Best Prince single?

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To give it an extra twist, I've added all the B-sides. I've stuck to (as best as possible) to wide-release (aka not just NPG club) US singles and the B-sides from the 7"s, but there are still lots of "if"s "and"s and "but"s involved. I hope no one takes issue.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City 17
When Doves Cry / 17 Days 15
Raspberry Beret / She's Always In My Hair 11
Controversy / When You Were Mine 10
Kiss / Love or Money 6
Alphabet St. / Alphabet St. (This is not music, this is a trip) 5
Sexy M.F. / Strollin' 4
Purple Rain / God 4
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man / Hot Thing 4
U Got the Look / Housequake 4
If I Was Your Girlfriend / Shockadelica 4
Gett Off / Horny Pony 3
Anotherloverholenyohead / Girls & Boys 3
I Wanna Be Your Lover / My Love is Forever 2
Take Me with U / Baby, I'm a Star 2
Dirty Mind / When We're Dancing Close and Slow 2
1999 / How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? 2
Let's Pretend We're Married / Irresistible Bitch 2
Little Red Corvette / All the Critics Love U in New York 2
I hate Prince because I suck at life1
Cream / Horny Pony 1
Peach / Nothing Compares 2 U 1
7 / 7 (Acoustic) 1
The Morning Papers / Live 4 Love 1
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World / Beautiful 1
I Wish U Heaven / Scarlet Pussy 1
Soft and Wet / So Blue 1
Let's Work / Gotta Stop (Messin' About) 1
Uptown / Crazy You 1
Delirious / Horny Toad 1
Fury / Te Amo Corazón 1
I Would Die 4 U / Another Lonely Christmas 1
Pop Life / Hello 1
Just as Long as We're Together / In Love 1
Letitgo / Solo 0
Eye Hate U / Eye Hate U (Quiet Night Mix) 0
Gold / Rock 'N' Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis) 0
Dinner with Delores / Had U 0
Black Sweat / Beautiful, Loved and Blessed 0
Space / Space (Universal Love Radio Remix) 0
S.S.T. / Brand New Orleans 0
Te Amo Corazón 0
Call My Name 0
Cinnamon Girl / Dear Mr. Man (live at Webster Hall) 0
Musicology / On the Couch 0
The Work, pt. 1 / U Make My Sun Shine 0
U Make My Sun Shine / When Will We B Paid 0
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold / The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (Adam & Eve Remix) 0
The Truth / Don't Play Me 0
The Holy River / Somebody's Somebody 0
Betcha by Golly Wow! / Right Back Here In My Arms 0
Pink Cashmere / Soft and Wet 0
Partyman / Feel U Up 0
Batdance / 200 Balloons 0
Glam Slam / Escape 0
Sign “O” the Times / La, La, La, He, He, Hee 0
Mountains / Alexa de Paris 0
America / Girl 0
Do Me, Baby / Private Joy 0
Still Waiting / Bambi 0
The Arms of Orion / I Love U In Me 0
Scandalous / When 2 R In Love 0
Damn U / 2 Whom It May Concern 0
My Name is Prince / Sexy Mutha 0
Insatiable / I Love U In Me 0
Money Don't Matter 2 Night / Call the Law 0
Diamonds and Pearls / X-cerpts... 0
New Power Generation / New Power Generation (Part II) 0
Thieves in the Temple / Thieves in the Temple (Part II) 0
The Future / Electric Chair 0
Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? / Baby 0


The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:00 (eighteen years ago)

this is harder than the madge one! because i love madge more i've developed a stock answer over the years, but i don't think i've ever tried to do that with prince.

it's between 'purple rain', 'little red corvette', 'gett off' and 'when doves cry' i think.

lex pretend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:04 (eighteen years ago)

For my money, my favorite A/B (at least today) is "Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City", although "Kiss" is probably my favorite A-side. "Controversy / When You Were Mine" & "I Wish U Heaven / Scarlet Pussy" were very tempting, though.

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:04 (eighteen years ago)

"Sexy MF" - Sure, it's not the most classic but there is no better floor filler in the world ever.

the next grozart, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:05 (eighteen years ago)

I only have Purple Rain album and that triple CD "Best Of" with the third CD being B-sides. It still doesn't have all these A-sides though. Any news of a definitive singles comp?

the next grozart, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:06 (eighteen years ago)

I've been meaning to ask forever how "When Doves Cry" and fucking "Little Red Corvette" became the most canonical Prince singles. He has at least twenty singles that are better than either.

