It's been while since I played in this sand box. It would be fun to see what lesser known songs other people revere. Not necessarily a steadfast rule, but I'm going to mostly stay away from the golden years because they're kinda sorta all gems...

1 - Black Muse - Total masterpiece, master class track. Two songs in one with a gorgeous soulful vibe. In some ways it's heart wrenchingly beautiful that he was still making special tracks like these at the end of his life. The second half brings me to tears. And it's not even that kind of song..... "There ain't nothing better than looking for me..... and seeing you in the mirror".....


2 - Insatiable - All these years later and I would still put this right up there with Do Me Baby as his best song of this style.

3 - It's Gonna Be Lonely - I know this creeps into the golden era. But this song is just too good to pass up. It's such a great song that doesn't get a lot of pub.


4 - F.U.N.K. - Every single time I listen to this song I play the whole thing. More than half the time, I then repeat the whole experience. It's just such a fun tune.


5 - The Future - Since Batman is so choppy, I feel obligated to give this song a shout out. It's so understated. The groove just drips magic.


6 - Look at You, Look At Me - Another master class tune from his last album. Jazzy infectous pop from the master.


7 - EMALE - Yes. The production on Emancipation sucked the life out of its' staying power. But there are still a lot of great songs on it. And in this partiucalr instance, the production is PERFECT for the song. Who else could sing the line "w w w dot email dot com"? It feels like the Sheena Easton La La La Hee Hee Hee challenge being exercised again. Someone said, "oh yeah, make a song with that"!!!!



8 - $ - There are a few really solid tracks on Lotus, but for me, this one is tops. The Camille voice revisited and the attitude he brings to the track is just tops. The horn break at the end. Dreamy.


9 - Willing and Able - Yup. I'm going back to D&P for another track. I'm sorry. But outside some over the top keyboard fills that date the track, everything about this song works for me. Yes... Even the Tony M rap fits seamlessly.



10 - The Gold Standard - I saved the best for last. I remember when AOA came out there were quite a few people that said the album was great except this track. WHAT? I'm sorry. Hand in your Prince card right now! This song is like 1999 and The Black Album got together and made a baby. How can anyone who is a fan of the glory years not LOVE this song? The groove. The chrous. The spoken outro.... An appropriately named song.


Honorable mentions - From the golden era, Condition of the Heart and Positivity have a very space for me. And lastly, the solo on Revelation from Hit n Run 2. Good jesus. What taste. Very sparse and so beautiful.


I'd love to see some thoughts!!!!

Fenwick said:

It's been while since I played in this sand box. It would be fun to see what lesser known songs other people revere. Not necessarily a steadfast rule, but I'm going to mostly stay away from the golden years because they're kinda sorta all gems...

1 - Black Muse - Total masterpiece, master class track. Two songs in one with a gorgeous soulful vibe. In some ways it's heart wrenchingly beautiful that he was still making special tracks like these at the end of his life. The second half brings me to tears. And it's not even that kind of song..... "There ain't nothing better than looking for me..... and seeing you in the mirror".....


2 - Insatiable - All these years later and I would still put this right up there with Do Me Baby as his best song of this style.

3 - It's Gonna Be Lonely - I know this creeps into the golden era. But this song is just too good to pass up. It's such a great song that doesn't get a lot of pub.


4 - F.U.N.K. - Every single time I listen to this song I play the whole thing. More than half the time, I then repeat the whole experience. It's just such a fun tune.


5 - The Future - Since Batman is so choppy, I feel obligated to give this song a shout out. It's so understated. The groove just drips magic.


6 - Look at You, Look At Me - Another master class tune from his last album. Jazzy infectous pop from the master.


7 - EMALE - Yes. The production on Emancipation sucked the life out of its' staying power. But there are still a lot of great songs on it. And in this partiucalr instance, the production is PERFECT for the song. Who else could sing the line "w w w dot email dot com"? It feels like the Sheena Easton La La La Hee Hee Hee challenge being exercised again. Someone said, "oh yeah, make a song with that"!!!!



8 - $ - There are a few really solid tracks on Lotus, but for me, this one is tops. The Camille voice revisited and the attitude he brings to the track is just tops. The horn break at the end. Dreamy.


