Listening to Pink Cashmere the other day I not only realized what a great song this is, but what a horrible job Prince and his people have done promoting him in the past.

If this song would have had a video and been promoted, this would have definately been a freakin' hit. Any ideas of other songs that should have been huge, or could have been if they were singles?

"Pink Cashmere" - explanation already given

"Forever In My Life" - would have definately been a top 5 if released as a single

"Space" - actually got some airplay along with the remix, where was the video?

"319" - maybe?

"The Greatest Romance" - the video premiered 3 or 4 months after the single dropped. Too late!

"Don't Play Me" - a simple video and promotion would have sent this to the top of the charts

"Muse 2 The Pharoh" - edit out the blabber about Nato being Otan, Prince would have once again been on top of the R&B charts.

Anymore???

Baby Knows. Definitely, Baby Knows.

ditto with all of the ones you mentioned.
Pink Cashmere is an underrated gem.

another album track that was released as a single but
got very little airplay (in chicago,where i live) was
IF I were your GIRLFRIEND bw shockadelica.

a real first-class song that should have been a HIT.

would have been an interesting VIDEO,too.

Love Sign
Come On
319
So Far, So Pleased
Beautiful Strange
1+1+1=3
She Loves Me 4 Me
In This Bed I Scream
Face Down

BinaryJustin said:

PLEEZE, SO FAR SO PLEASED IS MO LIKE IT

If I was Prince's manager from Emancipation onwards I would have released different songs other than the ones released.

From Emancipation I would have released One Of Us as it was already know to people and a superior version as far as I'm concerned.
To follow this up, I would have released Somebody's Somebody as I feel it has that late night radio vibe and I feel it would have done well on the r&b stations.

From New Power Soul I would have released Come On (yes, I know it was released!) and made a decent MTV video to go with it.

From Rave I would have first released Hot Wit U with a club remix and a great video. You just know that the MTV kids would have eaten this up with Eve guesting in the video!) Followed by a spring/summer release of So Far So Pleased with Gwen in the video. This song had radio play written all over it and I feel Rave was his most wasted album ever. Given decent backing and some videos, Rave would have put him back on the top of the charts. I remember Radio One DJ's were saying that it was one of the most important releases of it's time, but it was left to die almost as soon as it hit the shelves!
Lastly I would have released Baby Knows with Man 'O War as a b-side

From The Rainbow Children I would have released 1+1+1=3 as it's very contagious and whenever I play it to Prince-hating friends they are singing along by the 2nd chorus! I would have made this a double A side with Everlasting Now.

Then I would have released an album called Roadhouse Garden

"Baby Knows", "So Far, So Pleased" was the best chance at a one, two punch that Prince has had in fucking years!!

I don't rate either songs as great artistic statements, but as singles in todays climate, they would have rocked.

319 - I agree.

- Interactive,
- Judas Kiss maybe(? - bad chorus since most folks would probably think it was called Bamboozled)
- 1999 in 1999 - Can't believe he let this pass with just a shitty independent release of The New Master.
- Sleep Around (?)
- P.Control - It had the controversy factor of Sexy MF.
- The Continental - It was lined up for single release, can't understand why it wasn't released since a video was made so early on.
- The Question Of U - It was right that Theives was made the 1st single instead, but it should have been #2 to keep up momentum, I like NPG, but it was too lightweight to support a film release. That's what GB lacked, strong single releases.
- Vicki Waiting - Scandalous & Arms Of Orion - BIG mistake!
- Lovesexy - Instead of Glam Slam as 2nd single.
- SOTT was littered with single releases.
- Girls & Boys should have been #2 from Parade for a 1, 2 punch.

That is all.

Free.

I had a dream a few years ago (around 1999/2000) that I was walking around Glasgow University campus, walked into a store, and heard Moonbeam Levels playing on the radio, announced as the first single from the upcoming album. In its pure soundboard quality it worked well and didn't seem out of place on radio.

And then I woke up.

But that's when I realized that Prince songs could definitely still be hits, if promoted/marketed correctly.

Moonbeam Levels would still be a great single. Back in 1999/2000, though, it would have been killer. Course, back in 1982 it might have been even better..

He should release a studio perfect version of Purple Music right now! It wouldn't sound out of place at all in today's club scene, considering Controversy is making a big comeback at the moment with the remixes out on white label.

