Jio's HoF :NOW:WEEKLY PICKS (10/5/2022)

[NothingFails]

Nice list so far

100.SHOCKADELICA (1987)
easily my fave SOTT era b-side

98.LION OF JUDAH (2007)
not a bad track but like most of Planet Earth (besides Guitar, The 1 U Wanna C and the title track) didn't really do much for me either way

97.HOW COME U DON'T CALL ME ANYMORE (1982)
fantastic. He did this when I saw him in 2007

95.NASTY GIRL (performed by Vanity 6) (1982)
Classic! I got the 45 of this just last week at a flea market

94.UNDISPUTED (feat. Chuck D.) (1999)
it's okay, but there are other "Rave" tracks I would've put instead

93.KISS (with The Revolution) (1986)
Classic for sure, but like you, burnt out on it from its overexposure. Sad that people view Parade as "that album with Kiss" when it's more like Kiss is that hit off Parade.

92.STROLLIN' (with the New Power Generation) (1991)
Nice smooth little gem

90.EYE HATE U (1995)
Like the song, but #90 is about fitting. He's had better, he's had worse. Too bad it was his last real US hit.

88.WE CAN FUNK (1990)
Not bad, but you'd think Prince + Clinton would be a better song

86.BOOM (2009)
Pleasant but not a fave

84.1999 (1982)
This and "Little Red Corvette" were the first songs I remember from Prince thanks to my older sister who had the cassette of 1999 in 1983. Certainly overplayed but still a classic.

83.SPACE (1994)
Good track, have the maxi

82.SEXY DANCER (1979)
Funky little disco tune

81.MONEY DON'T MATTER 2NIGHT (with New Power Generation) (1992)
Decent single but not a standout in any way

[Tiger]

84.1999 (1982)

Anthem!

[jio]

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85.ON THE WAY UP (performed by Elisa Fiorillo) (1990)
album "I AM"



..."All the suckers scream and shout
They don't know what it's all about
This is my world
And I'm sorry, this table is reserved"...

The truth is that I was for years under the impression that Paula Abdul sings this one. But no, it is Elisa Fiorillo, an artist who had a minor chart career (in fact she only ever had two hits). This one was the lead single of her second album and made it to #27 on the BB Hot 100 and to a miserable #31 on the Dance Chart and #83 on the UK Singles Chart. Despite that, I think it is a lovely piece of early '90s fluff. Elisa Fiorillo's career later on reached the heights of becoming a backing vocalist for Savage Garden and Billie Myers among others
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84.1999 (1982)
album "1999"



..."I was dreaming when I wrote this so sue me if I go too fast
But life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last
War is all around us, my mind says prepare to fight
So if I gotta die I'm gonna listen to my body tonight"...

And here is a song that needs no introduction at all. The first single from Prince's international breakthrough album of the same title, "1999" originally failed to make it into the top 40 of either the US or the UK. It was re-released sfter the success of the following single "Little Red Corvette", this time making it to #12 on the BB Hot 100, #4 on R&B, #1 on Dance/Club Play and #25 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1985, taking advantage of the success of the "Purple Rain" project, "1999" gets yet another release in the UK (this time as a double a-side single with "Little Red Corvette") and shoots as high as #2. Of course the single couldn't be missing from the charts during the year 1999 itself when it was re-released (yes, again) and made it to #10 on the UK Singles Chart and #40 on the BB Hot 100. And if that wasn't enough it re-charted in the UK a year later (yes for the fourth time) making it to #40. This party anthem is rather unusual in its delivery as it features Prince, Wendy & Lisa alternating lines throughout the song. The catchiness of the record has made it one of the biggest 80s classics, covered live by such diverse artists as Limp Bizkit, LaToya Jackson, Pearl Jam and Kids In Glass Houses. So why do I have it that low? Well, if there is one Prince song which is overplayed, it is definitely this one
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83.SPACE (1994)
album "COME"



..."I've had dreams of us cuddling on the planet Mars
Then when I wake up, I'm all covered in sex
With eyes that fall somewhere between rubies and stars
Don't look at me baby or I'll flex"...

This is one of my favourite Prince songs ever. It was the second (and final) single taken from Prince's 1994 album "Come" and didn't do great on the charts, just managing a peak of #71 on R&B. Still though it is a gem in Prince's catalogue. The single version is basically a remix with altered lyrics and a rap towards the end but the album version remains by far my favourite
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82.SEXY DANCER (1979)
album "PRINCE"



..."Sexy dancer, you got my body screamin'
Sexy dancer, you got me just a creamin'
Sexy dancer, when you rub my body
Sexy dancer, it gets me so hot"...

