Prince: 15 essential songs from his career, from Kiss and Purple Rain to Little Red Corvette and 1999

The iconic musician has passed away at the age of 57
Musical master: Prince has passed away aged 57 - and leaves an incredible legacy of records
Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Legendary musician Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson, has passed away at the age of 57 – destined to forever remain one of the world’s most enigmatic and beloved artists.

With an extensive back-catalogue of music that merged genres from rock and pop to funk and R&B, the musical prodigy was prolific throughout his career.

Prince famously insisted on full artistic control, which resulted in his distinctive, individual sound.

Below are 15 essential tracks from one of the most iconic musicians of all time.

Prince - Prince (1979) - Warner Bros
Warner Bros

I Wanna Be Your Lover (1979)

Prince’s first UK single, I Wanna Be Your Lover, preened, swaggered and gyrated with all the sexual bombast the singer would soon be known for. Despite being written quickly and under contract pressure from label Warner Bros, Prince laid down his signature moves: sharp spikes of Telecaster guitar over a bass line that didn’t so much walk as strut.

Prince - 1999 (1982) - Warner Bros

Little Red Corvette (1982)

Taken from the 1999 album, Little Red Corvette was Prince’s biggest hit at the time of release, with sultry R&B verses that give way to a belting rock chorus. A tale of infidelity, it was the first Prince song to reach the top 10 in the US, coming in at number six.

1999 (1982)

The song played at every Millenium party everywhere (and ideally at any party whatsoever), the title track from 1999 is definitive of Prince’s signature sound – blasting synths, a funky bassline, and an R&B-influenced chorus.

Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain (1984) - Warner Bros
Warner Bros

I Would Die 4 U (1984)

With its fizzing synth melody, the haunting I Would Die 4 U still sounds ahead of its time now. Simultaneously low-key and up-tempo, the song was one of five singles taken from Purple Rain.

Prince - In pictures

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When Doves Cry (1984)

The song that finally took Prince to #1 in the States was yet another single from Purple Rain. The bouncing synth riff of When Doves Cry is pure Eighties – and it’s notable for remaining funky despite having no bassline.

Let’s Go Crazy (1984)

The opening track on Purple Rain is a classic not only for being a hugely exciting all-out disco-rock tune, but for the mysterious, gospel-inspired monologue that takes up the song’s first minute.

Purple Rain (1984)

The most iconic song from Prince’s most iconic album. This elegant 8-minute-plus power ballad is a sumptuous close for the LP, with a spine-tingling gospel-tinged chorus and a huge, Hendrix-esque guitar solo. It was held off the US #1 spot by Wham’s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – but is still undeniably one of the most recognisable songs of the Eighties.

Prince - Around the World in a Day (1985) - Warner Bros
Warner Bros

Raspberry Beret (1985)

How Prince managed to use a second-hand piece of headgear a sexual metaphor is anyone’s guess, but somehow the diminutive genius did. And who else but Prince would lose his virginity to a girl who enlivens his boredom at work? Pure fun, unashamedly catchy, Raspberry Beret marked Prince at his straight-pop best.

Prince and the Revolution - Parade (1986) - Warner Bros
Warner Bros

Sometimes It Snows in April (1986)

Sometimes It Snows… came at the end of eighth studio parade, and also marked his last work with backing band The Revolution. It showed a Prince who wasn’t constantly high on his own lust – this touching acoustic take on a friend’s death features his voice quivering with tears. The simple, devastating title metaphor also made it clear that Prince was far more than symbols and letters.

Kiss (1986)

The song that will go down as Prince’s biggest party hit came from the album Parade, recorded with The Revolution. Blending funk riffs with ultra-flirty lyrics and breathless vocal delivery, it’s a sure-fire dancefloor hit, even if it is responsible for some terrible air guitar.

Prince - Sign 'o The Times (1987) - Warner Bros
Warner Bros

U Got The Look (1987)

Sex Prince loved, grammar he did not. U Got The Look opened the second disk of Sign O' the Times, which in itself was a giant: rarely has any double album in popular music been welcomed, yet Sign was marvelled by the critics. Prince was back to his sharply funky best, growling, purring, and covering up the fact that, underneath all the distorted guitar and slapping drums, Prince was getting away with a straightforward 12-bar rocker.

Sign O' the Times (1987)

Sign O’ the Times showed another facet of Prince: social awareness. Though Prince was never known for his commentary on the world around him – one suspects he had a very idiosyncratic view of it, anyway – this painted a devastating portrayal of a 1987 riddled by drugs, money and AIDS.

I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1987)

Roaring guitar and jangling riffs made this sound more like a cut from Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA than a typical Prince number, apart from it being an ode to one night stands. Typically, the Purple One was charming about such matters, resulting in a catchy, pop-rock hit.

Prince and the New Power Generation - Diamonds and Pearls (1991) - Warner Bros
Warner Bros

Diamonds and Pearls (1991)

The Nineties did something to Prince: while the rest of the world took to lads mags, Prince grew up and revealed himself a romantic at heart. The song showed his occasional weakness for syrupy numbers, but with a great, crashing chorus that let you know the man really, really meant it.

Prince - The Gold Experience (1995) - Warner Bros
Warner Bros

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (1994)

Prince had been strutting since the Seventies, but kept himself on top of the world in 1994 with this smash, which was a number one in five countries, including the UK. It was first time at the top of our chart performing as himself, though Nothing Compares 2 U was a number one for Sinéad O'Connor. A ballad with a bit of shuffle, it might have been soppy enough to get its own parody from Flight Of The Concords, but it charmed the world.

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