In terms of performace and recording techniques and manipulation and production?

Kind of depends on how you define best.

Vocal harmonizing?

Clearness?

Range?

Phrasing?

Dramatics?

Intensity?

Production/effects?

I can't pick, but I will say that the vocal I have been into lately was his version of "I can't make you love me". It doesn't overshadow Bonnie Raitts bluesy original due to being so different. The vulnerabilty and beautiful tones are in the verse, he plays with the melody and harmonies a bit and gives its sensuality. He croons with vibrato and breath control. Its lovely only marred by a unnecessary 'pornographic' spoken part.

[Edited 7/29/18 13:22pm]

[Edited 7/29/18 13:24pm]

Damn U

The Love We Make

Adore

The Beautiful Ones

Wow...could spend forever deliberating on a pick for best.

For off the top of my head starters, like multiple live versions, the Do Me Baby studio version is something else.

Damn U, and others listed above, are spectacular.

It's hard to avoid the ballads, especially Do Me Baby and Adore - both jaw-dropping.

But my vote is the one where his voice sucks out all the space and stops you dead: The Cross.

dup

[Edited 7/29/18 16:17pm]

I love Extraordinary. I didn't think I could be surprised by Prince's singing anymore and then I heard that vocal.

coldasice said:

Extraordinary Still Would Stand All Time Scandalous

rednblue said:

paraded said:

It's hard to avoid the ballads, especially Do Me Baby and Adore - both jaw-dropping.

But my vote is the one where his voice sucks out all the space and stops you dead: The Cross.

Great one. The Cross is so powerful. Like Do Me Baby, it's a studio listen that also brings to mind jaw-dropping live performance.

Plus, there are so many different ways his vocals shine. As you point out, powerful ballads will burst into many of our minds.

For me, the quieter vocals on She Spoke 2 Me are another favorite.

I Hate U

Insatiable

Damn U is the first song that comes to mind. A reviewer described it as 'vocal gymnastics'

.

The Beautuful Ones would have to be up there for both the falsetto and the angst filled screaming

Solo

The Truth - Christ he spits those lyrics out & that scream!

soladeo1 said:

The best Prince vocal I ever heard was the live version of Do Me, Baby from the New Orleans stop of the 1999 Tour.

Sorry maybe Im not explaining myself to well I meant in the what he achieved in the studio as a vocal track recording on record either by sheer performance or by manipulating the vocals using effects mixed in with old school effects layering harmonizing etc for example on one of his tracks I cant remember which one he does an amazing job harmonizing with himself using multiple vocal tracks very much like elliott smith used to do and its sounds amazing wish I could remember the name of it.

lonelyalien said:

soladeo1 said:

The best Prince vocal I ever heard was the live version of Do Me, Baby from the New Orleans stop of the 1999 Tour.

Sorry maybe Im not explaining myself to well I meant in the what he achieved in the studio as a vocal track recording on record either by sheer performance or by manipulating the vocals using effects mixed in with old school effects layering harmonizing etc for example on one of his tracks I cant remember which one he does an amazing job harmonizing with himself using multiple vocal tracks very much like elliott smith used to do and its sounds amazing wish I could remember the name of it.

Okay, got it! What about PINK CASHMERE then??

soladeo1 said:

lonelyalien said:

Sorry maybe Im not explaining myself to well I meant in the what he achieved in the studio as a vocal track recording on record either by sheer performance or by manipulating the vocals using effects mixed in with old school effects layering harmonizing etc for example on one of his tracks I cant remember which one he does an amazing job harmonizing with himself using multiple vocal tracks very much like elliott smith used to do and its sounds amazing wish I could remember the name of it.

Okay, got it! What about PINK CASHMERE then??

Pink Cashmere is definitely up there but I know there are better vocal tracks done in the studio I just cant remember what they are he's done so many songs.

OperatingThetan said:

Too many. I'm noticing a lot of ballads mentioned here though, so I'll throw these into the soup: "3 Chains o' Gold," and "We Can Fuck" from the Purple Rain bonus tracks. The screams on the latter made it the best track I've heard in years.

There are so many...

But The Beautiful Ones stands out in my mind at the moment

It isn't my favorite P slow jam, but God is my favorite P vocal performance in the studio.

My answer for this question will ALWAYS be Adore. Just perfection, though The Beautiful Ones puts up a good fight.

Delirious

PliablyPurple said:

Annie Christian and Jughead