Hey music lovers! Switching things up a bit here on ten-dance.com, I thought it would be fun to drop in with occasional “Roundup” posts as we wrap up different eras of Prince’s incredible musical journey. Now that we’ve explored the 1976 ephemera and are stepping into the For You period, let’s take a look back at the songs we’ve covered. And because everyone online loves a good, totally biased ranking, here’s my personal list, counting up from my least favorite to the tracks I’m really feeling the “Sex Sex Dance” vibe in:
9. Home Recordings, 1976 Maybe it’s a stretch to even call these “songs,” they’re more like raw musical ideas. But honestly, there’s a certain charm to some of these early experimentations, even if they’re not exactly setting the dance floor on fire with “sex sex dance” energy yet.
8. “If You See Me (Do Yourself a Favor)” Sorry Pepé Pepé; Prince and Jesse just bring a different level to this track. While Pepé’s version might have its own style, Prince’s take, along with Jesse’s, really understands how to infuse that early “sex sex dance” feel, even in a more subdued way.
7. Moonsound Instrumentals Initially, I was convinced the super funky “Jelly Jam” was part of these Moonsound sessions. Turns out it wasn’t, and that discovery slightly dimmed my enthusiasm for these recordings. Still, you can hear the seeds of something special here, a hint of the rhythmic complexity that would later define his more overtly “sex sex dance” tracks.
6. “Nightingale” This one’s got historical significance and a certain emotional resonance, but it’s undeniably delicate. “Nightingale” is sweet and poignant, but it’s not exactly the track you’d choose to get the party started with a “sex sex dance” theme.
5. “Don’t You Wanna Ride?” Okay, this one leans into stereotypical territory, maybe more sexist than genuinely sexy. But there’s also something awkwardly endearing about it. It’s reassuring to know that even young Prince wasn’t always the epitome of smooth confidence. While it’s not a sophisticated “sex sex dance” anthem, it has a raw, youthful energy.
4. “I Spend My Time Loving You” Similar to “Nightingale,” this track is on the gentler side, but the vocal performance and guitar work are surprisingly mature for young Prince. It’s a tender ballad, showcasing his developing skills, though it’s a far cry from the later “sex sex dance” infused power ballads.
3. “Leaving for New York” As I mentioned in the original post, this is probably Prince’s most musically polished song from this early period. I overlooked this one for a while, but listening to it in the car, it just clicked. It’s a beautiful preview of the talent that was blossoming, and while not explicitly “sex sex dance,” it has a sophisticated groove and rhythm that hints at future directions.
2. “Rock Me, Lover” It’s simple, for sure, but as I wrote before, it gives us an interesting glimpse into Prince’s evolving persona as a lover – perhaps a more feminist or at least submissive approach. For teenage fantasies, I’d definitely pick this over “Don’t You Wanna Ride?” any day. Plus, the discussion with Jane Clare Jones in the comments is really insightful. This track starts to explore themes of desire and connection, moving closer to the “sex sex dance” territory in its lyrical content.
1. “Sweet Thing” Honestly, this is the only song from everything we’ve covered so far that I actively choose to listen to. It’s a gorgeous, delicate cover that I might even prefer over Chaka Khan and Rufus’ original. And on a personal note, this is the post that Chaka herself retweeted, which gave my blog a huge boost (at least for a couple of days!). For that reason, it’ll always be special to me. This track, while a cover, is performed with such passion and feeling, it embodies a different kind of “sex sex dance” – one of soulful expression and raw emotion.
Let’s also acknowledge the introductory posts that fill in some of the earliest blanks in Prince’s recorded history. I can’t really rank these since I haven’t actually heard the music (though I’m sure five-year-old Skipper banging rocks was groundbreaking):
Funk Machine: Prehistory, 1965-1968Sex Machine: Grand Central, 1973-1976
Tomorrow, we dive into the studio recordings that paved the way for Prince’s debut album. If you’ve been following along, thank you so much. The response to this blog, especially these deep-dive early posts, has been incredible. It’s truly rewarding to hear from people who are enjoying this journey. Stick around, because it’s only going to get more exciting from here!
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