I have heard a lot of arguments between which album is better, 1999 or Purple Rain? Now personally I don't know which album I think is better, song for song I think that it is pretty even. I mean you have the song "1999" and on PR you have "Lets Go Crazy", and you have "International Lover", and on PR you have "The Beautiful Ones". Purple Rain's "Free" would of course be the self-intitled track itself, "Purple Rain". I don know which is my fav, but I know one thing, 1999 has two of the funkiest tracks ever produced, and that would be "D.M.S.R" and "Lady Cab Driver", but Purple Rain has one of the most powerful tracks ever, if not the most powerful trak ever in "Purple Rain". A lot of people complained about the album being pop, and I disagree with that somewhat, because I feel that pop music is very teeny, bubble gum, with corny kiddy lyrics, and although Purple Rain (lyrically) isn't as bold as Dirty Mind, the lyrics aren't childish. I think that it is more to the album than just the popularity is recieved.
But moving on I don't know which one I feel is better, but all I know is that they are both great, and that both lps sound fresh to the ears to this day.

p.s. Geminis rule lol. d.o.b 5/22/83 peaaaccceee.

Geez, 1999 and Purple Rain r both good. It is so hard to pick...

This is just not a fair matchup. As much as they're both quintessential Prince albums, they're different from each other.

It would be like my mother asking me what I wanted for dinner: seafood gumbo or lasagna. Who can choose when it's MOM doing the cooking and you know they're both legendary dishes when she makes them?

I wouldn't want to choose between Kind of Blue and A Love Supreme.

I wouldn't want to choose between Extension of a Man and Talking Book.

I wouldn't want to choose between The Godfather and The Godfather II.

I wouldn't want to choose between strawberry Haagen Dazs and home-made pecan pie. It's just not fair!

I'd say that "1999" is better, both both deserve the adulation that they receive. "1999" is undeniably more suited to my own individual taste, with the synth-funk taken to the forefront. I also like how the album seems to consist almost entirely of 12" mixes of songs. It has great flow and its premonition of future dystopia is one of my favorite themes in music.

1999 is of higher quality; more musical variety, songs that are more "challenging." Purple Rain is very good too, but clearly more "commercial"

1999 is nastier.

Hmmm...well I think 1999 is pure "Punk of funk" Purple Rain is Prince coming in2 his own. This Album "Purple Rain" Made him a household name. 1999 I think wins by just a hair, but the vote would b 2 close in my book.

I choose Purple Rain for the simple fact that I dont like thinkin of Prince in a sexual way.

good feed back, keep it comin'.

diashfiend said:

LoL...Yes, that works for me.

That's a hard one and it funny that you ask because I've been listening on and off to 1999 for that last couple of days and it's like I'm rediscovering a classic even though I've had it for a few years. If it's about which album is the funkiest, then 1999 wins. There's nothing but funk on it now if it's about an album that has more maybe influencial then it's Purple Rain. But they are 2 albums that I recommend to non-Prince fans. Now if only Prince would allow WB to remaster them then they would take on a new frontier.

I must say I don't listen to PR much anymore because I'm tired of it. 1999 I still play yet I know every synth fill and every note by heart. It's definitely less commercial with songs like Lady Cab Driver and Something in the Water. Purple Rain as a funk-rock album is in a class by itself and I hope he returns to this sound or someone like Lenny Kravitz tries to copy it someday. PR has everything from ballads, funk, hendrix solos, acoustic rock, and gospel. It's also very uplifting lyrically which I also liked. I think my favorite song right now off PR is Computer Blue and off 1999 is Automatic.

too hard to pick. even though they're different styles, it's so close I'd have 2 call it a draw.

1999 was the album everyone danced to, yet it had that crossover hit with LRC.

Purple Rain just put Prince over the top and made him a superstar, yet he still had funk, pop, and the classic rock anthem in Purple Rain. People who didn't like Prince when I was in high school respected his incredible guitar play and the movie Purple Rain because of his ability to crossover into a rock audience.

Pickin which is better is like picking which brother or sister I like better--depends on which one got on my nerves this week.

I used to play purple rain a lot more, then I made myself an edit 1999, with the b-sides in and I prefer it to both.

Although I love 1999, I think its sprawling length (like Automatic) stopped me from listening to it too much.

I made this:

1999 New Master
LRC (Dance Mix edit)
Delirious
Lets Pretend (Edit)
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore
DMSR (remix)
Automatic (edit)
Free
Irresistable Bitch
Something in the water (demo version)
Lady Cab Driver (edit)
All the Critics (Edit)
Horny Toad
International Lover

I find the result a much more commercial and accessible version.

