Hi folks, how goes it? To be truthful, Ive been a member here for over 5 years, and I rarely post as Im more of a reader on here. And not to add insult, but I really learned alot and became a pretty well-known member on Housequake before it shut down, and after that happened I became genuinely disenchanted with forums in general. But now I actually have something Id like some insight on.

For a couple weeks now, I've been listening to nothing but B-sides from Prince. Why? I dont know. Anyway, everybody knows the classics like "How Come..", "Erotic City", and the others which I dont need to list. From what I gathered, Erotic City in particular was a well-known and popular Prince track from the PR era. But what I want to know is what sort of impact did his b-sides in general have on the general public during his peak in popularity? In other words, how often was "Shes Always in my Hair" or even "17 Days" played on the radio or in clubs and/or bars? Were they as popular as their a-side singles? Did the average joe that knew "Let's Go Crazy" also know the infamous other track on the flipside? Im very curious about this since I only started to know who Prince was in 1991 when I was a mere 5 years old, so obviously I wasnt truly around to experience it. Any insight on this would mean alot, sincerely. Cheers from New Jersey!

The only one in my area that really had any impact was "Erotic city". I can still play that out (as a DJ) and have people dance to it.

They definitely contributed to the mythos of Prince's genius: he was that guy whose b-sides were as good as his a-sides and album tracks, and people were like "wow!".

+ there was a moment when they were a bit hard to get if u didn't live in a big city, hard to listen to if you had only a cassette or CD player, and despite The B-Sides making some of them available in 93 (but not all and most of them in short form) and a couple of bootlegs ripped from the vinyls that not everyone had access to, or unless u knew someone who coule make u tapes, they remained a somewhat rare item until the internet freed them all in the early 2000's.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that the general public heard any of them, but whoever was a bit into then-current music or hip music (and believe me: Prince WAS hip) at least knew about them.

databank said:

They definitely contributed to the mythos of Prince's genius: he was that guy whose b-sides were as good as his a-sides and album tracks, and people were like "wow!".

Definitly. I remember taking home the extended different version of I Would Die 4 You w/ Another Lonely Christmas as a B-side and falling off my chair. Not only was there an excellent quality B-side, but he had totally redone an album song brilliantly. He was so far ahead of everyone in that moment of time, it was unreal.

Prince's B-sides had no impact on the general public except for the buzz around erotic city. This was something kids talked about in school---that and Darlin Nikki, due mostly to its content.

A lot of kids were unaware of older Prince albums (pre-1999), so the material around 1999 and Purple Rain was it (this was 1984/1985).

However, among Prince fans and those who paid attention, the b-sides flipped us out. We have to remember that waiting between albums for other musicians took twice as long at least--and in some cases 3 or 4 times as long. But, Prince was releasing material so rapidly that by the time you hungered for something more, he had a single out with the ever comforting (and exciting) words, "Music from the forthcoming album...."... But the b-sides added further fuel to the fire, because no only where we getting more albums than everyone else, we were getting even more material than what was in the albums. And the maxi-singles with b-sides were the best. These weren't songs that were remixed--these were extended versions of the songs...These were songs the way he probably intended them to sound. These were...mesmerizing.

Throw in the bootlegs circulating and surfacing around that time, and you can see why being a Prince fan in the 80s was such an exciting time.

Does the average listener these days even know about his b-sides? Most of them don't even know singles like Mountains, America, etc.

the b sides were exciting at the time plus combined with all the various side projects coming out - many under pseudonymous which made the hunt and find for them a unique experience.

in the days before the internet & easy information you really relied on word of mouth, hints and rumours.

It was always so fun and cool to find new music by him either as a bside, extended version or protege work.

1987 was especially good with the SOTT b-sides, 2 Madhouse albums, Jill Jones , Taja Sevelle, Sheile E., Nona Hendryx, Sheena Easton, Deborah Allen and the Black Album cancellation.

somewhat off-topic, but it doesn't need it's own thread:

you have to wonder with all of that material he was stock-piling and wasn't using for albums throughout his entire career, why EVERY single didn't have a new, unreleased b-side.

