Music critics were intrigued by it.

Warner Brothers Records were shitting kittens because of it.

Radio and retail handled it with kid gloves, due to it being too hot for 1980.

...but all in the end, it turned out just fine. Now sit down and read this shit before I introduce one of my Chuck Taylors to your ass.

Dirty Mind is, without a doubt, one of the many of what I like to call "litmus test" albums in Prince's repertoire: it has you either thinking "Wow, now what's this?" or "What the fuckin' fuck's he done?!!!" If you can truly dig the album for what it is and what it stands for (more on this in a little bit), then you know that you're tuning in to a pretty awesome guy who is definitely not your average pop star. You "get" him, so to speak.

As for the album and its content, I have seen a lot of people write it off as Prince merely being nasty for nasty's sake...that is total, utter, unpasteurized bullshit. If you're only looking at the sexual content as opposed to the entire scope of what it is, then you obviously aren't looking at it closely enough. Dirty Mind is more or less based on and centered around one thing: rebellion. Yep, the same exact type of rebellion that's worked for so many other acts, both in the past and present day--but with one helluva twist. No, Prince wasn't trying to be the poster child and spokesman for worldwide sluttiness and getting it on with virgin brides and all that stuff, nor was he condoning it. He was merely making his wayward contribution to all that is rock n'roll.

Same with the bare-bones production of the album--another thing that some of you probably didn't know about this album is that the reason why it sounds like a bunch of demos is because that's what they originally were. Ol' boy initially wasn't gonna put 'em out and was gonna keep them for his personal use--if he hadn't released these as an album, chances are we'd all be pining for it as a bootleg now. The sound of this album is more or less totally intentional. Remember, he was in his very first "fuck you" mode of his career, and the whole layout of the album showed that like a see-through negligee. He wasn't trying to hide anything on here. Also, others have complained that the album is too short; it's only a half-hour long. That is one of the wonders of this album--it's short, sweet, and to the point. Obviously Prince was very much influenced by punk rock at the time, and that's one of punk's hallmarks: its lack of length.

The songs themselves are quite telling in all of this--whether the subjects of the songs actually happened or not (as has been debated to death here on the org for centuries now) doesn't really matter. They're all a little window of how Mr. Nelson was looking at life at the time--thing of it is, it shouldn't be looked at in a literal sense. That's where most people stumble with this album, i.e. all the "did he really have sex with his sister?" threads that pop up every couple months around here. And on this note, I'm gonna go ahead and give my critique of each of the 8 songs on here...starting with side 1:

Dirty Mind: I've always thought of the little synth/bass intro to this joint was very intriguing. When I first heard the album in full and this came on I was like, "What's gonna happen next?"

When You Were Mine: Everything you've heard and read about this being a classic song is true. As to why this song hasn't been played on the radio (at least I haven't heard it pop up anywhere) so other people can see the ass-kickery that is this song, I haven't a clue. Then again, I suppose I do: most people are too caught up gettin' their freak on to Nelly or whoever and wouldn't give it the time of day. It'd be their loss.

Do It All Night: Am I the only one who's always thought that ol' boy sounded like he had a bit of a cold on this track? Anyways, this song's pretty cool too.

Gotta Broken Heart Again: The lone slow song of the album, eheh. To me, this cut was a heckuva lot better than "Still Waiting" and "With You" on the 2nd album--it was an improvement over the saccharine sappiness of the two songs. And for the life of me, I wanna know what the fuck that noise was at the end of the song!!!

...and now, side 2:

Uptown: Yeah, the song that Prince fans from out of town can't help but hum when they're here in Minneapolis. But it's pretty cool and captures the spirit of accepting folks for who they are.

Head: Ah, one of the songs that got Prince notoriety among the music world. If the scenario in this song were to actually happen (I don't doubt that it has--Jerry Springer's waiting on a couple who'd do the acts in this song justice.

