Dazza said:

After all the amazing vault material that’s been released officially and unofficially over the years it makes me wonder: Why didn’t prince release better b-sides, decent EPs or standalone singles with so much in the vaults. I mean he had all the Crystal Ball castoffs and he releases La la la he he hee as a b-side???? Leaving the title track languishing for over a decade. It does give me hope that there are some amazing tracks we haven’t heard in vault.

"Better" b-sides? "La La La" isn't my favourite either, but in general Prince's b-sides were top shelf - "Erotic City"? "17 Days"? "She's Always In My Hair"? He needed to do "better" than that?

Lalala any day! Crystal Ball is of course better, but less fun, and is no B-side material (it's A-side material)

Dazza said:

After all the amazing vault material that’s been released officially and unofficially over the years it makes me wonder: Why didn’t prince release better b-sides, decent EPs or standalone singles with so much in the vaults. I mean he had all the Crystal Ball castoffs and he releases La la la he he hee as a b-side???? Leaving the title track languishing for over a decade. It does give me hope that there are some amazing tracks we haven’t heard in vault.

I love La La La, also it was best released because it was recorded in the current time that SOTT was released. SOTT overall is DreamFactory and a lot of the energy of the project was connected to a group of people band and proteges that were not there/a part of the 87 scene.

I do think he should have released more B sides with the albums after 1985. He definately had the material from each project. Parade(Sexual Suicide, Mia Bocca, Heaven) only had 2 B sides, same with SOTT, Lovesexy(Pink Cashmere, the Line), Batman and Controversy(Kiss Me Quick, Tick Tick Bang) and Dirty Mind

Ridiculous.

TwiliteKid said:

Dazza said:

After all the amazing vault material that’s been released officially and unofficially over the years it makes me wonder: Why didn’t prince release better b-sides, decent EPs or standalone singles with so much in the vaults. I mean he had all the Crystal Ball castoffs and he releases La la la he he hee as a b-side???? Leaving the title track languishing for over a decade. It does give me hope that there are some amazing tracks we haven’t heard in vault.

"Better" b-sides? "La La La" isn't my favourite either, but in general Prince's b-sides were top shelf - "Erotic City"? "17 Days"? "She's Always In My Hair"? He needed to do "better" than that?

Ya i dont get "better b-sides" either.

One of his biggest legacies is the fact that he was widely known for having b-sides that were on par with main singles.

How Come you dont call me? God? Girl? Irresistible bitch?

SoulAlive said:

I like “La,La,La,He,He,Hee” it’s one of his best B-sides!

yup, along with shockadelica, my faves.

Dazza said:

Why didn’t prince release better b-sides

TrivialPursuit said:

Ridiculous.

This would have fitted well on The Scandalous Sex Suite

Although he didn't phrase it too well, he has a point.

I have often wondered the same thing, the 86/88 era has so many wonderful unreleased songs but only 6 of the 11 released singles had a b-side. 5 more songs could have been a part of that terrific group of Prince's b-sides

what would you have put on Anotherloverholenyohead, Girls & Boys, U Got The Look, ICNTTPOYM and Alphabet Street?

RODSERLING said:

Gett Off was released way too soon before the album to make impact on the charts, etc

#4 in the UK.

NouveauDance said:

Most of his 80s B-sides were as good or better than the album songs!

17 Days, Erotic City and God from Purple Rain alone were album-worthy.

She's Always In My Hair, Girl and Hello . . . pretty much the same! Probably not Hello, but it's a damn good song especially knowing what prompted it.

I think he lost interest in B-sides in the 90s in favor of just releasing more albums whenever possible. If you notice, he also lost interest in "side projects" compared to what he was doing in the 80s.

RODSERLING said:

NouveauDance said:

#4 in the UK.

Impact on the charts for the album Diamonds and Pearls of course. This was a nonsense strategy to release a single without an album to accompany it

What are you talking about?
Cream was released only 3 weeks before the album.
The album got to #2 in the UK (#1 in the US).

Se7en said:

I think he lost interest in B-sides in the 90s in favor of just releasing more albums whenever possible. If you notice, he also lost interest in "side projects" compared to what he was doing in the 80s

.

That's true. Aside from the NPG albums there were not as many side projects to speak of in the 90s. Also, his singles would largely consist of remixes, album tracks and album samplers. There's not a lot there to get excited about, with a few exceptions.

CherryMoon57 said:

RODSERLING said:

NouveauDance said: Impact on the charts for the album Diamonds and Pearls of course. This was a nonsense strategy to release a single without an album to accompany it

What are you talking about?
Cream was released only 3 weeks before the album.
The album got to #2 in the UK (#1 in the US).

.

Indeed. By this logic he shouldn't have released 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World'. That came out about 18 months prior to the Gold Experience and both were extremely successful.

VaultCurator said:

CherryMoon57 said:

What are you talking about?
Cream was released only 3 weeks before the album.
The album got to #2 in the UK (#1 in the US).

.

Indeed. By this logic he shouldn't have released 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World'. That came out about 18 months prior to the Gold Experience and both were extremely successful.

TMBGITG was released the way it was as a demonstration to Warner Bros that he could release things independently and they would still sell (and, indeed, it did - it was actually his only #1 in the UK).

And, of course, most of the Gold Experience was in the can by the time the single came out.

[Edited 8/1/19 7:08am]

VaultCurator said:

Se7en said:

I think he lost interest in B-sides in the 90s in favor of just releasing more albums whenever possible. If you notice, he also lost interest in "side projects" compared to what he was doing in the 80s

.

That's true. Aside from the NPG albums there were not as many side projects to speak of in the 90s. Also, his singles would largely consist of remixes, album tracks and album samplers. There's not a lot there to get excited about, with a few exceptions.

Plus, after he left WB he had no checks n balances when it came down to releases, so almost everything associated with a project came out

RJOrion said:

"Lalala Hehehee" is a GREAT song...

Amen to that brother!

Especially the extended version!!!!

"The Cross", a hit?? Over "Hot Thing"?????

williamb610 said:

I react to these meandering funk jams with the endless sax like I've read other org'ers react to his requisite love ballads.

WhisperingDandelions said:

WhisperingDandelions said:

I react to these meandering funk jams with the endless sax like I've read other org'ers react to his requisite love ballads.

I react to them the same way.

WhisperingDandelions said:

RODSERLING said:

WhisperingDandelions said:

"The Cross", a hit?? Over "Hot Thing"?????

Well over Hot Thing, yes, which wasn't radio friendly at all. Beside, Hot Thing was a flop even in the USA and never could chart anywhere Whereas The Cross would have been, especially in Europe, where he doesn't have much hits. . The Cross is a beautiful and meaning song that, for non Prince s fan, is catchy at first hear. A bit like a U2 song.

Hot Thing didn't chart because it wasn't an a-side