Anyone else notice similarities between the guitar riffs in Computer Blue (extended around 8:44) and the ice cream castles bass line. This is something that I have wondered about for awhile. Am I the only one who thinks they sound exactly the same?

Also, the signature (linn?) drums on "1999"--what sounds like that same exact rhythm can be found throughout "Strawberry Lake" on The Original 7even's Condensate album.

There's may times Prince has explored the same song idea but with different production and lyrical attitude. The shift can be so much that most people don't even think of the preceding incarnation.

Question of U = Under the Cherry Moon

Daddy Pop chorus = Partyman chorus

and the most startling revelation, search your feelings, you know it to be true...

Housequake = Jughead

But then there's also an entire set of songs that share an actual instrument track, where he takes an underlying bed or percussion and tries completely different song ideas on the same thing.

Glam Slam '91 ... Love Machine