source:
http://www.ew.com/ew/arti...0_,00.html

''When You Were Mine'' (''Dirty Mind,'' 1980)
With its perky keyboard riff and eighth-note guitar strum, you could easily mistake ''When You Were Mine'' for a Cars song. But then Prince begins singing -- in a high, feminine register -- about a lover who ''didn't have the decency to change the sheets.'' Playing nearly every instrument heard on the song, Prince offers early proof that he was unbound by the strictures of genre, able to achieve musical cross-pollination -- in this case, R&B vocals atop a new-wave pop sound -- like no one else.

''Little Red Corvette'' (''1999,'' 1983)
It begins ominously, with swelling synthesizer chords, but ''Little Red Corvette'' is one of Prince's most joyous tunes. Its cars-and-girls lyrics plug him into a rock tradition that goes back to Chuck Berry, while the song's complexity -- multiple drum machine tracks, thick stacks of backing vocals, synthesized bass, and lyrical lead guitar -- propels it into what still sounds like an uncharted pop future. Baby, he was moving way too fast.

''When Doves Cry'' (''Purple Rain,'' 1984)
What DOES it sound like when doves cry? Apparently, it sounds like one of the most minimalist hit singles of all time. The song reached No. 1 despite a backing track consisting of just a drum machine and intermittent keyboards -- there's no bass line. The lack of distractions puts the focus on Prince's imaginative vocal arrangements (check out the deliberately robotic backing vocals on the line ''How could you just leave me standing''). One possible negative: Because of the song's video, it's impossible to hear it without picturing His Purpleness in a bathtub.

''Purple Rain'' (''Purple Rain,'' 1984)
The chiming rhythm guitar is nabbed from the Jimi Hendrix playbook, and the song structure from classic soul (think Sam Cooke's ''A Change Is Gonna Come''), but this anthem nonetheless belongs solely to Prince. Coming in at 8 minutes and 41 seconds (albeit not in the radio edit), ''Purple Rain'' remains his masterpiece, simultaneously combining and transcending all of his influences while showcasing his unmatched vocal range and underrated lead-guitar prowess (that's right, rock snobs -- the dude can shred).

''Erotic City'' (B-side to ''Let's Go Crazy,'' 1984)
It took a B-side to unleash Prince's nastiest impulses -- in a career full of sexy songs, ''Erotic City'' is among the most carnal (and most fun). ''We can funk until the dawn/ Making love till cherry's gone,'' the chorus goes -- but is the lyric really ''funk''? Paging Tipper Gore...

''Kiss'' (''Parade,'' 1986)
After the ''Purple Rain'' album, Prince got bogged down in baroque arrangements, but ''Kiss'' marked an end to that problem. Harkening back to the lean funk of his earliest work, it's a respectful nod to James Brown (with a guitar part torn from ''Poppa's Got a Brand New Bag''), and a reminder that Prince could be great even WITHOUT jumping genres. Plus, the guy has a hell of a falsetto.

''The Ballad of Dorothy Parker'' (''Sign O' the Times,'' 1987)
Prince's egomania makes it too easy to overlook his flashes of humor -- in ''Dorothy Parker,'' the protagonist orders a fruit cocktail for dinner, prompting the title character to label him a ''real man.'' Complementing its quirky lyrics, which include a nod to Joni Mitchell's ''Help Me,'' the song is notable for its musical oddity: It's loaded with dissonance -- from an off-kilter bass line to weird little keyboard stabs -- but somehow remains a catchy pop tune.

''Batdance'' (''Batman'' soundtrack, 1989)
Just kidding. But we do kinda like it.

''Money Don't Matter 2 Night'' (''Diamonds and Pearls,'' 1991)
Prince turned back toward R&B with his '90s band, the New Power Generation, and the richly arranged ''Money Don't Matter 2 Night'' set a template for the decade's slow jams (TLC's ''Waterfalls'' owes a particular debt). It also boasted one of Prince's most heartfelt vocal performances, and lyrics that offer an apt epitaph for the greed-is-good '80s: ''Just when you think you've got more than enough/ That's when it all up and flies away.''

