Sign o the Times. I was going to say Parade, as that one had a huge impact on me as well, but Sign was the soundtrack of my teen years. I was really struggling when I became 17, when this album came out and those songs really helped during the hard times. It was in constant rotation in 1987/88, to the point that my friends who didnt like Prince knew the words to all the songs just from being around me.

Another one for Parade. Senior year in HS and this album and all the imagery that came with it was basically magic for me.

Its a shame the movie didnt live up to my imagination but still brings a big cheese smile to my face when this album is on.

If I had was forced 2 pick one..................ATWIAD.

Graycap23 said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

Graycap23 said:

If I had was forced 2 pick one..................ATWIAD.

Could you explain why?

Most Prince joints always make me sit down and evaluate how it was done, and what elements should I take away from it in my own music. The variety of this project just sunk into my musical brain, especially when u add in the 12" version and the "B" sides. I loved the fact that prince didn't do a Purple Rain part II. I knew he was NOT going 2 do that and he proved me correct.

SuperSoulFighter said:

^Okay, I agree with that. I like Around... for the same reasons.

I play a lot of Prince music on a regular basis including boots but ATWIAD get's played more that any single "album" that I have of Prince. LOVE that joint. I sure hope he stops tripping and just release the remasters.

That's a hard one. Purple Rain, 1999, Controversy, Parade, Sign O Times, ATWIAD, Gold, and Dirty Mind are albums that are extremely near and dear to my heart but the one that means the most to me ?? I'm almost 100% certain that it would be the second album, Prince.

When i think of each Prince album and identify with how it made me feel, the second album is the one that completely rocked my world and seriously started my Prince journey. 1999, Purple Rain, Controversy, Sign O Times, ATWIAD, Parade, Dirty Mind, and For You, (somewhat in that order)also changed me, but like i said, the album Prince is the one that i have the most fondest memories of.

I compare that second Prince album to a first love situation. No matter what, you never forget your first love.

[Edited 2/19/15 17:21pm]

Parade

JoeyC said:

That's a hard one. Purple Rain, 1999, Controversy, Parade, Sign O Times, ATWIAD, Gold, and Dirty Mind are albums that are extremely near and dear to my heart but the one that means the most to me ?? I'm almost 100% certain that it would be the second album, Prince.

When i think of each Prince album and identify with how it made me feel, the second album is the one that completely rocked my world and seriously started my Prince journey. 1999, Purple Rain, Controversy, Sign O Times, ATWIAD, Parade, Dirty Mind, and For You, (somewhat in that order)also changed me, but like i said, the album Prince is the one that i have the most fondest memories of.

I compare that second Prince album to a first love situation. No matter what, you never forget your first love.

[Edited 2/19/15 17:21pm]

Based on that logic................I'll switch my choice back to "For You".

That album actually changed they way I listen 2, process and make music.

When I was teaching music in an after-school program and working as a musician who was
studying songwriting and jazz, the album that compositionally made the biggest impression
on me in Prince's catalog was Parade.

It's just so well written and so well produced and therefore, has the most meaning.

Purple Rain. He's done lots before and after that I actually think are better in a lot of ways, but that album means the most to me simply because it opened my ears to things I hadn't noticed before. I love so much of what he's done after that and I am fairly excited everytime a new record is to be released, so I'm not a past-dweller per se. Purple Rain means the most for many reasons, not all of which are even directly related to the album.

This was much more difficult to answer than I thought!!

After much deliberation (between 1999, ATWIAD, SOTT & Lovesexy) my vote goes to Lovesexy. I was already a fan but only the same as I was a fan of other bands. Lovesexy was the gamechanger for me. The 12"s, the B-sides, the fact that no-one else at school liked it, the fact the record shop gave me all their display material which covered my bedroom & which my parents hated, the vhs videos which were and still are played to death. The costumes, which were easier to make & replicate than the frills of PR (I had just bought my first sewing machine). My first Prince concert.....I could go on & on so - yup, this album probably means the most all round to me.

For me, it's definitely "Sign 'O' The Times". I was familiar with Prince (after "Purple Rain", who wasn't?), but I wasn't what you would consider a true fan. But one night in 1987 my ex-friend Sam sat me down and made me LISTEN to the entire thing. And I got it. I've never looked back. I may have cooled on his recent output, but "Sign" is always there for me.

.

A close Number 2 is "Lovesexy". That following summer of 1988 was a pivotal one for me, and most of "Lovesexy" was the background music.

Without question, Emancipation. I had just graduated from high school when the album came out and I was 17. This was when I saw my first Prince concert during the Love4OneAnother tour. I remember listening to The Holy River and Somebody's Somebody while I was driving to the Pantages Theater in Hollywood from San Diego. I had spent all my money on concert tickets and all I had money for was a bottle of Evian Water and some Peanut M&Ms for dinner. Then two weeks later I saw him at the Rimac Arena at UCSD. If I had to pick a runner up, it would be Parade.

Believe it or not, the Batman soundtrack album. 1989 was a hard time for me, as it was my last days at school which weren't a pleasant time. I'd heard Prince music before, such as When Doves Cry and 1999, which I loved, but I'd never been a 'fan' as my young ears were mainly accustomed to generic 80's chart music.

