The obvious choice might be "1999" or "Dirty Mind", but I really have to say that I've learned to appreciate "For You" a lot! This record is criminally underrated, even amongst fans - I think it's a masterpiece! It's got strong songs on it, several styles including acoustic, funk, disco and even rock (on a rather short record!), and he did it all by himself when he was around 20! Maybe it takes a few spins to really appreciate it, but I think it's a stunning debut!

EmancipationLover said:

And it's loaded with personal charm.

.....

If you like Purple Rain then 1999 is your safest bet. It's definitely the most Purple Rain-like of all the preceding albums. Then if you like 1999 I'd keep going backwards in order.

I would say Dirty Mind and 1999, but also pick up The Times self titled debut album to get a well rounded picture of what Prince was all about pre Purple Rain.

gcu1 said:

I think the rawness of it can be off-putting to some. After all, they were basically recorded as demos and then mixed. But that's part of the appeal (very different to much of what he's put out in the last few years, production-wise).

Do like I did.
1999 was my first Prince album. I liked it so I colected them all starting with the next recent album (oh I mean CD, yeah I'm old). So yeah, get 1999. But make sure you get one with D.M.S.R on it or you'll be missing out. Then go like this:
1.Controversy
2.Dirty Mind
3.Prince
4.For You
If you listen to them staring with Prince & go to Purple Rain. You'll hear the sound growing & building up to P.R. It'll blow your mind! Then watch the video's (Starting with Prince stuff) then any bootleg concerts on video you can get(remeber start with Prince & go right to P.R.). That'll keep your jaw on the floor for a while.
Damn, I'll have to dust those tape off. Thanks for sparking up an old interest!
[Edited 2/25/07 14:01pm]

JoeTyler said:

I try to respect everyone's tastes, but come on.

This is the album that gave us UPTOWN!!! That is one of my Prince anthems. I play it everytime I get ready to go to a P concert. Uptown is reason enough to buy it in my opinion - let alone classics like When You Were Mine, Head and Dirty Mind.

I'm with Sexxydancer on this - I say get them all if you can! They all represent steps in Prince's musical journey/evolution.

wazza said:

Controversy. It showed a time of transition between the very R&B sounds he had up to that point, and the full on pop sound he was slowly developing for songs like "Little Red Corvette" a year later.

1999. The funk was so cold it was and still is hot. GET THAT CD ASAP!

If you don't get that, then get Dirty Mind. Raw funk at it's best.