For me its Diamonds and Pearls there have been albums since that had some good tracks on but as a complete album its this one.

I think The Rainbow Children (I think I will possibly consider the Lotusflow3r disc "great" but too early to reflect back on yet).

MPLsOUND easily (Definitely his best since the Gold Experience)

Lotusflower.....in my opinion

BUT

that don't really count in the bigger picture. A 'great' album needs it all. Needs to be available to buy-easily. No gimmicks. No dodgy promises or web-sites. JUST GREAT MUSIC.

There is sooooo much b/s that comes with this project-and that takes away from the music. A great album-i can't listen to.It just pisses me off cuz i then remember what a flat-boring Prince year is is-after a 'great' album.

He finally found a way to even turn great into ghastly

Genius.....

I'm sure we've said this before but the whole Prince being free to release what, when and how he wants, is a bitter-sweet thing. On the one hand we occasionally get 3 disc sprawling sets of 20-30 songs plus (a la Emancipation, Crystal Ball, Lotusflow3r) but on the other I think perception and even sometimes wider awareness of Prince's musical genius is lost.

I genuinely think that under the "control" or guidance (whichever way you look at it) of a company like Warner Bros records. Lotusflow3r could have been a great double album with the best tracks from the LF and the MPLSound discs. It would have got a proper international release, reviews, promo videos etc. Bria's album could have still been released separately. All hypothetical and moot of course.

We always want as much Prince music as possible all at once, yet we also want everyone else (critics and wider public audience to see why we think he is a musical monster). Madness.

Lotusflow3r. Before that? Emancipation.

Around The World In A Day and that includes all of the b-sides and remixes released along with it. I can't say a negative word about any of these tracks or extended version and as for the b-sides She's Always In My Hair(HOT), Hello(HELL YEAH) and Girl(Possibly one of the best sex tracks released especially the extended version).

KeithyT said:

I like this opinion here in which I somewhat agree, however, "3121," and "Musicology," are close.

The Gold Experience.

l would say MPLS and GOLD EXPERIENCE ...

I like the Lotus Set

Lotusflower is great

oh, I'd say the Black Album, back when it was a bootleg.

he's had many great moments since then but I wouldn't say any of them are from great albums. The Truth was pretty damn good though.

does the hits and the b-sides count. (just for the b-sides) ? if so, then that.

if not, I would say batman or parade.

The Lotusflow3r project.

After a few months of letting it stew, I would say lotusflow3r is among his great albums.

MPLSound, not quite in that category, is also still better than most of his recent 3 albums. I listened to it last night before bed, and really enjoyed it...even more so than the first few weeks after its release.


But if before that, I'd say Emancipation.

LotusFlow3r
Rainbow Children
Gold Experience

The Gold Experience. I hope he'll top that soon.

Gold Experience is probably it. I cant decide if its "great" or just very very good but it qualifies.

Lotusflow3r

before that? The Rainbow Children

Undoubtedly "The Rainbow Children"...

I could say either Musicology or 3121, but I am not sure how liberally I want to throw the word "great" around.
If I am going to be super critical, I would have to say Crystal Ball.

Darwintheorgangrinder said:

I differ from a lot of folks in that I like 3121.
It's a good pop album, and deserved it's #1 status, though shortly lived


It's just not up there with his 'greats'.

In my opinion lotusflow3r is one of his lesser greats, but a great album none the less.

The Gold Experience is the last written, but here is still time for his last greatest which has yet been written

Lotusflow3r

Thats not including it in the set so, putting it with 2 other great albums makes it an astonishing set. Before that, depends. 3121, is a great pop album but, The Rainbow children is a great album overall imo. So, yeah, depends.

gold experience, but just barely.

before that?

LOVESEXY.

yep, i said it.

Without question...Lotusflower. "This not music, this a trip". The musicianship and message haven't been this clear since Lovesexy. It's not the same Prince we grew up on - he has evolved, and I love the sound of his evolution.

Prince's last GREAT album was Sign O' The Times! Damn that...somebody had to say it!

For me, it is way too early to call Lotus a great. It takes a while for an album to show if it can stand the test of time.

When I first heard 3121, I was not very impressed. However, as the years have passed I have come to really enjoy it.

I'd have to say The Gold Experience IMO. one of the rare Prince albums that I can listen to non-stop.