I am going to make a potentially controversial pick here. To me, one of the most underrated Prince songs from that era is...

.

ALPHABET ST.

.

I know, the "Lovesexy" album is very much loved on this forum. Yes, I know it was a top 10 single. But I don't think people really appreciate just how amazing the song is. The syncopation, the funk rhythms entwined with a standard rock/pop 4/4 time signature, the flirty lyrics, the Cat Rap... Awesome stuff.

.

And also, remember, it was conceived and recorded in a burst of post-"Black Album" creativity that was only a few months long. AND there's the cheap-but-playful video, chock full of hidden messages.

.

I absolutely love this song, but I feel it's overshadowed by the bigger triumphs of Prince's recording career.

GiggityGoo said:

I am going to make a potentially controversial pick here. To me, one of the most underrated Prince songs from that era is...

.

ALPHABET ST.

.

I know, the "Lovesexy" album is very much loved on this forum. Yes, I know it was a top 10 single. But I don't think people really appreciate just how amazing the song is. The syncopation, the funk rhythms entwined with a standard rock/pop 4/4 time signature, the flirty lyrics, the Cat Rap... Awesome stuff.

.

And also, remember, it was conceived and recorded in a burst of post-"Black Album" creativity that was only a few months long. AND there's the cheap-but-playful video, chock full of hidden messages.

.

I absolutely love this song, but I feel it's overshadowed by the bigger triumphs of Prince's recording career.

No. Its always in top 50 voting, its heralded as one of his funkiest, like you said it was a top ten hit. Come on now.

-

Mountains (extended)

-

How the hell did he do that ?

-

rdhull said:

Phase3 said:

"I'm yours"The guitar playing throughout is extraordinary.I wish he would have performed in concert but I dont think he ever has.

We have a winner! And he did play it, at L.A. Live live back in 2009, on that 3 concerts in one night. The rockcentric club concert.

Yep I was there at the conga room & I was probably only a handful of people that recognized it, I was yelling for the trio to play the Undertaker in between songs but to no avail. Great night i'll never forget.

rdhull said:

Phase3 said:

rdhull said:

We have a winner! And he did play it, at L.A. Live live back in 2009, on that 3 concerts in one night. The rockcentric club concert.

Oh really? I have a LIVE version somewhere on my laptop but he doesn't sing just plays the guitar throughout. Is their vocals on the LA 2009?

yes

Farfunknugin said:

rdhull said:

We have a winner! And he did play it, at L.A. Live live back in 2009, on that 3 concerts in one night. The rockcentric club concert.

Yep I was there at the conga room & I was probably only a handful of people that recognized it, I was yelling for the trio to play the Undertaker in between songs but to no avail. Great night i'll never forget.

Ya, same with the final club show where he did Large Room and only a few knew what was happening. I remember distictly the excitement of those who came out the club raving about him playing I'm Yours.

Vannormal said:

-

Mountains (extended)

-

How the hell did he do that ?

-

Right? it's amazing.

My top ten, similar to the worst of 78-89 thread - only official releases, no posthumous (Moonbeam Levels, 1999 and PR Deluxe) or delayed (Black Album) releases. I'm ruling out most US singles (which Prince obviously didn't underrate himself).

-Annie Christian - a really inventive track, weird from both a production and lyrical standpoint, with cutting edge LINN work and smoking guitar and synth parts

-Jack U Off - one of the worst-received Prince songs, BUT: he broke ground wtih electro-rockabilly, and this was the most out-there of those tracks; today, Ariana Grande can have a hit about girl-on-girl sex, but to my knowledge there is still no male R&B equivalent and this song is still outlandish while being catchy as fuck

-DMSR - hold on: yes, as far as deep cuts go, this is one of Prince's most played live, yes any Prince fan who knows it's time to fix your clock appreciates it, BUT: why is this song not a household staple? Why is "Don't Stop Believin'" being played all over the world this very instant but DMSR is not? If DMSR was a B-side, it could have been a "We Will Rock You"

-Hello - I might be looking for an argument, but I think it blows away She's Always in My Hair

-Under the Cherry Moon - it doesn't get much love, but it gets me every time

-Play in the Sunshine - I don't see people hating on this, but I'm thinking it's the best composition on SOTT and a great example of Prince as genre unto himself

-It - minimalism is not a weakness (and actually, the mix has a lot going on)

-Glam Slam - I underrated this myself, it's is on the list for atonement

-Scarlet Pussy - it's abrasively experimental while simultaneously being a P Funk homage with a pocket so wide you'll lose your keys, Prince never played it live, it scares your parents, perfect

-Feel U Up - how did a smash hit end up on the B-side to Partyman?

Nothing about Dirty Mind or Purple Rain strike me as being underrated, although "Erotic City" really can't get enough praise. Nothing I felt strongly enough about on Prince to include, and I still don't have For You (sheds single tear, rides off on Pegasus).

GiggityGoo said:

rdhull said:

Farfunknugin said:

Yep I was there at the conga room & I was probably only a handful of people that recognized it, I was yelling for the trio to play the Undertaker in between songs but to no avail. Great night i'll never forget.