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:06 (eighteen years ago)

"Sexy MF" has too much Tony M. to be the best.

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:07 (eighteen years ago)

hearing the full 12" version of 'little red corvette' as the closing track in a club right as i was coming up again cast that song in a whole new glorious light for me

lex pretend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:11 (eighteen years ago)

Is the 12" version longer than the album version?

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:15 (eighteen years ago)

it is about 8 minutes long and it is grandiose and magnificent.

lex pretend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:16 (eighteen years ago)

"Pink Cashmere" was a US single? You lucky people.

Far too hard to pick on just an A-side - this is my Madonna moment - so have gone for A-side/B-side consistency instead.

Almost picked Black Sweat/Beautiful Loved & Blessed, but that would have been a tad on the wilfully perverse side, so went for 1999/How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore instead. God, I love that B-side.

mike t-diva, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:29 (eighteen years ago)

Look up in the air, it's your guitar!

Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:30 (eighteen years ago)

Lex, I really want to hear that!

the next grozart, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:33 (eighteen years ago)

i'll try to upload it sometime this week, but i only have it on ripped cd which means i'll have to recompress it, boo.

lex pretend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:39 (eighteen years ago)

I have to admit I am unfamiliar with most of the b-sides, but "Raspberry Beret" is his best song so I voted for that one.

Wasn't "Paisley Park" a single at all?

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:44 (eighteen years ago)

Not in Amerikkka.

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:49 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for "Sexy MF" just for its sense of devilment, I think. And because picking one single is just impossible for me. Now I don't have to worry about whether I prefer "Mountains" or "Pop Life" or "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" or "If I Was Your Girlfriend", which are all better. And a load of the other ones. I mean this is a ridiculous thing to decide.

Noodle Vague, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:50 (eighteen years ago)

Yes it was, geir. Between Take me w/you and rasberet.

Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:51 (eighteen years ago)

I've stuck to...US singles

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 09:52 (eighteen years ago)

who could possibly be next i wonder? PRINCE maybe? it's a real curveball out-the-box idea i know but stranger things have happened...

-- blueski, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 13:35 (Yesterday)


i still voted tho

blueski, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:04 (eighteen years ago)

OK, you've listed flipsides "from the 7's," but what are we voting on here, 7s or 12s? May (or may not) make a difference in my vote. "Erotic City" is a whole other song in the seven-minute-plus version. Similarly, don't get me started on "I Wish U Heaven (Parts 1-3)," which could take my ballot.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:12 (eighteen years ago)

"Take this beat, I don't mind. Got plenty others, they so fine."

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:13 (eighteen years ago)

And, less than a year after withdrawing The Black Album in righteousness' name: "Don't fuck with me. I'll slap ya."

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:15 (eighteen years ago)

Well, it's OK. I guess "Raspberry Beret" is my favourite Prince single, but "Paisley Park" comes very close. The abscens of "Paisley Park" from the pool makes the decision easy.

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:16 (eighteen years ago)

sexy mf is his most overrated song over IMO

titchyschneiderMk2, Thursday, 26 April 2007 12:46 (eighteen years ago)

i voted i wish u heaven

titchyschneiderMk2, Thursday, 26 April 2007 12:47 (eighteen years ago)

Shit, I agree with Geir.

Colonel Poo, Thursday, 26 April 2007 12:50 (eighteen years ago)

"Paisley Park" was a single in the Twin Cities! (Then again, "D.M.S.R" and "Baby I'm A Star" were singles in the Twin Cities.)

HI DERE, Thursday, 26 April 2007 13:58 (eighteen years ago)

was 'Dolphin' a single anywhere? it had a (cheap) video they used to show on MTV Europe.

blueski, Thursday, 26 April 2007 14:03 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, I'll be the stodgy one and vote for When Doves Cry, because, g'damn, that's a fantastic track that has pretty much everything I love from Prince (though there were a handful of other tracks that made it hard).

And yeah, when can we have every Prince single through, say, 89, on one disc without making it ourselves? I want to give you my money, Prince!
(Also hoping Lex uploads that 12" somewhere I can see...)

I eat cannibals, Thursday, 26 April 2007 14:16 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, "Dolphins" was a single as well.


Etc.

Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2007 14:19 (eighteen years ago)

I hate Prince because I suck at life

Oh would that it were a single by Prince! Would that it were.

As Robert Robinson would have said.