This disco workout tune was never a single in the States. It was released internationally though, albeit without much chart success. Still, it is all the way a party anthem and it wouldn't sound out of place next to any other '70s disco anthem.
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81.MONEY DON'T MATTER 2NIGHT (with New Power Generation) (1992)
album "DIAMONDS AND PEARLS"



..."Hey now, maybe we can find a good reason
to send a child off to war
so what if we're controllin' all the oil
Is it worth a child dying for"...

And here is the big socially-conscious ballad from the "Diamonds And Pearls" album. This was Prince's response to the first Iraq war (and "Cinnamon Girl" to the 2003 one). It was released as the fifth single from the album peaking at #23 on the Hot 100, #14 on R&B and #19 on the UK Singles Chart, positions which do not reflect the brilliance of this tune. The original video of the song (directed by Spike Lee) was rarely shown on MTV since it showed images of child poverty and starvation, so Prince had to shoot a second video of him and the New Power Generation performing it. None of the two videos are available on youtube.
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(you can click on the song titles to listen to the songs or see the videos)

[jio]

Yes but which album is Moon? Parade?

Oh, yes. Sorry - was thinking of the film - which i also liked (and i'm not ashamed!).

I liked it too don't worry lol. But your original statement was confusing because u said that Parade is more cohesive than Moon lol

Actually i confused myself! I thought you were talkig about Around The World In A Day. (Which really should be called Parade - given the lyrics of the album.

Er, oops! So - yes - i can see why he doesn't rate it - a lot of the tracks are more like demos than finished songs.

I think that's the charm of it. Around the World is good but it's just not fun enough. I guess it is easily my least favourite Prince album until the Black Album (excluding the debut).

[Blondini]

Yes but which album is Moon? Parade?

Oh, yes. Sorry - was thinking of the film - which i also liked (and i'm not ashamed!).

I liked it too don't worry lol. But your original statement was confusing because u said that Parade is more cohesive than Moon lol

Actually i confused myself! I thought you were talkig about Around The World In A Day. (Which really should be called Parade - given the lyrics of the album.

Er, oops! So - yes - i can see why he doesn't rate it - a lot of the tracks are more like demos than finished songs.

[jio]

Yes but which album is Moon? Parade?

Oh, yes. Sorry - was thinking of the film - which i also liked (and i'm not ashamed!).

I liked it too don't worry lol. But your original statement was confusing because u said that Parade is more cohesive than Moon lol

[Blondini]

Yes but which album is Moon? Parade?

Oh, yes. Sorry - was thinking of the film - which i also liked (and i'm not ashamed!).

[jio]

Yes but which album is Moon? Parade?

[Blondini]

Moon? (otherwise I agree completely)

Works as a concept but most of the tracks are far too short and unsatisfying. But it's still a great album.

[ShayLaB]

90.EYE HATE U - nice but without being a favourite.

89.SHE LOVES ME 4 ME - A-ha...finally I know who bought the other copy of The Rainbow Children. Like this a lot.

88.WE CAN FUNK - Really disappointed with this album and I don't think this is an outstanding track.

87.7 Interesting but not engaging...like a lot of jazz.

86.BOOM. Like this one a lot also.

[jio]

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90.EYE HATE U (1995)
album "THE GOLD EXPERIENCE"



..."If it please the court
I'd like to have the defendant place her hands behind her back
So I can tie her up tight and get into the act
The act of showing her how good it used to be
I want it to be so good, she falls back in love with me"...

This beautiful R&B ballad was the lead single from what is widely considered Prince's best '90s album. Released using the Symbol as his name, this became Prince's last ever original US Top 40 hit single (excluding the re-release of "1999" and his cover of The Stylistics' "Betcha By Golly Wow") by making it to #12 on the Hot 100. It also made it to #3 on R&B and #20 on the UK Singles Chart. The song uses a sample of Prince's 1978 song "Baby" and ends in a spoken part depicting a courtroom drama. There is a video for this song on youtube but due to its low quality I provided a link to just the audio, but whoever is interested on the video (which features his then-fiancee Mayte) here it is
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89.SHE LOVES ME 4 ME (2001)
album "THE RAINBOW CHILDREN" (album track)



..."When the night falls and she calls
I run to her side
'cause she got the ride that I like to ride"...

