"3121". After hearing that first single, I was expecting him to do a whole album with a Spanish flavor like he did on "Parade" with a French flavor, especially after hearing that Clare Fisher was back. Then I also saw him with Wendy again. I thought to myself "Oh hell, now he's going into that damn creative artsy/fartsy mode again". I was definately surprised and pleased that the whole album wasn't like that.

I still think the whole album originally might have had an artsy/fartsy "Prince exploring Spanish music" type theme but maybe he changed it after seeing so many of us raise hell on here after hearing the first single.
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[Edited 5/2/06 11:30am]

Newpower Soul.

I still have no idea how people can say the songs on The Gold Experience are better.

The Gold Experience

at the time, I wasn't too impressed with Parade....(it has since grown on me)....but right up to the release of SOTT, I didn't hold out too much hope for it at all....BOY WAS I GLAD TO BE WRONG!!! SOTT instantly became the only thing I listened to almost the entire time I was stationed in upstate NY.....and I still listen to it so much that I have to replace the set almost yearly!!!

Imago said:

The Vault, mainly because of the cover and title.

Turned out to contain some of my favourite songs.

Symbol and the Vault

I expected to not like "Exodus" as much as I did.
I think that's it. I always have high expectations with his music as I think he's a genius and he has about 10 songs in my top 50 songs by any artist list. It's really not his fault if he disappoints me as I believe I'm typically too hopeful. Except for NPS and C&D. Those two were totally his fault.
[Edited 5/3/06 9:56am]

Spinlight said:

Love the avatar!

For You! Because I started with Purple Rain in '85 then worked my way back. And since the albums got progressively worse, I assumed after Dirty Mind the the first 2 must B utter crap! But now For You is my 2nd favourite album and Prince is a decent effort.

Can u believe it, when I bought aged 18, as I felt as a newly independent, money earning Prince fan I should begin to explore his back catalogue sans Purple Rain, and thought 2CDS, Naff cover art, this is gonna be a load of shit, Sign o the Times. Once I put the disc on wow, it was like that.
I just loved the album to bits then, like I still do twelve years later.

Definitely Rave - I was pleasantly surprised.

I was sorely dissapointed w/New Power Soul and The Rainbow Children. Both of them only have one redeeming song.