I think that both of the albums are 1980's classics, but with Sign "O" The Times, Prince was at the top of his game. Purple Rain was like his biggest album, but to me it didn't show how creative he was. Sign "O" The Times would have to be Prince Masterwork... Purple Rain was just a classic. So, which one is a masterwork? Purple Rain or Sign O The Times?

silverchild said:

IMO..I think "1999" is a better album that Purple Rain because Prince just went everywhere on 1999 so I would say that "1999" and "SOTT" are the 2 albums that are Prince's masterwork

DigitalGardin said:

DigitalGardin said:

I dunno. There's some stuff on 1999 that outstays it welcome. Purple Rain packs more of a punch for me. But they're both among his greatest works.

In answer to the question, though? Sign O' The Times.

Cloudbuster said:

Cloudbuster,what dont you like on 1999...the only thing that irritates me on 1999 is the 10 minute "Automatic." 6 minutes would be streatching it but 10?? Thats too much..other than that, I love 1999...I think "take Me With You" is such an irritating song..that takes away from PR IMO

DigitalGardin said:

Just some of the lengthy ass tracks like D.M.S.R., Let's Pretend We're Married and Automatic. They're not bad songs but they could've been shaved of a couple of minutes or so. They tend to waffle on for too long. Also, I'm not fussed about the two ballads, Free and International Lover. The latter being one of my least favourite songs of his. Minor complaints, tho'. It's still a fantastic album.

As for Take Me With U? I'm indifferent towards it. It's an okay pop song, but sure, no great shakes.

Cloudbuster said:

WHAT????D.M.S.R. is the song!!!!! he shoulda released a 12 inch of the song!

DigitalGardin said:

Yeah, it's a good song. But for me it just drags a little. I'd be happy with a more concise four minute version. We are allowed to differ, you know.

Cloudbuster said:

Yea..its cool!

Cloudbuster said:

Unless Gooey says otherwise

i dunno. they both have songs which are among my favourites ( for example computer blue, darling nikki / forever in my life, ballad of dorothy parker & icnttpoym) and both have songs i'm not quite so keen on (for example i would die 4 u, take me with u / IT, hot thing)

i could spin both of them and be happy. maybe sott gets the edge cos i can listen for longer.

but i'd have to say that 1999 shits on both.

SOTT has always been my favorite album~ Not that I dont love Purple rain,,,its just not even close to SOTT~

I say Parade is the masterpiece.
Am I alone? The mixture of funk and strings (which he test-drove on the Family album) is so beautiful on Parade.

SOTT is the 1! If i die 2morrow i want the whole album played at my funeral b4 they burn my ass!

Cloudbuster said:

hohnerist.

Sign 'O' the times is a brilliant album don't get me wrong, but I have lost a lot of fondness to it for some reason. I'm going to say Purple rain becuase it was a brust of Genius something that showed people who weren't fans of his before what prince's music was.

i say Purple Rain...i can listen 2 this album from start to finish without skippin..can't do that wit Sign O The Times...i think its a bit overrated too

I'd say that 'SOTT' is Prince's masterwork.Don't get me wrong,I love 'Purple Rain' but 'SOTT' is just simply more diverse.Most of the songs on 'Purple Rain' fall into the pop/rock category (nothing wrong with that),and there's very little,if any,real funk on this album.By comparison,'SOTT' is all over the place....some cool rock tracks ("I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man"..."The Cross"),some kickass funk tracks ("Housequake","Hot Thing"),some weird stuff that wasn't easily categorized ("If I Was Your Girlfriend","Starfish and Coffee") and even a gospel-flavored blusey love ballad ("Adore").


Another thing is...the songs on 'Purple Rain' have been played to death.It was Prince's most successful album.Because 'SOTT' wasn't nearly as successful,I think I appreciate it more (if that makes sense,lol).

I can always tell when someone's lying about liking Prince....They say Purple Rain is his best album. SOTT is far superior musically than Purple Rain, it's just not as memorable. Don't get me wrong, I still play Purple Rain clear thru (I got the CD and the RECORD) and can resite the script while I'm watching the movie, but I'm just saying, I think there are at least 2 better choices for his "masterwork". SOTT and Parade.

dontbecruel said:

I've recently come round to this way of thinking. I spent a lot of time viewing SOTT as the greatest Prince record ever (It was the album that got me into Prince) But listening to Parade recently...

Holy crap!!! that's genius right there, just listen! In the space of one album! The diversity, from Girls and Boys to Under The Cherry Moon... From Kiss to Sometimes It Snows In April! And Prince said he doesn't feel he had enough good material ready!!!
I'd love one of those creative droughts! Jesus Christ!!

I would personally give the slight edge to Purple Rain. Even though it has a poppier, more accessible sound than SOTT it's still filled with genius and career-defining moments. Overall I think it's a little more of a concise, focused effort than SOTT, which has some tracks that I'm not crazy about, such as "Slow Love". It seems that a lot of the time hard-core fans don't want to pick the "obvious" choice as best album, for example a lot of Nirvana fans might pick "In Utero" over "Nevermind", Beatles fans "Revolver" over "Sgt. Pepper's", etc.

These two and 1999 are all masterpieces. They're all amazing albums in my top three albums of his.

1999's only flaw is that some of the songs go on too long, and Purple Rain's only flaw is that it could've used another song or two (like 17 Days).

So, I'd give the very slight edge to SOTT.

I've still got a huge fondness for Purple Rain though, cause the title track and Beautiful Ones are my two favourite songs ever.
[This message was edited Sat Jul 3 21:55:14 2004 by PurpleKnight]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

The only songs that are "too long" on 1999 are International Lover & Delirious... the latter being 4 minutes too long