Hey, so you get yourself one awesome new stereo with outstanding speakers, and you want to hear what they're like. What Prince song would you play?

Personally, I'd put in "My Name is Prince" - there is so much happening in that song, especially the first thirty - forty seconds.

"When We're Dancing Close And Slow" a high end system makes the the different on this song!

The Question Of U. Has a great soundstage and stereo effects.

I like Dire Straits Money for Nothing or Guns n Roses Welcome to the Jungle. Michael Jacksons Billie Jean is a good one also

Why not have a little fun with yourself and pretend that your new stereo has blown speakers? You can do this by playing The Breakdown.

Hot Thing and the Digital Garden.

Although you'd want to be near the volume control if you play them one after the other

Rebeljuice said:

Erotic City and Dreamer.

"Days of Wild", the live one on Crystal Ball

"The Truth"

"Gold"

"Another Love"

[Edited 3/27/15 8:28am]

A trunk-knocker like Gett Off or Black Sweat

Used to love to play Sex Me, Sex Me Not in my previous car. It had a 'premium' factory sound system. I was getting different sounds coming out all over the place.

dreamer ... anotherlove ..... love we make ... the dance .... judith hill beautiful life

[Edited 3/27/15 10:48am]

Askani said:

Hard to say, if you're talking about CD. The '80s stuff has such piss-poor sound quality. And the stuff from the last 20 years has the same problem due to brick-walled EQ. I suppose there's a span from about 1990 to maybe '95 where his music was being mastered specifically for CD but before the loudness wars took over that would sound pretty good.

I've heard it said (and I'm inclined to agree) that the Girl 6 soundtrack is the happy medium between these two extremes - some great classic tunes, but mastered intelligently.

So, I'd probably spin all the old classics from the Girl 6 soundtrack.

Alexa De Paris would be my plan

The X's Face hits pretty hard on a nice system. Lovin' it loud!

Gold.
The Holy River.
The Exodus Has Begun.

A Million Days.

Way Back Home.


These are diamond-cut productions and mixes, you have the full spectrum present.
I think "The Exodus Has Begun" is maybe the ultimate tester.
On a good system, you should be able to hear every detail in the last 4 minutes of the song.
And we're talking severe multi-tracking!

Remember that if you're over 40, you have to check your loudness curve.

Best is to have a graphic EQ to compensate for your loudness curve,
or else you'll make a biased choice because your ears may fool you.

iZsaZsa said:

Love 2 The 9s

also "The Morning Papers", "And God Created Woman", "3 Chains O'Gold".

The whole symbol album is a good compromise.

Not the Loudness War cliché of TGE, and warmer than D&P.


Avoid pre 90's source at all costs, until it's some high level bootleg (.flac from vynil with acquisition specs).
The official CD sources are a case for murder.

Loudness wars

http://dr.loudness-war.info/

Something synthy: "Strange But True"

Something acousticy: "Morning Papers" is probably a good one.

Sabotage by the Beastie Boys, but for a Prince song probably Let's Go Crazy (Extended Version).

SmiggyG said:

The X's Face hits pretty hard on a nice system. Lovin' it loud!

As if that helps to hear the subtle details better.

Pfff..