Check it out...Did I/We get it right? Be nice....lol

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VIBE

Purple Power: The Definit...nce Songs

-K. Murphy

So, Prince has officially blessed us with a new single ("Clouds") and news of not one, but two albums on the way (Art Official Age and PLECTRUMELECTRUM, both dropping Sept. 30). In celebration of this much welcomed announcement, VIBE has put together a list of His Royal Badness' 101 greatest songs.

Going through this painstaking process was nearly as impossible as walking on the waters of Minnesota's Lake Minnetonka in the summer. After all, we're talking about a prolific music icon who has released nearly 30 studio albums during his groundbreaking three-decade-plus career. To make our lives easier we excluded all bootlegs. That means no storied underground fan favorites such as "Purple Music," "Wonderful Ass," and "All My Dreams." Besides, Prince's now mythical musical vault is rumored to contain hundreds of unreleased works. We like our sleep.

Also, no protege songs or outside productions (The Time, Sheila E, and Bangles, we are looking at you!). Nope... this is pure Prince from every manic scream and hybrid funk-rock chord to every synth-fueled, decadent explosion. To find out where such classics as "Soft And Wet," "Kiss," and "When Doves Cry" ranked as well as B-Sides ("Erotic City" anyone?) and some pretty deep album cuts, dive headfirst into the purple abyss...if you dare. —Keith Murphy (@murphdogg29)

85. "Don't Play Me" (The Truth, 1998)

84. "Shockadelica" (B-Side, 1989)

83. "What Do U Want Me 2 Do" (Musicology, 2004)
This deep album track from the 2004 double platinum comeback project Musicology has all the classic hallmarks of vintage Prince, including his signature Linn drum machine and some effortlessly coy lyricism ("I see you picked me out from the crowd/Could it be the way I play guitar?"). Cocky, huh?

82. "New Position" (Parade, 1986)


81. "Dinner With Delores" (Chaos & Disorder, 1996)

80. "I Like It There" (Chaos & Disorder, 1996)

79. "Annie Christian" (Controversy, 1981)


78. "Take Me With You" (Purple Rain, 1984)

77 "Bob George" (The Black Album, 1994)
Originally set to hit stores in December of 1987, the Black Album was scrapped at the last minute by Prince after he had misgivings over releasing this sex-fueled, profanity-laced, and at times violent funk-immersed statement. One listen to the over-the-top "Bob George"--a cut on which Mr. Nelson plays the role of a rapping disgruntled boyfriend who pulls a gun out on his significant other after he discovers she's been stepping out with a rock manager--it's understandable how this now mythical project, officially released years later, would become one of the '80s most bootlegged pop records.

76. "Sexual Suicide" (Crystal Ball, 1998)

75. "7" (The Symbol Album, 1992)

74. "Pink Cashmere" (The Hits/B-Sides, 1993)

73. "America" (Around The World In A Day, 1985)

72. "International Lover" (1999, 1982)

71. "I'm Yours" (Prince, 1978)
Alongside the classic cock rock of "Bambi," the criminally underrated "I'm Yours" offers an early glimpse of Prince's future guitar God bona fides.

70. "Girl" (B-Side, 1985)

69. "Diamonds and Pearls" (Diamonds and Pearls, 1991)

68. "Scandalous" (Batman, 1989)


67. "In This Bed I Scream" (Emancipation, 1996)

66. "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" (Diamonds and Pearls, 1991)

65. "My Computer" (Emancipation, 1996)
"My Computer" doesn't just shine as one of the Artist's most striking works following his very public divorce from Warner Bros. Records. It's also the closest Prince has ever come to taking melodic notes from fellow card-carrying musical genius Stevie Wonder.

64. "Alexa De Paris" (B-Side, 1986)

63. "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" (Prince, 1979)

62. "Let's Pretend We're Married" (1999, 1982)

61. "Paisley Park" (Around The World In A Day, 1985)

[Edited 8/26/14 13:32pm]

Obviously making such a list is going to generate disagreements, but you know what you're talking about. This is not just some irrationally compiled "look at what I happen to like" list of random songs with something like "Loose!" placed at #1 just because the author fell in love with it when he was 16, or something like that. For that matter, the list is a great proof of Prince's genius - You could put these songs on a playlist and forget other music exists.

Where I disagree most with the "rankings" of the songs is that I think "Adore" and "Joy In Repetition" seem to be the perennial fan favourites and both of them should be in the TOP10 for that reason (or at least "Joy In Repetition" should have been placed higher).

But in general, good work!

Making a list like this has to be really, really difficult.

Having said that, I believe some of my personal faves are ranked way, way too low. Automatic at 56? Scandalous at 68? Pop Life at 29? Sometimes It Snows in April at 25? (On a side note: Cream at 100 described as the crown jewel of the Diamonds & Pearls album, but Diamonds and Pearls at 69?)

