THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

884-Prince-Alphabet St.

1988-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 4.46. ‘A.B.C.D.E.F.H. I love you.’ Prince could sing the alphabet, and make it sound wonderful.

‘Alphabet St.’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Lovesexy,’ from May 1988, the 10th studio Album by Prince (1958-2016) (see also best songs 487-269-85 and 54.) ‘Lovesexy’ which was recorded in just seven weeks received mixed reviews, and was his first studio Album since ‘Controversy’ in 1981 to not reach the American Billboard 200 Album chart top 10, stalling at Number 11. Also on Billboard ‘Alphabet St. was the only single from the Album to chart within the top 100, reaching Number 8, while in the UK, the other two singles issued,’Glam Slam,’ reached Number 29, and ‘I Wish U Heaven,’ made Number 24. Alphabet St. was written and produced by Prince, who also sang lead and backing vocals, played electric guitar, bass guitar, and also synthesizers. Other musicians playing on the track were Eric Leeds, (saxophone) and Sheila E. (drums) the Rap on the track, and other backing vocals were provided by Cat Glover.

Sheila E. was born Sheila Cecilia Escovedo, on December 12th, 1957, in Oakland, California, United States. She comes from a musical background, with her father being Pete Escvedo, a percussionist, who has released 12 Albums of Latin Jazz, between 1977-2018. Her other musical relatives include an unkle, Coke Escovedo, (1941-1986) who was a member of Santana, (see also best songs 158) and also another unkle, Javier Escovedo, who was the founder of the American ‘Punk Rock’ group ‘The Zeros.’ Like her father, Sheila E. is a drummer, and percussionist, who as well as playing on studio recordings with Prince, has also toured as part of his live band. As a solo artist, Sheila E. has released eight studio Albums between 1984-2017, and 20 singles between 1984-2019. Three of those singles have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with the Prince penned song ‘The Glamorous Life,’ charting the highest at Number 7 in 1984. In the UK, her only top 40 hit to date is ‘The Belle of St. Mark,’ which reached Number 18 in 1984, and was also written by Prince.

Cat Glover who provides the ‘Rap,’ and backing vocals on ‘Alphabet St. was born Catherine Vernice Glover, on July 23rd, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, she first found success when winning the American talent show ‘Star Search,’ alongside her dancing partner Patrick Allen, where they performed as ‘Pat & Cat.’ In the late 1980’s Cat Glover choreographed and appeared in several of Prince’s videos, and also in his concert film ‘Sign o’ the Times,’ she also travelled with him as a backing vocalist and dancer on the ‘Sign o’ the Times,’ and ‘Lovesexy’ tours. The other Prince song that Cat Glover can be heard Rapping on is ‘Cindy C,’ from the 1987 ‘The Black Album.’

Eric Leeds who played the saxophone on ‘Alphabet St. was born on January 19th, 1952, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, he was introduced to Prince in the mid 1980’s by his brother Alan Leeds who had been the tour manager for Prince in the early 1980’s. Eric Leeds was a member of the Prince side project ‘The Family’ in 1985, before becoming a member of Prince’s recording and touring backing band ‘The Revolution.’ After the break up of ‘The Revolution,’ Leeds continued to work with Prince through until the 2004 live Album ‘C-Note.’ Eric Leeds has also released three solo studio Albums between 1991-2000, with the first two being issued on Prince’s own record label ‘Paisley Park.’

‘Alphabet St. is one of the most sexually explicit songs on this ‘Best 1000’ list, and yet as far as I know, not one radio station, or television broadcast has ever refused to play it. The songs subject is oral sex, and the letters of the alphabet represent the shapes the narrator can make with his tongue. Astute listeners will hear in the songs lyrics that there is no ‘G.’ Did you ‘spot’ that?

‘Talk to me lover, come on tell me what you taste, didn’t your mama tell you life is to good to waste. Didn’t she tell you that Lovesexy was the glam of them all. If you can hang, you can trip on it, you surely won’t fall.’