Is Prince.

Worst? I'm with Dayclear. I'd say Emancipation, although I don't hate it.

Dayclear said:

i dont understand your answer
emancipation's album opener or the song it self(which was the closer)
same thing with "symbol"

just me.

best are 1999, Purple Rain and Gold.

worst is New Power Soul. it pretty much sets the tone for the album, unfortunately and Rave is a real head-scratcher, though I like the song.

I don't have a negative.....

"I wanna Be Your Lover."