Despite the changes I'd make to the ranking, it is awe-inspiring to see such a list of excellent output from one artist - no matter when the songs were made.

Annie Christian is better than Question of U?

Blaspehemy. Until they correct that, I'll live my life in a taxi cab...

CoolMF said:

Annie Christian is better than Question of U?

Blaspehemy. Until they correct that, I'll live my life in a taxi cab...

Ha! That was good.....

CoolMF said:

Annie Christian is better than Question of U?

Blaspehemy. Until they correct that, I'll live my life in a taxi cab...

These lists are almost impossible to compile, but this is rather good. Songs which don't often get their dues on these sort of lists are ranked well, like 'The Balled of Dorothy Parker', 'She's Always in My Hair', 'Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)' and 'Power Fantastic'. 'Adore' and 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' should probably be higher. However, one glaring omission is 'Shockadelica'. Saying that, good job!

"Vicki Waiting" is on there twice, which is something I totally agree with.

I think that Shhh HAS to be on that list. And given it is an underound tarck yet Price still plays it all the time live demonstrates he thinks its pretty great also

Thanks for your heroic effort.

The ranking is interesting but the main thing to realize is that Prince really did write at least 100 songs that can be placed on such a list.

[Edited 8/26/14 12:38pm]

Aerogram said:

Thanks for your heroic effort.

The ranking is interesting but the main thing to realize is that Prince really did write at least 100 songs that can be placed on such a list.

[Edited 8/26/14 12:38pm]

Yes and more too

Perhaps those belong somewhere in there:

Lovesexy (replaces In this bed I scream)

Calhoun Square (kicks out one of the Waiting Vickis)

Strange Relationships (instead of Sexual Suicide)

The Question of U is placed a little low but other than that this is an impressive list.

thisisreece said:

These lists are almost impossible to compile, but this is rather good. Songs which don't often get their dues on these sort of lists are ranked well, like 'The Balled of Dorothy Parker', 'She's Always in My Hair', 'Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)' and 'Power Fantastic'. 'Adore' and 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' should probably be higher. However, one glaring omission is 'Shockadelica'. Saying that, good job!

Shockadelica is actually on the list. There was a glitch in the copy....Yep yep....

[Edited 8/26/14 13:38pm]

Pretty solid list, and I like the fair treatment of all eras. While I personally would rank 17 Days much higher, the only song that seems conspicuously low to me is The Beautiful Ones. It's a fan favorite, a critical favorite (routinely making "Best-of-Prince" lists), and a song several band members have discussed being blown away by. The song sounds very much 1984 but is also futuristic and timeless at the same time. Obviously it didn't have the commercial impact of WDC, PR, or Kiss, but I can't conceive of a way that it's not one of his top ten songs. If I Was Your Girlfriend probably should have been top ten too. How about a 91-place tie for #10?

renfield said:

Pretty solid list, and I like the fair treatment of all eras. While I personally would rank 17 Days much higher, the only song that seems conspicuously low to me is The Beautiful Ones. It's a fan favorite, a critical favorite (routinely making "Best-of-Prince" lists), and a song several band members have discussed being blown away by. The song sounds very much 1984 but is also futuristic and timeless at the same time. Obviously it didn't have the commercial impact of WDC, PR, or Kiss, but I can't conceive of a way that it's not one of his top ten songs. If I Was Your Girlfriend probably should have been top ten too. How about a 91-place tie for #10?

Yeah.... it was tough...But hey..."The Beautiful Ones" is in the top 20...That's out of 101 songs...Hey...cut me some slack...LOL

Great list, Murph! Good work

2funkE said:

I think that Shhh HAS to be on that list. And given it is an underound tarck yet Price still plays it all the time live demonstrates he thinks its pretty great also

Erm, "underground track"?! It's on The Gold Experience - how is that an underground track?

My list of notable "exclusions" though you did such an exceptional job.

I hate U

Shhhh

Love or Money

Strange Relationship

Scarlet Pussy

La la la hee hee hee

Wasted Kisses

Dear Mr. Man

Aerogram, thanks for mentioning "Dear Mr. Man" - so underrated, but one of my favorites!

My list of notable "exclusions" would include also:

• Thieves in the Temple
• Thunder
• The Ladder
• Around the World in a Day
• Letitgo
• Old Friends 4 Sale
• Act of God
• Love
• Goodbye
• The One
• Cindy C.
• Fallinlove2nite
• Don't Talk 2 Strangers

[Edited 8/26/14 23:10pm]

MinnetonkaNative said:

What about "And God Created Women"?

YES!!! Definetly this one too!