I like the long jams better, it really lets him flesh out his ideas. I read a review back in the day that called much of the second album "filler" That's some pretty good filler!

What's the DMSR remix?

Never cared for 1999 that much. I think it is one of the most overrated albums in the history of music (sorry)...
I've never been crazy about early 80s synth-funk. It was when Prince expanded his sound with the Revolution in 85 and 86 that I started to become interested.

Also, I think Purple Rain is overrated too, but if I had to choose, I would pick PR.

I don't think either of these albums is what Prince is all about, and it's too bad that so many people regard these as his best. But that's just my take on it.

jtgillia said:

I respect that.

jtgillia said:

Prince is about a lot of things. That's why he's never in one place all the time.

The reason many people regard these as just 2 of his best is because while he was accessible, he was also innovative. And that's not easy to do.

If there is any problem with either album, it's most likely the fact that they're probably two of his most commercially successful, and people get sick of hearing them. Any music, no matter how groundbreaking can become overplayed. A lot of people forget how odd and fresh some of this music sounded next to all the other status quo 80s hits of the day because everybody is so familiar with it now. Familiarity breeds contempt.

I guess after 20 years married couples take each other for granted sometimes too...until something happens and it makes them both remember why they fell in love. Absence makes the heart grow fonder in a lot of cases.

If I never heard anything from PR on the radio I'd probably find myself going back to listen to it again and again from time to time. But since you can easily hear it on mainstream radio there's not much for you to miss...unless you're talking about the non-singles.

You're absolutely right, Supernova. I must admit, that when I went back to listen to 1999 after not having heard it for about a year, I did enjoy it quite a bit. Even I have to say it is a very good album. And it was innovative when it came out. Just not my favorite.

I don't know if this fits the topic but for those that say that PR wasn't as experimental, you should consider the songs in their full length versions. Also think about things that were left out such as God and Father's Song. Think about the B-sides suchs Erotic City, 17 days, Another Lonely Christmas. Remember 1999 was a double album. Thats like comparing a Jaguar to a Cadillac. Both are good but it's apples and oranges.

I'm biased because 1999 was the first Prince joint that I ahd ever heard. I wore that joint out. I've always been more of a fan of Prince's funk that his rock stuff. My fav's are 'Automatic','DMSR','Lady Cab Driver','All the Critics...','1999' among others. I like a few joints on PR and it was a strong album verall, but I think most of the poularity came from the movie.

1999 Rules!

Are there any other of you who simply adore the demo version of Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)??? I think it's amazing and while I really like the version from the 1999 album, I think I prefer the demo.

Anybody??? 8)

Purple Rain all the way. Even though I love 1999, PR is just awesome all the way through. I have always had a hard time listening to 1999 all the way through in one sitting, but PR is rarely NOT played all the way through. I also think PR has aged a bit better than 1999, however both sound SO 80's. Now Parade/SOTT's now THAT is another story.

agarze said:

I like both versions, so I can't exactly say that one is better to me than the other. I like them equally for different reasons. The piano playing on the demo adds a different dimension to it than the album version.

Damn..they are just serving up drinks of disrespect at this bar here

Both are great...in the 80's I played Controversy and 1999 all the time. When Purple Rain came out, I played that all the time, and rarely listened to the others. Now I play Controvery and 1999 (among others) and haven't listened to Purple Rain...I've tried, but I just can't make it all the way through it anymore. My mind probably got Purple Rain overload in the 80's!

jtgillia said:

I'd say it is one of the most underrated by his loyal fanbase. I love everything about this album. 80s synth-funk is pretty much my favorite genre of music. I love how he stretches it out on most of the tracks and I also like the way the album takes a new interesting twist after each side.

Well see, Moonbeam, I guess the best way for me to explain myself is to say that 80s synth-funk is not one of my favorite genres of music. Understanding that point of view, you maybe could see where I'm coming from.

But I know where you're coming from too, and I've always respected your opinions, especially those regarding his more current output.

jtgillia said:

I respect your opinion as well, even if I can't personally understand it! I'm glad you could appreciate it on your last listen.

Yeah, peoples' music tastes are such a personal, inner thing that it is not likely to be understood by others. For those few people out there that equate listening to "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em" to an almost spiritual experience- God bless 'em! I don't understand them myself, but more power to them!

That's why I usually hesitate to just bash somebody's favorite music, because I know how meaningful a song can be to somebody. I have my bad days though, and sometimes I can spread venom like anyone else.