I was thinking, yet again SOTT was voted Prince's best album, and is continually considered, by fans and critics as his crowning glory.

But I wonder if it would be so if it was released as originally intended, the 3LP CB (See the sticky thread for those who don't know what I'm talking about).

Prince has been extremely prolific, but an often mooted criticism has been that he has released too much, not editing his output as well as he could.

Well SOTT was an edited LP, from 3LPs to just 2, that's a whole LP gone before the great majority of the audience of 1986 even knew.

And SOTT still stands as his greatest work according to fans here, and critics at large.

SO!! Do you think Prince's output benefits from editing and outside influences?

Well, considering I love the other album that wasn't released, I'd say it would still be great.

It would be even greater. Prince could do no wrong in his songwriting in 1986...

I think Emancipation is the best example of Prince's work needing editing. It could have been a great album if it were the best 12 songs rather than 30 songs. However, just because an album is edited or shorter does not make it better. Come is one of his shorter albums, but that fact alone does not make it better than something longer.