shit, I've been a Prince fan for almost a year and I thought I was really making some progress toward getting through his catalogue. There's no way I will ever get my head around the man with all these songs
How did you guys keep up with it in the 80s? It seems like he can make good music faster than I can listen to it.

scififilmnerd said:

actually, namepeace basically just answered his own question: they're newbies. they have much to learn 'round here. that, or the new batch of newbies we've been gettin are somewhat of a bad batch....

1 + 1 + 1 Is 3 is derivative of Erotic City.

As for what was funky in the 80'ies?

Let's see...

1980
Dirty Mind (4:11) (Prince/Matt Fink)
When You Were Mine (3:44)
Do It All Night (3:42)
Gotta Broken Heart Again (2:13)
Uptown (5:30)
Head (4:40)
Sister (1:33)
Party Up (4:24) (Morris Day/Prince)

1981
Gotta Stop (Messin’ About) (2:54)
The Time: Get It Up (9:05)
Girl (5:34)
After Hi School (4:20) (Dez Dickerson)
Cool (10:06) (Prince/Dez Dickerson)
Oh, Baby (4:57)
The Stick (8:23) (Lisa Coleman/Prince)
Sue Ann Carwell: Make It Through The Storm (Prince/Chris Moon) – re-recorded version
Controversy (7:14)
Sexuality (4:20)
Do Me, Baby (7:47)
Private Joy (4:25)
Ronnie, Talk To Russia (1:48)
Let’s Work (3:57)
Annie Christian (4:21)
Jack U Off (3:12)

1982
Ren Woods: I Don’t Wanna Stop (5:58) – re-recorded version
Vanity 6: Nasty Girl (5:10)
Wet Dream (4:12)
Drive Me Wild (2:31)
He’s So Dull (2:32) (Dez Dickerson)
If A Girl Answers (Don’t Hang Up) (5:34) (Prince/Terry Lewis)
Make-up (2:40)
Bite The Beat (3:12) (Prince/Jesse Johnson)
3 x 2 = 6 (5:24)
The Time: Wild And Loose (7:32) (Prince/Dez Dickerson)
777-9311 (7:57)
OnedayI’mgonnabesomebody (2:27)
The Walk (9:30)
Gigolos Get Lonely Too (4:40)
I Don’t Wanna Leave You (6:30)
Grace (2:32)
How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore (3:54)
1999 (6:22)
Little Red Corvette (4:58)
Delirious (3:56)
Let’s Pretend We’re Married (7:20)
D.M.S.R. (8:05)
Automatic (9:24)
Something In The Water (Does Not Compute) (4:00)
Free (5:00)
Lady Cab Driver (8:25)
All The Critics Love U In New York (5:55)
International Lover (6:35)

1983
Stevie Nicks: Stand Back (Stevie Nicks) – keyboards
Horny Toad (2:13)
Irresistible Bitch (4:11)

1984
17 Days (3:54) (Prince/Matt Fink/Lisa Coleman/Wendy Melvoin)
Sheila E: The Belle Of St. Mark (5:08) (Prince/Jesse Johnson)
Shortberry Strawcake (4:44)
Noon Rendezvous (3:50) (Prince/Sheila E)
Oliver’s House (6:20)
Next Time Wipe The Lipstick Off Your Collar (3:50)
The Glamorous Life (8:58)
Let’s Go Crazy (4:39)
Take Me With U (3:54)
The Beautiful Ones (5:15)
Computer Blue (3:59) (Prince/Matt Fink/Lisa Coleman/Wendy Melvoin/John L. Nelson)
Darling Nikki (4:15)
When Doves Cry (5:52)
I Would Die 4 U (2:51)
Baby I’m A Star (4:20)
Purple Rain (8:45)
The Time: Ice Cream Castles (7:33) (Prince/Morris Day)
My Drawers (4:04)
Chili Sauce (5:45)
Jungle Love (5:29) (Prince/Morris Day/Jesse Johnson)
If The Kid Can’t Make You Come (7:33)
The Bird (7:40) (Prince/Morris Day/Jesse Johnson)
Tricky (3:12)
Erotic City (7:24)
Sheena Easton: Sugar Walls (4:09)
God (Vocal) (3:59)
God (Instrumental) (7:49)
Apollonia 6: Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian (7:06)
Sex Shooter (3:39)
Blue Limousine (6:19)
A Million Miles (I Love You) (5:51) (Prince/Lisa Coleman)
Ooh She She Wa Wa (4:10)
Some Kind Of Lover (4:48) (Prince/Brenda Bennett)
In A Spanish Villa (2:12)
Another Lonely Christmas (6:47)