Mark G, Thursday, 26 April 2007 14:20 (eighteen years ago)

Chrissakes, look at all those b-sides I've never heard! That'll nicely separate we mere fans from the fanatics.

If I'm gonna take the b-sides into consideration, then the easy answer is "Let's Go Crazy/Erotic City", since "Erotic" is one of the few that I recognize, plus "Crazy" would make my top 5 anyway. Otherwise, I'd have to go with "When Doves Cry". Predictable or not, it's still a perfect song, with everything you'd want (except a bass.)(Pretty much what I Eat Cannibals said)

Myonga Vön Bontee, Thursday, 26 April 2007 14:48 (eighteen years ago)

"When Doves Cry/17 Days" is a pretty amazing pair of tracks, even if neither would be my pick on their own. Plus I think I still have the 45 kicking around somewhere.

Let the rain come down, down...

EZ Snappin, Thursday, 26 April 2007 15:33 (eighteen years ago)

Jeez, impossible, I think. "Controversy/When You Were Mine." Would've liked to see "Pussy Control/Endorphin Machine" on a 45. Yowza.

ellaguru, Thursday, 26 April 2007 15:36 (eighteen years ago)

I hate Prince becuase I suck at life.

Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 26 April 2007 16:01 (eighteen years ago)

you said it

lex pretend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 16:04 (eighteen years ago)

I've listened to Erotic City a million times. This is impossible. There are at least 10 or 11 songs here that cross that line after great, where value judgment is inherently impossible. It's like comparing solar systems to each other or something.

filthy dylan, Thursday, 26 April 2007 16:28 (eighteen years ago)

I almost want to vote for the Musicology stuff because that is such an underrated record.

admrl, Thursday, 26 April 2007 16:34 (eighteen years ago)

OK...."Controversy/When You Were Mine".

admrl, Thursday, 26 April 2007 16:34 (eighteen years ago)

Don't know the B-side, but When Doves Cry is easily my favorite Prince song. It's a great song because it sounds so bizarre, even today, like some crazy, baroque ballad with nutso guitar riffs and intensely structured vocal riffs and harmonies. There's never been another song like it.

Moodles, Thursday, 26 April 2007 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

The Morning Papers/Live 4 Love is a powerhouse combination. I voted for it.

If I had to pick out one Prince single, regardless of B-Side, it would be Kiss.

Matt Armstrong, Thursday, 26 April 2007 19:16 (eighteen years ago)

I like a lot of Prince but I only love Raspberry Beret.

Billy Pilgrim, Thursday, 26 April 2007 19:36 (eighteen years ago)

OK, you've listed flipsides "from the 7's," but what are we voting on here, 7s or 12s? May (or may not) make a difference in my vote. "Erotic City" is a whole other song in the seven-minute-plus version. Similarly, don't get me started on "I Wish U Heaven (Parts 1-3)," which could take my ballot.

I don't really care what you're voting on account of, I just kept it to the 7" Bs to keep it from getting too ungodly messy, ya know.

Turns out I have the Little Red Corvette 12' floating around my hard drive, I'll upload it shortly.

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 21:31 (eighteen years ago)

sorry but this is really easy - Let's Go Crazy/Erotic City for sure

Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 26 April 2007 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

This is quite a bit better than the album/single versions. MAYDAY!

(This being the LRC 12")

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 21:34 (eighteen years ago)

Anotherloverholenyohead / Girls & Boys

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 26 April 2007 21:38 (eighteen years ago)

LGC/EC was a clooooooooose second, but its u got the look/housequake for me

69, Thursday, 26 April 2007 21:41 (eighteen years ago)

here

The Reverend, Thursday, 26 April 2007 21:54 (eighteen years ago)

Take Me with U / Baby, I'm a Star

that is killer

abanana, Thursday, 26 April 2007 22:41 (eighteen years ago)

Prince's worst single is probably either "Sexy MF" or "Girls And Boys", although the latter does at least have a kind of funny synth solo towards the end.

Geir Hongro, Sunday, 29 April 2007 16:25 (eighteen years ago)

I went with "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man / Hot Thing," but my answer would probably be different on another day.

Tape Store, Sunday, 29 April 2007 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

sexy mf is his most overrated song over IMO

-- titchyschneiderMk2, Thursday, April 26, 2007 3:46 PM (3 days ago)


who the fuck overrates this? and

I've been meaning to ask forever how "When Doves Cry" and fucking "Little Red Corvette" became the most canonical Prince singles. He has at least twenty singles that are better than either.