Sister: Skankiest. Prince song. Ever. I'm surprised that he hasn't topped this one...at any rate, I love this song. The Ramones-ivity of this cannot be denied. People get all riled up over this as if it were a full 3-minute song, when in all actuality it's over about as quick as getting a booster shot at the doctor.

Partyup: A lot has been mentioned about how out of place this song is on the album, because of its theme. But perhaps if you really look at it, it almost kinda serves as a "to be continued" space, because look at what Controversy entailed: more social/political commentary. It's as if he was unknowingly setting things up for the next episode, if you wanna look at it that way. I've always found all of Prince's commentary-type songs to be a bit odd, but this one's alright. Angst! War sucks ass! RAWR!!!! (heh) That, and I absolutely LOVE the way the song cuts off abruptly.

In conclusion, Dirty Mind is definitely just not about the trials and tribulations of a horny-assed 22-year old in a trenchcoat and drawerz, it is a statement about a guy who wanted to tell the world, "Think I wasn't?"


~fin~

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I'm still reading the review on about this so-so album.
I'll respond when I catch my breath. So far, it's living up to be the thread of the year (or at least the review of the year).

OK, after having read that review (awesome review by the way), I can say two things:

1) I agree that it is a test. You either understand it or you don't. That's the genius of Prince--there is no middle ground. He get it or you don't.

2) True--these where demos, and I believe that the intention was to gloss them over before releasing them, but ultimately they decided to just release the album as it was becuase the material was preceived as having been so strong.

The problem that I have with Dirty Mind is that I just don't like it. It just doesn't do it for me. When U where Mine is a great song, but the vocals on it are only so-so. The Title Track just plain bores me senseless, and Sister sounds like a shelved Elvis Costello tune. I do Like Head a great deal, and party up was alot of fun. Over all the album has it's momments, and the leap from his softmore album to Dirty Mind is very dramatic when you look at it in that context.

It's just a pity I can't stand to listen to it all the way through.

It sure ain't New Power Soul, I'll tell ya that much.

AsianBomb777 said:

What a shocker.....
[Edited 3/26/05 18:51pm]

Yea, great review, still don't love it.

lilgish said:

I haven't listened to this album in a long time, but this review makes me want to blow the dust off and give it another spin.

I always like it. I don't consider it to be ground-breaking, at least not from a musical perspective, but it's a good, tight, thematically consistent record. An album and not just a collection of songs. It has a strong, tight cohesiveness that I like.

But the best thing about Dirty Mind is the attitude. It takes a stance. The sheer rebellion of it is brilliant. It's in your face, makes no excuses. Raw. Edgy. Nasty, but it doesn't come across as something done as a calculated move for shock value and attention. It comes across as an honest, no-holds-barred declaration of independence from societal strictures. Prince comes across as a guy who has figured out who and what he is and simply doesn't give a shit if you like it or agree with it or not. Here I am. Deal with it or don't.

Even if you don't like the music, you just gotta admire the balls.

HalluRain said:

and how.

Nice review. You have such a way with words.

Just can't get enough of the title track. No, I don't hear any snot rattlin in Do It All Night. With U and Still Waiting totally sucked and brought down the level of Prince, and otherwise awesome album. But I think even tho Gotta Broken Heart is a step better than those 2, I don't see why so many people like it.

For a demo record, I think it's hot stuff, just not the classic I heard it was. I'm beginning to really dig the cover shot, tho. I've seen the alternative covers and they suck.
[Edited 3/26/05 20:41pm]

Handsclapsfingasnaps: what are the other litmus test albums of his in your opinion?

doctamario said:

It's not just albums, it's also his movies.


GB is a litmus test--you either get it or you don't.

doctamario said:

atwiad, trc and musicology are definite qualifiers.

AsianBomb777 said:

surprise pop quiz, more like.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

hmmmm... others that I don't have. He has so much music that it's hard for a poor newb to break into it and act like he knows what he's talking about. From the samplings I've had of those albums, I think I'd really dig ATWIAD the most of the three. Sounds like a sweet one.

doctamario said:

U don't have Around the World in a Day?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Actually, I think Parade falls in that catagory as well.