1985
4 The Tears In Your Eyes (2:45)
Around The World In A Day (3:25) (David Coleman/Prince)
Paisley Park (4:41)
Condition Of The Heart (6:46)
Raspberry Beret (3:31)
Tambourine (2:46)
America (3:40) (Prince/The Revolution)
Pop Life (3:42)
The Ladder (5:26) (Prince/John L. Nelson)
Temptation (8:21)
She’s Always In My Hair (3:27)
André Cymone: The Dance Electric (5:44)
Hello (6:38)
The Family: High Fashion (5:06)
Mutiny (3:57)
The Screams Of Passion (5:26)
Yes (4:27) (Prince/Eric Leeds)
River Run Dry (3:31) (Bobby Z. Rivkin)
Nothing Compares 2 U (4:31)
Susannah’s Pajamas (3:58) (Prince/Eric Leeds)
Desire (4:58)
Sheila E: Sister Fate (3:50)
Dear Michaelangelo (4:38)
A Love Bizarre (12:18) (Prince/Sheila E)
Toy Box (5:32)
Yellow (2:11)
Romance 1600 (3:56)
Bedtime Story (3:45)
Girl (7:36)
Sheila E: Holly Rock (4:56)

1986
The Bangles: Manic Monday (3:01)
94 East: Games (4:59) (Pepé Willie) – guitar
Dance To The Music Of The World (5:07) (Pepé Willie) – guitar, keyboards, drums & backing vocals
One Man Jam (6:15) (Pepé Willie) – everything but synth & bass
Just Another Sucker (5:17) (Prince/Pepé Willie)
If You Feel Like Dancin’ (7:08) (Pepé Willie) – guitar & keyboards
Lovin’ Cup (4:20) (Pepé Willie) – guitar, keyboards & drums
Mazarati: 100 Mph (7:23)
Strawberry Lover (5:30) (Brownmark/Prince)
I Guess It’s All Over (4:56) (Brownmark/Prince)
Love Or $ (6:50) (Prince/The Revolution)
Christopher Tracy’s Parade (2:11)
New Position (2:21)
I Wonder U (1:40)
Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)
Girls & Boys (5:30)
Life Can Be So Nice (3:12)
Venus De Milo (1:54)
Mountains (3:58) (Lisa Coleman/Wendy Melvoin/Prince)
Do U Lie? (2:43)
Kiss (3:38)
Anotherloverholenyohead (3:58)
Sometimes It Snows In April (6:50) (Prince/Lisa Coleman/Wendy Melvoin)
Alexa De Paris (4:54)
Kenny Rogers: You’re My Love (4:06) – re-recorded version