9 - Willing and Able - Yup. I'm going back to D&P for another track. I'm sorry. But outside some over the top keyboard fills that date the track, everything about this song works for me. Yes... Even the Tony M rap fits seamlessly.



10 - The Gold Standard - I saved the best for last. I remember when AOA came out there were quite a few people that said the album was great except this track. WHAT? I'm sorry. Hand in your Prince card right now! This song is like 1999 and The Black Album got together and made a baby. How can anyone who is a fan of the glory years not LOVE this song? The groove. The chrous. The spoken outro.... An appropriately named song.


Honorable mentions - From the golden era, Condition of the Heart and Positivity have a very space for me. And lastly, the solo on Revelation from Hit n Run 2. Good jesus. What taste. Very sparse and so beautiful.


I'd love to see some thoughts!!!!

some great great songs...I personally love the Future, the Gold Standard, Black Muse, Revelation, F.U.N.K.

I think that dissing on Gold Standard was more about the lyrics being about having good clean fun.

I would add the following to your list.

1.) Letitgo (the lyrics are so personal)

2.) Extraordinary (Beautiful song)

3.) Time (From AOA)

4.) June

5.) Supercute

6.) One of your Tears

7.) Mellow

8.) LOve (from 3121)

9.) Somewhere here on Earth

10.) Glasscutter

Of course, someones classic is another's overlooked, but I like a lot of your list, particularly It's Gonna Be Lonely and Willing & Able.

Off the top of my head, I don't think the following songs get enough love:

Private Joy

Va Va Voom

Tangerine

Until Ure In My Arms Again

Resolution

Ain't About 2 Stop

I love U In Me

Damned If I do

Circle of Amour

Illusion, Coma, pimp and circumstance

purplerabbithole said:

some great great songs...I personally love the Future, the Gold Standard, Black Muse, Revelation, F.U.N.K.

I think that dissing on Gold Standard was more about the lyrics being about having good clean fun.

I would add the following to your list.

1.) Letitgo (the lyrics are so personal)

2.) Extraordinary (Beautiful song)

3.) Time (From AOA)

4.) June

5.) Supercute

6.) One of your Tears

7.) Mellow

8.) LOve (from 3121)

9.) Somewhere here on Earth

10.) Glasscutter

Thanks Purple Rabbit.

I love to see the NPG Club tracks getting some love. They've generally dragged through the mud around here. I LOVE Glass Cutter. Supercute Vavoom and When I Lay My Hands on You.


The Piano One Nite Alone is a total gem to me too. Impossible to call out a track.

SquirrelMeat said:

Of course, someones classic is another's overlooked, but I like a lot of your list, particularly It's Gonna Be Lonely and Willing & Able.

Off the top of my head, I don't think the following songs get enough love:

Private Joy

Va Va Voom

Tangerine

Until Ure In My Arms Again

Resolution

Ain't About 2 Stop

I love U In Me

Damned If I do

Circle of Amour

Illusion, Coma, pimp and circumstance

Thanks Squirrel. Some great call outs on your list. Sexuality and Private Joy and just so good.

And from Musicology it hurt me to leave out the title track, Illusion and most especially What Do You Want Me To Do.

In fact, What Do You Want would probably be on this list 50% of the time I made it!!!

Reflection

Strange but True

77 Beverly Park

Dolphin (I feel like this song shouldn't divide fans. It's sooo good.)

When the Lights Go Down

There is Lonely

Animal Kingdom (I promise I'm not a troll. I didn't know this song was supposed to suck until I got an org account.)

Venus de Milo

The Continental

Lovesexy (Can any song from the '80s be considered overlooked? This is one of his best title/artistic statement songs.)

I forgot about When I lay my hands on u. I love that song.

Fenwick said:

purplerabbithole said:

some great great songs...I personally love the Future, the Gold Standard, Black Muse, Revelation, F.U.N.K.

I think that dissing on Gold Standard was more about the lyrics being about having good clean fun.

I would add the following to your list.

