My earliest prince album is Purple Rain if you could recommend just one album he did before this one which would it be and why.

1999

it's one of his best, some of the greatest tunes from his large body of work can be found there. A key album in his career, a sound defining one too.

just get it

1999. I like this album because he started exploring his voice far beyond his coy falsetto sound, which frankly was more annoying than harmonic to me back then.

Imago said:

lol I agree with that, $5 was a lot to pay for a cassette back then

ZombieKitten said:

Yes it was!

5 dollars was enough to entice a date to have sex with you back in the good old days!

Imago said:

my folks wouldn't let me out of the house

ZombieKitten said:

You should have grown up in a disfunctional family! dysfunctional teens get so much ass!

"Controversy". Three words, "Do Me, Baby". His best album before Purple Rain in my opinion.

The album For You is a must. Its the beginning. Listen to the acapella first track and you will hear black music evolve from Africa to the states w/out him playing one note. It evokes Mbube http://www.pbs.org/indepe...trail.html From there he runs a gambit of styles,including the hit, Soft and wet, which you gotta hear. Foreshadowing things to come and recorded old school, its the real deal.
[Edited 2/24/07 2:47am]

wazza said:

i would have 2 say it was the album "prince", it was my very 1st album and it was fantastic, i loved all the songs inc. still waiting, bambi, i feel 4 u, all excellent tracks, and a great stepping stone 4 a young prince back in the day.....

estelle81 said:

i...ii.....I feel so c-c-c-c-c-cccooooold.

i got 1999 for xmas one year, i was 15yrs old. I thought 'this is shit', its cheap synths and repetitive drum machines that go on for wayyyy to long.

what a dumb fuck i used to be

This album is the coldest soul album u will ever hear. Its awesome

Imago said:

I love his little ad libs at the end, they make me laugh.

I'd say 1999 cuz it has some classics that are just as good and famous as the Purple Rain classics, and it's an album that perfectly encapsulates the Minneapolis Sound.
But I must say that Dirty Mind is another essential album, Prince best synth-funk album!

1999 is a safe choice, I think. But be careful because there are older pressed CDs out there that miss DMSR (although its printed on the cover).

But Dirty Mind is also a true classic, I see it as Ps first masterpiece, that offers some of his best moments "When U Were Mine", the title track and so on.

Anyway, I think you - I do not know how much you like Prince - should try to get all of his pre- Purple Rain stuff (For You, Prince, Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999).

Enjoy!!!

SenseOfDoubt said:

Ditto...it's ALL good.

I would go with Dirty Mind. It's the first time he really pushed boundaries (both musically and lyrically) and you can't argue with songs like When You Were Mine, Uptown and Head.

I think it's marginally more consistent than 'Controversy', the production on '1999' can be a little difficult for the modern ear to get used to, 'For You' in undoubtedly one of the weakest albums in his canon, and although 'Prince' is packed with good songs, it's a safe album.

ONA If you are being introduced. Funky= Black album. Hip hop close=DP or symbol and new 3121 or musicology.

Funkmaster3000 said:

Uh, the original post was asking for a recommendation of an album released before Purple Rain.

But if you can find a copy of ONA that dates pre-1984, you should definitely pick it up. Collector's item.

wazza said:

1999 without a doubt....it's just loaded with great music!

Controversy isn't too shabby either. It's definitely grown on me in the last few years....it's something of a lesser 1999.

Dirty Mind is his weakest album so it's probably something you want to avoid entirely unless you're a completist collector.

.....

gcu1 said:

What planet are you from?!

gcu1 said:

WTF??
[Edited 2/24/07 7:28am]

I recommend that u get all of the albums! Great stuff!

DIRTY MIND, it's just soooo raw

1999(definately)
then Controversy
then Dirty Mind
then Prince
then For You

Personally,I like the Prince album alot.It would probably be my second pick but I would still recommend Controversy over it for more of the "classic" Prince feel.

Personally I'd have to go for Dirty Mind

1999

1 word: perfection

gcu1 said:

Wow, that's a shocking statement if ever I heard one. If, that is, it was meant seriously.

wazza said:

[img]This is a hard choice for me Cause I first fell in love withPrince's music when I heard Bambi but Controversy has more songs to love on it. [/img]

leecaldon said:

I didn't mean to be shocking. But in all seriousness, I would have to recommend collecting all of Prince's music...regardless of anybody's critical opinions.

I'm still holding out that one day Dirty Mind will rub off on me. All his other music certainly did.

.....