After Sign 'o' The Times, Prince started working on the Black Album but eventually turning it away and doing Lovesexy instead. Was this a good choice? Prince said at the time that the Black Album was evil and he didn't want to release it for various reasons and releasing a smooth calmer project instead. So how would you compare the two. Which you like better? Actually I like them both although neither one would make my top ten Prince albums of all time. But if I had to chooose one it will be Lovesexy. It's just slightly better to me. It's like a split decision in boxing, it could easily been a draw. But Love is my pick. Peace and be wild!
[Edited 5/15/07 15:50pm]

'Lovesexy' is superior

Both r fucking amazing

theodore said:

babooshleeky said:

I still can't get into TBA

babooshleeky said:

Y?

theodore said:

I don't f*cking know

babooshleeky said:

theodore said:

you'll be okay

babooshleeky said:

Do U even like Le Grind?

theodore said:

yes

babooshleeky said:

that's my jam

I don't think there's really any comparison except to say that When 2 R in Love appears on both albums.

The Black album is a compilation of some funky ass songs with a badass attitude. When 2 R in Love seems out of place as the album's only sensitive ballad against the backdrop of crude attitude-filled funk.

Lovesexy, on the other hand, is a conceptual suite with full on orchestral passages that explores deeply spiritual territory. When 2 R in Love fits perfectly between Lovesexy and I wish You Heaven. It's the antithesis of the Black Album in that it's absolutely sublime.

Lovesexy is the ultimate Price album IMHO. There's been some conversation around here lately comparing P to Mozart. This is the one that's on a par with the best of classical music.

That being said, I think it matters WHY you listen to Prince that sets the context for how you are going to gauge any particular album.

If I'm in a randy mood I'll reach for the Black Album and it will be the best for the moment, hands down.

If I'm in a moood where I want to melt into oneness with my partner then Lovesexy is the transcendent shit.

I've always thought of SOTT as Prince's White Album analogue- so many songs in so many styles and all of them killer.

We all have our faves and it probably is completely subjective. I've heard peeps here rave over Chaos and Disorder but aside from Into the Light and Dig U Better Dead, it's the one Prince album that I cannot even stand listening to.

Out of all the Prince Albums, Lovesexy is in a class by itself. I've heard people bitch that it has no track boundries but I think that's perfectly appropriate. Lovesexy is the closest thing to a masterpiece symphony that Prince has ever done. It's meant to be listened to as a suite.

The Black Album is not even in the same league but then nothing else he's ever done is either.

Lovesexy rules.

I'd have to go along with you there Dakutius. I find it amazing that the Black Album and Lovesexy were recorded around the same time - give both albums to a person who knows nothing about Prince, I think they would be surprised that they are from the same person. I find Lovesexy a much better (fuller) album though but it does depend on the mood you are in.

I love both and both are for different moods as has been stated. I've often thought that this would have made for a brilliant double album, a bit like the lovesexy concerts, black and white, showing two sides of Prince and letting the audience have both. Yep, what an amazing double album that would've been, musically and commercially. It would have solved all the mess of stopping the black album at the time, and shops not liking the lovesexy cover (which hampered it sales) could have flipped it round for the "dark side" cover...real missed opportunity there I think.

Anyone agree?

DakutiusMaximus said:

nice.

LoDog said:

Dude, are you NUTS??? As DakutiusMaximus posted, Lovesexy is in a class by itself! It is a masterpiece; how could it not be in anyone's Top Ten, or even Top Five????? It is a in tie with SOTT for my second favorite Prince album, number one being PR.

The Black Album is funky, but nowhere near as brilliant as Lovesexy!
[Edited 5/16/07 13:15pm]

I pick the black album

love4oneanother said:

neither of them are in my top 10 either, sorry. (excempting Anna Stesia of course)
Now, the LoveSexy tour? That's up there! And covered material from both.

They're really two halves of the same album. It's that Star Trek with the evil Enterprise crew, Spock in the goatee.

I'd pick Lovesexy, though. The Black Album's songs aren't very serious, which is fine, but Lovesexy comes across to me as more musical and deeper.

Bob George, brilliant for what it is, is one of Prince's least inspired songs from a musical standpoint.

The Black Album works best for what it is, the legendary fun brilliant unreleased album

Superfunkycali...is one bad ass song. Le Grind and Cindy C are PARTY songs to the core. Bob George was years ahead of its time and no matter what anyone says is funky as hell and NOT supposed to be taken seriously. 2 Nigs throws on some psycho Madhouse jazz/funk/rock to the mix and finally, Rock Hard is one of the best endings of any Prince album. When 2 R in Love is the only track that I skip just because it doesn't really fit.

Believe me I am a HUGE fan of Lovesexy but The Black Album has become one of my all time faves from the guy so it wins this one for me. Its a rockin fun and funky as all hell album...nuff said.

"MARKETING GENIUS" WOULD'VE BEEN 2 PUT BOTH LP'S OUT AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!

I've always been fascinated by the back story attached to the Black Album/Lovesexy episode, especially since it marks the end of Prince's historic run. I actually believe he suffered a crisis of conscience, and set about to make more moralistic music--and his subsequent records (Batman, Graffitti Bridge, Diamonds and Pearls) with their polished, compulsively clean sound bear this out.

Also, the Bob George voice seems to represent a deus ex machina visitation in the Prince universe. He first appeared at the opening of "1999" (to initiate the party), then the epilogue to "Temptation" (as a condemning voice), and then is given an entire song with "Bob George," a real personality, human motivation and dramatic purpose. He even tells Bob George he's his conscience. He doesn't emerge again until the Rainbow Children, marking another religious conversion, and by many accounts his artistic comeback.

I view the Darth Vader voice as the voice of The Father, the paternal authority in Prince's life. His incarnations are invariably stentorian and commanding, as a reassuring master of ceremonies ("1999"), wrathful God ("Temptation"), vengeful jilted hubbie ("Bob George"), and purveyor of the new doctrine (The Rainbow Children--which I consider Prince's reunion with The Father.). Interestingly, in his most human, fleshed out form, "Bob George," he's attached to an "evil" project and consequently nixed. The overall trajectory appears to be: He starts out partying, then becomes punishing, then is exiled once it takes on a life of its own, and after many years in the wilderness returns with new faith. Sounds like the archetypal path of the prodigal son making peace with his father.

I think I'd read somewhere that Bob George was the two first names of some PR industry guys who Prince had a falling out with (something like Cravallo and Ruffalo?) and he made up the character in the Black Album song specifically to dis them.

Anybody got the deets on this?

DakutiusMaximus said:

wow. i agree with your assessment of Lovesexy, but i do think the 2 are inextricably linked in that the dark gritty raunch of TBA was an absolute necessity to get to the Light that is revealed in Lovesexy. together, they are the night and day, yin and yang of the Prince of yore, as best exemplified on the Lovesexy tour.