''7'' (The Love Symbol Album, 1992)
With apocalyptic, mythology-packed lyrics, choir-o'-Princes backing vocals worthy of Queen, and a hand-clapping, gospelesque refrain, ''7'' is a neglected late-period high point. He was on the verge of changing his name to that hieroglyph (which, for the last time, was NOT pronounced ''Victor''), but hadn't yet descended into the inaccessibility that marked his late-'90s work.

''On the Couch'' (''Musicology,'' 2004)
Prince has proven that his latest comeback isn't just an onstage affair by releasing a sturdy new album, ''Musicology.'' The slow-building, retrosoul ballad ''On the Couch'' is an early favorite -- it finds our formerly womanizing hero amusingly reduced to begging to sleep in his own bed. ''Don't make me sleep on the couch,'' Prince howls, in an anguished falsetto, as Sam and Dave-style horns make the plea hard to resist.

"Money don't matter tonight" & "On the Couch" ?

Emancipation88 said:

They're trying to impress us with their knowledge of the obscure.

MY LIST DAMMIT.

1, Soft & Wet -1978- Ur just as wet as the evening rain ???

2. Bambi- 1979- Nuff said.

3. When U Were Mine.

4. 1999- Unforgettable song

5. The whole Purple Rain album. Every song kicks much ass even 20 years later.

6.Kiss

7. SOTT - Sing the song in 2004 and it's still scary deep!

8. Hot Thing - the most overlooked song in his catalog. The damn keyboard is funky Hell.

9. Anna Steita - Play it at 3:00 in the morning when a bad event has happened and you will feel it.

10. 7 sing it when GW Bush comes on TV and you will get my drift.

At least they got Ballad of Dorothy Parker right!

some interesting comments... particularly about Dorothy Parker and LRC. Neat list.

I've always hated EW, but i'll definitely buy this issue.

Anxiety said:

Impressed!

Batdance?

BATDANCE?!?

Oh, they were kidding...

hee hee heee hahahaha! Batdance. Thats cute.

The list that should have been...

(This is in chronological order, not order of preference)

1) 1999

2) Lady Cab Driver

3) Purple Rain

4) Erotic City

5) If Was U're Girlfriend

6) Anna Stesia

7) Joy In Repitition

8) Sexy MF

9) Days Of Wild

10) A Million Days

my two cents

(in no particular order)

When Doves Cry
Adore
Sometimes It Snows In April
Shhh
When U Were Mine
Gett Off
Anna Stesia
Alphabet St.
I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man
If I Was Your Girlfriend

and just missing out
Little Red Corvette
Raspberry Beret

That's strange, there's nothing in that list since the mid-90s.
Maybe Last December.

Well Kiss, Purple Rain and when doves cry were no-brainers, but Erotic City, When u were mine and Ballad of Dorothy Parker...on the whole I'm impressed.

Money don't matter tonight and 7 - the guy was clearly tripping when he thought of including those. And i can forgive Little Red corvette - a lot of my friends who ain't prince fans dig that song a lot. (Although i'm a bit sick of it).

On the couch - well top 10 it ain't, guv'nor. But it's hands down the best track on Musicology. Superb.

Batdance. Well it has got a killer solo, hasn't it? And it does have, "keep bustin'".

[This message was edited Sat Apr 17 9:04:24 2004 by TheFrog]

1. Do me baby
2. Little red corvette
3. Lady cab driver
4. When doves cry
5. Sometimes it snows in April
6. Positivity
7. Electric intercourse
8. Shhh
9. Strollin'
10. Had U

Fuck it - Here's mine:

01. If I Was Your Girlfriend;
02. Come On;
03. Little Red Corvette;
04. Kiss (Extended);
05. The One;
06. Forever In My Life;
07. Mountains (Full Length);
08. When You Were Mine;
09. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?;
10. Pop Life.

I'll put the 10 favorite released trax, not the 10 best, because I'd NEVER bat 1.000 on that. In no order:

No

Adore

And God Created Woman

Raspberry Beret (extended version)

Pop Life

When Doves Cry

The Ballad of Dorothy Parker

Expert Lover

Rock Hard In A Funky Place

Alphabet St.

