"Anotherloverholenyohead" by Prince

Song#:  2800
Date:  07/19/1986
Debut:  86
Peak:  63
Weeks:  10
Genre:  R&B, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Prince's second single from his Parade album, "Mountains," wasn't a major hit. It stalled at #23 Pop and #15 R&B. The album doubled as the soundtrack to Prince's film Under a Cherry Moon and it would be a good seller going platinum. It could have sold better if it had more hits along the lines if its first single, the #1 "Kiss," yet "Mountains" and this third single couldn't maintain the momentum. This tune was able to crawl into the Top 20 at R&B (#18), but it was basically a flop at Pop. It couldn't even get into the top half of the chart. It would be Prince's lowest peaking single since 1981's "Controversy," which got to #70.

ReduxReview:  As I've mentioned before, Parade wasn't an album chock full of hooky singles like "Kiss." It was an eclectic set that was interesting as a whole, but several of the songs just didn't stand on their own. This one wasn't a terrible choice from the remaining tracks for single contention. The problem though was that it definitely had a heavier soul/funk sound and that wasn't going to win much favor at pop stations. Prince was a huge star at the time, but that didn't mean anything he released was going to be a hit. This one certainly demonstrated that if Prince wanted to continue to conquer all the charts, he needed to make a few more of his songs a bit more accessible for all ears. He professed that he didn't necessarily care about making hits and just wanted to grow as a musician and experiment, but c'mon. The guy had a huge ego and he knew he wouldn't be able to maintain his superstar status without hits. His next album would get him back into hit making mode. In the meantime, this tune was less than satisfactory as a single.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  In the UK, the second single from Parade was the funky track "Girls & Boys." It did well nearly cracking the Top 10 (#11). Yet in the States the label issued out "Mountains" instead. "Girls & Boys" would be relegated to the b-side of "Anotherloverholenyohead." The 12" single of the two songs would do well in clubs and it would be a double-sided entry at Dance getting to #21.

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