Severin

=41st Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? Points 25 - Severin (11) Jimwatts (9) HausofKubrick (5) Artist – Prince Released – 1980 Album – Prince UK Chart Peak - DNC fPaYtVJouYA The second single of Prince’s second album was not a hit either in the US or UK but still managed to pick up enough points here to graze the boundary of our Top 40. Nearly but not quite once again.

=41st Come On Points 25 - JulianT (25) Artist – The New Power Generation Released – 1998 Album – Newpower Soul UK Chart Peak - #65 _ITpmILKap4 The second song to receive over 25, this time a hefty 25 from JulianT. Despite being credited to the New Power Generation, the Newpower Soul album is considered a de facto Prince record as the man himslef is front and centre on every track on the album. This song features the vocal talents of Chaka Khan, who had taken Prince's early single I Feel 4 U to #1 in the UK 14 years earlier.

43rd The Arms of Orion Points 24 - Bjork (21) King Rollo (3) Artist – Prince Feat. Sheena Easton Released – 1989 Album – Batman UK Chart Peak - #27 ZYS6yJ_csq4 The 3rd song released as a single from the Batman Soundtrack also features Sheena Easton, one of two in the countdown that does. However, this track, unlike U Got the Look, was a co-write with Prince as Sheena provided the lyrics. It is the firt song in our countdown that received over 20pts from a single voter, receiving a healthy 21 from Bjork.

44th Pop Life Points 19 - Severin (8) HauseofKubrick (6) King Rollo (5) Artist – Prince and the Revolution Released – 1985 Album – Around the World in a Day UK Chart Peak - #60 56Hvoqgdlfk The second entry in our countdown to feature The Revolution, this time from his 7th studio album, the Psychedelic Pop collection known as Around the World in a Day. This song was actually recorded before Purple Rain was completed but held back for the following album. The bizarre audio sample near the end is taken from the film Alone in The Dark and apparently, when asked, even Prince had no recollection of why it appears in the track.

45th Black Sweat Points 17 - Chartjack2 (17) Artist – Prince Released – 2006 Album – 3121 UK Chart Peak - #43 vG-e00c6uT0 This Crunk style Hip Hip track was the second single of his 3121 album. It didn't quite crack the UK Top 40 and peaked no higher than #60 in the US making it something of a commercial disappointment for him. It did however, fair beter in mainland Europe, making the Top 20s of Belgium and Spain.

=46th Partyman Points 16 - Severin (13) Bjork (3) Artist – Prince Released – 1989 Album – Batman UK Chart Peak - #14 AjY8HvpNu6o Back to the Batman soundtrack for a track that accompanied one of the films goofier moments. Partyman continued the late 80s trend where his singles tended to be more successful in the UK than his home country. Partyman was inspired by Prince meeting Jack Nicholson and again features his 'Camille' vocal style and a few lines from Anna Fantastic, who was one of Prince's many muses and the subject of a number of songs - Vicki Waiting, Pink Cashmere and Lemon Crush, to name a few. The video and extended versions feature Candy Dulfer on saxophone. In the video Prince is dressed as Gemini, another character which is half Prince/half Joker.

=46th Get Wild Points 16 - Severin (16) Artist – The New Power Generation Released – 1995 Album – Exodus UK Chart Peak - #19 GWGo4XKjrjc During the ‘90s Prince released two albums officially credited with the New Power Generation (The NPG) as his backing band, although the members appeared on many more than that. As well as these he also featured as a member of the NPG under the name of Tora Tora, which translate from the Japanese as Tiger Tiger. This phrase has been used in many variations in Japan as a war cry of sorts and may have informed Prince’s decision to adopt the moniker given his ongoing fight with Warner Brothers at this time. Tora Tora had a distinct personality separate from Prince or LoveSymbol, seen as his combative side. As opposed to his other personality Camille, TT’s vocals were downpitched and his face was always covered by a veil, even if it was always clearly him it was never admitted. This was the only UK hit to feature this personality, reaching #19 in 1995 and garnering several UK TV performances including Top of the Pops. There also exists an unreleased version which is likely a demo and with only Prince's vocal on the track.

=48th The Morning Papers Points 15 - dandy* (6) JulianT (5) King Rollo (4) Artist – Prince and the New Power Generation Released – 1993 Album – LoveSymbol UK Chart Peak - #52 6Ub0cMp0uPc The fourth and final single from the album LoveSymbol was perhaps a case of one too many as it broke his run of UK Top 40 hits, which stood at 23 in a row until this point. Despite this the delicate sounding piano led Pop Rock ballad received good reviews and showcased his ability to switch between genres at ease and that perhaps none were beyond his talent. The album was a conceptual piece and this song is part of the section that details the protagonist (Prince) falling in love with an Egyptian princess (Mayte) whose father has just been murdered by seven assassins. It is the first song in this countdown to be credited as Prince and the New Power Generation, although the band did appear on several previous tracks without official credit.