How fucking amazing is that, that a song written 20 years ago could be released today and be a success? Some used to say that Prince was 5 years ahead of his time. I hear elements of "Dirty Mind" and "Controversy" on every radio station and nightclub right now in 2003! Now that is being ahead of the times!

1.Strange Realtionship
2.Paisley Park(US)
3.In This Bed Eye Scream
4.Daddy Pop
5.Shy
6.Peach

Taurus said:

really? i think this is mainly where we fail as prince fans. i think "forever in my life" is one of his best ever, but to think any of these would have been hits is not
reality. among prince folk maybe, among the rest of the world no...

JimmyNothing said:

Is it more a case that amazing songs, such as Controversy, remain relevant?

Anji said:

This song was in rotation on the R&B stations...it was a hit to us

Tina (~!~)

BinaryJustin said:

Could have done wonders for "Rave..." when it was really floundering! It would have brought it back on the charts...definitely.

Tina (~!~)

"Adore" because this is Arguably His Most Important Slow-Jam&I Don Wonder with How SoundScan changed everything with keeping track of everything How this track might have done if Released? in fact when I went to go see the Film everybody in the Audience was Pissed because He didn't perform "Adore"&I heard Boos.the Vibe was that "Adore" was the Cut that was Wanted.

JimmyNothing said:

Right on!!

Purple Music would give the electroclash scene a shot in the fucking ass!

mistermaxxx said:

For the casual black fans maybe.

For the casual white fans, they got ICNTTPOYM

MiaBocca said:

I Know what the folks got because of the Racist Labeling in the Business but please:give people more Credit than that? Black&White Folks Bought Al Green,Marvin Gaye,Michael Jackson,Stevie Wonder,Smokey Robinson,among COuntless Others Slow Jams so why not for "Adore"?? Adore was Da Cut.just like If I was YourGirlfriend"&Ballad of Dorothy Parker.in fact bar "Sign O The Times" i can be Argued that the Best Cuts on Sign O The Times were the Cuts that didn't get released IMHO.

-Somebody's somebody
-So far , so pleased
-Sometimes it snows in April (edit version)
-Baby knows
-Strange relationship
-319
-Billy Jack Bitch
-She loves me 4 me
-The love we make
-Lovesign

She's Always In My Hair
17 Days
Feel U Up

mistermaxxx said:

I can't think of a single non-Prince fan I know who has heard Adore, but I can think of plenty who know Strange Relationship.

The Greatest Romance
Jam of the Year
Get Yo Groove On
Strange Relationship

Goodbye
Shy
The Morning Papers

Too many to mention, but I'll give it a try.

Sexy Dancer, Head, When You Were Mine, Do Me Baby, DMSR and anything else of 1999, Free, Baby I'm A Star, Paisler Park (in the US), Girls & Boys (in the US), Housequake, The Cross and anything else out of Sign O The Times, Anna Stacia, Joy In Repetition, A Question Of U, Thunder (in the US), And God Created Woman, Papa, Dolphin, Pussy Control and others out of The Gold Experience, the hits out Exodus in the US including Big Fun, Sleep Around, Style, Calhoun Square, Days Of Wild, So Far So Pleased, I Love You, But I Don't Trust U Anymore (if Sarah McLachlan can why can't him), Daisy Chain, When I Lay My Hands On U, She Loves Me 4 Me, I'll take a breath now.

Taurus said:

75% of the "High" album ...

Come On from Newpowersoul should have been a hit.

'I feel for you'
'Controversy'
'Take me with you'
'Baby, I'm a star'
'Paisley Park'
'Do you lie?'
'Starfish and coffee'
'New power Generation'
'Love sign'

All above suggestions make the rather ridiculous assumption that the general public have any taste. Being as the current Number One in England is Spirit in the Sky by Gareth Gates I find it impossible to believe that the same public would find any merit in any of the songs mentioned.

But if we're dreaming, I'd say Pink Cashmere, Starfish and Coffee and Lovesign all could have madee an impact

Some of his UK chart postitions are shocking:

Raspberry Beret - 25
1999 - 25
Little Red Corvette - 60
I would die 4 u - 58
The Belle of St.Mark - 18
I wanna be your lover - 41
Cream - 15
7 - 32
Mountains - 45
New Power Generation - 25