1987
Madhouse: One (7:16)
Two (5:31)
Three (3:16)
Four (2:24)
Five (1:15)
Six (4:28)
Seven (4:09)
Eight (10:05)
Six And ½ (2:36) (Eric Leeds)
La, La, La, He, He, Hee (10:32)
Sheila E: One Day (I’m Gonna Make You Mine) (4:47) (Prince/Sheila E)
Koo Koo (3:24) (Prince/Sheila E)
Pride And The Passion (4:05) (Prince/Sheila E)
Boy’s Club (3:56) (Prince/Sheila E)
Love On A Blue Train (5:25) (Prince/Sheila E)
Sign ‘O’ The Times (5:02)
Play In The Sunshine (5:05)
Housequake (4:38)
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker (4:04)
It (5:10)
Starfish And Coffee (2:51) (Prince/Susannah Melvoin)
Slow Love (4:18) (Prince/Carole Davis)
Hot Thing (5:39)
Forever In My Life (3:38)
U Got The Look (3:58)
If I Was Your Girlfriend (4:54)
Strange Relationship (4:04)
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (6:31)
The Cross (4:46)
It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night (8:59) (Prince/Matt Fink/Eric Leeds)
Adore (6:29)
Deborah Allen: Telepathy (5:07)
Nona Hendryx: Baby Go-Go (5:08) – re-recorded version
Shockadelica (6:12)
Jill Jones: Mia Bocca (7:21)
G-Spot (4:30)
Violet Blue (4:24)
All Day, All Night (5:41)
For Love (4:27)
My Man (3:15)
Baby, You’re A Trip (5:23)
77 Bleeker St. (4:34) - overdubs
Sheena Easton: Eternity (3:50)
Taja Sevelle: Wouldn’t You Love To Love Me? (4:01)
If I Could Get Your Attention (3:41)
Madhouse: Nine (2:06)
Ten (5:04) (Prince/Eric Leeds/Levi Seacer Jr./Sheila E)
Eleven (6:14) (Prince/Eric Leeds/Levi Seacer Jr./Sheila E)
Twelve (5:14)
Thirteen (4:46)
Fourteen (5:12)
Fifteen (3:49) (Prince/Eric Leeds/Levi Seacer Jr./Sheila E)
Sixteen (4:17) (Prince/Eric Leeds)
Ten and ½ (3:22) (Prince/Eric Leeds/Levi Seacer Jr./Sheila E)

1988
Madhouse: Thirteen And ¼ (5:47) (Prince/Eric Leeds/Levi Seacer Jr./Sheila E)
Dale Bozzio: So Strong (4:28)
Good Love (5:11)
Eye No (5:46)
Alphabet St. (5:40)
Glam Slam (5:07)
Anna Stesia (4:58)
Dance On (3:45)
Lovesexy (5:50)
When 2 R In Love (3:58)
I Wish U Heaven (2:44)
Positivity (7:17)
Three O’ Clock: Neon Telephone (3:57) – re-recorded version
Escape (Free Yo Mind From This Rat Race) (6:26)
Scarlet Pussy (6:09)
Chaka Khan: Sticky Wicked (6:54)
Sheena Easton: 101 (4:06)
Cool Love (4:03)

1989
Madonna: Love Song (4:52) (Prince/Madonna)
Keep It Together (5:05) (Madonna/Stephen Bray) - guitar
Act Of Contrition (2:19) - guitar
Mavis Staples: Interesting (4:28)
Come Home (5:29)
Jaguar (5:29)
Train (4:27)
I Guess I’m Crazy (4:10)
Time Waits For No One (6:12) (Prince/Mavis Staples)
200 Balloons (5:05)
The Future (4:08)
Electric Chair (4:08)
The Arms Of Orion (5:03)
Partyman (3:11)
Vicki Waiting (4:52)
Trust (4:24)
Lemon Crush (4:15)
Scandalous (6:15)
Batdance (6:13)
Patti LaBelle: Yo Mister (5:06)
Love 89 (5:06) (Prince/Sheena Easton)
Wendy & Lisa: Lolly Lolly (According To Prince) (4:19) – remix
George Clinton: Tweakin’ (A Mix) – remix
Tweakin’ (C. Mixapella) – remix
Tweakin’ (Dub Mix) – remix
Hysterical – remix
Feel U Up (6:30)
Brownmark: Bang Bang (4:57) (Levi Seacer Jr) – backing vocal
Shall We Dance (4:41)
I Love U In Me (4:13)
Kahoru Kohiruimaki: Mindbells (4:29) (Prince/Levi Seacer Jr.)
Bliss (5:47) (Prince/Levi Seacer Jr.)
Sex (7:00) (Prince/Levi Seacer Jr.)
Aretha Franklin & James Brown: Gimme Your Love (Remix by Paisley Park) - remix

Take your pick.