Maybe I'm just being bias, but Prince is my favorite artist and I don't see anyone these days (meaning 2000) that can compare to Prince yet. Although I did enjoy a recent performance by Van Hunt (he performed last Friday in Atlanta for On The Bricks by Aquafina). Let me know everyone's favorite Prince album and why because I just started to listen to him. Thank-you!

I don't think that Prince can be compared to anyone. Prince is giving a package deal of pure entertainment no one ever gave before. He does it all. Not just what it takes to be a popstar but far beyond that. And he tries to change our views, even in the business.

I have seen similar things with other artists. I'm not comparing, but maybe Prince took the best parts form different artists and mixed it all together. At least this is what I believe. He looked and learned from them:

James Brown (the live performances)
Sly stone (different peoples funking together as one)
George Clinton (psychedelic funk and the need to be free)
Santana (Magical guitarsounds and licks)
Zappa (Never satisfied, always looking for renewal of songs and composing)
Miles Davis (Defintily knew what he wanted and was in control)
Ray Charles (Sweet sweet soul voice)
Bruce Springsteen (bandleader and keeps playing for several hours)
Kate Bush (playing with voices and try to sound them differently)
Jimi Hendrix (Attitude and the rawness of his guitarsolo's)
Joni Mitchell (Lyrics and songwriting)

newdawn said:

And also keeping his ears open to good music too. He likes The Cocteau Twons, for instance. Adn Bjork.