Controversy
1999
Purple Rain

Two trilogies:

First, for technicality:

Prince
Dirty Mind
Controversy

I think it was in these three albums that Prince got his style and kept it raw enough. This was before he blew up and was a cult star.

Second, for feeling:

Lovesexy
Batman
Grafitti Bridge

There's a lot of what Prince fans want to see him do - play guitar. Except for thinking that Grafitti Bridge would have made a better single album, with only Prince songs, this time period is kinda underrated, but very good musically. He was digging into this dark part of his soul, and really coming out with some revolutionary music.

#3 Dirty Mind - Controversy - 1999
#2 Sign O' The Times - The Black Album - Lovesexy
#1 Purple Rain - Around The World In A Day - Parade

Parade
Sign The Times
Black Album

wallysafford said:

YES!!!!

HamsterHuey said:

That's more like it !!!

EDD said:

To me, that period was the time when I went head under when it comes to Prince music. I just discovered there were bootlegs... and aftershows...

I'm struggling on this one. I'm really, really struggling.

It's just amazing to think just how much killer material this guy has released. How many other artists these days could you line up their material - back-to-back - and pick three great ones in a row? There are a myriad reasons as to why I'd pick this trilogy or that trilogy.

I have to agree with Snap, though, when he says the real killer 2-punch was '1999/Purple Rain'.

Excellent thread.

floralelephants said:

co-sign
His most productive period and musically his
most intressting.

If I may add my second fav trilogy?
1999
PR
ATWIAD

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Yes it does hurt but i'll have to go with that too.

HamsterHuey said:

same here,
that's also the period I saw him live for the first time (parade tour) and was totally in admiration. It was like everything he touched turned into gold, and there was so much to discover, like you said the man did aftershows??? other projects??? other artists??? it was like the sea was overflowing.
Just before that period I didn't know he was so good live.

for me that whole period ended somewhere between the black album and lovesexy,
and it proved me right with the whole batman-nude thing.
It's been a very long wait since.
Sometimes I see little sparkles, but I don't think we'll ever get sunburned again. On the other hand I don't think I have the age anymore to fall in total admiration for someone, but who knows ahum.

EDD said:

I recognise alot in this post. Except I lost interest when he messed up the release of Joy In Repetition. Just to hear that song without the original intro shocked me so much I lost a bit of respect for him.

I see them sparkles too, but it seems he is totally pre occupied with just a few things in life these days and it's all money, my god is a god for everybody; JOIN! and my music is way better than yours. With the Musicology album and his WNPG speech during the ONA tour I am just reminded of the fact that he is still good, just not so cutting edge anymore. He's getting old, I think. Sad.

Parade
Sign "O" The Times
Lovesexy

I also love the outtakes and the stuff he wrote for others from this period.

But my favorite P album is "1999"

Come
The Gold Experience
Exodus

Those three make a great trilogy.
I think of it as Prince's Motherfucker Trilogy
because "motherfucker" is used
in a lot of his lyrics during this period.

wallysafford said:

** Mine would have to be the Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain trilogy.**

around the world in a day, parade, lovesexy

yea its supposed to be back to back, but i dont like sott too much

Moonwalkbjrain said:

Moonwalkbjrain said:

Cheater!

wallysafford said:

Hippie!

namepeace said:

Gotta go with this. If Prince were at the top of his game with either Controversy or ATWIAD I'd definitely include 1999 and PR, his best consecutive albums. However, I consider The Black Album to go along with Lovesexy. You can't really have one without the other regardless of how they were marketed.

thedoorkeeper said:

I never thought of that. Although, I would have thought would be in there.
[Edited 8/2/05 23:38pm]

And now for something totally different


Come
TGE

doctamario said:

YOU rebel YOU!

Parade
Purple Rain
Batman

well 3 albums that go together, in style & feel:

1999
Purple Rain
Batman

UndercovaBrotha said:

Parade
SOTT
Lovesexy

Sign O The Times
Black
Lovesexy

Moonwalkbjrain said:

you gonna burn in hell I say....