What do you prefer and/or what would you like to see next release?

A concept album? eg. albums with a 'story' (, Rainbow Children etc.), and albums with a musical theme where the majority of songs use a similar arrangement of instruments/sounds (eg. Dirty Mind, 1999, N.E.W.S etc.)?

or

One of his eclectically mixed albums, where it's like a smorgasbord of different styles and arrangements (eg. Sign O The Times, Emancipation, Rave, 3121 etc.)?

or

A live album of somesort?

Personally, I really think it's time for a really deep experimental concept album again, something that will take us completely by surprise.
[Edited 3/11/08 1:12am]

I know how wonderful Prince is with guitar and piano...and of course, that is Prince music, however, I would love to hear Prince surrounded by percussion instruments...I strongly believe...Prince should reuse the song, "Spirit."

live/dvd cd combo also a collectors edition of vintage live footage like america and love bizarre circa 86. a collection of artist speaking on his live prowess mick jagger who followed james brown (TAMI show 1965) and had prince open for him in his infancy would be interesting.Eric Clapton, those who witnessed RRHOF and or Super Bowl performance.Maybe Nelson George doing a historical take in prince as a performer within the context of the great black tradition. Why? because it matters that he is put into full perspective as a live performer-top frontman of all time and legend. He also wont be doin it on this level for another ten years so it's important to wrap this stuff up now.
[Edited 3/11/08 10:40am]

I really don't know.

I don't own any live albums, so I can't really vouch for that.

I think I do have a thing for the concept albums with homogenous sounding material that just flows from one track into the next.
Some of my favorite of those types of albums are Dirty Mind, Purple Rain (not a concept album, but all of the music has that 80's sound and it does tell a story ), Parade and Come.
I think PE was very close to being a concept album, but it kinda fell apart after a while. The title had nothing really to do with the whole.

On the other hand, , TGE, SoTT and 1999 are among my favorites as well, so I guess it depends on the kind of mood I'm in.

I get a feeling that the next album will be the Parade/SoTT thing all over again. Prince will hear everyone complaining that PE sux and he'll try to appease those same people by putting out something like a SoTT of the 21st century
Though I really hope it doesn't come to that. Him letting the majority tell him which direction to go in. Prince isn't Prince if he acts the way people want him to

I wouldn't mind an explosive album that makes the majority happy, but I'd still be a little unhappy if that was the reason why he decided to step up his game. I'd rather it be something he wants to do himself, not just to please everyone.

toejam said:

all of the above

Live set most def!!.
Maybe a mega box set with cd/dvd combo covering each tour from the begining to presant day or even just a little box set just covering the 02 gigs or maybe the dublin gig,something live please something live .Let it be raw ,tight and fonky!!!!! .

LIIIIIVE

LIVE

LIVE

LIVE

a album that has all live instrumentation (throw that linn drum and drum programming away), tight bass lines, sharp keyboard licks

in essence get sonny t/michael b/renato on all tracks and splash some rhonda and john blackwell behind the drums