Hey y'all!

Figured I'd introduce myself here. I've just recently been getting into Prince pretty heavily here lately. Obviously I'm preaching to the choir on a Prince fan forum, but the guy is just super impressive and inspirational in all facets of music, from singing/writing/playing/engineering/producing/image/presentation/etc.

Anyways, as a relative rookie when it comes to Prince fandom, I was just wanting to see which records you all would recommend buying next, as right now I've only got "The Very Best of," "HitNRun Phase 1" "Musicology" and "Plectrum Electrum," and it can be quite daunting to look at Prince's discography and deciding where to jump into next...

I've asked a couple other people and "Purple Rain" "The Gold Experience" and "Dirty Mind" seemed to pop up pretty consistently...

Thanks and all the best!,

-starfishcoffee13

P.S. And as a tip of the hat to Prince (and where I got my username from), I recorded a one-man band version of "Starfish and Coffee" playing drums, bass, keys and singing at the same time on YouTube here.

I would start at the beginning and go up like we did growing up. Research the 12"s b-sides, related artists, etc with each album and I would go that route and take your time. Let the music sink in instead of just rushing through it.

[Edited 2/23/16 21:33pm]

SC13, Thats a hard one. You could do like Trax suggest. Or you could take the remainder albums put them on small pieces of paper ball them up and make you hat or bucket like lottery drawing. You probably wouldn't go wrong with whatever album you pull out of the drawing. Or I would suggest 1999, Sign of The Times, 3121, Crystal Ball, or Emancipation albums.

If you've started out with PE, Musicology and HNRP1, frankly it's only up-hill from here.

Welcome

bluegangsta said:

If you've started out with PE, Musicology and HNRP1, frankly it's only up-hill from here.

Start from 'Dirty Mind' and go thru 'Batman' (including protege albums)...take a pause and listen to it all again...then hit the 90s and the NPG.

EmmaMcG said:

I'm fairly new to Prince too and what I did was I started at Art Official Age and worked backwards, spending about a week with each album before moving on to the previous one, all the way back to For You.

I agree with Emma. Everyone will have different opinions about which albums are best. Starting listening to Prince is daunting, as there are so many albums, B-sides, extended versions and unreleased songs. But like Emma says, just working your way though them is best. Give each one a good listen, many of them get even better with multiple listens.

I envy you, getting to hear some of these songs for the first time again.

nonamesleft said:

bluegangsta said:

If you've started out with PE, Musicology and HNRP1, frankly it's only up-hill from here.

LOL. I can't disagree. Of his more recent stuff, HITNRUN Phase 2, Lotusflow3r and Art Official Age are the strongest IMO.

So you recorded your own version of SF&C but did not get Sign Of The Times yet?

One of his best albums so you could start there.

And once you worked your way through some albums don't forget the B-Sides cd from the other compilation The Hits/B-Sides to give you a nice impression of the more unknown gems.

starfishcoffee13 said:

Hey y'all!

Figured I'd introduce myself here. I've just recently been getting into Prince pretty heavily here lately. Obviously I'm preaching to the choir on a Prince fan forum, but the guy is just super impressive and inspirational in all facets of music, from singing/writing/playing/engineering/producing/image/presentation/etc.

Anyways, as a relative rookie when it comes to Prince fandom, I was just wanting to see which records you all would recommend buying next, as right now I've only got "The Very Best of," "HitNRun Phase 1" "Musicology" and "Plectrum Electrum," and it can be quite daunting to look at Prince's discography and deciding where to jump into next...

I've asked a couple other people and "Purple Rain" "The Gold Experience" and "Dirty Mind" seemed to pop up pretty consistently...

Thanks and all the best!,

-starfishcoffee13

P.S. And as a tip of the hat to Prince (and where I got my username from), I recorded a one-man band version of "Starfish and Coffee" playing drums, bass, keys and singing at the same time on YouTube here.

Just get them randomly according to your inspiration of the moment (album cover, title, tracks u know on it). If u're really getting into Prince u'll have to get them all eventually so it doesn't matter where u start.

All 80s albums - is a good start

Personally - I would get all 80s 12" vinyl (let the music breathe)...but then I loves me decks!

I really enjoyed your video so well done there!

Regarding music, you wrote that you have The Hits so I'd start with teh songs you most like from there and then get the albums they correspond to. On a personal note, 'Sign O The Times' is the one I'd suggest as the definitive Prince record.

Welcome to the Dawn Enjoy the ride , i would start from 78. all B-sides and Extended versions too. Purple Rain the film, Prince and the Revolution LIVE , Sign O the Times concert film and the Lovesexy Concert from Dortmund.

