bobgeorge77 said:

I'd second most of those listed above, “The Beautiful Ones” and “Condition of the Heart” are devastating. From what I've read Wendy and Lisa deserve a lot of credit for this one, but I've always loved "Power Fantastic" as well. This probably doesn't qualify as a ballad, it's perhaps too odd and singular for neat categorisation, but “Girl” from 1985 is another favourite of mine (the full version). His tongue-in-cheek, over the top ballads like “Do Me Baby” and “International Lover” always make me smile as well. I'd love to hear a Prince studio version of “Noon Rendezvous”.

fen said:

I'd second most of those listed above, “The Beautiful Ones” and “Condition of the Heart” are devastating. From what I've read Wendy and Lisa deserve a lot of credit for this one, but I've always loved "Power Fantastic" as well. This probably doesn't qualify as a ballad, it's perhaps too odd and singular for neat categorisation, but “Girl” from 1985 is another favourite of mine (the full version). His tongue-in-cheek, over the top ballads like “Do Me Baby” and “International Lover” always make me smile as well. I'd love to hear a Prince studio version of “Noon Rendezvous”.

Love "power fantastic"...remember i first heard it on a boot way back in 1990. (the Crucial bootleg)..it was supposed to be Prince and Miles...but I guess it wasn't.... and re: "Noon Rendevous"...one of my favorite Prince songs of late...haven't seen a studio version, but have u heard the 19+ minute rehearsal that's out there? I could have that on repeat all day. ("sitting in this cafe waiting on my baby...."(it's heavenly!!)

[Edited 9/3/16 19:25pm]

bobgeorge77 said:

fen said:

I'd second most of those listed above, “The Beautiful Ones” and “Condition of the Heart” are devastating. From what I've read Wendy and Lisa deserve a lot of credit for this one, but I've always loved "Power Fantastic" as well. This probably doesn't qualify as a ballad, it's perhaps too odd and singular for neat categorisation, but “Girl” from 1985 is another favourite of mine (the full version). His tongue-in-cheek, over the top ballads like “Do Me Baby” and “International Lover” always make me smile as well. I'd love to hear a Prince studio version of “Noon Rendezvous”.

Love "power fantastic"...remember i first heard it on a boot way back in 1990. (the Crucial bootleg)..it was supposed to be Prince and Miles...but I guess it wasn't.... and re: "Noon Rendevous"...one of my favorite Prince songs of late...haven't seen a studio version, but have u heard the 19+ minute rehearsal that's out there? I could have that on repeat all day. ("sitting in this cafe waiting on my baby...."(it's heavenly!!)

[Edited 9/3/16 19:25pm]

"Heavenly"? Oh Lawd.
I love the guitar work, but this is the corniest line ever.
Whenever this "cafe" chant kicks in, I hurt all over.

Sheila E's version is perfect.
It's minalistic, it doesn't need more than her etheral voice.
The trick of the Linn pattern, that makes you mistake what the first beat is

until that drone synth bass kicks in.
And, of course, the lush synth strings pad, one of Prince's absolute instrument masterings.

Hi Bobgeorge77

Yes, I love the rehearsal version.

Regarding “Power Fantastic”, I remember hearing Miles mentioned in association with that track as well. There's a “stitched” version circulating that includes a jazzy, miles-esque intro, but I don't think it's actually him playing. You can find it on one of the unofficial “Dream Factory” releases.

My all time favorite ballad is Adore. It is such a beautiful love song.

Other great ballards include:

Insatiable

International Lover

Do Me Baby

A Thousand Hugs and Kisses

Latin said:

Latin said:

1998 Tavis Smiley interview, Prince states... "THE ONE is one of the best works I've ever done and rank it up there with my best works."

Latin said:

feeluupp said:

1998 Tavis Smiley interview, Prince states... "THE ONE is one of the best works I've ever done and rank it up there with my best works."

Didn't he said that repeatedly about his latest releases, during the years?

It reminds me a bit of Apple's "This is our best desktop/laptop/tablet/phone ever".

I won't trust a man who disses "Parade" and heralds this soporiphic, mushy fretless riff. That weak conga.
Those recurring phased whispers, and Clare trying to cover up the blandness of it all.
I can't stand the lyrics, they sound so paranoid and egocentric to me.
Great sound, clever production, but the "I am the one" statement is only surpassed in goofiness by "I am the universe",
no matter how good Prince's initial intent was.

"The One" sounds to me like "Could I Be The Most Beautiful Man In The World?",
and it's irritating. I love Prince bragging, because most of the time he's just half-joking.
"The One" sounds dead serious to me, and the guy depicted in the song, while pretending
to talk to his lady, ends up talking only about himself. This is not the Prince I dig.

It looks like Prince tried to cover all of his rampant megalomania with the Charlot bit, in the video.
Cute, but makes almost no sense followed by images of dancing women trying to seduce oh-so-hot oh-so-perfect Prince.

Lastly, the gimmick is absurd.
"If you're looking for an asshole", show me a woman who does?
"If you're looking for perfection" "— sure, if I were still fifteen and naive." replies the woman.

If you're looking for Prince's best ballad, sorry but it ain't this one.

[Edited 9/4/16 2:46am]

Latin said:

why did u forget:



When 2 R In Love

gandorb said:

Latin said:

Would a single album of a collection of some of his best ballads or a multi-disc collection of his best ballads become a hit if released now or not? What does everyone think?

