I had to replace my CD player and I said what the hell! I've got the Thanksgiving holiday coming up so I went to Amoeba Records and bought a shit load of Prince CDs that I've never heard--Chaos and Disorder, My Name Is Prince, 3121, The Black Album, The Scandalous Sex, Rainbow Children, Planet Earth, Lotusflower, Parade, Lovesexy... I'm gonna be in music heaven... Don't think every one so far is a classic but as usual there are gems on almost every album... This is an early HOLIDAY or BIRTHDAY gift for me (for those of you who found X-mas or Christmas offensive!) LOL For you Prince critical experts out there--what do you consider the musical gems off the albums that I just bought? I'm making a list as I listen--for instance, "Money Don't Matter" is a stand-out! What else, for you-all?


[Edited 11/23/09 22:33pm]

It is interesting when you hear these albums for the first time, after listening to P years ago, that you can pick out the songs that are really authentic to him and not P being influenced by someone else or trying to "do" another musical style. I hope someone responds to this thread with some thoughtful and eye-opening observations on some of the songs off these albums I listed--even though you knowledgeable music fans may have done it a thousand times! Edu-ma-cate me!

Parade and Lovesexy are classic Prince during his prime. You have some good ones there.

Parade, Lovesexy, are the three best in what you listed. Listen to them in chronological order.

UTIMATE CLASSICS/ULTIMATE MASTER PIECE:

Parade, The Black Album, Lovesexy


This is Prince:

The Scandalous Sex Suite (Maxi Single), My Name Is Prince (CD Single), Chaos and Disorder


The last Master Piece of the Master:

Rainbow Children


Welcome 2 The Dawn :

3121, Planet Earth, Lotusflower

1. Parade
2. Lovesexy
3. The Black Album
4. The Rainbow Children
5. The Scandalous Sex Suite
6. Planet Earth
7. 3121
8. Lotus Flow3r
9. Chaos and Disorder
10. My Name is Prince (maxi-single)

3121
LotusFlower
The Rainbow Children

what's this "x-mas" you speak of? Only holiday i know of along those lines would be CHRISTmas aight? heck- I hope you have a ChristyChristyChristmas
offensive/politically correct my foot!

anyways, on topic, if i get any money this year it is going towards the obtainance of P's whole collection. Vinal is my preference..
[Edited 11/23/09 19:37pm]

xmas

poetcorner61 said:

I love them all. enjoy ur journey.

JesusFreak said:

Sorry, I know it is trite and over-done; I did X-mas for brevity's sake! I don't like that either! I was just saying that buying all these CDs and hearing them for the first time is like a Christmas or Birthday present, or whatever holiday gift of your choice! So far, there are only a few songs that I consider bleh! Many are great, some are not, some don't really seem to belong to or sound like Prince, but over all, I am enjoying the ride!

poetcorner61 said:

One example of an overworked, over-produced song made in the studio is the title song off the album "Rainbow Children." It sounded much better live without the over-produced sound and the "slowed-down" baritone version of the "God" voice. It worked much better as a live song! Defintely, the major problem with the Rainbow Children album is not the music but this annoying slowed-down God of doom voice that introduces some of the songs! What a turn off! Otherwise, I think the songs, for the most part, sound nice and tight. A couple I really like, most are okay... Sounds better live! I don't need the Voice of Doom telling me "it's not over!" Uoooffff!
[Edited 11/23/09 20:51pm]

Maybe hiring Morgan Freeman as the Voice of God on Rainbow Children would have made it more palatable to the general public or P's traditional audience?! Just throwing out the thought, whether anyone reads this post or not! Come to think of it, Morgan Freeman could add a lot to this album and excise the unnecessary padding between what could make a pretty decent album!
[Edited 11/23/09 21:15pm]

Chaos and Disorder is a very underrated album. Yeah, it's got some dreck (Right The Wrong ), but it's got some good tunes on it too.

Nikademus said:

Chaos and Disorder--heard it for the first time--one of the stand out songs on this album for me was "I Rock, Therefore I Am!"

poetcorner61 said:

My personal fave was always "I Like It There"

After repeated listens, I think you'll find 'Chaos' to be a lost gem.

'Lovesexy' and 'The Black Album' never get old either.

Mars23 said:

Thanks! I'm still hoping that some old fans of P who play music themselves will shed some light on their favorite songs off these albums and why some songs have more "Minneapolis sound" than others and why?!

Wow! go through mediocre songs and then you strike gold with songs like "Thieves In The Temple!" What other treasures are left to be discovered...now I understand why audiophiles want to compile their own collections of the best songs... What are your personal favorite compilations?

poetcorner61 said:

TRC was difficult at first because of that voice. But when you've had a few listens to the favourite tracks on there so they become familiar, then is the time for real listening. I find my ears are often prejudiced.

So eventually I put all favourites aside and just put on TRC giving it the attention you should, as one journey. That's when the voice eventually blends in as you become accustomed to it. The whole album as a whole is a masterpiece imo.

Black album I'm still not into but 3121 had a similar effect as the TRC for me. I liked a few songs but now almost the whole album, some magic stuff on there. Chaos hasn't done it for me yet, though the gems on there are Dinner with Delores, I will (absolutely love it) as with Into the light and Right the Wrong.

I really dig LF but made my own compilation of favourites from the 3. Parade and Lovesexy are great too, but I've listened to them so much in the past I don't listen to them really anymore. Just the odd favourite which shows up on my shuffle ipod now and then. I like listening to new music, it's always an unpredictable and enjoyable discovery.


Have fun

Bohemian67 said:

Thanks for sharing! I have to say that after listening to several of the above-mentioned albums of Prince, for albums that I can listen to over and over again, that I haven't heard before, I have to give kudos to Come, The Truth, and the whole Crystal Ball set, and One Night Only Live. Those albums I can listen to over and over again! Come is so under-appreciated! I really appreciate people that have been long time listeners and can give a critical assessment of the music, even if they are forever fans! Love MJ, but the desperation on the sites drove me away and made me appreciate Prince again!

My favorite song from the Black Album is Cindy C.
From Lovesexy it's Anna Stesia
From Symbol it's I wanna melt with u

JesusFreak said:

JesusFreak said:

Ya know the 'x' in x-mas is representing the cross right? It's not actually a slight against Christians

I HATE to say it... BUT... I think the Prince catalog is BEST listened to and absorbed chronologically.. The catalog is TOO huge to listen to and understand it out of order. Say in the CDs u have.. u can't go from Chaos and Disorder to the Scandalous Sex suite and then jump into Parade.. LOL

Scandalous is a maxi single in conjunction with the Batman album..

Parade, can't be listened to until you've heard where he went with Around The World in a Day.. THEN see how that then transformed to Sign O The Times.. Following that you have to back to back Lovesexy and The Black Album..
Ahh how happy it was to enjoy the ride when it happened.

Glad u are interested and enjoying the back catalog, but really do try to get the albums and do in order... and it helps Even more to hear what other work he was doing on the side with his side projects and hearing some of the unreleased material and seeing or hearing the concert tours that supported those projects...

I'm sorry.. I know its nearly impossible.. but what a FUN musical journey Prince has taken us on

I Love so many songs...

Have fun...Music...especially Prince music is number one in my heart on Thanksgiving.

As with all of Prince's stuff, they require an investment in time and listens to unlock their genius. Enjoy!!

sovembol said:

Well. some of the albums like Around The World In A Day I bought and listened to when they first came out...I'm currently listening to albums I never bought and haven't heard before. But that is a great idea to listen to them chronologically and hear the progression of song and sound (for better or worse LOL). I'm going to try that...I'm also trying to listen critically which is something I've never done with P's music before...can only add a richness to the experience...

poetcorner61 said:

Wow, you found those two songs on the abovementioned albums?! Sweet!

Just enjoy them in your own way. Don't let others tell you what to think.

I consider Parade and Lovesexy to be 2 of his very best albums. I understand they aren't for everyone but for me they are complete from beginning to end.

What I would suggest you do is rather than jumping from one to the other is to have the same cd on repeat and live with it for at least a few days. Most of them have a pretty good flow and work together as a whole, especially Parade, Lovesexy and The Rainbow Children. Alot of people don't like Planet Earth and looking at the tracklist nothing really jumps out, I liked 3121 probably the most of his more recent releases, Chaos and Disorder is guitar heavy and short and sweet, an obvious throwaway though. They're all worth a listen.