1.) Letitgo (the lyrics are so personal)

2.) Extraordinary (Beautiful song)

3.) Time (From AOA)

4.) June

5.) Supercute

6.) One of your Tears

7.) Mellow

8.) LOve (from 3121)

9.) Somewhere here on Earth

10.) Glasscutter

Thanks Purple Rabbit.

I love to see the NPG Club tracks getting some love. They've generally dragged through the mud around here. I LOVE Glass Cutter. Supercute Vavoom and When I Lay My Hands on You.


The Piano One Nite Alone is a total gem to me too. Impossible to call out a track.

Fenwick said:

It's been while since I played in this sand box. It would be fun to see what lesser known songs other people revere. Not necessarily a steadfast rule, but I'm going to mostly stay away from the golden years because they're kinda sorta all gems...

1 - Black Muse - Total masterpiece, master class track. Two songs in one with a gorgeous soulful vibe. In some ways it's heart wrenchingly beautiful that he was still making special tracks like these at the end of his life. The second half brings me to tears. And it's not even that kind of song..... "There ain't nothing better than looking for me..... and seeing you in the mirror".....


2 - Insatiable - All these years later and I would still put this right up there with Do Me Baby as his best song of this style.

3 - It's Gonna Be Lonely - I know this creeps into the golden era. But this song is just too good to pass up. It's such a great song that doesn't get a lot of pub.


4 - F.U.N.K. - Every single time I listen to this song I play the whole thing. More than half the time, I then repeat the whole experience. It's just such a fun tune.


5 - The Future - Since Batman is so choppy, I feel obligated to give this song a shout out. It's so understated. The groove just drips magic.


6 - Look at You, Look At Me - Another master class tune from his last album. Jazzy infectous pop from the master.


7 - EMALE - Yes. The production on Emancipation sucked the life out of its' staying power. But there are still a lot of great songs on it. And in this partiucalr instance, the production is PERFECT for the song. Who else could sing the line "w w w dot email dot com"? It feels like the Sheena Easton La La La Hee Hee Hee challenge being exercised again. Someone said, "oh yeah, make a song with that"!!!!



8 - $ - There are a few really solid tracks on Lotus, but for me, this one is tops. The Camille voice revisited and the attitude he brings to the track is just tops. The horn break at the end. Dreamy.


9 - Willing and Able - Yup. I'm going back to D&P for another track. I'm sorry. But outside some over the top keyboard fills that date the track, everything about this song works for me. Yes... Even the Tony M rap fits seamlessly.



10 - The Gold Standard - I saved the best for last. I remember when AOA came out there were quite a few people that said the album was great except this track. WHAT? I'm sorry. Hand in your Prince card right now! This song is like 1999 and The Black Album got together and made a baby. How can anyone who is a fan of the glory years not LOVE this song? The groove. The chrous. The spoken outro.... An appropriately named song.


Honorable mentions - From the golden era, Condition of the Heart and Positivity have a very space for me. And lastly, the solo on Revelation from Hit n Run 2. Good jesus. What taste. Very sparse and so beautiful.


I'd love to see some thoughts!!!!

Some greats choices, some which I'd also pick but I'll leave off my list, so off the top of my head:

.

1) And God Created Woman - timeless classic IMO, love his ad-libs on this

2) It's About That Walk - love the live band sound with horns and his humour on this

3) The Exodus Has Begun - yes MF yes, could have picked a few songs from Exodus

4) Acknowledge Me - great MPLS sound synths 90's style, and cool rap

5) Man In A Uniform - like the different voices he uses like the soldier 'attention!'

6) She Loves Me 4 Me - simple and sincere

7) If I Was The Man In Ur Life - like the the way the music/lyrics of chorus go together

8) Time- love Andy's voice on this, the bass and synth/horns at the end

9) TicTacToe - some silly lyrics and dolphins but love the dreaminess

10) When She Comes - nice Al Green tribute and you can't beat a bit of double entendre

.

There's so many could go on and no...