You'll get different 'true' responses from different people because what was played on the radio then may vary from state to state.

From my "time with Prince" then yes, the general public know about the Bsides, because I know of a "black" radio station & a "white" radio station that played anything Prince and these were very popular radio stations

Unless you were at the record store buying everything when it came out even a 'new Prince' fan might not know of everything he put out.

Even thought I was a big Prince fan at age 15 during the 1999 album I never heard or knew of Horney Toad, until maybe in 1984 I went with my dad somewhere that had a Juke box and scanning thru I saw a song called Horny Toad, and I put my money in a played it.

Now, just by the fact that this Box had this song by Prince called Horny Toad obviously meant someone was knowledgable of Prince music.

radio regularly played How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore, Irresistable Bitch from 1999. And I believe How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore maybe a more 'publicly' known song

17 Days I remember that year it was released because I heard it played everywhere, it is a very dancible song, I heard it at parties, picnics, the radio and people playing it from their cars.

God I probably only heard a few times when it came out on the radio

Erotic City was played all the time, I still remember the 1st time I heard it on radio, a friend came over to tell us to turn the radio on because a new song by Prince was going to be played. It was at night when I first heard it.

Another Lonely Christmas was played every Christmas a few times. I check the 1 station that I don't really listen to much anymore, during Christmas for their music and they still play Another Lonely Christmas. (so to some degree the general public is very familiar with the song)

the Bsides from ATWIAD again (Prince was golden) and everything from that album and the B sides were played regularly. She's Always In My Hair the most play, Girl played alot, Hello played oftern after it's release

Alexis de Paris was played, the 1 station also had Old Friends 4 Sale (as a promo for the new movie) and Love or Money with it's 'classic soul' feel was played alot.

La La La He He Hee was played alot along when SOTT when released

Shockadelica was played too

Scarlet Pussy not much and Escape maybe a few times, when released, but I don't remember much,

I started to wander with Prince after Lovesexy, and I knew nothing(that I recall of Batman Bsides like Sex)

Certain B sides Prince has played regularly in his live shows, some only during the tour/album period it was released it seems

eugny1 said:

Prince's first extended mix was in 1979 and his first b-side appeared in 1981. I wouldn't say Duran Duran did it WAY before him But you are right, others have done the same when it comes to b-sides and remixes.

databank said:

They definitely contributed to the mythos of Prince's genius: he was that guy whose b-sides were as good as his a-sides and album tracks, and people were like "wow!".

+ there was a moment when they were a bit hard to get if u didn't live in a big city, hard to listen to if you had only a cassette or CD player, and despite The B-Sides making some of them available in 93 (but not all and most of them in short form) and a couple of bootlegs ripped from the vinyls that not everyone had access to, or unless u knew someone who coule make u tapes, they remained a somewhat rare item until the internet freed them all in the early 2000's.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that the general public heard any of them, but whoever was a bit into then-current music or hip music (and believe me: Prince WAS hip) at least knew about them.

True! I remember Erotic City was played a lot in the discotheques, and when Sign O´the times was released, they sometimes played Lalala,hehehee because the single wasn´t dance material.

I was so thrilled when The Hits package included the b-sides on CD!!!! Like someone said, when internet was available I finally could find the 12" versions and put them on CD.

djdaffy1227 said:

Prince's first extended mix was in 1979 and his first b-side appeared in 1981. I wouldn't say Duran Duran did it WAY before him But you are right, others have done the same when it comes to b-sides and remixes.

what 1981 B side?

OldFriends4Sale said:

djdaffy1227 said:

Prince's first extended mix was in 1979 and his first b-side appeared in 1981. I wouldn't say Duran Duran did it WAY before him But you are right, others have done the same when it comes to b-sides and remixes.

what 1981 B side?

First non-album song "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" was released as an a-side first in 1981 but is these days considered a b-side.