Ya, same with the final club show where he did Large Room and only a few knew what was happening. I remember distictly the excitement of those who came out the club raving about him playing I'm Yours.

I lost it when he played that, also the first time he played WILMHOY live as well. I heard someone actually had video of the conga room gig but not sure if thats true, it has yet to surface.

[Edited 3/19/20 10:56am]

Gotta say Anna Stesia - doesn't come up nearly as often as it should.

Mikado said:

Gotta say Anna Stesia - doesn't come up nearly as often as it should.

Great song! Probably my fav from the Lovesexy album.

Dazza said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Mikado said:

Gotta say Anna Stesia - doesn't come up nearly as often as it should.

Great song! Probably my fav from the Lovesexy album.

My favorite from that not so good album.

Dazza said:

No - superfunkycalifragisexy One of my all time faves. Needs more shout outs

Great song, so much fun, and one of his veru best title songs.

I agree whole heartedly specially on Play In The Sunshine, which I think is an unsung hero in his discography.

mtlfan said:

My top ten, similar to the worst of 78-89 thread - only official releases, no posthumous (Moonbeam Levels, 1999 and PR Deluxe) or delayed (Black Album) releases. I'm ruling out most US singles (which Prince obviously didn't underrate himself).

-Annie Christian - a really inventive track, weird from both a production and lyrical standpoint, with cutting edge LINN work and smoking guitar and synth parts

-Jack U Off - one of the worst-received Prince songs, BUT: he broke ground wtih electro-rockabilly, and this was the most out-there of those tracks; today, Ariana Grande can have a hit about girl-on-girl sex, but to my knowledge there is still no male R&B equivalent and this song is still outlandish while being catchy as fuck

-DMSR - hold on: yes, as far as deep cuts go, this is one of Prince's most played live, yes any Prince fan who knows it's time to fix your clock appreciates it, BUT: why is this song not a household staple? Why is "Don't Stop Believin'" being played all over the world this very instant but DMSR is not? If DMSR was a B-side, it could have been a "We Will Rock You"

-Hello - I might be looking for an argument, but I think it blows away She's Always in My Hair

-Under the Cherry Moon - it doesn't get much love, but it gets me every time

-Play in the Sunshine - I don't see people hating on this, but I'm thinking it's the best composition on SOTT and a great example of Prince as genre unto himself

-It - minimalism is not a weakness (and actually, the mix has a lot going on)

-Glam Slam - I underrated this myself, it's is on the list for atonement

-Scarlet Pussy - it's abrasively experimental while simultaneously being a P Funk homage with a pocket so wide you'll lose your keys, Prince never played it live, it scares your parents, perfect

-Feel U Up - how did a smash hit end up on the B-side to Partyman?

Nothing about Dirty Mind or Purple Rain strike me as being underrated, although "Erotic City" really can't get enough praise. Nothing I felt strongly enough about on Prince to include, and I still don't have For You (sheds single tear, rides off on Pegasus).

-

Gonna add another here;

"When We're Dancing Close And Slow"

Why? ...talking about the warmest minimalism !

Because of it's honest simplicity, sparse fullfilment, disarming, modest but hot desire,

the reason that he 'can almost taste the thoughts within her mind' and 'wants to come inside of her',

just after two minutes he adds very few embellishments, and it works !

Throught the whole track he uses only one bass note/string,

it's an 'acoustic-guitar' only slow pop song

with melodic reinforcing electric piano arrangements.

-

And most important, it's a one "1" chord track. The first i believe he did at the time.

-

From nearly all of the songs you guys mentioned here

is very inspiring to me, so I think I'll make a compilation out of it,

for these corona days to listen too...

-

HOLD ON PEOPLE WHEREVER YOU ARE!

FOLLOW AND RESPECT THE IMPOSED HEALTH RULES.

-

mtlfan said:

My top ten, similar to the worst of 78-89 thread - only official releases, no posthumous (Moonbeam Levels, 1999 and PR Deluxe) or delayed (Black Album) releases. I'm ruling out most US singles (which Prince obviously didn't underrate himself).

-Annie Christian - a really inventive track, weird from both a production and lyrical standpoint, with cutting edge LINN work and smoking guitar and synth parts

-Jack U Off - one of the worst-received Prince songs, BUT: he broke ground wtih electro-rockabilly, and this was the most out-there of those tracks; today, Ariana Grande can have a hit about girl-on-girl sex, but to my knowledge there is still no male R&B equivalent and this song is still outlandish while being catchy as fuck

-DMSR - hold on: yes, as far as deep cuts go, this is one of Prince's most played live, yes any Prince fan who knows it's time to fix your clock appreciates it, BUT: why is this song not a household staple? Why is "Don't Stop Believin'" being played all over the world this very instant but DMSR is not? If DMSR was a B-side, it could have been a "We Will Rock You"

-Hello - I might be looking for an argument, but I think it blows away She's Always in My Hair

-Under the Cherry Moon - it doesn't get much love, but it gets me every time

-Play in the Sunshine - I don't see people hating on this, but I'm thinking it's the best composition on SOTT and a great example of Prince as genre unto himself

-It - minimalism is not a weakness (and actually, the mix has a lot going on)

-Glam Slam - I underrated this myself, it's is on the list for atonement

-Scarlet Pussy - it's abrasively experimental while simultaneously being a P Funk homage with a pocket so wide you'll lose your keys, Prince never played it live, it scares your parents, perfect

-Feel U Up - how did a smash hit end up on the B-side to Partyman?

