Prince – The Scandalous Sex Suite (EP) (1989)
The Scandalous Sex Suite is a 5-song EP by Prince, which encompasses a three part 19-minute suite of the song Scandalous! from Prince’s 1989 album Batman. The three parts of the suite are “The Crime”, “The Passion”, and “The Rapture”. All parts are 6 and a half minutes in length. The EP contains two additional songs, “Sex “the ’80s are over and the time has come 4 monogamy and trust”” and “When 2 R in Love”. The EP was released as the fourth single of the album on November 28, 1989.
Scandalous! in its entirety is a mellow 80s pop song, which in recent times could well be considered a smooth jazz tune. Even though, “The Crime”, “The Passion”, and “The Rapture” can be considered one and the same song, they work very well as individual tunes. Especially part 3, “The Rapture”, which is characterised by Prince’s incredible guitar wizardry, builds upon the suspense and passion created by the previous two parts. Also, Eric Leeds’ saxophone solo brings shivers onto any dance floor.
It has been claimed by different DJs and music critics that Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing or Boyz 2 Men’s I’ll Make Love to You are the most sensual and sexy songs ever written. My vote goes to The Scandalous Sex Suite, though. This trilogy provides 19 minutes of passion like nothing else. Gotta love it!
“Sex “the ’80s are over and the time has come 4 monogamy and trust”“, the first B-side, comes in typical 80s Prince manner. A raw dance song with a mean bass riff that makes even this rock fan shake and nod his head. A perfect continuation after the Scandalous! trilogy.
“When 2 R in Love” ends the EP with a more balladesque and harmonious mood. Just like Prince produced the entire Batman album with a stringent concept, he put this 30-minute EP together to make complete sense in regard to its musical and lyrical concept.
I have to admit that I forgot about this Scandalous! trilogy and have just recently found this great gem again in my CD case. But now that I remember the greatness of the music it carries it will be banned to my hot-listen CD shelf.