I got to thinking about this a few moments ago.

To me, there's a lot in music that just sticks about certain songs.
One of my favorite things is the percussion/drumming that goes into them.

In the 80's, the Linn-drum was used heavily, but for these songs, its part of what makes their sound memorable:
1999
Little Red Corvette (especially the dance remix)
When Doves Cry (you only have so many instruments to listen to, chances are great you'll notice/remember this )
Lady Cab Driver should also get an honorable mention here some say its among his best of the decade because its so unique. And rumor has it that the snare drum was played LIVE for this

Then the 90's had some great drumming and drum solos. Not necessarily done by Prince, but it gives his music more dimension.
Live 4 Love (absolutely killer solos at 4 diff. points, but through the majority of the song, its a simple drum line... sometimes simplicity sounds nice to me)
Shh (deserves an honorable mention ... its loud/solid when it needs to be, but it can also hang out in the background and chill while, say, Prince's guitar takes over)

Those are only a couple examples.
Anyone wanna add to the list?

Xenophobia on ONA live. John Blackwell,the Magnificent!

I love the drum work on tracks like Shhh, Chaos And Disorder and Colonized Mind

I like Prince's own loose, unspectacular drumming on songs like "Old Friends 4 Sale" or "God" very much.

The drums on the track 'Crystal Ball' (from the album of the same name) are some of the best sounding drums he ever recorded. It sounds like they are being played in the same room as the listener.

Housequake

There is just something about John Blackwell and Preince working together. Sheila rocked on SOTT DVD.

FlashStabone said:

but of course!

I knew I forgot some.

As a whole, SoTT has a LOT of great drums.

Ballad of Dorothy Parker
IT
Hot Thing (personal favorite )

just a few more

7779311

Tambourine

Billy Jack Bitch has a great drum line.

Now has a great bass and drum section.

When Doves Cry stands out of course.

The Dance Electric for sure.

Tambourine is a stand out track simply for the drums. The Susan Rogers story about this is great.

Dance On is fierce. "There's a bass guitar in this."

Those are ones that come to mind right off.

ernestsewell said:

Come to think of it, that's probably one I would have put if I remembered
So many Prince songs, its hard to remember some. I'm going through right now and am astonished at how awesome some of these songs were

as for Tambourine, what's the Susan Rogers story with that? I've never heard it...

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

If memory serves, I think she talked about how Prince came in to the studio to record the song. He said to set up clean tape. He propped himself up at the drums, and got ready to play. She said he was in a hyper type mood. She mentioned how he played on the song so hard and fierce. It might be the same story where she relates him wearing a lot of necklaces, and you can kind of hear them in the song (although I have an idea that the necklace part might be when he recorded the first four songs from Parade in a row nonstop). She just basically stated how energetic he was during "Tambourine" and how it really shows on the album. You can hear how hard he's hitting the drums and how energetic he's doing it.

Would have to say Lotus Flow3r in full, Everlasting Now (Live or Studio), Chaos & Disorder, New Power Generation (simple still cool), Uptown (always loved it) Thats my choices for now.

[b]7779311.

I'm Yours
Lady Cab Driver
Darling Nikki (not complex, just brilliant textures and use)
Tambourine
Life Can B So Nice
2 Nigs United 4 West Compton
Dance On
Sexual Suicide
Crystal Ball
Release It
Live 4 Love
Shhh
Bambi (Michael B's drums on the Undertaker)
anything John Blackwell played on!