I think the Gold Experience was sadly slept on.I really like alot others too, but I think he need to go back to the experiemental stuff.Maybe lock himself up in a dark room for a while.

LexNevermind said:

I would still include Lovesexy among the greats, but other than that I agree that there has been nothing as significant as the 80s output since.

I still buy everything, but other than a handful of individual tracks he constantly disappoints me now.

At first I was bored with the Superbowl show, & kept thinking 'it's no longer 1984!', but having watched it a few times now, it's a magnificent performance (though the band could be better), but why all the covers?

LexNevermind said:

I respectfully disagree.

Diamonds and Pearls, The Symboled Album, The Gold Experience, Emancipation.

They may not all have been platinum sellers but D&P's is one of his five best albums ever.

unkemptpueblo said:

The Vault has at least one moment of pure genius in "When The Lights Go Down"

NDRU said:

perfectly said! wish I had thought of it

pacey68 said:

I momentarily forgot about the Truth!!! Some of his best work EVER!!

dseann said:

All were platinum or higher except for maybe the Gold Experience.

skywalker said:

Like I said "They mat not all have been platinum"

[Edited 2/14/07 9:39am]

I've loved Prince from the start and although the road has not always been easy staying a fan ,I see that he's been thru a dark tunnel in his life and is emerging brilliantly into the light. Love U Prince!

what a great topic. I'm 39 [jesus H!] and what a great time I've had watching his career go through so many changes. I love his stuff from the 80's but am older and wise enough to know that he had more of a creative and commercial peak than most artists do i.e. the 80's. The projects from 1989 onwards have been hit and miss BUT i've loved the tours, some of the music has been great and for me when a new CD is announced it's still a thrill [or in the case of Guitar a disappointment!]. Highlights for me were the whole TRC/ONA project i.e the TRC Album, tour, aftershows, related jazz CDs, sound checks etc', love most of 3121 etc.
It's really good to see him so much back in the public eye.

I have to add this...any "fan" in this age range who says he hasn't done anything great since SOTT is probably not really a fan anyway. They are more than likely one of the Purple Rain jumpers (as in on the bandwagon) who never really paid any mind after ATWIAD but still have the nerve to call themselves fans.
[Edited 2/14/07 10:50am]

I'm 45, and a Prince fan since he released his first album. I really don't spend much time analyzing his music by comparing against previous releases. I have loved much of what he's put out there, and there isn't much that I could say that I don't like. My taste has changed over the years, but he remains a contant favorite with me. There are folks who came on the scene, and now you don't know where they are. When I listen to some of his older stuff, I can enjoy it today, and jam to it like I did back in the day. Of course he is going to evolve and take his music to another level...and I plan to be there to enjoy whatever he puts out there. I just want him to continue enjoying what he does for as long has he can!

ForbiddenFruit said:

my sentiments exactly... ive passed on the last couple of albums but i'm usually front and center for the live show.

I'm too old for this thread!

fang said:

fang said:

let's say too mature, refined & distinguished

I'm 36.5 and almost 37 (37!! -- Kevin Smith reference) and I have to say that I disagree. I was a late bloomer, not fulling embracing Prince's vocabulary of music until Sign O The Times hit, but since then, every release, side project, maxi-single, 12-inch, long-form video always has had that little something, that spark that has kept him in my vision all these years.

I echo alot of these statements here on this thread that every project he has worked on, certain tracks are favorites and certain tracks are question marks with me. But it's all part of the whole and that I what I have loved about Prince, and anticipating the new release -- be it Guitar that was just released a few weeks back via 3121.com, or NEWS or his Super Bowl performance / Super Bowl press conference performance. I'm almost 37 and I get antsy and flustered because, well, I don't know what to expect from Prince.

Every time he enters the doorway, something new and cool is performed; a different take on a song, be it the edgier Anotherloverholeinyohead/Rock Lobster played during the press conference, to (dating myself here) tripping out to seeing Prince on Saturday Night Live in 1989 performing Electric Chair live.

