I got...
SIGN O THE TIMES
DIRTY MIND
LOVESEXY
COME

SIGN O THE TIMES is my favorite PRINCE album (so far)...it's perfect.

DIRTY MIND, i really wanted this cd because everyone said how good it was...but I didn't find anything good about it, it made me fall asleep.

LOVESEXY - there were a few good songs, but I hate that there's only one track and you gotta fast-foward on your cd...it's like a cassette tape. why'd he make his cd that way?

COME - I really like this cd, although some of the songs sound familiar with the same instruments (come, space, letitgo...)

I was expecting DIRTY MIND to be really good, it may have to grow on me... So what should I get next!!!?

Mariah J.

mariahj said:

BLASPHEMY

Listen to it until you like it, young lady. No cookies for you.


[Edited 1/16/05 13:02pm]

it's early days yet...that's a lot of music to take in at once.


they are all great on their own merit.

They will all grow on you. I remember getting all of these for the first time when they came out and, with the exception of "Sign O The Times", it took me a good 5-7 spins before I really appreciated what I heard. Each shows such progression and growth that it was not uncommon get have my friends always ask me "Who is this?" when they would first hear the albums.

"Dirty Mind" might take the most to get into merely for the fact that out of the four it is the earliest and most "naked" sounding as there are far fewer instruments, effects and production on that album. Its a little disconcerting to have the barrage of "Lovesexy" and the simplicity of "Dirty Mind" at the same time.

The reason "Lovesexy" is all one track is that at the time Prince wanted the entire CD to be heard as a piece, not song by song. A very annoying trick to say the least, but that's Prince...

Next? How about "1999", which is about far more than the title track or "Little Red Corvette". It will give you a nice bridge from "Dirty Mind" and "Controversy" to "Purple Rain" in terms of the progression of his sound. I think you will LOVE "Lady Cab Driver" and "International Lover" on that CD. Then, maybe jump to "Parade" and "The Black Album" for more fun.

Good luck and have a ball discovering his work.

PurpleKnight said:

Exactly..take your time with each album..TOO TRULY HEAR SOMETHING U MUST LISTERN FIRST..

15 years later i`m still going back to albums and learning something new..

BREATHE..

When you're ready..Dirty Mind will come to you. DM is one of the best albums of all time..by any artist. It is the start of the more mature Prince. Remember,it is a blueprint for Prince's future as well as many other black rock artists. Ther is a reason that album is mentioned by so many.Take your time.And get some of the live cd's frome ach period to help you flesh out the experience.If you need any help lemme know. But do as the others suggested and let each album get into your psyche.Let them marinate your soul.You will see what we see when the time is right.

you should get his second cd Prince

In my experience, the best Prince albums are the ones that I didn't completely 'get' at first. Especially Lovesexy - apart from Alphabet Street, it just seemed a bit weird - but play it a couple of times through headphones, you begin to appreciate how many layers there are. A complex album will reward you a lot longer than one with poppy songs you get instantly and tire of quickly.

Dirty Mind is the complete opposite, a raw, demo-like quality. Naturally, it has dated musically, especially the synthesizers, and Prince was still quite young, so the lyrics are somewhat simplistic - but it has a punky, in-yer-face quality.

Sign O The Times is of course a classic, though I always thought some of the songs didn't stylistically fit together, but in a way, that is the beauty of a Prince album, the variety.

Come is arguably one of Prince's weaker albums, but still interesting. I've always thought it was quite a 'down' album, not much fun coming through. But it's flipside is The Gold Experience album which is what I would recommend you get next, although collecting Prince albums chronologically would be the most sensible approach - you can then hear his music developing over the years.

you should get his 1st album "for you" and sadly i agree about Dirty Mind it does have some awesome tracks but not the best or even one of the best.

UndercovaBrotha said:

you didn't have to punish all of us....

mariahj said:

Into a different artist

EverlastingNow said:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

uh oh....i see Dansa stomping this way right now!!!

and she don't look happy about it!

PurpleKnight said:

How true. I hated New Power Soul originally. i cant stop playing it now. First three tracks, Freaks on this Side. Wow. Powerful songs.

Dirty Mind is great but (dare I say?) a bit overrated sometimes

You should get 1999, or The Gold Experience next.

EverlastingNow said:

CO-SIGN!!!

I hate when people complain about Lovesexy's one track. Break it up like I had to.

jacknapier said:

may as well...anyway, you'll grow into all of it. trust us.

I got: Around the World in a Day, Dirty Mind, Diamonds and Pearls and the Symbol CD's for Christmas.

mymocha said:

Was it your first time hearing all the songs off them? Tell us your thoughts!

mymocha said:

Listen to ATWIAD with headphones. You'll really get into it!!

Electrostar said:

Ewwww...this wasn't the best example to illustrate PK's point of giving GOOD, legendary Prince music settle in your brain! As a matter of fact, it's an AWFUL example. I could play NPS 1000 times, and there will still be only three at least halfway decent tracks on there (with the obvious one being Wasted Kisses).

alexnvrmnd said:

Sorry my friend but i have exquisite taste and that album is funky. The link between the musical texture and the lyrics is awesome. Wasted kisses is very good to. Worst album ever was Batman - apart from a few tracks. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

mariahj said:

It took me over a year or two to "get" Lovesexy; now I see it as being as complex as a Beethoven symphony (no exaggeration). Maybe you should listen to his other stuff and just play it once or twice from time to time, and then put it aside for a few weeks. It will hit you eventually.

For the next step, my recommendation would be Purple Rain and Symbol.

PurpleKnight said:

I totally agree with that advice. Some of his music does take several listens to digest, and doing one at a time is probably the best way. I've done that with Crystal Ball, Emancipation, Rave Un2 The Joy (which I love now), Chaos & Disorder and even Musicology. Giving each Cd some time allows for you to absorb the music.
If you're going to get more Prince, I would suggest Symbol, Purple Rain (a classic must if U don't already have) and Rave.

Electrostar said:

A statement in defense of NPS:

I put NPS on after a long, long period of not listening to it (at least since Musicology came out) and was pleasantly surprised. The vibe is light, and not gimmicky or forced (which cannot be said of Musicology or Rave). It is what it says it is, solid soul music with Prince's signature touches (like the "slithery" horns all over the place).

Sure there are some weak tracks, but not as many as most peole claim, and there's something to at least smile about in almost every Prince song (even the "failed" experiments).

I think it's useful to leave the elevated expectations aside, and take things objectively; in this light, NPS stacks up well against Musicology, as well as many more recent releases by other R+B artists..

1sexymf said:

Am I the only one that has "Until U're In My Arms Again" in their top ten favorite songs?!

jackflash said:

How true. I also found Rave difficult. Especially the first track. Harsh is how i found it. Was this P's 1st attempt to get back into the mainstream? Another album that i really didnt like then permanently have in my top 10 is Chaos & Disorder. Supposed to be a contractual obligation - i think it was a goodbye kiss to WB.