Don't get me wrong, i consider Lovesexy as one of his strongest albums.

Mostly because of the arrangements: they are so rich, layered and musically endearing. The music is very demanding, so it isnt an album to be played all of the time. But when i am in the mood for it, i can really enjoy the brilliant arrangements and the almost 'manic' creativity Prince exposes on this album.

But alltough this album gets a lot of praise in here, i cant help thinking it could have been an overall stronger album.

The first half of the album is truelly brilliant: the sequence of Eye Know - Alphabet Street - Glam Slam - Anna Stesia is among the best sequence of songs Prince has ever done on an album.
But the second half of the album often gives me an idea of a 'nightcandle burning out'. The title track sounds like the 'final statement' of the album, but after that you get: When 2 R in love (a nice ballad, but it slows down the pace of the album), I wish U heaven (One of the weakest Prince songs from the eighties IMO, both lyric- and musicwise) and Positivity (another slow song, alltough it has an intriguing arrangement, its not quite the joyfull, exhuberating finale for an album like this).

IMO the album would have been better if he had sequenced the songs on the second half in another order (Positivity would have been better in a shortened version, and Lovesexy would have worked better as the closing song).
Next to that the shallow I wish U heaven should have been replaced by another song Prince recorded during the sessions for this album.

Anyone agrees with me when it comes to this?

i think when 2 r in love / i wish u heaven / positivity is an incredibly
strong trio of songs.

but for me the album has always been like an entity of it's own that's
revolving around the axis of "Eye No" - "Lovesexy" - "Positivity" they
all reference each other or spooky electric and they bind the album to
a strong cohesive unity.

incidentally, "i wish u heaven" was the song that made me a prince fan
when i saw the video debut on tv back in the day. it was so different,
enigmatic and just beautiful. i still cherish that song as one of his
most magical moments.

Nah, Lovesexy is the best song on the album, IMO.

In retrospect, the drum track to Positivity bugs me (the snare/handclap) a little bit, but I like the whole album.

Hell Damn No!

IstenSzek said:

I have always loved the innocence and splendor of those 2 songs contrasted with the dark showdown that is Positivity.

Yeah, you're kinda right. After the song "Lovesexy" the album falls asleep.

I was never a fan of "Dance On"

"When 2 R in Love" was already on The Black Album and I always found it a tad dull.

I do love "I Wish U Heaven"....

Positivity is sluggish, dullish, blandish, too-longish to end such an otherwise thrilling and uplifting spiritual album.

But overall, Lovesexy stands out in my mind as one of Prince's standout albums. It has a unique style all it's own. Great memories of that time - my senior year of high school.

Smoke U one of these & listen 2 it again!.....U won't be disappointed!

Phenomenal album from beginning 2 end.

lovesexy (the song) is about the only song i don't like on the album. the rest is okay, even positivity.

Actually, I think the 2nd half is far better and more interesting than the 1st.

Lovesexy / When 2 R In Love / I Wish U Heaven / Positivity

...Marvelous sequence of songs.

JeriCurl said:

true

ufoclub said:

I think that "Anna Stesia" should have been the last song on the album.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Absolutely!

The tracklist and sequencing of the songs is near on perfect, and I think Prince new this to be, and so made it a one track cd.

The only song I initially had any gripe with and always felt was a bit displaced is Dance On but as the years have passed the genious shines brighter!

Positivity is a strong finish.

I like it just fine.

PeaceandLoveCowgirl said:

i agree, the whole song is pure brilliance. the "rap" is strong
and the whole "choir" thing is just to cool for words. one of
my fav prince songs.

I know what you mean - I've always kinda felt that way, but because I love the album so much, I just ignore those reservations.
You (OP) didn't mention Dance On which, as the other responses show, gets mixed reactions. I've always loved Dance On and it's one of the reasons I like LS so much - the drum-beat, the bass, the guitar, the lyrics: it's a masterpiece song. Why don't ppl get it? I see it as a companion to Tambourine, actually, which also gets dissed by some and is loved by others.

Ah well, to each his own, especially Prince fans - whose taste is so diverse that some people think Incense and Candles and White Mansion are the reasons to be a Prince fan, whereas I think that they're reasons to wash your ears out with soap...

Not really. I think it's just a different side. I think that because there is less gaps between the songs on side 1, it seems more of a tour de force. But if there HAD been prevailent gaps on side one, both sides would seem even. The songs on Side 2 are also shorter and "single-like" which I think lends to this as well.

yeah replace the album version of i wish u heaven and substitute with the banging 12 inch version all 3 parts!!!

but otherwise i love i wish u heaven just 4 the simplicity and lushness of it..has anyone heard darren hayes' version of this?
[Edited 1/3/08 9:43am]

Nope. Don't agree.
"Dance On", "Lovesexy" and "Positivity" are the best 3 songs on the album imo.
I never really listen to any of the others.

I can never understand how people diss Dance ON. That is absolutely one of the slamminest tracks Prince EVER laid down

I think side 2 is better than 1.

You have the Dance On, Lovesexy and Positivity 3 of his best songs ever.

Great album from start to finish

the track list is:

" No" – 5:47
"Alphabet St." – 5:38
"Glam Slam" – 5:04
"Anna Stesia" – 4:56
"Dance On" – 3:44
"Lovesexy" – 5:48
"When 2 R In Love" – 4:01
"I Wish U Heaven" – 2:43
"Positivity" – 7:15

when Lovesexy first came out, I was in 10th grade. This is how I felt about it then, and to the same extent now:

I Know > Confused Me
Alphabet Street > Loved it, and played it a lot
Glam Slam > possibly my all time fav. used to rewind this on cassette over/over
Annastasia > thought it was deep then, but was maybe still 2 young 2 understand
Dance On > was nothing special 2 me
Lovesexy > now this was some spiritual funk 2 me, sexydivinexperience
When2RInLove > beautiful
I Wish U Heaven > I dig'd it, even more after seeing the video
Positivity > thought it was freaky, but there was a time I played it a lot

reflecting now, I enjoyed Lovesexy more than 3121 and Musicology, but Planet Earth also had my attention throughtout.