-- The Reverend, Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:06 PM (3 days ago)


8080

That one guy that quit, Sunday, 29 April 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

Sexy MF is just a great dancefloor filler. That song comes on at 11:30pm and the place is guaranteed to go fucking apeshit.

the next grozart, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:13 (eighteen years ago)

It's not even that boring - sure it's quite repetitive but there's so much energy in there to make up for it.

the next grozart, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:14 (eighteen years ago)

some people don't want to understand.

blueski, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:14 (eighteen years ago)

Sexy MF is just a great dancefloor filler.

Usually a very bad sign.

Geir Hongro, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

And there is nothing that can ever make up for repetitiveness. I despise repetitive music.

Geir Hongro, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

I like plenty of repetive music and dance floor fillers. But that song still sucks bigtime.

xhuxk, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:26 (eighteen years ago)

"When Doves Cry" and "Little Red Corvette" are both OK btw. The latter is probably among his best. Nice pop tunes with detailed arrangements with lots of great synth sounds. Very typically 80s, and not too blatantly R&B.

Geir Hongro, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:28 (eighteen years ago)

oh my.

Pink Cashmere/Soft & Wet

versus Dirty Mind/When We're Dancing Close & Slow

versus Take Me With U/Baby I'm a Star



Impossible.

babyalive, Sunday, 29 April 2007 19:07 (eighteen years ago)

I love that part of When Doves Cry about his stomach trembling and the butterflies tied up. It's so cute/tender.

And Little Red Corvette's "and the ride, I say the ride is so smooooooooth-- you must be a limousine!" makes me grin every time.


That said, yes, he does have better singles.

babyalive, Sunday, 29 April 2007 19:14 (eighteen years ago)

I've missed out on this whole "8080" meme. Can anyone explain?

The Reverend, Monday, 30 April 2007 03:25 (eighteen years ago)

what is the b-side to "mountains" like?

tricky, Monday, 30 April 2007 03:46 (eighteen years ago)

Instrumental guitar wankery w/ annoyingly trebly drums that eventually turn into an annoyingly trebly drum solo.

The Reverend, Monday, 30 April 2007 03:54 (eighteen years ago)

I can send it to you if you'd like, but it really isn't much cop.

The Reverend, Monday, 30 April 2007 03:54 (eighteen years ago)

hmm. well, i love the a-side.

i am listening to "when doves cry" right now. i voted for it and then regretted such an obvious choice when there's so much other great stuff in that list. 71 singles!

xpost, nah that's ok. thanks for offering though!

tricky, Monday, 30 April 2007 04:01 (eighteen years ago)

Considering the B-side as well changes the decision-making process a lot... and so I'm forced to go with When Doves Cry b/w 17 Days. Verrry closely tailed by Controversy b/w When You Were Mine.

Now, if we were talking 12" mixes, my answer would be different for sure.

Jon Lewis, Monday, 30 April 2007 17:37 (eighteen years ago)

1. Let's Pretend We're Married / Irresistible Bitch
2. Anotherloverholenyohead / Girls & Boys
3. Kiss / Love or Money
4. When Doves Cry / 17 Days
5. Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City
6. Sign “O” the Times / La, La, La, He, He, Hee
7. Raspberry Beret / She's Always In My Hair
8. Controversy / When You Were Mine
9. Little Red Corvette / All the Critics Love U in New York

I think these are my top 9. Mountains is seriously hurt by that b-side.

nicky lo-fi, Monday, 30 April 2007 18:30 (eighteen years ago)

Prince was metal apparently:

http://www.poppast.com/images/k/KERRANGno82.jpg

NYCNative, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:38 (eighteen years ago)

(Better him that all those shitty Emo bands that are 'metal' today...)

NYCNative, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:39 (eighteen years ago)

Oh and When Doves Cry / 17 Days GMV even though it's not his most metal moment.

NYCNative, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:39 (eighteen years ago)

I bought that copy of Kerrang! They were still getting hate-mail months afterwards. Ironically tho Prince rocks harder than every other band on that cover.

Noodle Vague, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:49 (eighteen years ago)

wow that is a genuine surprise. U2 perhaps even more so.

haha 'heavy petting'.

pisces, Monday, 30 April 2007 20:53 (eighteen years ago)

Heavy Pettin. No g. That wouldn't be rock'n'roll, would it?

