...who's been expressing interest in our little lilac friend. The Dirty Mind and Controversy albums aside (those are kinda gimmes) what do y'all think I should recommend?

Chaos & Disorder?

PeaceandLoveCowgirl said:

I dunno. Maybe. My knowledge of punk leans more to historical and academic than the actual music.


I'm stumped. R really liked Controversy, but wasn't wholly sold on Dirty Mind.

dirty mind is the nearest thing 2 punk tht he's done - but ur mate will hate it if he's hardcore 'punk!'
then again 'sister' might sway him/her...i don't recall ANY other band singing about shagging their sisters.
it's so gross, i don't know what p was thinking!

I think you've already got it mostly covered; at least from an album perspective, especially with "Dirty Mind".

Michael Stipe of R.E.M. once said "Dirty Mind" was the only album he really got. That was many years ago so hopefully his taste in music has expanded, but he certainly knows stripped down music.

"Bambi" might be another possibility. It has a bit of a loud, obnoxious, independent, raw emotional spirit that drives it, even if it isn't purely punk.

But it's impossible to know without knowing this person's current tastes and how open they are to expansion. If they're a punk purist, as has already been suggested, they just might hate almost everything Prince.

But he did have his very raw moments of angst.

Thinking...

Well, if you really stretch the definition of the term I'd add the following for sheer attitude, pointed anger, alienation and/or punk after-show lifestyle.

All the Critics Love You In New York
Hello [Extended Version]
Bob George
Papa
319
Wasted Kisses

But with Prince most of the time you've got to be very flexible with the definitions, as he doesn't often color inside the lines.

** Add a song edit **
[Edited 12/20/07 2:35am]

He'd probably be interested in 1999, in so much as it contains some of his rawer stripped down stuff. Punk is more of an approach to a certain ideal of integrity - nothing TOO polished - than just a sound.

And yeah, the Black Album would probably appeal.

In my opinion, there are only a few older Prince songs that have a punk music edge to them...So tell him to buy the "Sex Pistols."

And Prince is not lilac, grape maybe.

When I saw your thread title that you had a punk buddy, I thought you meant something else. Down here in Mississippi, a lot of people use the word "punk" as a homophobic term like "fag". We even use it on ourselves such as...."I'm going out to the punk bar tonight". I was going to recommend some of the housy type tracks like "Love", "Loose", or "The Human Body".
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[Edited 12/20/07 4:26am]

PUNK RULES OK!
did prince fans ever look like this? lovely classic footage! i had 2 turn this up REALLY LOUD!!


[Edited 12/20/07 5:38am]

The only punk sound I've really heard Prince do is live like in the Lovesexy concert version of "Sister"

As a rocker/metalhead who has done much time in various 'punk' scenes I would say that Prince doesn't understand true "Rock and Roll". Rock is just a style template to him... Therefore, don't try and give yr Punk friend the Prince music you think is more Rocker-friendly... Someone suggested 319, I think that and any Post Sign O' the times shit would be disasterous. Only fans like that stuff. Just give him the classic Prince that wowed everyone in the first place. I recommend 1999, Dirty Mind, Controversy...That's the essential Prince shit right there that EVERYBODY loves.

vainandy said:

Well being as that's where the subculture's usage of the term was borrowed from, your guess wouldn't be inaccurate.

Brendan said:

R.'s pretty openminded musically. The guy's got a healthy selection of old school Glam and a touch of Bjork in his collection.