Which single do you think was absolutely guaranteed to not get any radio-play when it was released?

I think his weakest single was Dinner With Dolores. Its just so meandering and bland.

not a weak song, but guaranteed to get no radio play... Sexy MF

Space...i never even knew that single existed until i saw it in Let It Be REcords in MPLS

paisleypark4 said:

you know, the only time i ever heard this song, except on a Prince single/album/whatever... was on the school news service Channel 1.


really weird. it was cool. nobody knew wtf i was so excited about... even after i told them in retrospect, i can't blame them.

Glam Slam

Dinner With Delores is one of his best songs from the 90s, but I feel 'Gold' although I like it on the album doesnot make a very good single.

Dinner With Delores is meandering? Not much room to meander when your under three minutes long. I think it's a great song, whether a good single to tap in with mainstream tastes is always open to debate...

Also not a weak song at all, but If I Was Your Girlfriend was guaranteed to not be a hit. I was really shocked when they released that.

Since pretty much anything post 1993 slingshot straight into
oblivion, I would like to pick something pre-1994. Which is
gonna be:


"The Morning Papers"

Why it was still played on radio and tv at all is just
beyond my comprehension. I'm not sure what it did on
the charts but it can't have gone very high.

I never heard it on the radio, although the album and
other singles had done fairly well so another single
off the album should have done better.

It amazes me that this sappy shit was chosen over the
original intended single "The Continental" [which is
also too commercial off a dull commercial crap album]
at least "Continental" was more radiofriendly than
"The Morning Papers".

And crap don't even get us started on the video. Prince
in his lumberjack shirt with all his chesthair sticking
out and jangled up with gold chains.

The only redeeming factor about all of this is that,
though the Continental might not have been a single,
at least we were spared the humiliation of having all
our acquaintances and classmates see that video of
Prince rollerskating in his bathrobe and boxershorts.

That alone would have been enough reason for the kids
in my class to tar and feather me.

Efan said:

If I was your girlfriend? r u crazy??

The Holy river is a difficult listen 4 me.

royalbadness said:

I'm just sayin', per Justin's question, that it was "absolutely guaranteed to not get any radio-play when it was released." I love the song, but most people can't get beyond the title and/or chorus of a song--they can't be bothered to actually listen to the lyrics (like all the people who thought I Will Always Love You was a good wedding song).

"If I was Your Girlfriend" Nice song, should not have been released as a single. :MUSIC:

BinaryJustin said:

Personally, I don't define what's good and what's not by what radio will or won't play. Within the last 15 years especially, that generally has little to nothing to do with the quality of the song. "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" is his worst single, and radio pounced on that crap like it was "Doves" worthy.

glam slam, this single just didn't work here in the USA.

The decisions made by him or on his behalf have never been great, but to choose I Hate U ahead of Dolphin has to be amongst the worst commercial decisions of his career. In that respect, I would choose I Hate U.

i heard "I HAte U" played on r&b radio, and the video played a bit on BET...never heard "glam slam"or saw the vid here in the states...

dewmass said:

Well, for the absolute weakest single in my opinion, that'd have to be The Greatest Romance Ever Sold. More like "The Worst Single Ever Made by Prince..."

I just was really disappointed that it was the lead off single from an album that had several other decent contenders for a single. It's a decent album track, but it was destined to fall on deaf ears.

Efan said:

Totally agree. Its probably in my top three prince songs, but it should never have been a single. It killed the success of possibly the best album ever recorded.

The problem was, not only was it "way out there" sound wise, but the public had not "met" Camille yet, and the lyrics, sounded like a gay love song to those not paying attention. This is in 87 when an open gay song would not chart so easily.

Prince fucked up big time with this. If he'd followed the title track single with ICNTTPOYM ,U got the look, housequake and strange relationship, he'd of had another Purple Rain on his hands.

Besides that, I think the worst actual single was Cream! Cheesy pop.

The next worst choice was Face Down. It killed the radio play of the album.

ufoclub said:

It didn't work that well in Europe either. Personally, I think a remix of Lovesexy was the perfect second single off the album. For power and marketing of the album name.

Supernova said:

I'm sayin but I think TGRES is weaker...

ufoclub said:

they play the hell outta "i hate u" here in mpls...gagbarfretch

Supernova said:

No - I don't define what's "good" by what's played on the radio, but a lot of people do... I'm not talking about weakest songs - I'm talking about songs being released as singles. I think that "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" was a good choice for a single. I think you're right on one count, Supernova... "When Doves Cry" was his best single. Ever.

If I Was Your Girlfriend. Brilliant song, but derailed the promotion for SOTT.

and i agree with Glam Slam. Lovesexy should've been the 2nd single from that album.

BinaryJustin said:

So you're asking what's the song that was least likely to be successful on radio regardless of quality or lack thereof? If that's the case I'd have to change my answer, because TMBGITW is radio friendly, predictable, and rote. Typical for mainstream radio, the antithesis of Prince being Prince. Which is why I hate it. And why it was successful.

"Arms of Orion" A Poor Man's Berlin "Take My Breath Away".Prince&Sheena Sounded like a tired Neil&Barbara on Arms IMHO&even the batman tie in couldn't push that Song.

The arms of orion
America
Thieves in the temple
Pink Cashmere
The one

AaronSuperior said:

Funny cuz it got a lot of radio play in the urban market.

NuPwrSoul said:

got a chart?

AaronSuperior said:

No just a memory. I just recall it getting a lot of play on black radio stations... and was one of the better received attempts by Prince to approximate the hip hop aesthetic. When Salt n Pepa released "Shoop" and Salt says "Like Prince said you're a sexy mutha..." a lotta folks knew what she was referencing cuz the track had it made its rounds.

As far as pop radio it was guaranteed to get no play because it's not a pop song.

The Arms Of Orion.

You HAVE to be a P fan to at least minimally appreciate the beautiful way lead vocals are arranged. Not a single chance to work as a single however...