This was the big ballad from Prince's 2001 theme album "The Rainbow Children" and one of my all-time favourite Prince songs. There is definitely a classic feel to this song about the perfection of simple old-fashioned real love and the way Prince sings the chorus is just gorgeous. Should have been a single IMO
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88.WE CAN FUNK (1990)
album "GRAFFITI BRIDGE" (album track)



..."I'm testing positive for the funk
I'll gladly pee in anybody's cup
and when your cup overflow
I'm testing positive and I'll pee some more"...

This was originally a 1983 outtake which was for years a hidden gem in Prince's catalogue, known by his fans through his bootlegs. In 1990 it was reworked and finally released officially as part of the soundtrack of Prince's film "Graffiti Bridge". The officially released version features extensive vocals by funk legend George Clinton. Many people dislike this updated version, I think it is as good as the original one. If you wanna judge for yourself, here is the original.
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87.7 (performed/credited to Madhouse) (1987)
album "8" (album track)



And here is my favourite Madhouse track from their first album "8" with Sheila E. featuring on drums. The "8" album was far more successful than its follow-up.It peaked at #107 on the BB200, and #25 on both Jazz and R&B. The single "6" made it to #5 on the R&B charts. Still though I prefer "7". Here is "Hard Life", a mega-mix of all the songs from the "8" album
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86.BOOM (2009)
album "LOTUSFLOW3R/ELIX3R/MPLSOUND" (album track)



..."What if another universe complete with sun and moon
An entire galaxy and what's worse, you and I too soon
Find each other expanding beyond this dirty room"...

In 2009 Prince went back to his old habit of releasing multiple albums at once. This time it was a triple album featuring "Elix3r" by new protege Bria Valente together with two Prince albums the somehow subpar "MPLSound" and the superb "LotusFlow3r" (which even mentions Cyprus in one of the songs). Several cuts from the latter came close to making my Top 100, in the end only this one did. The "LotusFlow3r" project was pretty successful as it made it to #2 on the BB200 and #1 on French Digital Albums Chart and won Prince a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance Solo for the song "Dreamer" (which doesn't make it in my top 100) . The fact that this album sold just 3000 copies less than the Keith Urban album which topped the charts the week in question, in combination with some non-Billboard charts showing the Prince album on top, led to accusations of chart-fixing from Prince's side.
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(you can click on the song titles to listen to the songs or see the videos)[/u]

[jio]

Moon? (otherwise I agree completely)

[Blondini]

^It's the best coherent (no-filler) album. The whole thing works as a concept and nothing is superfluous (unlike Rain, Moon and Sign - his other three standout albums).

[jio]

93. KISS - Way too low. Terrific. "Aside from Kiss there is nothing on Parade I am particuarly proud of."

Did Prince say that? I love that album

Yeah...I have never found the exact quote but it went something like this:

"Aside from Kiss there is nothing on Parade I am particuarly proud of. The temptation is to get straight back into the studio but I am going to wait until I have a great set of songs ready."

I saw him being interviewed between Parade and Sign O The Times.

Hmmm I think "Parade" is the best album he did 1985-1991.

[ShayLaB]

93. KISS - Way too low. Terrific. "Aside from Kiss there is nothing on Parade I am particuarly proud of."

Did Prince say that? I love that album

Yeah...I have never found the exact quote but it went something like this:

"Aside from Kiss there is nothing on Parade I am particuarly proud of. The temptation is to get straight back into the studio but I am going to wait until I have a great set of songs ready."

I saw him being interviewed between Parade and Sign O The Times.

[jio]

93. KISS - Way too low. Terrific. "Aside from Kiss there is nothing on Parade I am particuarly proud of."

Did Prince say that? I love that album

[ShayLaB]

100.SHOCKADELICA - fab.

98.LION OF JUDAH - instantly likeable pop song from average album.

96.(THE PERFECT) 10 - Like this a lot. Had never seen the video before.

94.UNDISPUTED - Don't agree that this is the best track on the album. Surely that goes to the Stafani or Crow duets. I loved the first four Public Enemy albums but I don't think this is particularly memorable.

93. KISS - Way too low. Terrific. "Aside from Kiss there is nothing on Parade I am particuarly proud of."

92.STROLLIN' - Always liked this a lot.

[Blondini]

VERY nice, not amazing - for me!
Prince has levels of genius - this being the lower level.

Vanity 6 song is good - they looked appalling!
Denise Matthews (Vanity) is now a reformed minister.