Nothing about Dirty Mind or Purple Rain strike me as being underrated, although "Erotic City" really can't get enough praise. Nothing I felt strongly enough about on Prince to include, and I still don't have For You (sheds single tear, rides off on Pegasus).

Some good mentions on here but you're wrong about Hello. She's Always in My Hair blows it away.

Vannormal said:

-

Gonna add another here;

"When We're Dancing Close And Slow"

Why? ...talking about the warmest minimalism !

Because of it's honest simplicity, sparse fullfilment, disarming, modest but hot desire,

the reason that he 'can almost taste the thoughts within her mind' and 'wants to come inside of her',

just after two minutes he adds very few embellishments, and it works !

Throught the whole track he uses only one bass note/string,

it's an 'acoustic-guitar' only slow pop song

with melodic reinforcing electric piano arrangements.

-

And most important, it's a one "1" chord track. The first i believe he did at the time.

-

From nearly all of the songs you guys mentioned here

is very inspiring to me, so I think I'll make a compilation out of it,

for these corona days to listen too...

-

HOLD ON PEOPLE WHEREVER YOU ARE!

FOLLOW AND RESPECT THE IMPOSED HEALTH RULES.

-

I almost put that on my list. The last time I listened to Prince it caught my ear.

Dalia11 said:

One of my favorite songs: "Anastasia".

.

Anna Stesia?

.

Gustavm said:

mtlfan said:

My top ten, similar to the worst of 78-89 thread - only official releases, no posthumous (Moonbeam Levels, 1999 and PR Deluxe) or delayed (Black Album) releases. I'm ruling out most US singles (which Prince obviously didn't underrate himself).

-Annie Christian - a really inventive track, weird from both a production and lyrical standpoint, with cutting edge LINN work and smoking guitar and synth parts

-Jack U Off - one of the worst-received Prince songs, BUT: he broke ground wtih electro-rockabilly, and this was the most out-there of those tracks; today, Ariana Grande can have a hit about girl-on-girl sex, but to my knowledge there is still no male R&B equivalent and this song is still outlandish while being catchy as fuck

-DMSR - hold on: yes, as far as deep cuts go, this is one of Prince's most played live, yes any Prince fan who knows it's time to fix your clock appreciates it, BUT: why is this song not a household staple? Why is "Don't Stop Believin'" being played all over the world this very instant but DMSR is not? If DMSR was a B-side, it could have been a "We Will Rock You"

-Hello - I might be looking for an argument, but I think it blows away She's Always in My Hair

-Under the Cherry Moon - it doesn't get much love, but it gets me every time

-Play in the Sunshine - I don't see people hating on this, but I'm thinking it's the best composition on SOTT and a great example of Prince as genre unto himself

-It - minimalism is not a weakness (and actually, the mix has a lot going on)

-Glam Slam - I underrated this myself, it's is on the list for atonement

-Scarlet Pussy - it's abrasively experimental while simultaneously being a P Funk homage with a pocket so wide you'll lose your keys, Prince never played it live, it scares your parents, perfect

-Feel U Up - how did a smash hit end up on the B-side to Partyman?

Nothing about Dirty Mind or Purple Rain strike me as being underrated, although "Erotic City" really can't get enough praise. Nothing I felt strongly enough about on Prince to include, and I still don't have For You (sheds single tear, rides off on Pegasus).

Some good mentions on here but you're wrong about Hello. She's Always in My Hair blows it away.

This might be his only missed point in an otherwise perfect paragraph.

udo said:

Dalia11 said:

One of my favorite songs: "Anastasia".

.

Anna Stesia?

.

Anna Stesia is fantastic, but I think it is deservedly highly rated by most Prince fans. It often has gotten praised here, and I think I recall it did very well in Moonbeam's Prince song poll.

Mintchip said:

I vote for one of the great, butchered B-Sides. The extended versions of "Girl", or "La la la, he he he", which aren't officially released on anything other than vinyl, and are only known by most people by their edited - and kind of meh - Hits/B-Sides versions.

Love both of these!

slyjackson said:

Gustavm said:

Some good mentions on here but you're wrong about Hello. She's Always in My Hair blows it away.

This might be his only missed point in an otherwise perfect paragraph.

Nothing blows away "She's Always In My Hair". It's an incredible song that surely would have been a hit if it had been released as a single in the states.

I'm so glad Prince embraced the song in his later years by performing it often.

VaultCurator said:

eyewishuheaven said: