8th

 

Let's Go Crazy

 

Points 165 - King Rollo (30) Severin (28) Popchartfreak (26) dandy* (20) Chartjack2 (18) HausofKubrick (18) Jimwatts (13) JulianT (13) Bjork (10)

 

Artist - Prince and the Revolution

 

Released - 1984

 

Album – Purple Rain

 

UK Chart Peak - #7

 

 

Prince's second US #1 and the opening track to the film and album Purple Rain. Released as a Double A side with Take Me With U in the UK

Lyrically typical of Prince's work it is a exhortation to follow a Christian lifestyle and reject temptations. The 'De-Elevator' of the lyrics is meant to represent the Devil.

Musically it is a fine example of his fusion of Rock, Pop and Funk, perhaps his finest ever. A live staple for years it is one of his most popular songs and here becomes the first to receive votes from all particpants, including the big 30 points from King Rollo.

two goodies there, Sheena was never better than her Prince era, and I still maintain my former BJSC (flop) entry from Sheena (a Prince track in all but label credit to make up for Sheena not getting one here), 101, is a forgotten Prince Classic, as exciting as anything he did. Play Loud! U Got The Look was heavy on US radio for my WestCoast USA tour in 1987, so that's got fond memories attached for me too. My mate was also a big Sheena fan and approved of my new appreciation for raunchy Sheena as opposed to just occasional Quite Like for shrieky pop Sheena.

7th

 

Raspberry Beret

 

Points 180 - HausofKubrick (27) Jimwatts (26) dandy* (25) Severin (23) Chartjack2 (21) King Rollo (20) Popchartfreak (20) JulianT (10) Bjork (8)

 

Artist - Prince and the Revolution

 

Released - 1985

 

Album – Around the World in a Day

 

UK Chart Peak - #25

 

 

Scores from everybody once again.

 

The opening single from Around the World in a Day was first committed to demo back in 1982 and pulled out for the follow up to the mega selling Purple Rain. It is perhaps Prince's finest pure Pop song embelished with light strings and a Psychedelic flourish.

The video features the screen debut of actress Jackie Swanson of Cheers fame. Former Germs and future Nirvana and Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear featured in the video as one of the dancers although he apparently found it very difficult to match the synchronised moves and was nearly fired. He keep his job because Prince liked his hair. Perhaps because Prince himself was having a bad time with his own hair recently, having bleached it blonde causing it to become brittle, he had switched back to black and according to the stylist Earl Jones, 'it was all I could do with it'

Edited December 24, 2024Dec 24 by Severin

With one final tie causing there to be six songs in the top five, I'll pause here.

 

I was hoping to get this finished before Christmas but will have to finish this off, likely the day after Boxing Day, as I'm visiting family now and should probably stop ignoring them! I expect most of you will be busy soon anyway.

 

We can just pretend it is some sort of attempt at building suspense.

 

Your final six are -

 

 

Kiss

Little Red Corvette

Purple Rain

Sing o' the Times

When Doves Cry

1999

 

Only one of the six didn't gain marks from everyone and all of the Top 10 come from his golden era of 1982-87

With the exception of 'The Cross', all the top 8 from my votes made the top 7 - could hardly be going better!

 

'Raspberry Beret' is a fine short story in a pop song, with some great lines such as "Seems that I was busy doing something close to nothing, but different than the day before".

boo poor U Got the Look finishing 10th, I'm shocked, thought it could be. contender for #1

don't think we have the right top 10, couldn't care less for 6-9

Take Me With U being that high is definitely unexpected for me, I mean it's okay but it's not a patch on the other singles from Purple Rain. I was probably a bit harsh on U Got The Look, it's grown on me a lot but I hadn't really paid that much attention to it before this rate, surprised it is top 10 though - and kinda more surprised it is our host's favourite, I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years.

 

Raspberry Beret is lovely, a really pretty melody and production.

I was probably a bit harsh on U Got The Look, it's grown on me a lot but I hadn't really paid that much attention to it before this rate, surprised it is top 10 though - and kinda more surprised it is our host's favourite, I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years.

I'm full of surprises :D

=5th

 

1999

 

Points 183 - King Rollo (26) HausofKubrick (25) Jimwatts (24) Popchartfreak (22) JulianT (22) Severin (22) Chartjack2 (19) dandy* (12) Bjork (11)

 

Artist - Prince

 

Released - 1982

 

Album – 1999

 

UK Chart Peak - #2

 

 

Scores from everybody once again.