[Edited 2/24/16 6:23am]

Welcome

My first Prince album was Purple Rain because I watched the movie one night and was blown away. After that I really started to get into Prince and your right, it was daunting because there's so many albums to choose from.

I would reccomend getting the albums chronologically (first album and on from there) because you are able to experience his music in the way they were being released back in time.

I wouldn't over complicate it! SOTT and Purple Rain are the obvious next stops then DM,1999 and Parade would be the next 3 I'd recommend....

hw3004 said:

I wouldn't over complicate it! SOTT and Purple Rain are the obvious next stops then DM,1999 and Parade would be the next 3 I'd recommend....

I heartily agree.

sulls said:

hw3004 said:

I wouldn't over complicate it! SOTT and Purple Rain are the obvious next stops then DM,1999 and Parade would be the next 3 I'd recommend....

I heartily agree.

Cosign. SOTT, Purple Rain, and Parade are his most universally regarded as absolute genius.

I enjoy exploring an artist from their start to the end. In this way, I can see how they grow and the journey they take you on from start to finish can be incredible. This is what the artist intends and seems to have more meaning (imo) since you follow their music in the way they wanted their audience to experience it.

For You gives a glimpse of his huge talent as being a one man band, producer etc. It gave Prince the freedom to have more or less absolute control of his creative output, even though Prince hasn't really found out who he was yet here. It's not his most Princey album. But it's good music nonetheless.

Dirty Mind is stripped down Prince, down to the core of what he has been since in most of his albums. This is where he truly became the persona he was known for later.

1999 took the Prince persona further and dipped it into the Princey 80s sound that sooo many would try to copy later, more or less inventing the minneapolis sound, that also shaped the sound of Flyte Tyme prod, Timbaland, Neptunes... the rest is history

Purple Rain, need I say more? More amps, more rock, more blockbuster Prince. Most people, including both his hardcore fanbase and his Purple Rain fans, wants him to do something of a blockbuster rock album like this again.

Parade took prince both to avante garde european inspired music, and back to his funk roots at the same time. Some would argue it's his best album. It's maybe a more sophisticated and "mature" take on the sparse, organic and raw Dirty Mind, but paired with orchestration from Clare Fisher, making it a much more maximalistic album than it was to begin with.

Sign O The Times is maybe his best collection of songs made yet, where almost every song has brilliant songwriting. It's kinda his final exam. After this he had a PHD in perfect music. He didn't have anything more to prove, thus making the quality of his music vary alot after this. But my personal opinion is still that alot of his best tracks came after this.

Wow! Thank y'all for the responses and kind welcome! To answer a few of the questions...

I'm a CD/album guy over streaming --- I enjoy listening to a record from start to finish as the artist intended, and also enjoy making the trip to the record store, unwrapping the packaging, reading the linear notes, looking at the cover art, etc.

I like the idea of chronologically making the way through. It would be interesting to watch the growth and change occur as it happened in real time.

Interestingly enough, I bought the Very Best of on a spontaneously whim, and grab the others I have at a used music store, so that's why I have those. But good to know that it'll go up in quality from there!

I actually stumbled upon a video of Starfish and Coffee on the Muppets online and though it was pretty cool (and actually, while listening to the iTunes preview of the "SOTT" version, I noticed it was pretty different, i.e. backwards snare, etc.), so that's how I came to record that song.

Does Prince get around to much touring in the US? The whole piano-and-a-microphone angle he's got going at the moment seems like it could be a really awesome show. If he ever comes around myway, I'll make it a point to go.

Thanks again!,

- starfishcoffee13

[Edited 2/24/16 11:55am]

Art Official Age and Lotusflower definitely but for a true journey of musical artistry (and if you're open minded) you have to get The Rainbow children. Outtakes are also good to look into. Njoy! Oops I forgot The Vault OFFS. Spectacular.

[Edited 2/24/16 12:28pm]

In order.....backwards or from the beginning is an interesting trip........and a half.

nyse said:

make sure to also watch the purple rain movie

Wasn't there a sequel to that movie in 1990? Shouldn't he watch that to................................................................................................

[Edited 2/24/16 15:29pm]

Wolfie87 said:

nyse said:

make sure to also watch the purple rain movie

Wasn't there a sequel to that movie in 1990? Shouldn't he watch that to................................................................................................

[Edited 2/24/16 15:29pm]

You're a monster.

You're about to start a trip, happy trip for you i'm a newbie in this world too.