People where saying (when the album was originally released that it was a severe departure from "old Prince". It was a radically strange album, and even for the albums that followed it, Parade never quite fit in.

It's one of my favorite albums track-to-track.

doctamario said:

You'll get there eventually. Give yourself time and enjoy the journey!

Here's some unsolicited advice:

Don't read too many reviews or other people's opinions. Listen on your own and form your own opinions first.

If you don't like something on first listen, try it two more times. If you still don't like it, put it aside for a week, a month or more and come back to it. Some of the best records (Prince's or otherwise) have to grow on you. Or you have to grow into them. Actually, these can be the ones you love the most because you had to work to get there, but when you do, it hits you like a load of bricks and you're hooked for life.

HalluRain said:

Awesome advice. I'll remember that.

Great review D. Of all radio stations in Minnie back in the day, KQ92 played the shit out of When You Were Mine. He got much local support from them.

Funny how a couple of decades has changed radio so much...

squirrelgrease said:

they did? wow...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Just in case you weren't kidding about this. It's the sound of a door shutting. As in he just walked out of her life, or she just walked out of his.


.
[Edited 3/27/05 5:57am]

Hey Dansa, I'm right there with ya. I'm surprised folks around here aren't showing Dirty Mind much love. I first heard this album in its entirety in the summer of 1988. I listened to my cousin's cassette on a walkman and I couldn't stop flipping it over and over, side to side. Those blasting synths, rockabilly guitars, funked-out bass rhythms, the thumping drums serving as the pulse to a very-much-alive record. And the lyrics! This was the year before the 2 Live Crew stirred up so much controversy, and even though I was very familiar with "Darling Nikki" by 1988 my 13 year old ears were shocked and intrigued by what I was hearing. Like many others, I think of Dirty Mind as the first true PRINCE album. Not that I don't love the first two records, because they're some of my favorites, but I appreciate them in the same way I appreciate other funk/R&B records of the period. Dirty Mind is a completely different affair though. To me it represents the beginning of everything I love about Prince's best work. And the fact that it's so short makes it even better. It thunders in like a summer downpour and blows back out just as quickly, leaving you drenched and wondering what the hell just happened. I still get that feeling from it today, and when I think about it in the context of music from 1980, I'm that much more impressed.

It's always obvious from your posts and avatars how much you like this record Dansa, and since you started this thread I just wanted to tell you you aren't the only one around here that still gets a thrill from the punk-funk-new-wave-sonic-sex that is Dirty Mind. One of the best.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

you flatter Musicology

moonshine said:

say whatcha want, but it warrants as a definite litmus test album.

Great review.

I still can't imagine why anyone doesn't understand or like Dirty Mind. Dirty Mind was THE album that "put him over" in terms of becoming a critical sweetheart. It was definitely the album that made critics sit up and take notice of him. I know it wasn't a commercial success by any means, but it's always been in my Top Ten, and most times in my Top 5, and it's the work that I point to specifically that broke Prince out of his mold. If at any point, after For You and Prince, that people thought this guy was a black artist, Dirty Mind set everyone straight that he was definitely something...different. Yeah, he was different from the start, but like the review said, this was the "What the fuckin' fuck's he done?!!!" moment for anyone who was swaying to "Still Waiting" just a year prior.

Again, very nice review, Dansa. I actually haven't listened to Dirty Mind in at least a year. You got me to put it on this morning and it still rocks.

Great Work Dansa....

Dirty Mind is NO Controversy...but it's still a very important album

Ifsixwuz9 said:

I always thought it was a gun firing. It sounded like he "off'd" himself at the end of the song.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

i've heard other people think that it was a gunshot too, but it really don't sound like one to me.

Everyone who doesn't see this album as ground breaking is obviously someone who lived in the post-Dirty Mind world. I first heard it in 1983, and I'll tell ya now, it WAS mind-blowing. Sure, Prince has topped himself since, and a zillion acts have copied it, but you have to put it in context for the time period.