 

The title track from Prince’s 5th solo album and something of a signature tune that originally performed modestly in the US and UK charts in 1983, peaking at #44 and #25 respectively. A January 1985 re-release would see it hit #2 in the UK eventually.

 

The song’s lyrics take inspiration from a documentary about the prediction by Nostradmus of a ‘Great Terror’ that would come from the sky to destroy the world in 1999. Prince felt that the world would throw one hell of a party before the coming apocalypse. The day after discussing the programme with his band he arrived at the song studio with the song finished. Lead vocals are shared by Prince, Dez Dickerson, Jill Jones and Lisa Coleman, the latter three being members of his still uncredited backing band The Revolution.

=5th

 

Kiss

 

Points 183 - King Rollo (19) HausofKubrick (19) Jimwatts (23) Popchartfreak (21) JulianT (21) Severin (25) Chartjack2 (20) dandy* (8) Bjork (27)

 

Artist - Prince and the Revolution

 

Released - 1986

 

Album – Parade

 

UK Chart Peak - #6

 

 

Scores from everybody once again.

 

Perhaps the best song Prince ever gave away. This song's acoustice demo was given to the band Mazarati who promptly ditched Prince's arrangement and produced a stripped back funky beat and sparse backing vocals. When Prince heard what they and producer David Z had done with the track he promptly took it back and finished the song, retaining the basis that they had created. He didn't give them a writing credit which upset the band.

Warner Brothers took some convincing but eventually acquiesced to include the song on the album Parade. It gave Prince another international hit and US #1

4th

 

Little Red Corvette

 

Points 191 - King Rollo (16) HausofKubrick (24) Jimwatts (25) Popchartfreak (17) JulianT (28) Severin (24) Chartjack2 (25) dandy* (27) Bjork (5)

 

Artist – Prince

 

Released – 1983

 

Album - 1999

 

UK Chart peak - #2

 

 

Scores from everybody once again.

 

The 2nd single from 1999, was a minor hit in 1983 and later re-issued in 1985 as a double A with the title track where it reached a UK peak of #2, held off the top by Foreigner’s I Want to Know What Love Is.

 

The songs uses car and horse related metaphors to describe a one night stand with a woman.

Leaving us with just three to reveal after Christmas.

 

I have to say when I first had a conversation with friends about what was his best/most popular song, whilst there was some deviation in the top answer, these three remaining songs where the ones we all agreed were his best and it seems the site agrees too.

 

But which will come out on top?

Ah hopefully the one i dont rate much wont top the list then as i wont have been generous 😄

3rd

 

Sign o' the Times

 

Points 206 - Jimwatts (30) Popchartfreak (29) Chartjack2 (29) King Rollo (28) Severin (26) Bjork (23) dandy* (21) HausofKubrick (14)Julian T (6)

 

Artist – Prince

 

Released – 1987

 

Album - Sign o' the Times

 

UK Chart peak - #10

 

 

This picked up votes from everybody once again, including a full maximum from Jimwatts, making it look like a serious contender at the beginning and it beat many more well known hits of his, but lukewarm scores from HausofKubrick and JulianT meant it stalled at number 3.

 

The title track from his 1987 album was Prince at his most overtly political. The song is something of a 'state of the nation' address as he shines a spotlight on America's social and political issues, taking in AIDS, poverty, drugs, gang violence and more, all over a minimal beat that allows the words to be front and centre. Prince doesn't offer any solutions merely giving the listener food for thought.

The song is regularly listed among the best of his work and has been listed as among the greatest and most important songs of all time by some - including Rolling Stone and The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.

 

The video for the track is equally minimalistic, consisting of the words playing out of digital images. One of the earliest examples of a 'lyric video'

This leaves us with a final two, both from the 1984 soundtrack album - Purple Rain.

 

The title track itself and it's lead single When Doves Cry.

 

Both scored comfortably over 200 and both received maximums.

I have a clear favourite from that final two but I suspect the other one may win, we shall see!

2nd

 

Purple Rain

 

Points 216 - HausofKubrick (30)Julian T (29) Jimwatts (29) Bjork (28) Chartjack2 (28) King Rollo (27) Severin (27) dandy* (18) Popchartfreak (0)

 

Artist – Prince and the Revolution

 

Released – 1984

 

Album - Purple Rain

 

UK Chart peak - #6

 

 

Coming in second with 216 points is Purple Rain. Popchartfreak's complete indifference and zero points wasn't the difference however as it would have required a further 6 points from someone else just to draw level at the top.