SquirrelMeat said:

Free U'reself

The 1 U Wanna C

Compassion

Glass Cutter

Boom

In A Large Room With No Light (2009)

Love

Love Like Jazz

$

Magnificent

This not an easy task, P. seems to be over-looked big time but let's say:

1. Crazy You -- this acoustic joyful piece sounds so fresh & sexy today.

2. Privite Joy -- a bubblegum pop materpiece w/ heavy guitar twist at the end.

3. Wicki Wating -- I've never known a love so sweet...

4. Dig U Better Dead -- some essential npg jam..

5. Man O' War -- orig. or remix, each way a beautiful melody and song that only P could pull off.

6. Here on Earth -- dreamy, sweet, memorable... one nite alone w/ prince solo and piano.

7. High -- prince will take you High, he really means what he says...

8. The Dance -- 3121ver., sweet, sexy, intense, piano... this is how you use piano John Legend.

9. Damn U -- still underrated as hell. You can't name a man who was able to pull ballad like that.

10. Dance 4 Me. -- my actual ring tone from 4:01 - 4:25 - Hallelujah!

My list as follows:

1. When We're Dancing Close And Slow, a heartfelt, fragile ballad, pure as the April snow;
2. Gotta Stop (Messin' About), young urgency in the (new) wave high heels;
3. P. Control, the bumping is "da bang" on this one;

4. 5 Women, velvet blouse memories, a soundtrack for the lovers lost along the way...

5. Curious Child, weep your tears away, "the joy that we share, it was meant to be";

6. Xenophobia, power, power, one of the best unexpected opening for a live gig;

7. 3121, alien funk from a parallel galaxy, a cosmic groove;

8. Tokyo, the sweet melancholy pervades the emptyness and the space;

9. Time, wow, is this tune sung from some heavenly voices inside of me?

10. Way Back Home/Affirmation III, a spiritual journey never comes to a concrete end.

[Edited 9/8/17 8:10am]

1. My Love Is Forever

2. And God Created Woman

3. Here

4. Everywhere

5. Count The Days

6. My Medallion

7. Golden Parachute

8. White Mansion

9. Freaks On This Side

10. Y Should Eye Do That When Eye Can Do This

how can anything he did be overlooked?

1. Clouds (magical bass guitar licks, his last hit out of the park)

2. Act of God (politically conscious funk)

3. Dreamer (awesome Hendrix tribute)

4. Prettyman (80s throwback, semi-sequel to Partyman)

5. Animal Kingdom (love the animal sounds)

6. Damn U (his best torch ballad IMO, great string arrangement)

7. Strolllin' (breezy tune that feels like early autumn)

8. Partyman (best Batman track)

9. Girl (classic under-the-radar B-side, weird but sexy)

10. Something in the Water (sci-fi heartbreak)

dodger said:

Fenwick said:

It's been while since I played in this sand box. It would be fun to see what lesser known songs other people revere. Not necessarily a steadfast rule, but I'm going to mostly stay away from the golden years because they're kinda sorta all gems...

1 - Black Muse - Total masterpiece, master class track. Two songs in one with a gorgeous soulful vibe. In some ways it's heart wrenchingly beautiful that he was still making special tracks like these at the end of his life. The second half brings me to tears. And it's not even that kind of song..... "There ain't nothing better than looking for me..... and seeing you in the mirror".....


2 - Insatiable - All these years later and I would still put this right up there with Do Me Baby as his best song of this style.

3 - It's Gonna Be Lonely - I know this creeps into the golden era. But this song is just too good to pass up. It's such a great song that doesn't get a lot of pub.


4 - F.U.N.K. - Every single time I listen to this song I play the whole thing. More than half the time, I then repeat the whole experience. It's just such a fun tune.


5 - The Future - Since Batman is so choppy, I feel obligated to give this song a shout out. It's so understated. The groove just drips magic.


6 - Look at You, Look At Me - Another master class tune from his last album. Jazzy infectous pop from the master.


7 - EMALE - Yes. The production on Emancipation sucked the life out of its' staying power. But there are still a lot of great songs on it. And in this partiucalr instance, the production is PERFECT for the song. Who else could sing the line "w w w dot email dot com"? It feels like the Sheena Easton La La La Hee Hee Hee challenge being exercised again. Someone said, "oh yeah, make a song with that"!!!!



8 - $ - There are a few really solid tracks on Lotus, but for me, this one is tops. The Camille voice revisited and the attitude he brings to the track is just tops. The horn break at the end. Dreamy.