Here my list:

Adore
Lady Cab Driver
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Little Red Corvette(extended version)
When Doves Cry
Do Me Baby
If I Was Your Girlfriend
A-U-T-O-Matic
Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad
Housequake(extended version)

17 Days
Anotherloverholeinyohead
DMSR
Automatic
Calhoun Square
Beautiful Strange
Hot Thing
Call My Name
Rockhard in a Funky Place
Joy in Repetition


FOOLS

My

1. Annie Christian: Man the first time I heard this song,it made purchasing Contreversy absolutely worth it. The music is played backwards and voiced with what sounds like Prince yelling from the other side of the room. It's bizarrely funky.

2. Something in the Water (Does not compute): Perhaps the first song by Prince I learned all the lyrics to. It's funny if you think about past relationships in the surch to find the soulmate.

3. The Ladder : This is officially the first gospel song by Prince. It's easy to point to Purple Rain but the Ladder is based on a Biblical story - I believe Jacob and the dream of Angels climbing up and down a ladder.

4. Strange Relationship: I'm not glorifying domestic abuse but the man can tell story and bring tears to your eyes.

5.Batdance: Perhaps the best multiple personality song ever!

6. Joy in Reputition: How many time have you found yourself screaming: "Love me".

7. The Question of U: If you've heard it, you already know why.

8. Thunder: First, if you can find it, listen to the Jeffery Ballad version. This song is a rollarcoaster of emotion as one seeks the truth of God and the humanity of Love.

9. 3 Chains o Gold: Often overlooked but this is a dedication to Jimie Hendrix.

10. Old Friends for Sale
[This message was edited Sat Apr 17 17:36:34 2004 by hilton02895]

sorry about the duplicate entries
[This message was edited Sat Apr 17 17:35:15 2004 by hilton02895]

OK, i have to do mine now. Chronologically. Trying to be respresentative of his entire career... i could easily pick 10 songs from the SOTT thru Lovesexy era Or just SOTT, for that matter.....

LITTLE RED CORVETTE

WHEN DOVES CRY

SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL

IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND

ANNA STESIA

JOY IN REPETITION

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN

PHEROMONE

WHEN I LAY MY HANDS ON U

REFLECTION



That would make a tight little sampler CD.

- Little Red Corvette
- 17 Days
- When You Were Mine
- Good Love
- The Love We Make
- She Loves Me 4 Me
- Sometimes It Snows In April
- Forever In My Life
- Anna Stesia
- Gold

In no particular order, I know some of these are predictable but hey what can I say?

- How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore
- Little Red Corvette
- Gett Off
- A Case Of U
- Kiss
- When U Were Mine
- When Doves Cry
- Let's Go Crazy
- Baby I'm A Star
- 7

Gee, narrowing it down to 10 is tough... this may change tomorrow.

Good picks, I say...especially the inclusion of Dorothy Parker and Money Don't Matter 2 Night; the only song missing there is Adore-- I'd choose that over On the Couch, but just the fact that On the Couch is mentioned, may sell more copies for Musicology...and that's a good thing!!

And one last thing, I love the video for When Doves Cry, ESPECIALLY the bath tub scene!!

Controversy
1999
Little Red Corvette
When Doves Cry
Let's Go Crazy (Xtended)
Computer Blue (Xtended)
AMERICA (Xtended)
KISS
Sign O' The Times
Bob George

then I'd really need a VOL II & III etc, like most of y'all...

righto, heres mine
1:adore
2:beautiful ones
3:purple rain
4:wanna be your lover
5:erotic city
6:insatiable
7:always in my hair
8:when 2 r in love
9:dorothy parker
10:lets go crazy

that was harder then i thought

1.Dirty Mind
2.Uptown
3.Little Red Corvette
4.Lady Cab Driver
5.When Doves Cry
6.Computer Blue
7.If I was Your Girlfriend
8.Starfish & Coffee
9.Money Don't Matter 2 Night
10.Eroric City

It was pretty painful cutting out some of my favourite songs..
[This message was edited Mon Apr 19 8:48:41 2004 by Reticent]