# Create a musically diverse and musically interesting Prince playlist **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2016, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174 "2016-04-26T08:27:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/1 "2016-04-26T08:27:58Z")
My father-in-law is a musically-literate classical music buff whose popular music knowledge is mainly in the area of '60s/'70s singer-songwriter types. His curiosity has been piqued regarding Prince, however; I’ve been a fan for 30+ years, but I feel ill-equipped to construct a playlist to impress him, given his background. So, what are some suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/2 "2016-04-26T10:15:11Z")
From Billboard Top 100 (may not be accurate) The asterisk is for songs I like… 1980 95. I Wanna Be Your Lover 1983 41. 1999 \* 1984 1. When Doves Cry 2. Let’s Go Crazy 3. Little Red Corvette 1985 51. Raspberry Beret \* 1986 19. Kiss \* 1987 38. U Got The Look 60. Sign ‘O’ The Times 1989 44. Batdance 1990 98. Thieves In The Temple 1991 66. Cream \* 1992 25. Diamonds and Pearls \* 1993 52. 7 1994 19. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World \* I bought the Diamonds and Pearls album when it came out… It has a lot of variety - some of the songs were funny… then there’s this: Gett Off - more sexual than “Cream” Insatiable - sexual and intimate [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oi5SJxu9xc) ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/3 "2016-04-27T00:34:15Z")
Thanks. I’ve got a heap of his albums (about 12, not including compilations), but I need to really ponder the breadth of his music. _Around the World in a Day_ is also quite varied. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/4 "2016-04-27T00:54:32Z")
I’d add “Lady Cab Driver” – a funky number from 1982’s _1999_ – plus maybe “Housequake” from _Sign o’ the Times_ and/or “Raspberry Beret” (1985). ETA: I see Raspberry Beret was already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/5 "2016-04-27T01:12:09Z")
Also add “Bambi” from _Prince_ (1979) to showcase some of Prince’s rock guitar shredding. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/6 "2016-04-29T03:11:37Z")
How about " **Erotic City"?** [- YouTube](https://youtu.be/HrOMt3Frn54) ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/7 "2016-04-29T04:29:20Z")
Thanks, everyone. These are all great suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/8 "2016-04-29T05:51:58Z")
I’d have to include some tracks off _Dirty Mind_. It’s hard to figure out which–they’re all so good and different–but I’d go with “When You Were Mine” for it’s melodic, earwormy New Wave goodness and, perhaps somewhat under-rated, the bouncy [“Do It All Night”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smW75KaDIuA) for its infectious groove and bassline. For me, those are the two catchiest songs on that album. If you want to hear punk/post-punk as interpreted by Prince, you might want to try the raunchy ode to incest, “Sister.” I’m not entirely sure I’m a big fan of that song, but it shows his stylistic diversity. The [title track](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ63tZO7_yM) also is a nice New Wave number that calls to mind something more like the B-52s than the R&B/funk type of music many people associate with Prince. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/9 "2016-04-29T11:54:24Z")
I would start with **The Hits/The B-Sides** : [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002MNF/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=106024196844&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17364165502182155086&hvpone=16.49&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd\_sl\_3mzex9i4md\_b](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002MNF/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=106024196844&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17364165502182155086&hvpone=16.49&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_3mzex9i4md_b) Add **Sign o’ The Times** And the song, **She Spoke to Me** : [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C7C29Q?ie=UTF8&keywords=prince%20she%20spoke%20to%20me&qid=1461930540&ref\_=sr\_1\_fkmr0\_1&s=music&sr=8-1-fkmr0](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C7C29Q?ie=UTF8&keywords=prince%20she%20spoke%20to%20me&qid=1461930540&ref_=sr_1_fkmr0_1&s=music&sr=8-1-fkmr0) Start with **How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore** (B-sides), When You were Mine, a hit like 1999 or Little Red Corvette, then Raspberry Beret, then The Cross off Sign and end on She Spoke to Me for Brazilian pop and Coltrane jazz. 6 songs with great coverage. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/10 "2016-04-29T12:40:55Z")
Solid options so far. I would say you need to include **Strollin** and probably **The Truth** to add to the diversity of style. Edit; also soft and wet for chronological range ---
**Author:** ![marasco0815](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@marasco0815](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marasco0815)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/11 "2016-05-10T12:22:46Z")
These are good suggestions but any serious understanding needs to be rooted in their legacy. Throwing a few songs will not provide the rich understanding of this mans’ accomplishments and what he meant. Just as i attacked the music that came before me by listening to the core albums that is how it should be done or they’ll be left wanting…so Dirty Mind Controversy 1999 Purple Rain ATWIAD Parade Lovesexy B-Sides on the Hits release SOTT (though it badly needs a remaster…sounds like garbage) Lovesexy SOTT LIVE- very important Madhouse The Time all 3 albums Then you can start to branch out to the later stuff Gold, Symbol, Rainbow children, lotus flower, Musicology, 3121- ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/create-a-musically-diverse-and-musically-interesting-prince-playlist/753174/12 "2016-05-10T12:35:28Z")
I doubt that the OP’s dad is going to start by listening to 15+ complete albums. You gotta get him to want to do that.