Haven't been really into Prince (mainly cause i never realised who he was) since i found my aunties Purple Rain VHS & watched & loved about a year ago. Now i have the Purple Rain dvd & soundtrack, Musicology & Diamonds & Pearls, a bunch of random songs i downloaded (mainly the songs found on his greatest hits but not all) lookin to get Sign O the Times soon. Seen that Cherry Moon movie too, i liked that too.

But wat else do u org'ers believe i should get next (knowing that i love the funky & slow tunes by Prince)

Albums & DVD's

one word...LOVESEXY.

Yeah, definately "Lovesexy". I think you also need a dose of "1999", "The Rainbow Children" and "" to round out your collection a little more

DVDs aren't really that good for casual fans - You have Purple Rain, that should do you - there's the Hits Video collection, I guess it has all the hits on so, go for that

CD-wise, get ALL the 70s/80s albums before even bothering with anything else - all essential:

For You / Prince / Dirty Mind / Controversy / 1999 / PR / ATWIAD / Parade / SOTT / Black Album / Lovesexy

That's the best place to start!

Dirty Mind
1999
Parade
The Rainbow Children

Then start at the begining and work forward

paintsprayer said:

Good point, well argued. Except for 1999, most of which still sounds like the fifth best band in Osaka to me.

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[Edited 12/14/04 7:02am]

SOTT - his best work ever!!

First get:

Dirty Mind
Controversy
1999
Purple Rain

Then get:

Prince
For You

The above are the absolute best albums. After you have gotten these, then start with "Around The World In A Day" and work your way to the present.

Any and all things Lovesexy!

Get "The Hits/The B-sides" and Emancipation.

Anything other then that and you should just start filling in the entire collection as you can find it.
[Edited 12/14/04 8:27am]

vainandy said:

That's it right there.

Don't listen to the Lovesexy freaks, these should be first on your list, then work your way up.

Number23 said:

You sacrilegous buffoon.

How dare you categorise the "1999" album in such a dismissive fashion???

This album was/is/will always be a crucial funk landmark.

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Follow everybody's advice thus far.

Then the following also becomes "mandatory" listening as well:


01- Piano Sessions 1 and 2

02- Noon Rendezvous rehearsal

03- The Glamorous Life

04- The Family

05- 7th Street Entry (1984-1986)

06- Le New Morning 1987 aftershow

07- The Trojan Horse aftershow

08- The Undertaker

09- R U Gonna Go My Way?

10- ONA VEGA aftershow


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vainandy said:

Don't listen to the bullshit from those who can't get over the "classic" Prince, like a bunch of old farts talking about their high school glory days. For someone who is new to Prince, get the musically best and the most fun, diverse and interesting music he has put out.

Since you already have Purple Rain, my recommended list of 5:

1999
Lovesexy
SOTT
Symbol
3 CD Hits/B-sides

maybe then you could add

Gold or Emancipation

That should hold your interest for a long time, and then you'll have a better idea of what to get next.

The hits should cover you for the first 4 albums which have more "filler" than the ones I've listed. C'mon, the exalted Dirty Mind has 4 good songs and 4 you could live without (and at 50% of a 38 minute-long album that's not worth it).

In my opinion, Parade also has a lot of half-baked ideas and filler ('tho I'll get crucified for saying so) and The Rainbow Children is not his best music ('cept for the title track) plus a lot of dumb-ass Jesus mumbo-jumbo. Enjoy!

giotto said:

I don't know most of these, but in principle, you're right; ya can't really drink purple kool-aid without adding the "moonshine".

Before this thread is over, every single Prince album will be recommended to you at least once. I say get a sampler like The Hits/The B-Sides then listen to which period you like the most and buy the corresponding album(s).

jackflash said:

Well put.

The above list is required listening, not just for the average P fan but for all lovers of music, be it studio or live.

Some of the stuff I listed above crackles with passionate energy and sheer virtuosity.

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You should definately get , Sign 'O' The Times, Prince, and Gold Experience

Yes the classics are important to have especially 1999 but don't get trapped
in a time warp like some orgers be well rounded because
P has really put out some great post-80's stuff as wel

giotto said:

And just how do you expect a newbie to get their hands on these rarities?

(This is a rhetorical question, mods. I don't really expect an answer on acquiring boots.)

giotto said:

Fourth best band?

sextonseven said:

Items listed as 03 04 and 08 may be scarce but at least they are official releases.

Try eBay or ask someone to burn them for you. Since a great deal of P fan's generosity knows no bounds they shouldn't prove too difficult to pick up.

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Number23 said:

You snivelling little oik


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NouveauDance said:

THANK YOU!!!!!
CO-SIGN!!!!

Miguel

giotto said:

I've been a Prince fan for twenty years so I wasn't referring to myself as the newbie. (And yes, I already have 03, 04 and 08.) But thanks for the advice on tracking down the others.

As soon as you get bored with the recent official releases, start collecting the following essentialDVDs:

01- The Avenue (August 3rd 1983) (Rupert's version)

02- Syracuse And The World (Fullasoul's version)

03- Miles From The Park (New Year's Eve Paisley Park benefit gig featuring Miles Davis)

04- 4 Those Of U On Valium (SOTT Tour "rehearsal" at First Avenue)

05- Thieves In The Temple (Earls Court 1992 Diamonds And Pearls gig) (giotto's version)


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ATWIAD separates alot of the Purple Rain fans from the Prince fans. If you dig that, then you can dig anything!

UndercovaBrotha said:

giotto:

lets stick to stuff he/she could get easily...and then introduce the boots.....

Rhondab said:[/quote]

giotto:

lets stick to stuff he/she could get easily...and then introduce the boots.....[/quote]


Good idea

If you enjoy your Prince with a Jazz slant then you can't go wrong with Madhouse 8.

This is an acquired taste, but Madhouse is quirky and full of surprises, exactly what P's best music is supposed to be.

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If you enjoy Madhouse then I strongly recommend you really go back to basics.

By this I mean you ought to trawl your way back to 1977, when Prince was experimenting with the form. Sample the Sound 80 instrumentals, particularly tracks such as "Instrumental 4", the real genesis of later works like Madhouse, The Rainbow Children and N.E.W.S.can be heard on those recordings.

If sufficiently intrigued by that, then follow it up with Madhouse 16.



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[Edited 12/14/04 10:50am]

If your interest is piqued by the diversity as displayed on "The hits/The B-Sides" but are sorry to find this official release is full of shortened or edited versions, then you really have to go the extra mile and search for Funk Nasty's 12-Inch Archive, which contains all extended versions plus every B-side that was omited from the official "The Hits", all in chronological order.

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