=48th Pretzelbodylogic Points 15 - Severin (15) Artist – Prince with 3rdeyegirl Released – 2014 Album – Plectrumelectrum UK Chart Peak - #90 WtBg70IgpqI Taken from the only album to officially feature his backing band 3rdeyegirl, an all female trio comprised of guitarist Donna Grantis, bassist Ida Kristine Nielsen and drummer Hannah Welton whose style on this record has been described a blend of Garage Rock and Funk. They performed with him as his backing group until his death in 2016.

=50th Dinner With Delores Points 13 - dandy* (4) Jimwatts (4) Chartjack2 (3) Bjork (2) Artist - LoveSymbol Released – 1995 Album – Chaos and Disorder UK Chart Peak - #36 W1PsKByL7Zw And here we have the first song to pick up scores from more than two voters. The only single released from his final Warners album Chaos and Disorder. Ostensibly rush released to extricate him from his Warners contract and said to be written in haste, in truth much of the material from the album dates from the sessions for The Gold Experience, although it leans more int a Pop Rock territory than the that album. Whilst not a significant commercial success the album did receive generally positive reviews.

=50th The Holy River Points 13 - Chartjack 2 (11) Jimwatts (2) Artist – LoveSymbol Released – 1997 Album – Emancipation UK Chart Peak - #19 YnFXBlhJEAo The second UK single to be taken from his post Warners album, Emancipation. A slow tempo Pop Rock ballad that builds to a classic Prince style guitar crescendo. The song’s subject is Prince’s wife Mayte Garcia and concerns his marriage to her, comparing it to a spiritual journey. It would become the final Prince song to reach the UK Top 20 in his lifetime.

Yes, 1st place is a true classic and one that brings back so many memories. All of the top ones have very clear memories for me and some more than others but the whole list is a good round up of the post Bernie's 1976 TV deal years. Well done and thanks for hosting this again Mack

Yeah, it is on The Hits but because it's just a compilation as opposed to an album proper, I discounted it from inclusion.

=52nd A Case of U Points 12 - dandy* (9) Popchartfreak (3) Artist - Prince Released – 2002 Album – One Night Alone... UK Chart Peak - DNC aPTNKE2pfjs This 2002 album was released as part of a box set with the companion live album and only made available through Prince’s NPG Music Club until finally receiving a release through Tidal in 2020. This track is a cover of the Joni Mitchell song, alleged to be about either Leonard Cohen or Graham Nash. Joni Mitchell has a special thanks in the liner notes.

=52nd Cinnamon Girl Points 12 - Chartjack2 (8) JulianT (4) Artist – Prince Released – 2004 Album – Musicology UK Chart Peak - #43 eGjTc7iIJbg Taken from the album Musicology the single was a ‘70s Psychedelic Rock style track that was used to promote the album in Europe. Its biggest success was a #29 in Italy. With 9/11 still relatively recent and the resulting social tensions in the news everyday, the song was hindered by a striking and controversial video that would receive minimal airplay anywhere. It depicted the racial and religious bullying of a young muslim schoolgirl who goes on to fantasize about becoming a suicide bomber near the videos climax.

=52nd Peach Points 12 - Severin (12) Artist - Prince Released – 1993 Album – Standalone single UK Chart peak - #14 WFP4JoUx_2w This 1993 non-album single was Prince’s first UK single to not feature a credit for the New Power Generation since 1991 and was recorded at Olympic Studios , London sometime in June 1992. Prince was backed up by NPG members Sonny T and Michael B on bass and drums respectively. Prince’s future wife Mayte Garcia also performs the backing vocals alongside an uncredited Kim Basinger who provided the repeated gasp, taken from a sample . Whilst the subject of the song has been attributed to a number of Prince’s ex-lovers – variously Kim Basinger, Carmen Electra, Anna Garcia – and even Kylie Minogue, (who he dedicated it to at one show) it is generally assumed that Mayte is the girl in question.

55th Dance4Me Points 11 –Jimwatts (11) Artist – Prince Released – 2009 Album – MPLSound UK Chart Peak – DNC g1BG8NspIOM The only single from his 2009 album MPLSound, initially received a download release in France that August with the same format being available in the US a month later. Three years later it had its only physical release on CD in Switzerland. The song is another typical Prince lusts after hot girl, but this time juxtaposed against his latter-day religious beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness. All delivered in 809s style production and his distinctive ‘Camille’ pitch-shifted vocals.

