the truth and musicology set the tone for those album really well.

I agree Come, Rainbow Children to long and meandering.

ernestsewell said:

You hit the nail on the head with this. The operator segue/Endorphinmachine really is the beginning of the album and if taken in this context is the strongest opener.

Rave is wack. I almost forget its there since I tend to view "Undisputed" as the true start of this album

5 Strongest:
Endorphinmachine(Gold)
Controversy(Controversy)
1999(1999)
Lets Go Crazy(Purple Rain)
My Name is Prince (Love Symbol)

5 Weakest
Rave (Rave unto the Joy Fanstastic)-Echoing what Ernest said
Jam of the Year(Emancipation)-Song is about two minutes too long
Never B Another (MPLS Sound)-Ugh
Christopher Tracy's Parade-Love/Hate for this one.
Come-The alternate version is better (IMO); the original track meanders too long.

5 Strongest:
Endorphinmachine(Gold)


Huh? that's like saying "Little Red Corvette is a great opener", but it's not it's 1999. so P Control is the opener on GE.

You can't just decide to ignore a song and choose the next one!

I choose Alphabet Street

NDRU said:

Alphabet St does not open an album ...

OldFriends4Sale said:

Sexy MF, then

Let`s Go Crazy

Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden would be the best 1/2 hit ever!

ernestsewell said:

No way. Rave is so quirky and offbeat and downright freaky!

I love putting it on around my friends who know nothing about Prince. They always pull the same half bewildered, half scared face:

Strongest:
-1999
-Let's Go Crazy
-Sign 'O' the Times
-Dirty Mind
-Controversy
-P Control
-3121
-C.Tracy's Parade


Weakest:
-Rainbow Children
-From the Lotus...
-Eye No
-For You / In Love
-Chaos & Disorder
-Planet Earth

Oh, and one more thing...

I can't believe that in 2010 - in these supposedly enlightened times - that anybody still views My Name Is Prince as a good song.

MattyJam said:

Best pseudo-rap he ever wrote...

Not my fav Prince song (and certainly not the best opener, in my opinion) but a classic of Prince & The Original NPG

NDRU said:

Neither does Sexy MF
(did you actually read the question?)

BorisFishpaw said:

He was obviously pulling our (your) leg...

I agree that the vast majority of Prince's openers have been great choices.

Strongest...
Let's Go Crazy
1999
Controversy
Sign O' The Times
P Control
3121

Weakest...
Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
Jam Of The Year
(There'll Never B) Another Like Me
From The Lotus...

MattyJam said:

Agree completely!

MattyJam said:

I think My Name Is Prince is full of energy, once the bassline starts grooving its time to rock.

Great way to open the album, it prepares you 4 the following journey.

TheVoid said:

agreed

MattyJam said:

i do

btw, good thread
[Edited 4/21/10 4:40am]

judging only by the opening seconds: Let's go crazy

judging by the entire song: Sign o'the times

BombSquad said:

i actually stopped what i was doing (cleaning blinds), turned to my family and said on saturday while listening to SOTT..
"why doesnt he write songs like this anymore"

ernestsewell said:[quote]The strongest is a double whammy with "P Control", and "Endorphinmachine". For me, "P Control" is like a bonus track at the beginning of the disk. "Endorphinmachine" is the real start of the album for me. [quote]

I absolutely AGREE! I remember buying The Gold Experience album at midnight in Dallas, then rushing to the car as I ripped the shrink wrap off and inserted the disc waiting to hear the new PRINCE masterpiece..."P Control" started and I was blown away!!! Then I was just in AWE when "Endorphinemachine" followed. DAMN that was some goooood sh*t!

The only 1st opening track that I am still on the fence on is the title track "Planet Earth". I love the album and the song but sometimes I know if it is the right track to open the album with. But when I listen to the album as the 3rd in a trilogy from 3121 it fits in the flow after "Get On The Boat"...?? I still dig it though.

Go PRINCE!

BorisFishpaw said:

try reading a bit above my first post, maybe it'll start to make sense

Strongest album opener:

"Rain is wet... and sugar is sweet.
Clap your hands... and stamp your feet..."

You just cant beat the start to Lovesexy. Totally blew me away the first time I heard it.

james said:

Agreed. And Eye No is like a rollercoaster of amazing twists and turns.

Hatman said:

just a pity the cd is unindexed...

james said:

That's more like it! I still get chills when i hear the intro of Lovesexy, just like i did when it first came out.

prb said:

I LOVE MNIP, even Tony M's bit!

And thanks prb, I'm always trying to think of good threads, occasionally others agree!

i thought it was quite funky the way 3121 opened up

i'd say some of the strongest (for me) are let's go crazy, eye no, 1999 and 3121 and the weakest one i could think of would be around the world in a day, although i'm quite fond of the rest of the album and the alternate version of that song