Just got me a copy of Work It and the first track was 'Sweet thing' - Obviously covered by Mary J Blige (and Chaka Khan?)

Excuse my ignorance - Did Prince write this?

god no . it was a chaka khan (with rufus, believe) track first. his is just a cover version of it. he's played this song quite a bit throughout his career. love this song, whoever sings it, but chaka's is the best! classic!

Love it.

Thanks Purple! I've never heard Prince cover it before - but then I'm fairly new to the boots and haven't been to too many concerts... Yah live and learn donchya

MrsGoodnight said:

I remember him playing the keyboards on it a few years back live on tv in New York- I think it was a morning show concert series with Chaka singin and Larry Graham on guitar. During the New Power Soul period as Chaka and Larry had cd released during that period on his npg label. Great collaboration to see him on keyboards you know with those dark funky sun glasses he likes to wear.

MrsGoodnight said:

Nah, Prince didn't write it. Chaka and Rufus's guitarist Tony Maiden wrote it. They recorded in 75 and it was released as a single in 76. THAT version is the best.

He played it at the MTV Accoustic set he did, in 2004 I think! He said he remembered it from High School! He turned the microphone to the audience and said 'Ladies?' for the girls in the audience to sing it, it was really good, the whole accoustic set he did was fantastic!!

Jeffiner said:

I love that performance!!! and that song especially!

You know what's crazy though, Prince has been singing 'Sweet Thing' his ENTIRE career and even before that. One of the earliest Prince bootleg recording has him covering 'Sweet Thing' and it dates all the way back to 1976, two years prior to 'For You' coming out. I guess the original had just come out at that time and Prince loved it.

Militant said:

Yep, that's true.

There is a great live version of this song from the gig Prince did in London sometime in the late '90's at the Cafe De Paris. Chaka fronts Prince and his band and as usual sings the ass off the song. Prince also does a great guitar solo in the song.