I have a friend that is amazed by my passion for Prince's music and just doesn't quite understand it. The good news is she is willing to try. She has asked me to burn her a CD. Question is, what 15 or so songs - in order - would you burn?

Thanks!

Depends on what this person likes atm.

Relate the tracks to their main interest first whilst mixing it up with a few classics.

Then explain how Prince's versatility as a musician allowed you to do that because he's covered everything HIMSELF with no producers. Word persuasion is strong, speak your passion, point out defining moments in songs.

After this, give albums, not mixes. Begin with the more easy listening and then move to the more deep.

Example, if this person was a modern pop lover, you give 3121 which will cater to that but give sense of real musicianship at the same time.

...i should turn this into a pamphlet.
[Edited 10/16/09 12:43pm]

Let's Go Crazy
Take Me With U
The Beautiful Ones
Computer Blue
Darling Nikki
When Doves Cry
I Would Die 4 U
Baby I'm Star
Purple Rain

Colbert said:

does she have one genre of music she stick 2???
or does she mess wth many forms of music????

i say this cause If she never realy listen to R&B...
and iz more of a "Rock" listener. U would have to
accommodate to her sound....
[Edited 10/16/09 12:04pm]

nyse said:

This is so true. I always loved when Prince's 80's hits came on the radio but I never bought anything of his. I love the voice of Aaron Neville and had I not bought Planet Earth on a lark I would not have known Prince could easily match Aaron. Somewhere Here On Earth blew me away. So find what she likes and we can help you from there.

the song Little Red Corvette made me a fan

i'd stick to the early hits to begin with... the following fits perfectly on a 80 minute cd. these are all the standard CD/LP versions, apart from kiss, i put on the 7" version, but you can fade/edit the normal CD version instead (or use the version on the hits cd). i was going to put the extended version of let's go crazy bit it would mean having to miss out a track (which would likely be cream from the choice below). this is similar to the hits compilations, but full album versions, no edited crap, and DMSR and p control wouldn't make any hits discs

lets go crazy
1999
little red corvette
DMSR
controversy
dirty mind
when doves cry
raspberry beret
kiss
sign o the times
alphabet st
cream
gett off
sexy mf
p control

it's mostly, but not strictly chrono order. let's go crazy is a great starting track, which is why it kicks off the movie, then another couple of popular hits that normal people should know, then we delve a bit deeper into the purple funk and more sexualy explicit stuff and back to another few hits, doves, beret, kiss, showing the tracks varying in style, and even moreso with SOTT and alphabet street, after cream you move back into the sex songs with gett off, sexy mf and p control examples of some of his more explicit later hits, and p control a great ending that will make you want to hear more, unless she really can't stand what she has just heard over the past 80 minutes

if she likes that you can then compile another disc of stuff llike the cross, the ladder, free, joy in repetition, the question of u, shy, sometimes it snows in april, dorothy parker, she's always in my hair etc, the album tracks that are fan favourites but are more downbeat than funky, showing an alternate side

if she likes that, let her watch purple rain on dvd. if someone doesn't enjoy that, then they aren't likely to become a prince fan

Sign O the Times
When Doves Cry
Pink Cashmere
Dolphin
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore
The Other Side of the Pillow
Colonized Mind
Dreamer
7
Fury
Diamonds and Pearls
Adore
Forever In My Life
Purple Rain

Make sure you tell them, too, that on just about every song, Prince plays every instrument and sings every note.
[Edited 10/16/09 17:47pm]

I wud just copy 3 cds for her. Purple Rain,Ultimate Prince,and 3121.

play the controversy album. to me is always seems the most current.

how many ways can u work the p .. must b something in the water.

Colbert said:

I would give her the Purple Rain DVD and some of his most beautiful love songs.
Adore
Insatiable
Damn U
Blue light
The Come album complete
The Emancipation CDs
Crystal Ball CDs

There are so many songs....