[Tiger]

93.KISS (with The Revolution) (1986)

Nice, not amazing

[jio]

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95.NASTY GIRL (performed by Vanity 6) (1982)
album "VANITY 6"



..."that's right, it's been a long time
since I had a man that did it real good
If you ain't scared, take it out
I'll do it like a real live nasty girl should"...

Despite what the guy in the video link says, this song was actually composed by Prince. Vanity 6 were his protege girl group back in the early '80s. The girls only released one album under that name because a partial line-up change resulted to a name change as well. The parent album charted at #45 on the BB200 and at #6 on R&B, largely on the strength of this particular single which made it to #7 on Hot Black Singles and #1 on Dance/Club Play. And time did treat "Nasty Girl" rather good:both Beyonce and Lil' Kim have performed this on tour, whereas in 2004 a rather by-the-numbers club cover of the song by Inaya Day took it to #9 on the UK Singles Chart
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94.UNDISPUTED (feat. Chuck D.) (1999)
album "RAVE UN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC" (album track)



..."Heavy rotation never made my world go round
Commercialization of the music is what brought it down"...

"Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic" was supposed to be Prince's commercial comeback project. The album covered a variety of genres from R&B to rock and so on, included cameos by Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, Chuck D. and Eve among others but in the end it wasn't meant to be. The album peaked at a mere #18 on BB200 and #145 on the UK albums chart and its biggest hit "Greatest Romance Ever Sold" stalled at #63 on the BB Hot 100. Nevertheless, it was a pretty good album. Several songs just missed out making my list such as the lead single, "Baby Knows", "The Sun, The Moon And Stars", and the title track. Still though, one song from that album does make my Top 100 and this is "Undisputed".I think I can hear the protests as I write this but I just love the energy of this one.
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93.KISS (with The Revolution) (1986)
album "PARADE"



..."Women, not girls, rule my world, I said they rule my world
Act your age, mama, not your shoe size, maybe we could do the twirl
You don't have to watch Dynasty to have an attitude
You just leave it all up to me, my love will be your fool"...

And here is a song that everyone knows. This 1986 classic (from the soundtrack of the Prince movie "Under The Cherry Moon") was #1 on the BB Hot 100 while another Prince composition (The Bangles' "Manic Monday") was at #2. It also made it to #1 on R&B and Dance/Club Play and #6 on the UK Singles Chart. The song originally wasn't even supposed to be sung by Prince. Instead, Prince had composed it for his protege group Mazarati. After they changed the instrumentation of the song however, Prince liked it so much that he took it back and kept it for himself. Wise decision. The song won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo Or A Group, was nominated for Best R&B song and has been covered by everyone from the Glee Cast to Westlife, Nicole Kidman (in the film "Happy Feet") and Julia Roberts (in the film "Pretty Woman"). Weirdly enough, two years later a rather horrid version by Art Of Noise & Tom Jones outpeaked the original in the UK by making it to #5
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92.STROLLIN' (with the New Power Generation) (1991)
from "DIAMONDS AND PEARLS"



..."We could stroll the mezzanine
buy some dirty magazine
laugh behind it while we're eatin' ice-cream"...

Undoubtly one of the least commercial and most beautiful songs in Prince's first album with the New Power Generation. This jazzy ballad has actually a video, filmed as part of the "Diamonds And Pearls Video Collection" music video but I am unable to find it on youtube so we'll have to settle for the audio only. The song resurfaced one year later as part of the UK double a-side single "Sexy MF/Strollin'" which peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart (mainly on the strength of "Sexy MF")
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91.THE GOOD LIFE (with/credited to New Power Generation) (1995)
album "EXODUS"



..."La Dolce Vita" was the knob that turned me on
Marcello Mastroianni Italian Mac comin' on strong
He had all the honies, the kind from the magazines
Small waist, big-right!...biggest one U've ever seen"...

Exodus was the second (essentially) Prince & The New Power Generation album to be released under Prince's own label (NPG) at a time when Warner still had ownership of the releases carrying Prince's name.That is why his name is totally absent from the release. Unlike its predecessor "Goldnigga", this album was released normally in retail shops which resulted in a peak of #11 on the UK Albums Chart. Despite "The Good Life" being the second single released from the album (after "Get Wild"), its catchy R&B sound helped it to become the biggest of the two by charting twice, peaking at #29 on the UK Singles Chart in 1995 and at #15 on the same chart two years later
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(you can click on the song titles to listen to the songs or see the videos)

[jio]

Yeah "Mia Bocca" was in the Top 100 at some point, but it had to leave to give space to some other songs lol. I think it must be within the Top 110 somewhere although I erased the part of the list which didn't make it and I can't really remember.
Can't believe you don't like Madhouse, but no most Madhouse tracks don't have as much pop beat as that one

[Blondini]

Jill Jones' Mia Bocca is a fantastic track. Sheila E was good, Carmen Electra wasn't!