In the US, "Gotta stop (messin' about)" was only a B-side on the 12" single of "Let's work". It was an a-side in Europe.

Thanks Hamsterhuey & djdaffy1227

Here is the other copy of the UK "Gotta stop (messin' about)"

[img:$uid]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u257/djdaffy1227/100_0026.jpg[/img:$uid]

OldFriends4Sale said:

You'll get different 'true' responses from different people because what was played on the radio then may vary from state to state.

From my "time with Prince" then yes, the general public know about the Bsides, because I know of a "black" radio station & a "white" radio station that played anything Prince and these were very popular radio stations

Unless you were at the record store buying everything when it came out even a 'new Prince' fan might not know of everything he put out.

Even thought I was a big Prince fan at age 15 during the 1999 album I never heard or knew of Horney Toad, until maybe in 1984 I went with my dad somewhere that had a Juke box and scanning thru I saw a song called Horny Toad, and I put my money in a played it.

Now, just by the fact that this Box had this song by Prince called Horny Toad obviously meant someone was knowledgable of Prince music.

radio regularly played How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore, Irresistable Bitch from 1999. And I believe How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore maybe a more 'publicly' known song

17 Days I remember that year it was released because I heard it played everywhere, it is a very dancible song, I heard it at parties, picnics, the radio and people playing it from their cars.

God I probably only heard a few times when it came out on the radio

Erotic City was played all the time, I still remember the 1st time I heard it on radio, a friend came over to tell us to turn the radio on because a new song by Prince was going to be played. It was at night when I first heard it.

Another Lonely Christmas was played every Christmas a few times. I check the 1 station that I don't really listen to much anymore, during Christmas for their music and they still play Another Lonely Christmas. (so to some degree the general public is very familiar with the song)

the Bsides from ATWIAD again (Prince was golden) and everything from that album and the B sides were played regularly. She's Always In My Hair the most play, Girl played alot, Hello played oftern after it's release

Alexis de Paris was played, the 1 station also had Old Friends 4 Sale (as a promo for the new movie) and Love or Money with it's 'classic soul' feel was played alot.

Can't be: had to have been a bootleg.

La La La He He Hee was played alot along when SOTT when released

Shockadelica was played too

Scarlet Pussy not much and Escape maybe a few times, when released, but I don't remember much,

I started to wander with Prince after Lovesexy, and I knew nothing(that I recall of Batman Bsides like Sex)

Certain B sides Prince has played regularly in his live shows, some only during the tour/album period it was released it seems

errant said:

somewhat off-topic, but it doesn't need it's own thread:

you have to wonder with all of that material he was stock-piling and wasn't using for albums throughout his entire career, why EVERY single didn't have a new, unreleased b-side.

I always wondered, too.

I'm really surprised at how much airplay these tracks hd in the US: in France it wasn't so intense. On the other hand u guys have many more radio stations and many more specilized radio stations, while most French music radios all play the same crap more or less, save a few small, independant ones.

I agree with oldfriends4sale with regards to the b side play on radio.

Although, Erotic City got the most play out of any Bside period.

I just checked:

France: 600 radios.

USA: 13500 radios.

That says it all

databank said:

I just checked:

France: 600 radios.

USA: 13500 radios.

That says it all

Except those 13500 radio stations in the US are owned by the same five corporations. There's really not that much variety.

databank said:

I'm really surprised at how much airplay these tracks hd in the US: in France it wasn't so intense.

Same with the UK. I can't ever remember hearing any b-sides played on UK radio. Mainstream or otherwise. Not saying they definitely were not though.

I have heard one or two b-sides being played on specialized shows since, but not in the b-side "heyday."

AhPook said:

databank said:

I just checked:

France: 600 radios.

USA: 13500 radios.

That says it all

Except those 13500 radio stations in the US are owned by the same five corporations. There's really not that much variety.

what do you mean, not much variety? Just in my City/State alone I would have to hugely disagree

databank said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

You'll get different 'true' responses from different people because what was played on the radio then may vary from state to state.

