Prince's pop life, song by song, in chronological order.
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The Belle of St. Mark
While “Glamorous” sounded tailor-made for Sheila’s particular talents (even if it wasn’t), “Belle” is well-crafted but faceless, embodying the essentialist cynicism of the publishing imprint Prince used for his female side projects: “Girlsongs.”
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I Don’t Wanna Leave You
It’s hard to hear this closing track without imagining a stronger alternative in its place: something that would end the album with a bang, rather than a whimper.
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Onedayi’mgonnabesomebody
Recorded around the same time as “777-9311” in late Spring 1982, “Onedayi’mgonnabesomebody” was a slight, palate-cleansing trifle to fill out the first side of the album.
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777-9311 (Grace)
One of the best grooves Prince ever gave away.