9 - Willing and Able - Yup. I'm going back to D&P for another track. I'm sorry. But outside some over the top keyboard fills that date the track, everything about this song works for me. Yes... Even the Tony M rap fits seamlessly.



10 - The Gold Standard - I saved the best for last. I remember when AOA came out there were quite a few people that said the album was great except this track. WHAT? I'm sorry. Hand in your Prince card right now! This song is like 1999 and The Black Album got together and made a baby. How can anyone who is a fan of the glory years not LOVE this song? The groove. The chrous. The spoken outro.... An appropriately named song.


Honorable mentions - From the golden era, Condition of the Heart and Positivity have a very space for me. And lastly, the solo on Revelation from Hit n Run 2. Good jesus. What taste. Very sparse and so beautiful.


I'd love to see some thoughts!!!!

Some greats choices, some which I'd also pick but I'll leave off my list, so off the top of my head:

.

1) And God Created Woman - timeless classic IMO, love his ad-libs on this

2) It's About That Walk - love the live band sound with horns and his humour on this

3) The Exodus Has Begun - yes MF yes, could have picked a few songs from Exodus

4) Acknowledge Me - great MPLS sound synths 90's style, and cool rap

5) Man In A Uniform - like the different voices he uses like the soldier 'attention!'

6) She Loves Me 4 Me - simple and sincere

7) If I Was The Man In Ur Life - like the the way the music/lyrics of chorus go together

8) Time- love Andy's voice on this, the bass and synth/horns at the end

9) TicTacToe - some silly lyrics and dolphins but love the dreaminess

10) When She Comes - nice Al Green tribute and you can't beat a bit of double entendre

.

There's so many could go on and no...

And God Created Woman is a wonderful song, so it is Time.

RJOrion said:

1. My Love Is Forever

2. And God Created Woman

3. Here

4. Everywhere

5. Count The Days

6. My Medallion

7. Golden Parachute

8. White Mansion

9. Freaks On This Side

10. Y Should Eye Do That When Eye Can Do This

Wonderful bitter sweet masterpiece.

3rdEyeUnlimited said:

1. Clouds (magical bass guitar licks, his last hit out of the park)

2. Act of God (politically conscious funk)

3. Dreamer (awesome Hendrix tribute)

4. Prettyman (80s throwback, semi-sequel to Partyman)

5. Animal Kingdom (love the animal sounds)

6. Damn U (his best torch ballad IMO, great string arrangement)

7. Strolllin' (breezy tune that feels like early autumn)

8. Partyman (best Batman track)

9. Girl (classic under-the-radar B-side, weird but sexy)

10. Something in the Water (sci-fi heartbreak)

Perhaps this would be his most overlooked gem.

Off the top of my head, I've got 7:

Joint 2 Joint

Le Grind

Crucial (the extended guitar version)

Venus De Milo

Vicki Waiting

Horny Toad

Dinner With Delores

NorthC said:

And God Created Woman (the only good song on a messy collection of jams and raps) Into the Light/ I Will If Was the Man In Ur Life/The Marrying Kind (sneaking in a few extra songs here) Marz Soul Sanctuary The Holy River Act of God Beautiful, Loved and Blessed Rock and Roll's Alive (And it Lives In Minneapolis) Still Would Stand All Time

Glad you included this one. I was on the verge of doing so myself. One of the many gems on Graffiti Bridge.

[Edited 9/8/17 16:24pm]

NorthC said:

And God Created Woman (the only good song on a messy collection of jams and raps) Into the Light/ I Will If Was the Man In Ur Life/The Marrying Kind (sneaking in a few extra songs here) Marz Soul Sanctuary The Holy River Act of God Beautiful, Loved and Blessed Rock and Roll's Alive (And it Lives In Minneapolis) Still Would Stand All Time

You don't like 7?

1. Electric Chair

2. Welcome 2 the Dawn

3. And God Created Woman

4. Sweet Baby

5. I Wish U Heaven

6. Breakdown

7. Still Would Stand All Time

8. Condition of the Heart

9. Anotherloverholenyohead

10. Solo