Leaving school was a transitional period in my life and that album was part of that transition, it also lifted me through some dark times as it was one of the few things that gave me constant pleasure (I literally had that album on a loop). Because of that, I defend that album to the hilt.

donnyenglish said:

Rainbow Children. Heard it for the first time at Paisley with Prince and read the lyrics while listening to the album in its entirety. The album moved me spiritually, politically and romatically and it still does. The music is outstanding as well and he pushed the boundaries on that album.

That is a special one that doesnt get the attention it deserves

1999, with PR a close second.

I can't pick just one!

JoshuaWho said:

donnyenglish said:

Rainbow Children. Heard it for the first time at Paisley with Prince and read the lyrics while listening to the album in its entirety. The album moved me spiritually, politically and romatically and it still does. The music is outstanding as well and he pushed the boundaries on that album.

That is a special one that doesnt get the attention it deserves

Rainbow Children is definitely one of his greatest albums in my opinion. Unfortunately the weirdness, the full on religious message and the opening contrived deep voice all push the average listener away. I seem to remember that it was also released with little fanfare. It is also (in my opinion) the best production Prince has done on any of his albums, which makes me wonder how he made such a mess with production on albums like New Power Soul, when he is obviously a very talented producer as this album shows.

Parade - it was the soundtrack to my first international travel experience. I travelled to Hong Kong and China in 2007 and had Parade on repeat.

Graffitti Bridge, Diamonds & Pearls and Love Symbol - I was a child performer in the 1990s and one of my concerts featured the songs from these 3 albums.

Gold - first listened to this album when I was 21, when I was officially an adult.

Dirty Mind was such a bold statement. It totally changed his image and sound. I remember in high school nobody really liked the album but all the girls bought it because of the cover. I was the opposite. I hated the cover but the music was incredible.

It has to be a tie between Controversy, 1999 and LoveSexy! So new and thrilling! Great Days and great times!

the Prince album that means the most to me is Around The World In A Day & the surrounding b-sides.

right between two movie soundtracks you have a brilliant album, with only one popular song (rasperry beret). to me it seems the critics always say PURPLE RAIN FOLLOWED BY PARADE, whereas ii see atwiad as so much better than purple rain.

i always say it, and it may as well be on my gravestone; around the world in a day is a trip.

it means a lot to me too. it reminds me of a time where i seemed so happy, that wasnt even a year ago! i seem so depressed compared to last summer, and i thought i was bad then! pop life especially reminds me of then and time to time i struggle to listen to it because of memories it brings forth. and, she's always in my hair is the first riff i ever learned on guitar.

recently, i have discovered girl which adds to the trip. some say its a dirty song, but despite this, it is so peaceful to me, its like i become a hippie when i listen to it ("caress the flower") and it kind of reminds me of this one girl...

the opening song, condition of the heart, pop life and the ladder musically sound peaceful to me too and make me just want to sit down and lose myself i the colorful music. but if we add the extended version of america into the mix, LAWD, that is when the trip gets serious! you go from relaxed straight to dying for a party for 20+ minutes! then you slowly decrease down to relaxed until you drop to temptation... and at this point i have no idea if i should relax, party or maxe love (sex...temptation).

*im sorry this was so long and personal, but it helps me explain myself. it really means a lot to me.*

Prince 1979

MusicFan20Ten said:

the Prince album that means the most to me is Around The World In A Day & the surrounding b-sides.

right between two movie soundtracks you have a brilliant album, with only one popular song (rasperry beret). to me it seems the critics always say PURPLE RAIN FOLLOWED BY PARADE, whereas ii see atwiad as so much better than purple rain.

i always say it, and it may as well be on my gravestone; around the world in a day is a trip.

it means a lot to me too. it reminds me of a time where i seemed so happy, that wasnt even a year ago! i seem so depressed compared to last summer, and i thought i was bad then! pop life especially reminds me of then and time to time i struggle to listen to it because of memories it brings forth. and, she's always in my hair is the first riff i ever learned on guitar.

recently, i have discovered girl which adds to the trip. some say its a dirty song, but despite this, it is so peaceful to me, its like i become a hippie when i listen to it ("caress the flower") and it kind of reminds me of this one girl...

the opening song, condition of the heart, pop life and the ladder musically sound peaceful to me too and make me just want to sit down and lose myself i the colorful music. but if we add the extended version of america into the mix, LAWD, that is when the trip gets serious! you go from relaxed straight to dying for a party for 20+ minutes! then you slowly decrease down to relaxed until you drop to temptation... and at this point i have no idea if i should relax, party or maxe love (sex...temptation).

*im sorry this was so long and personal, but it helps me explain myself. it really means a lot to me.*

Nothing too long abou that at all. ATWIAD has a very special place in my heart as well

"Black Album" by far... mysterious, creative, shocking, cohesive, cool and against the mianstream grain at the time, yet completely embraced by the mainstream (you had people like U2 or Stephen Tyler praising it.)

Such a perfect thing... Although I wish it had never officially been released in 1994.