Shockadelica stunning - i have it (and How Come) from the B Sides set of The Hits package. How Come.. is good. Lion.. OK.

Are all of Madhouse's tracks like that? Just sounds like a backing track waiting for a vocal - hardly Herb Alpert!

[jio]

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100.SHOCKADELICA (1987)
from "IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND" single (b-side)



..."the lights go down, the smell of doom
is again creeping in your lonely room
The bed's on fire, your fate is sealed"...

The story of this one goes something like this: Prince's protege band The Time wanted to name one of their albums "Shockadelica". Prince liked the title and composed this song for them, but The Time refused to include it in their album and as a result Prince recorded it and it ended up as the b-side to "If I Was Your Girlfriend" in 1987. The song would resurface in 1996 on the soundtrack of the Demi Moore film "Striptease". The song is typical Prince, or rather typical Camille (Prince's thin-voice alter-ego). A funky number to open a funky countdown.
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99.ONE NITE ALONE (2002)
album "ONE NITE ALONE" (album track)



..."Do you like it fast? Do you like it slow
I know it's better if we make it up as we go
And oh, by the way, tell me now, what's your name"...

Prince released the voice-and-piano-only "One Nite Alone" exclusively through his NPG Music club in 2002. The album is a little gem in Prince's catalogue, as it is a simple, yet undeniable artistic statement. My favourite track from the album is this one, the title track.
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98.LION OF JUDAH (2007)
album "PLANET EARTH" (album track)



..."looking for the energy to take you there
The places that you wanna go
Knowing if I do, you're fully aware
The press will turn it into a show"...

This album track is the pop/rock gem of the "Planet Earth" album. It's a retro electric-guitar-driven song which, although I didn't think much of the first time I heard it, I love it now. There are more "Planet Earth" cuts further up the countdown
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97.HOW COME U DON'T CALL ME ANYMORE (1982)
from "1999" single (b-side)



..."Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna die
If you don't call me, mama, girl, you gotta try
Down on my knees beggin' you, please, please
Why can't you call me sometime baby"...

Prince had the unusual habit of relegating some of his best songs to b-side status. The bluesy "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" is probably one of the two most known examples of that (the other one is coming further up the countdown). A totally fantastic ballad, the song took a life of its own, as it later appeared in the 1996 Spike Lee film "Girl 6" and covered by a variety of artists including Stephanie Mills, Roger Cicero and, most notably, Alicia Keys who took her version to #26 on the UK Singles Chart, #59 on the BB Hot 100 and #30 on R&B
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96.(THE PERFECT) 10 (performed/credited to Madhouse) (1987)
album "16"



Madhouse were Prince's jazz side project of 1987.They released two great little albums that year, where all the cuts were interestingly named only as numbers. "(The Perfect) 10" was the lead single of the second Madhouse album and made it to #66 on the R&B charts. It is the first instrumental song on the countdown and the first for which there is a video link.
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(you can click on the song titles to listen to the songs or see the videos)

[NothingFails]

Nice write-ups. Many of the albums listed are decent (like Emancipation, Chaos And Disorder, Crystal Ball, Batman and MPLSoUND), but agreed that none of them are among his finest works.

So I'm stunned no Carmen Electra tracks are factoring on your list

Jill Jones has an AWESOME voice and she's a pretty cool person, I'm one of her Facebook fans and she posts a lot of music that she's into and generally talks to her "friends" on there. She had a US dance hit about two years ago so she's still at it. And she still looks like she's 25 years old even though she is pushing 50.

The third Sheila E album is a snoozer and I loved some of the tracks off "The Glamorous Life" and "In Romance 1700"

[jio]

I have the 4 CD Crystal Ball album that includes The Truth. I always thought it was a fairly strong album that would have done well as a stand alone release.

Anything by Madhouse going to appear? I used to have the first album but I dropped it and it broke. I can barely even remember what it sounded like now.

Yeah I have the same version of "Crystal Ball". Yeap the "Truth" is also my favourite disc in there.

Madhouse were great weren't they?