Elsewhere (i think in the "Here" threads) its been discussed how P has had several strong songs in recent years that might be characterized as "easy listening". Some have suggested he do an album of such numbers. I'm soooo feeling Here right now that i'm wondering what other songs would fit such a compilation. For me, the best way to describe "easy listening" is by describing what it is NOT. its not a "bedroom ballad" or have some of Prince's typical r & b arrangements (ie, Do Me Baby, Insatiable, Scandalous, I Hate U- all of which i love btw). Instead its more "poppish" in sound and have often been in more of a "story-telling" style vocally. They aren't "rockish" or "funky" For some, "poppish" and "easy listening" are synonymous but not necessarily. Here are the examples that come to mind. A couple of his "hits" that one might place in this category are Raspberry Beret, and Take Me With U. Any thoughts?

Sweet Baby
Te Amo Corazon
Shy
Cinnamon Girl
Here
All the Midnights In The World
The 1 U Wanna C
U're Gonna C Me
[Edited 5/8/09 7:03am]

"Strollin" and "Mr Good Night" Comes to Mind

Have you heard The Rainbow Children? It practically makes you want to push "LL" on the elevator key pad.

Stollin
Tangerine
Venus de Milo
When We're Dancing Slow & Close
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore
Somewhere Here On Earth
Girl
Sometimes It Snows In April
Noon Rendezvous
Susannah's Pajamas
Visions
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Space
Reflections
When 2 R In Love
Leaving 4 New York

She Loves Me 4 Me
Money Don't Matter Tonight
Muse 2 The Pharao

Dewrede said:

haaaaa I was just listening to Muse 2 the Pharaoh
and said I should have included that one

TMBGIW
Into the light/I will (these two songs got me through some rough times once)
Betcha by golly wow/la,la,la means I love you (boarderline bedroom ballads but not quite)
Tangerine
I love U but I dont trust u anymore
She Loves Me 4 Me
Reflection
All the Midnights
Here

stuff like that

ernestsewell said:

I LOOOOVE TRC, but its not "easy listening" IMO. its a great sonic experiment though.

I agree with stuff like She Loves Me 4 Me and Muse to the Pharoah, Into the Light, a longer version of Tangerine and Reflection being on such a comp. but i disagree with Money Don't Matter, How Come U Don't Call Me (this was an "r&b hit"), Dorothy Parker (the arrangement is not "poppish" enough LOL, its low-key exotic funk or something) and Space (this gem is probably borderline pop/r&b but not easy listening to me, black radio didn't touch it). this is what i love about P, he covers soooo many genres is hard to categorize when you're actually TRYING to do so with CERTAIN songs.

Love like jazz, Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Slow Love, Forever in my Life, Dinner with Delores are a few that come to mind.

The One
When two are in Love
On the couch
I wonder U
The Love we Make
The Rapture
The H Man
Sometimes it snows in April
Venus De Milo
God Instramenental version
Somewhere here on earth
A case of u
How come u don't call me anymore
Dreamin about you

OldFriends4Sale said:

cool

And God created woman.

Savior.

datdude said:

I hear u, I have to listen to an easy listening station at work and the songs I picked are familiar in sound.

But remember this is Prince Easy Listening so that's another catagory

Overall I don't think any of Prince's music would fall under normal easy listening

How Come U Don't Call Me, was only an RnB hit because he was catagorized as a Black artist, Let's Go Crazy was on the top 10 were I'm from on the 'Black' radio stations...

I think HCUDCME is very mellow and the piano and lyrics fall under easy listening though

Yeah SPACE might be a bit much but again the breazy groove/melody sounds like some of the stuff I listen to at work. But it's definatly that early 90's air pop sound that I like

fec06 said:

ah Dinner with Delores, missed that one

also could go under Soft Rock

OldFriends4Sale said:

"Space (Acoustic)" is a great cut, and a couple of the Universal Love remixes are nice too with a bit different lyrics.

I think it wouldn't be hard to find an easy listening Prince. There are plenty of mid-tempo, easier songs that could be on that list. Everything from "Gotta broken Heart Again" to "She Loves me 4 Me".

THE COOL COLLECTION

CD 1

Crazy You

So Blue

When We're Dancing Close And Slow

With You

Still Waiting

It's Gonna Be Lonely

Gotta Broken Heart Again

Take Me With U

Raspberry Beret

Under The Cherry Moon

Do U Lie?

The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker

I Wish U Heaven



CD 2

Strollin'

Sweet Baby

Damn U

Power Fantastic

Pink Cashmere

Space (Acoustic Remix)

Count The Days

Shy

Dinner With Dolores

Courtin' Time

She Spoke 2 Me (Girl 6 Sountrack Edit)

Ripopgodazippa

2morrow

18 & Over



CD 3

Don't Play Me

Circle Of Amour

The Other Side Of The Pillow

One Of Your Tears

Comeback

The One

When The Lights Go Down

Tangerine

Beautiful Strange

Silly Game

Muse 2 The Pharoah

She Loves Me 4 Me


CD 4

Here On Earth

A Case Of U

Pearls B4 The Swine

What Do U Want Me 2 Do?

Dear Mr Man

Reflection

Te Amo Corazon

Incense And Candles

Beautiful, Loved & Blessed

Somewhere Here On Earth

Future Baby Mama

Mr. Goodnight

Love Like Jazz

U're Gonna C Me

Here

Bonus Track: Elixer

listening to prince is always easy for me

what about Baby, i love this track and is not a bedroom Ballad as such.




[Edited 5/10/09 15:29pm]

^^^^ Yeah not "only" a Bedroom Ballad !

No one said 77 Beverly Park yet? Wow.

^^^^^ Or Alexa De Paris, Venus De Milo...

i guess 77 Beverly Park, Alexa De Paris and Venus De Milo DESPITE being instrumentals WOULD quality as "easy listening" but i'd probably put them on a "jazz" compilation with stuff like NEWS, the Madhouse projects, etc. So my "easy listening" disc would only contain songs with vocals

saafiir said:

cool

D&P
SHOE
Gotta Broken Heart Again
Still Waiting
Venus De Milo
Ur Gonna C Me(ONA Piano)
77 Beverly Park
A Case Of U
Power Fantastic
Do Me Baby
Insatiable
Sweet Baby
One Kiss At A Time Just for starters

Dewrede said:

Thanx