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What is Prince's greatest song from 1981?

Each week in March, the Purple Current Time Machine goes to a different year to pick the best of Prince's output. Vote and tune into the Purple Hour at noon on Friday.
Each week in March, the Purple Current Time Machine goes to a different year to pick the best of Prince's output. Vote and tune into the Purple Hour at noon on Friday.MPR Graphic

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by Sean McPherson

February 27, 2019

We are digging into Prince's musical output from different years for our Purple Hours on Fridays in March, and we picked 1981 for the first one. It was invigorating to see that you want to celebrate Prince's work behind the mic, behind the mixing board and behind the pen. From Noon-1pm CST today Derrick Stevens will be spinning your picks for Prince's best work from 1981, whether that be his production, playing and writing for The Time's debut album, his own masterpiece album Controversy or his writing for the Minneapolis artist Sue Ann. Get ready to celebrate one of Prince's most productive early years, it's 1981 on the Purple Current Time Machine.

Here are the top vote-getters from most to least.

 1. Prince - Controversy

 2. Prince - Do Me, Baby

 3. Prince - Let's Work

 4. The Time - Cool

 5. The Time - Get It Up

 6. Prince - Private Joy

 7. Prince - Sexuality

 8. Prince - Jack U Off

 9. Prince - Gotta Stop (Messin' About)

10. The Time - Girl

11. Prince - Annie Christian

12. The Time - The Stick

13. The Time - Oh

14. Prince - Ronnie

15. Talk To Russia

16. Sue Ann - Let Me Let You Rock Me

17. The Time - After Hi School