=56th Betcha By Golly Wow! Points 10 – Chartjack2 (9) Bjork (1) Artist – LoveSymbol Released – 1996 Album - Emancipation UK Chart Peak - #11 6yan0y6O_7E Prince had spent years unhappily wedded to his contract with Warner Brothers and one of the many bones of contention that drew his ire was the labels refusal to allow him to release cover versions on his albums. Consequently, the moment he was free of them he made his first release this cover of The Stylistics ‘70s Philadelphia Soul classic. It would chart sufficiently well enough is the US (airplay only) and UK to suggest he, rather than the label, had a point. This was the one of many releases the came out after he’d refused to be credited with his birth name, instead going by an unpronounceable symbol. Whilst he was often referred to as ‘The Artist Formerly Known as Prince’, ‘The Artist’, ‘TAFKAP’ or sometimes Tora Tora the officially recognized name for this, O(+> is LoveSymbol.

=56th Letitgo Points 10 – (Popchartfreak 10) Artist – Prince Released - 1994 Album – Come UK Chart Peak - #30 kf1zCmvbK_8 One of Prince’s final releases on Warners was the album Come, essentially a collection of unreleased tracks pulled together to fulfill his contractual obligations. However, the single Letitgo, was composed specifically for the album and is a mid-tempo R&B/Funk track with prince’s lyrics directly criticising the record label for not allowing him to release his own music as soon as it was complete. Despite the obvious lack of attention to detail in the creation of the album Prince, even running on half the effort, was still more accomplished as a songwriter than most and this single became a minor hit for him in both the US and UK.

58th Guitar Pts 9 – Severin (9) Artist – Prince Released – 2007 Album – Planet Earth UK Chart Peak - #81 L3PzQz1ULHc Guitar was the lead single from the album Planet Earth. The album was the latest in a series of unusual release strategies Prince would employ in the years following his break from Warner Brothers. This time the album would be released in the UK as a free covermount with The Mail on Sunday and yes, it is the one and only time I’ve bought a copy of that paper (only the made it passed the bin on the garage forecourt). This move earned the wrath of UK music stores who resorted to selling the paper as well. The Mail sold loads of papers and Prince’s subsequent 21 show residency at the O2 delighted fans and earned him $18.8 million, so I guess Prince came out smiling the most. Rolling Stone listed the song at #39 on its list of the best songs of 2007. Musically the song leans in to Prince’s Rockier side and has the a near identical melody to his previous single, Girls & Boys.

=59th Rock N Roll Love Affair 7 points - King Rollo (6), JulianT (1) Artist – Prince Released – 2012 Album – Hit N Run Phase Two UK Chart Peak - #121 ZosG2oh9D1E Originally released as a standalone single in November 2012, this track was later re-recorded and renamed Rocknroll Loveaffair as well as being added to the album, Hit N Run Phase Two, Prince’s final album of new material to be released in his lifetime.Despite being released 3 years prior to the album it appears on it was the albums 2nd single, after Extraloveable.

=59th Musicology 7 points - (Severin 7) Artist – Prince Released – 2004 Album – Musicology UK Chart Peak – DNC zILabWVdIMs Seen as something of a return to form after a lacklustre few years, the Musicology album was well received both critically and commercially and this title track was released as a promotional single in Europe. The song itself is an uptempo Funk track similar in style to much of his Diamonds and Pearls era work. The song is also sometimes referred to as The Work Pt 2 due to its musical similarity to the earlier song.

=61st Anotherloverholeinyohead 6 points - (Severin 3, HausofKubrick 3) Artist – Prince and the Revolution Released – 1986 Album – Parade UK Chart Peak – #36 Zc99JK9gHDk The first song to receive votes from more than one person and the first song not credited to Prince as a solo single but with The Revolution. The 3rd UK single from the album Parade was a minor hit at the tail end of 1986. As the title implies, it told the tale of the singer giving reasons for his lover no to leave him for another. It holds the distinction of being the longest unhyphenated single word titled UK chart hit. Cliff Richard’s Congratulations comes in 2nd place.

=61st Scandalous! 6 points - (Bjork 6) Artist – Prince Released – 1989 Album – Batman UK Chart Peak – DNC lGHcJ_-Hhps A bit of a jump now from 1 point straight up to 6, all from Bjork. The 4th single from the Batman Soundtrack was not released in the UK but became a single in the US. The music was written by Prince’s father John L. Nelson – a rare co-write. There was a Maxi Single released on CD featuring a 19 minute version of the song that features then girlfriend Kim Basinger (who played Vicki Vale in the film) on vocals and is separated into three parts and re-titled The Scandalous Suite.

63rd Soft and Wet 1 point - Chartjack 2 Artist – Prince Released – 1978 Album – For You UK Chart Peak – DNC Aq7ddhSGOSE Kicking off those that received votes is this effort which garnered a solitary point from Chartjack 2. Soft and Wet was Prince’s debut single, recorded in 1977 and released on his 20th birthday – June 7 1978. The lyrics were written by Chris Moon, the producer who discovered Prince back in Minneapolis. It was not released as a single in the UK.