Prince was undoubtedly one of the most influential musicians of our time. He pioneered the Minneapolis Sound, a groundbreaking blend of funk and rock that emerged in the late 1970s. As an artist, he was truly one of a kind — playing and recording every instrument on his albums. Some of his best songs by Prince, like “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” and “Kiss,” have left an indelible mark on music history, showcasing his unmatched creativity and versatility.
A guitar virtuoso with a captivating stage presence, flamboyant style, and an extensive vocal range, Prince’s artistry knew no bounds. With this list, we honor the best Prince songs of all time!
Prince
Prince Rogers Nelson was born to musician parents, and from an early age, he displayed a deep passion for music and performance. In high school, he even took ballet lessons to perfect his stage presence. By the time he was 19, he had already signed a professional contract with Warner Bros. Records and released his debut album, For You, in 1978. On this album, he wrote, produced, arranged, and played every instrument — including the bass guitar.
Following the success of For You, Prince continued to release a string of albums, but it was Purple Rain that truly catapulted him to superstardom. The album, which was prominently featured in the movie of the same name (in which Prince also starred), spent six consecutive months on the Billboard 200 charts and solidified his status as an international icon.
Throughout his lifetime, Prince released 39 albums, along with countless collaborations and projects with various artists. It’s also rumored that he had a vast vault of unreleased albums and music videos — treasures that we can only hope to hear one day.
As mentioned earlier, Prince was known for playing every instrument on his albums, and the bass guitar was one of his favorites. While he was a virtuoso on guitar, his bass playing was equally exceptional. His deep admiration for Larry Graham, the pioneering bassist who popularized the slap technique, influenced Prince’s own style.
Prince’s music was all about the groove. While his harmonic structures often remained simple, the drum and bass grooves were on another level — hypnotic and unforgettable.
1. Prince - Let's Work
The first song on our list is “Let’s Work”. This song was released as his second single from his “Controversy” album which was released in 1981. This song features a catchy slap bass line that, in our opinion, carries the whole song.
2. Prince - Lady Cab Driver
Released on Prince’s 1982 album 1999, this track wasn’t initially considered single material — only true Prince fans knew about it back in the day. The song features a deep, funky slap bass groove that drives the tune forward, giving it an irresistible energy.
3. Prince - Kiss
This one’s a bit of a surprise – the original Kiss doesn’t actually have any bass guitar. It was pretty unconventional at the time, but somehow, it worked and the song has stood the test of time.
Fast forward to the 1999 live version, where the iconic track gets an added punch with a heavy bassline from the legendary Larry Graham. A true masterpiece!
4. Prince - Irresistible B**ch
The next song on our list comes from the “1999” album again. It was a B-Side song that never reached mainstream success but the drum and bass grooves on this song are out of this world. A must-know song for sure.
5. Prince - Uptown
Last but not least, we have “Uptown,” the lead single from Prince’s third album, Dirty Mind.
This song features another iconic bassline by Prince, heavily influenced by his favorite bassist, Larry Graham. It also includes a cool breakdown section, making it a must-know track for any Prince fan.
Updated: 01/02/2024
