#110 "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" by Prince

Prince is a total badass. I've only said that about one other person on this list: Bo Diddley. I won't say it about anyone else. Say what you want about The Purple One, but he is undeniably one of the most gifted musicians of our time.

Now I didn't include a picture of Prince here. I also won't include a copy of the song "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" in the jukebox either. Apparently Prince is fiercely protective of his image and his work and how it is used by others. I have the utmost respect for that.

What I've always liked about Prince is that he does whatever he wants. After "Purple Rain" made him the biggest name in American music in the mid-eighties, all anyone wanted was a sequel. He proceeded to release album after album of specifically NON-sequels, full of music that sounded nothing like "When Doves Cry" or "I Would Die 4 U" and sometimes wasn't even remotely radio-friendly. This confounded a lot of people. I thought it was great. Later he changed him name to some unique little symbol and shaved the word "slave" into his facial hair, all in an intricate legal maneuver to free himself from an ugly record contract. Again... people were baffled, angry, and irritated. I'll admit... I thought it was odd, but I respected the guy for being unique and for making a stand.

A few years ago Prince seemed to lighten up a bit. He performed at the Grammys. He did a greatest hits tour. He even showed up at the SuperBowl halftime show and did a Foo Fighters' cover!?! He rocked the HOUSE at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame too. Maybe the Purple One is mellowing out in his old age. Who knows! I'll always have a ton of respect for him though.

Oh... and on a side note. Prince made his name in Minneapolis in the late seventies and early eighties. He was a frequent performer at First Avenue, which is kind of shown in Purple Rain. And who else cut their teeth at that famous club? My boy Paul Westerberg and the Replacements!

"I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" is from the album "Sign 'O' the Times."