From my "time with Prince" then yes, the general public know about the Bsides, because I know of a "black" radio station & a "white" radio station that played anything Prince and these were very popular radio stations

Unless you were at the record store buying everything when it came out even a 'new Prince' fan might not know of everything he put out.

Even thought I was a big Prince fan at age 15 during the 1999 album I never heard or knew of Horney Toad, until maybe in 1984 I went with my dad somewhere that had a Juke box and scanning thru I saw a song called Horny Toad, and I put my money in a played it.

Now, just by the fact that this Box had this song by Prince called Horny Toad obviously meant someone was knowledgable of Prince music.

radio regularly played How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore, Irresistable Bitch from 1999. And I believe How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore maybe a more 'publicly' known song

17 Days I remember that year it was released because I heard it played everywhere, it is a very dancible song, I heard it at parties, picnics, the radio and people playing it from their cars.

God I probably only heard a few times when it came out on the radio

Erotic City was played all the time, I still remember the 1st time I heard it on radio, a friend came over to tell us to turn the radio on because a new song by Prince was going to be played. It was at night when I first heard it.

Another Lonely Christmas was played every Christmas a few times. I check the 1 station that I don't really listen to much anymore, during Christmas for their music and they still play Another Lonely Christmas. (so to some degree the general public is very familiar with the song)

the Bsides from ATWIAD again (Prince was golden) and everything from that album and the B sides were played regularly. She's Always In My Hair the most play, Girl played alot, Hello played oftern after it's release

Alexis de Paris was played, the 1 station also had Old Friends 4 Sale (as a promo for the new movie) and Love or Money with it's 'classic soul' feel was played alot.

Can't be: had to have been a bootleg.

La La La He He Hee was played alot along when SOTT when released

Shockadelica was played too

Scarlet Pussy not much and Escape maybe a few times, when released, but I don't remember much,

I started to wander with Prince after Lovesexy, and I knew nothing(that I recall of Batman Bsides like Sex)

Certain B sides Prince has played regularly in his live shows, some only during the tour/album period it was released it seems

I'm just saying that's what they said, and this was early on before I knew much of a new Prince album, I believe they started playing right before Kiss.

This station played anything and everything Prince & protege, at the time I don't remember much 'bootleg' like stuff played. It wasn't a 'college' or underground station.

That's how they introduced it: a new promo song for Prince new movie, that's when I first heard of the movie, before his MTV interview

I still have the maxwell tape I recorded it on (everytime they played it)hhehehe

kewlschool said:

I agree with oldfriends4sale with regards to the b side play on radio.

Although, Erotic City got the most play out of any Bside period.

oh yeah, there was/is still something about Erotic City. It did get plaid alot

OldFriends4Sale said:

AhPook said:

Except those 13500 radio stations in the US are owned by the same five corporations. There's really not that much variety.

what do you mean, not much variety? Just in my City/State alone I would have to hugely disagree

and that would be?

when i was young "how come you don't call me anymore?" and "erotic city" had tremendous air play.everyone white or black knew these 2 songs.i still hear "erotic city" everywhere,though i hear "how come you don't call me anymore" only on r&b stations these days.

OldFriends4Sale said:

databank said:

I'm just saying that's what they said, and this was early on before I knew much of a new Prince album, I believe they started playing right before Kiss.

This station played anything and everything Prince & protege, at the time I don't remember much 'bootleg' like stuff played. It wasn't a 'college' or underground station.

That's how they introduced it: a new promo song for Prince new movie, that's when I first heard of the movie, before his MTV interview

I still have the maxwell tape I recorded it on (everytime they played it)hhehehe

Was it orchestral or pre-orchestral?

R u from Detroit?

May have been sent "illegally" by bandmembers just like the videos to that Detroit TV channel?

Or if pre-orchestral they just had the Parade demos and said it was a promo not to claim ,it was a leak?

I believe u, but I find it hard to believe that Uptown/Nielsen would have missed it, but who knows they're not God...