I created this playlist on Spotify for a couple of my friends who havent listent that much to Prince but who want to get more familiar with the songs behind the hits.

Since its a Spotify playlist I am limited to the songs that are availible on Spotify. I've tried to include songs that are not among the most common once and would reflect some diversity. Also I dont want the playlist to have more than 40-50 songs.

Any ideas to songs I should add, or exclude to the playlist?

You can access the playlist through either of these links:

spotify:user:alexanderalm:playlist:1InnZ1N8jWKd9KAjjIuatS

Prince Top 29

Cool list... I like it a lot, but have one main thought:

I would start with a fast, catchy song that almost anybody would dig, and then I would use a few more uptempo and midtempo songs, in general... if I understand correctly, you're aiming this at people who aren't really big fans yet. While Adore, which you lead with, is undoubtedly a classic, I've found that ballads/slow-jam-type songs don't always connect with people the same way as something that makes them tap their feet and really get into the groove (especially when they're not already that familiar with the song/artist). Even Prince opened most of his biggest albums with uptempo songs like LGC, SOTT, 1999, etc. and then would insert the slow jams when it fit the rhythm of the album and was time for a change of pace. (For example, on the SOTT album, Adore comes right after It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night and Forever in My Life directly follows Hot Thing.) Starting with something like 17 Days (which probably could've been a #1 hit and sounds like it) or just a fast-paced number that almost any music fan would really dig, like Controversy would work well IMO. Then, once you have them hooked and they fully appreciate P's musicianship (and it's time for that change of pace in the tracklist), that's when I'd hit them with Adore and, as the tracklist continues, other P slow jams... I think you picked cool songs (a couple of my faves like Anna Stesia and MDM2N are left off, but with an artist as prolific as Prince, that's inevitable), but I'd just go uptempo/midtempo a bit more, especially to start, and then look to strategically place slow jams here and there. Great job, though, and I really like all of the songs you picked, so my note isn't about the selections, but about the order of them (and, to a lesser extent, the ratio of fast to slow songs).

[Edited 1/28/15 8:15am]

yeah, is there any specific order to it or is supposed to be shuffle? I've always put the album version of When Doves Cry as opening any Prince best of.

Thanks for your great feedback! Actually, I really like your comments on the order of the songs, and I honestly have to say I didnt even think of the order... Now after reading your comment i realize that the order could be ALMOST as important as the actual pickings of the songs.

So, Thanks!

whuts spotify

You got to have "Purple Rain" in there.............

friend2001 said:

You got to have "Purple Rain" in there.............

Do I really? Everyone alive has heard that one already...

But they havent heard When Doves Cry, Little Red Corvette, and When Doves Cry? Trust me, its my fondest wish NEVER to hear him do Purple Rain live again but if you're making a mix for someone who you want to turn on to his music..............just sayin.

alexanderalm said:

friend2001 said:

You got to have "Purple Rain" in there.............

Do I really? Everyone alive has heard that one already...

[Edited 1/30/15 6:42am]

[Edited 1/30/15 6:43am]