Album: 3121
Year: 2006
The lead track on the album, 3121 evidently refers to Prince's rented mansion at 3121 Antelo Rd. in Los Angeles. Evidently that's where the party be. The track is heavy on post-recording effects, including various vocal pitches combined so that Prince is singing along with himself. There are also some other distortions and intentionally abrupt musical stops. The song chugs along nicely with a decent effects-heavy guitar solo thrown in for good measure. A few online commenters suggest that 3121 means "Love One to One" or refers to the 21 concerts Prince gave in London for the price of 31 pounds each. Perhaps it's all that, perhaps not. What it IS is a nice, funky Prince jam that has grown better for me with each listen.
Verdict: 4/5 stars
Would I sing it at karaoke? Only if I could do all the voices at once like Anna-Maria Hefele.
Song: Rosalyn
Album: Pin Ups
Year: 1973
Also an opening track, this one from Bowie's album of 60s British rock covers, Rosalyn is a guitar-heavy jam with a Bo-Diddly beat that incorporates some nice Mick Ronson slide guitar work. It's a straight-up guitar rock jam from a band (The Pretty Things) that unashamedly borrowed from all manner of American blues and rockabilly styles. Bowie's version is very true to the original, though somewhat crisper. Altogether a pleasant rendition of a forgotten hit that led me back to the original material and deeper into the original artist's catalog. This was probably the intention. Well done.
Verdict: 3.5/5 stars
Would I sing it at karaoke? Yes! A nice rocking obscure number!
Winner: 3121.
Running score: Bowie 21, Prince 12
Random musings:
As I've been listening to my Prince v. Bowie tracks I've found that I have a tendency to try to think of if/how/why each pairing goes together. Today, both tracks stay within their own grooves and within one key. Each tune has a distinct energy and rocks/funks out in their own particular way. Despite the 33 year time span these two work together well.
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