He has opened up so many doors to so many avenues of the musical landscape that I have a greater appreciation for music as a whole. you can't categorize Prince. He is music and his music is fresh and new and always exciting.

I have respect for Prince and will continue until he feels it is nessessary to stop. And when he passes away, whenever he does, I hope the heir to his estate will honor his legacy and release those valuable gems from his Paisley Park vault. I am glad I am living in this time period and knowing I will have access to new sounds and directions in the months and years to come.

The awards are secondary, the music is primary.

a2grafix said:

That was a lot to digest, but I agree with U....
I'm 39, & I also became a fan after SOTT, and then filled in backwards. But I became a "rabid fan" in 1993 after seeing him live for the 1st time.
I treasure each new thing he does, because he's still doing it! I said that earlier in this thread. These "one-hit" wonders of today won't have his "prolific longevity". Sometimes I get so frustrated when I read some of the whining that goes on here. Some people act like he needs to call them for approval every time he gets an inspiration. So what if U don't like everything he does....at least he's still here for U.
(and no, I don't like everything! some stuff sux to me, too! )

im to young for this thread...

Soon to be 37...and pretty much stopped buying Prince music after Emancipation.

Jam of the year...my last Prince concert. (1998)

He's still with me...always will be. 1978-1995 till I die!

I still follow a bit and see what he's doing...more times than not (sadly to say) I'm extremely disappointed.

I'm not saying artists can't change, grow..or experience new things in their career...but it seems to me that he changed the very FIBER of what he was doing those first 17 years. It all seemed like a big lie. (that's what I took personal) His ability to change and grow was one of the big reasons I remained a "faN" for all those years. Change is good...but IMO, after Emancipation, the death of his son (for which he took no time to heal from), the induction of Larry Graham, Jehovah and the whole "lets play nice" campaign...I completely lost interest.

I'm 39 and been a fan since '82 and I don't think he's put out a truly great album since SOTT. He seems to have lost "it" since SOTT. And "it" is his muse.

36 and Rainbow Children is as vital as anything he's ever done

34 and I don't waste my time posting on sites for an artist I've "completely lost interest" in.

40 here and have been a fan since '78.....FOREVER!!

I still get excited with anything that he does, put out, appear on. Going to Vegas solo because no one wanted to take the trip with me. So... do I stay home knowing this would be my first flight and first trip to Vegas....NO! I'm so there!!!

I'm 36 now, and have been a Prince fan since 1983. For me, I feel Prince's albums have been hit or miss since SOTT. I guess I lost a bit of enthusiasm for Prince's music when he hooked up with the NPG. I enjoyed the Batman soundtrack, some of Emancipation, Chaos & Disorder has some good tracks. I've always manage to find at least one great track on all of Prince's albums. But gone are the days when I enjoyed a Prince album from beginning to end. That is, untill I heard Musicology. That album was on heavy rotation in my cd player for weeks, and totally revived my intrest in his music. Then along came 3121 and it left me cold. But I will always look forward to new Prince albums, because the man is one of the most talented musicians of all time, and I can't wait to hear what he'll come up with next.
And I still hope he'll hook up with the Revolution at some point if only for one more album together

I'll be 35 this Summer. The last Prince album I absolutely loved was LoveSexy. In fact, in the early 90's I quit listening to him altogether. I have not been that impressed with anything he has put out since then. Yet still, I'm a die hard fan.

Significance.well...
I'm 36 and I must say SOTT is far more significant 2 me now than what it was when I was 16/17 at the time of it's release.
When U say 'significant' U really oughta elaborate, I mean significant 2 who or what?
Every single release since then and most certainly in the future will have some significance, 2 me at least. I suppose it's also tied in with how and when it's interpreted, and the circumstances surrounding 1's own life at the time. Significance is most definately not a constant, a variable in pretty extensive formula overall. Many, many variables, including the individual, and of course, TIME.
Princes music will b significant 2 me, and those close 2 me 'til the day I die. Literally.
Thanx Prince