An interesting idea to do something like this to fill the likely long gap before the vault releases. He has so many classics that were never on radio yet might be received well even beyond the hardcore fans.

As much as I would love to see that happen, I don't think it would be an album that had any legs past its initial couple of weeks of release (like many of his later studio albums). That is saying nothing about the quality of Prince's ballads, and everything about the listening tastes of the music buying public. I think recent months have shown quite clearly that the average Joe on the street wants the hits when it comes to Prince. Shame, but there ya go.

There are so many superb collections you could complie that would unfortunately be no more than a one week wonder when released. You can almost hear the reaction now.... 'I'm not buying this, they haven't even put When Doves Cry and 1999 on it. Some collection. Who wants that?'


I would love nothing more than to see something released that proved me wrong in this.

Crazy You

So Blue

With You

Still Waiting

It's Gonna Be Lonely

Do Me Baby

How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore

The Beautiful Ones

Sometimes It Snows in April

Adore

Anna Stesia
Scandalous (The Crime)

Diamonds & Pearls

Insatiable

Damn You

Shhh

One Kiss At a Time
Until U're in My Arms Again
Circle of Amour
Man 'O' War
I Love You, But I Don't Trust You Anymore
5 Women +
Have A Heart
U Make My Sun Shine
Call My Name
Reflection
Satisfied
Somewhere Here on Earth
U're Gonne C Me
Future Soul Song
That Girl Thing
Breakdown
This Could Be Us
1000 X's & O's


I've done the obvious and gone for a career retrospective of MY fave ballads/love songs through the years. I know there are some fan favourites missing, but I'm just being true to my own taste. Many might laugh at how I can choose songs such as Man O War or Call My Name, and not include firm fan fave's like Still Would Stand All Time or Condition of the Heart but there you go. Horses for courses.

There are so many. Here in no order are a few of my favourites

.

Do Me Baby

Adore

Electric Intercourse

Annastesia

17 Days

Condition of the heart

1000 X's and O's

The Beautiful Ones

How come u don't call me anymore

Sometimes it snows in April

Still would stand all time

Question of U

Joy in Repetition (With soulpsychodelicide)

A place in heaven

Under the Cherry Moon

Scandalous

Insatiable

I hate U (Is it a ballad?)

Damn U (Same as above)

The Grand Progression

I don't want to leave you (Okay its the Time, but Prince wrote it)

Gigolos get lonely too (As above)

International Lover

When 2 R in Love

If I was ur girlfriend

Diamonds and Pearls

Dark

Satisfied

Futuresoulsong

Revelation

For me, right now, it's The Dance. Love the progression from no to yes. I try to stop it before the screaming starts.

Latin said:

bonatoc said:

bobgeorge77 said:

Love "power fantastic"...remember i first heard it on a boot way back in 1990. (the Crucial bootleg)..it was supposed to be Prince and Miles...but I guess it wasn't.... and re: "Noon Rendevous"...one of my favorite Prince songs of late...haven't seen a studio version, but have u heard the 19+ minute rehearsal that's out there? I could have that on repeat all day. ("sitting in this cafe waiting on my baby...."(it's heavenly!!)

[Edited 9/3/16 19:25pm]

"Heavenly"? Oh Lawd.
I love the guitar work, but this is the corniest line ever.
Whenever this "cafe" chant kicks in, I hurt all over.

Sheila E's version is perfect.
It's minalistic, it doesn't need more than her etheral voice.
The trick of the Linn pattern, that makes you mistake what the first beat is

until that drone synth bass kicks in.
And, of course, the lush synth strings pad, one of Prince's absolute instrument masterings.

It's funny because I could listen to that part (sitting in this cafe...) over and over all day!! That's the beauty of his music... someone could be obsessed with a song or part of a song that's just "meh" to someone else!

Vox said:

bobgeorge77 said:

bonatoc said:

"Heavenly"? Oh Lawd.
I love the guitar work, but this is the corniest line ever.
Whenever this "cafe" chant kicks in, I hurt all over.

Sheila E's version is perfect.
It's minalistic, it doesn't need more than her etheral voice.
The trick of the Linn pattern, that makes you mistake what the first beat is

until that drone synth bass kicks in.
And, of course, the lush synth strings pad, one of Prince's absolute instrument masterings.

It's funny because I could listen to that part (sitting in this cafe...) over and over all day!! That's the beauty of his music... someone could be obsessed with a song or part of a song that's just "meh" to someone else!

Absolutely. I mean I kinda like the part, I just wish it was shorter.
But the guitar impros, well, repeat whatever you feel like, recite the phone book, it doesn't matter.
It's just that after a while, time seems to freeze and I go berserk: "Well, where the fuck is this woman of yours!"
(let alone "What could she possibly be doin'?"), so I kind of ruin this gentle sweet moment

Also, I think I have a problem with the lyrics because I cringe thinking when was the last time Skipper
was able to hang out casually in a café, waiting for his baby.

So many, IIWYG is a ballad?

My favorites:

Scandalous!

"I'm talking about you and me"

Adore

"If God one day struck me blind, your beauty I'd still see"

Shhh

"I don't want nobody else 2 hear the sounds"

Do Me, Baby

"Like you've never done before..."

International Lover

"Let me take you 'round the world"