Noodle Vague, Monday, 30 April 2007 21:01 (eighteen years ago)

Mountains / Alexa de Paris

I've never heard "Alexa de Paris." What's it sound like?

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 30 April 2007 21:02 (eighteen years ago)

Prince totally has his metal moments

Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 30 April 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

"Bambi"

babyalive, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 00:22 (eighteen years ago)

I second pisces "haha heavy petting".

You can still find their lps 2nd hand in a shop in Glasgow.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 00:28 (eighteen years ago)

Heavy Pettin's "Love On The Run" is fucking brilliant!

NYCNative, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 00:52 (eighteen years ago)

Prince should make a metal album. Seriously.

Matt Armstrong, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 01:11 (eighteen years ago)

Mountains / Alexa de Paris

I've never heard "Alexa de Paris." What's it sound like?

-- Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, April 30, 2007 2:02 PM (Yesterday)

what is the b-side to "mountains" like?

-- tricky, Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:46 PM (Yesterday)

Instrumental guitar wankery w/ annoyingly trebly drums that eventually turn into an annoyingly trebly drum solo.

-- The Reverend, Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:54 PM (Yesterday)

I can send it to you if you'd like, but it really isn't much cop.

-- The Reverend, Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:54 PM (Yesterday)


Reading is FUNdamental.

The Reverend, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 15:47 (eighteen years ago)

Anyone see the Kerrang! Phil Collins cover?

the next grozart, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 15:52 (eighteen years ago)

i forgot to upload this! here it is though.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/10-little-red-corvette-dance-mix-mp3.html

lex pretend, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 21:20 (eighteen years ago)

When is this poll closing? New Year's eve?

Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 10:15 (eighteen years ago)

May 10, apparently.

JN$OT, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 10:46 (eighteen years ago)

Upon reflection, two weeks was a bit more than necessary.

The Reverend, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 15:52 (eighteen years ago)

I still can't pick one!

HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 15:53 (eighteen years ago)

Roll on the Rolling Stones one too...

Mark G, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 15:53 (eighteen years ago)

Hurry up, Dan! You only have ONE DAY!!!!! One day, ya heard!

The Reverend, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 15:59 (eighteen years ago)

If it takes Dan this long, the two week voting period was worth it.

The Reverend, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 16:00 (eighteen years ago)

It took me this long as well, but I went with Delerious/Horny Toad. Anyone who hasn't heard Horny Toad is living a sad and empty life.

John Justen, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 16:09 (eighteen years ago)

I was in florida: The lake in front of the hotel had tons of them! Louder than crickets anyday.

Mark G, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 16:10 (eighteen years ago)

Just in case anyone's interested in the results...

JN$OT, Friday, 11 May 2007 17:53 (eighteen years ago)

OH MY GOD!!!! LET's GO CRAZY BEAT WHEN DOVES CRY!! !I LOVE YOU ALL!!! WE HAVE PROGRESSED ON THIS BOARD! I BELIEVE IN ILM!!!

Bimble, Saturday, 12 May 2007 11:46 (eighteen years ago)

Hell yeah!!! And, even better, "Little Red Corvette" only got two votes!

The Reverend, Saturday, 12 May 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

Wow! Really? I remember my cousin being crazy about that before I'd ever even met her. Or was it me that was crazy about it then? I can't remember now. In any case, I never really did get to know her at all.

I think I'd been crazy about Little Red Corvette before she was. And then her parents told how she was crazy about that song. That's the way I remember it, but I don't know...in retrospect...well to be honest I haven't heard it in awhile, but I still say in retrospect it's just not as good as it was at the time for some reason.

Bimble, Saturday, 12 May 2007 11:58 (eighteen years ago)

And no I didn't sleep with her, incase you were wondering. It was very boring.

Bimble, Saturday, 12 May 2007 12:00 (eighteen years ago)

Bimble hating on "When Doves Cry" = dud
Result = okay enough
Idea of "we're making progress on this board" = bwah hah hah hah hah hah hah

Dimension 5ive, Saturday, 12 May 2007 12:53 (eighteen years ago)

I think I mentioned this earlier, but I've never understood why "When Doves Cry" is the most canonical Prince single. It's pretty far down my list. I like the lyrics, but that's about it. Now thinking about the lyrics, though, it doesn't really make sense at all. The verses seem to describe a romance in bloom, but the chorus describes a relationship falling apart. I like that. But still, musically, which I care much more about, it does little for me.

The Reverend, Saturday, 12 May 2007 13:09 (eighteen years ago)


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