 

The title track from his mega selling, star making album is rightly regarded as one of his signature songs and is easily one of his most loved. It remained a staple of his live shows, with perhaps its greatest moment coming at the 2007 Superbowl halftime show when, with the song nearing its climax and the stadium bathed in purple lighting, a downpour began, the rain reflecting purple in the lights.

 

The song was originally a slightly Country tinged piece and was intended for Stevie Nicks. prince sent her a 10 minute instrumental version for her to write the lyrics but she passed on the song saying it was too much for her and she couldn't do it justice. Then when prince tried it at a rehearsal guitarist Wendy Melvoin added some chords and the band worked through it and the track became the one we know now.

The album version was recorded live in Minnesota, August 1983 with Wendy making her live debut for the band. Prince removed a solo and a final verse and added a few overdubs in the studio afterwards.

1st

 

When Doves Cry

 

Points 252 - Jimwatts (30) Popchartfreak (30) Julian T (30) Bjork (30) dandy* (30) Severin (29) Chartjack2 (27) Hausofkubrick(26) King Rollo (23)

 

Artist – Prince and the Revolution

 

Released – 1984

 

Album - Purple Rain

 

UK Chart peak - #4

 

 

 

Deservedly winning the whole shebang is this breakthrough UK Top 10, taking maximums from dandy*, Bjork, Popchartfreak and JulianT and strong scores from almost everybody.

 

The lead single from the soundtrack to the film Purple Rain gave Prince his first US #1and first major UK hit. The song was the last to be written for the film and specifically created for a segment of the film featuring the themes of parental conflict and a budding romance.

 

The song features no bass line which is not only unusual but was done deliberately to create the stark atmosphere and tension of the song. Prince did originally write a bass line but felt it made the song to conventional and dropped it.

 

That completes our countdown. Once again thank you all for voting and commenting along the way. It's been a pleasure to present this for you and has allowed me to overindulge my love of his work for a good month!

 

Of note that Popchartfreak is perhaps the voter most in tune with the site as they voted for all bar five of the top thirty. dandy* and HausofKubrick were next with only six of the top songs missing scores from them.

 

 

Complete scores

 

Pos/Title/Points

 

1 When Doves Cry 252

2 Purple Rain 216

3 Sign o' the Times 206

4 Little Red Corvette 191

5 1999 183

5 Kiss 183

7 Raspberry Beret 180

8 Let's Go Crazy 165

9 Take Me With U 133

10 U Got the Look 128

11 Diamonds and Pearls 113

12 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World 110

13 Alphabet St. 109

14 I Would Die 4 U 108

15 Gold 106

16 Thieves in the Temple 98

16 Money Don't Matter 2 Nite 98

18 Gett Off 97

19 7 95

20 The Cross 84

21 I Could Never take the Place of Your Man 78

22 If I Was Your Girlfriend 74

23 Cream 72

23 Thunder 72

25 I Wish U Heaven 70

26 Batdance 67

27 Sometimes it Snows in April 66

28 Paisley Park 61

28 Controversy 61

30 Starfish and Coffee 57

31 My Name is Prince 51

32 Fallinlove2nite 45

33 New Power Generation 42

34 I Wanna Be Your Lover 40

35 Delirious 32

36 Glam Slam 31

37 Mountains 29

37 Girls & Boys 29

39 Dirty Mind 26

39 Sexy MF 26

41 Why You Wanna treat Me So Bad? 25

41 Come On 25

43 The Arms of Orion 24

44 Pop Life 19

45 Black Sweat 17

46 Partyman 16

46 Get Wild 16

48 Pretzelbodylogic 15

48 The Morning Papers 15

50 The Holy River 13

50 Dinner With Delores 13

52 A Case of U 12

52 Peach 12

52 Cinnamon Girl 12

55 Dance4Me 11

56 Letitgo 10

56 Betcha By Golly Wow 10

58 Guitar 9

59 Musicology 7

59 Rock N Roll Love Affair 7

61 Anotherloverholeinyohead 6

61 Scandalous 6

63 Soft And Wet 1

64 I Hate U 0

65 The Truth 0

65 The Greatest Romance Ever Sold 0

65 The Work Pt. 1 0

65 Supercute 0

65 Fury 0

65 Breakfast Can Wait 0