the album [more original than a lot released that year], the strong and genuine message, those amazing 12" mixes, the TOUR!, the Look, those aftershows, the drama, the quality of the Band. 1988 brought all of his talents together.
ONA maybe came close but nothing beats lovesexy, anyone agree.

i think the connection between artistic concept and marketing strength was tightest from the 1999 album through the batman soundtrack. after that, i think the visionary aspect of his work started to slowly fall apart.

Anx said:

can you imagine being Prince in 1989 & looking back and thinking 'how the fu%* do i top that'!.

I just may agree with this!

Anx said:

Agreed. I'd love to see a unified project like those in the 'old days'. He's tried somewhat with Musicology (old school music) and 3121 (party-home elegance), but the music isn't as solid, and the 'theme' isn't as cohesive. Think single covers that fit with the album cover; think clothes that fit with the overall project; think colors that are specifically picked for this project; think a style of production that unifies all the tracks on the album and tour. ONA was on the way there, but the simple fact that it was called ONA but supporting TRC, when ONA was not a publicly-available album lowered the cohesiveness, plus he had short hair and wore suits on the tour, while the album showed him with long hair in a very comfy-looking green sweater.

But then, Lovesexy's album cover showed him nude, and he wasn't nude on the tour itself...

To me, it is one of his most coherent, exhilirating, and enduring albums. In my top 3. Why? Because it's unequivocal (and somewhat ecumenical, unlike TRC) about his views on spirituality, and begs the listener to join in on the fun. And he still uses Lovesexy imagery in some of his more current music Thematically, the album has endured.

Two years after releasing "Lovesexy," Prince said of the LP, "you either had a mind-blowing experience or you didn't." I did.

*some of this taken from my Amazon.com review*
[Edited 12/5/06 12:13pm]

one of my biggest regrets was NOT seeing the LOVESEXY tour/band LIVE ... i wish i could go back ...

its been said before - but to me this was kinda the climax to my Prince fanaticism .... i really liked everything he did up til lovesexy ... after that album it seems some of the "mystical , mystery crap" was gone ...

you cant take away the fact that the lovesexy album came out right around the time when that "hush hush" black album was supposedly leaked ... etc ...

I'd have to say 1999 with a razor thin tie with Sign O' The Times.

I love it!!

i think i also agree i just got lovesexy not to long ago, although i had heard several cuts from it before. inspired my name ANNA STESIA.i think as time change he did too. LOVESEXY

It's great, but I like the Gold Esperience better!

God, this is wierd timing, but on my drive to work this morning I was thinking about the first time I heard "Lovesexy."

It ROCKED my TITS off!!!!

Love,
Endicott

I TOTALLY agree

All round project ...maybe ? I guess only thing missing was a movie, I didnt get to see the concerts but hear they was amazing,LoveSexy is in my top 5 Prince albums easy but in that era as an overall concept wasnt Sign O the Times more popular, with the movie and the singles etc.

Anx said:

I agree , but I think Graffitti Bridge was still kinda there but after that somehow things changed some kinda magic was lost.

I agree with the general sentiment here.

I think only the singles let down the project, the title track should've been a single like planned, and maybe Dance On too (maybe ).
[Edited 12/6/06 8:29am]

BeautifulOneJem said:

I miss it and would give my left nut to experience it again!

(Where the hell is THAT Prince???)

OskarKristio said:

i think the ambition was still there to some extent, but the effort was beginning to flag. it was the first album with remixes instead of b-sides on the singles, and prince really didn't do much at all to promote the album or film. the synthesis of image and packaging was still there to some extent, though...

Anx said:

We still got "Loveleft, Loveright", "The Lubricated Lady" and "Get Off" with one T though!

But yeah, I know what you mean. Batman was tight as hell.

GangstaFam said:

oh, right...i forgot about those b-sides. i've always been vexed by those tracks, and even though they're not the most melodic songs he's ever recorded, i love how rambly his lyrics are and would love to know the story behind those tunes.

starting with graffiti bridge, the 'tight as hell' approach started to fall to the wayside...

Anx said:

"In another life...if you was my wife...and I don't mean 1, but the 2 of you every night...OOOH!"



The "Nude" tour was kinda off balance too around that time. It didn't really seem like it was in support of anything.

He did get it together a little more with D's & P's and with the tours, videos, singles, and VHS comps that came out.

But still, those classic b-sides were M.I.A. "Call the Law" and "2 Whom It May Concern" just couldn't hold court with "17 Days" could they?

GangstaFam said:

the video for 'call the law' is one of the finest examples of filmmaking EVER.

Anx said:

Whatever.

It can't even come close to "Clockin' the Jizz" and "Housestyle".

GangstaFam said:

was there a video for "clockin' the jizz"? all i know is, comparing a video like "call the law" to something like, say, "gangster glam" would be like comparing preston sturges to the maysles brothers. we could go there if you really wanted to, but it would be a fruitless discussion. i feel "call the law" captured a plaintive desperation in the film persona of tony m. - i was inspired to ask myself, "who is tony m.? why would anyone call the law on him? he seems like a nice fellow. i wonder, is he conflicted? who does his hair?"

plus sonny t. wears a mesh tank top in that video and i can never erase that image from my mind. the meds don't help.

Anx said:

Yes, it had a video.

And then there's this...



Deep regression hypnosis therapy won't even cut it.

GangstaFam said:

that's gangster glam, isn't it? the 'un chien andalou' of prince videos.

Anx said:

Yes. Couldn't find clips of "Clockin'". I think that one was mostly the boys hangin' around watchin' tv or playin' video games. I think at one point, Tony M. abducts Prince and carries him away.

My point was merely to draw attention to the fact that "Call The Law" has some competition.

Would the thong and suspenders be the fashion equivalent of the eye-slicing scene?



[Edited 12/7/06 7:00am]