In my personal top 200 there will be more albums of him probably, but looking at the entire history of popular music and the way Princes legacy is 'judged' i think its safe to say that:

Purple Rain and Sign of the Times belong in the top 100.

While 1999 and Dirty Mind might find a place between position 100 and 200.

And there is something to say for that, i must admit:

Many critics seem to see ATWIAD and Parade as quirky 'side-steps' and Controversy as a bit forced / calculated compared to Dirty Mind (no real development). The consensus seems to be:
- Dirty Mind: his first 'hit' when it comes to delivering his original funk, soul, pop and rock hybrid. The one with a lo-fi / new-wave vibe.
- 1999: his hybrid getting more 'electronic'. Probably his most influential album (from Jam and Lewis to Timbaland)
- Purple Rain: a more 'compact' version of 1999, more 'radiofriendly' and more focussed: the big cross-over.
- Sign of the Times: a more 'matured' Prince. His hybrid used in a more fractured, subtle kind of way.

I have a VH1 book called "100 Greatest Albums", and it has three Prince albums listed.
#18 Purple Rain
#35 Sign "O" The Times
#49 1999

VH1 sent out over 700 ballots to musicians from Art Garfunkel to Britney Spears( I am afraid I just ruined the validity of this list) , DJ's, radio programmers, and critics.

Riverpoet31 said:

Totally agreed .

Other albums are good, but are made in concepts that have been done before.
These four albums prove Prince as being a pioneer in music history,
most other albums confirme that with their own quality but aren't that refreshing.
[Edited 2/4/10 13:53pm]

top 200 ever eh... well then SOTT and Parade and that's it I think ...Purple Rain and 1999 might get in 200-300 maybe if u think of all the brilliant artists ever.

rmartin70 said:

cool, I would love to read/ see this full list

Purple Rain
Sign 'O the Times

thedance said:

VH1's 100 Greatest Albums
1. The Beatles / Revolver
2. Nirvana / Nevermind
3. Beach Boys / Pet Sounds
4. Marvin Gaye / What's Going On
5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience / Are You Experienced?
6. The Beatles / Rubber Soul
7. Stevie Wonder / Songs In The Key Of LIfe
8. The Beatles / Abbey Road
9. Bob Dylan / Blonde On Blonde
10. The Beatles / SGT. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
11. The Beatles / White Album
12. The Rolling Stones / Exile ON Main Street
13. The Who / Who's Next
14. Joni Mitchell / Blue
15. U2 / The Joshua Tree
16. Fleetwood Mac / Rumours
17. The Sex Pistols / Nevermind The Bullocks
18. Prince and the Revolution / Purple Rain
19. The Velvet Underground / Velvet Underground & Nico
20. Public Enemy / It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
21. Elvis Presley / The Sun Sessions
22. Bob Dylan / Highway 61 Revisited
23. Michael Jackson / Thriller
24. The Rolling Stones / Let It Bleed
25. The Clash / London Calling
26. Bob Marley & the Wailers / Exodus
27. Bruce Springsteen / Born To Run
28. Patti Smith / Horses
29. Bob Dylan / Blood On The Tracks
30. Aretha Franklin / I Never Loved A Man
31. Stevie Wonder / Innervisions
32. Van Morrison / Moondance
33. Simon & Garfunkel / Bridge Over Troubled Water
34. James Brown / Sex Machine
35. Prince / Sign "O" The Times
36. Michael Jackson / Off The Wall
37. Lauryn Hill / The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
38. The Eagles / Hotel California
39. Carole King / Tapestry
40. Van Morrison / Astral Weeks
41. Aretha Franklin / Lady Soul
42. Guns N' Roses / Appetite For Destruction
43. Led Zeppelin / Led Zeppelin II
44. Led Zeppelin / Led Zeppelin
45. Sly & The Family Stone / Stand!
46. The Rolling Stones / Sticky Fingers
47. David Bowie / Hunky Dory
48. David Bowie / The Rise and Fall Of Ziggy Stardust
49. Prince / 1999
50. The Police / Synchronicity
51. Pink Floyd / Dark Side Of The Moon
52. The Pretenders / The Pretenders
53. Bob Dylan / Bringing It All Back Home
54. The Ramones / Ramones
55. Parliament / Mothership Connection
56. Kraftwork / Trans-Europe Express
57. The Bee Gees / Saturday Night Fever
58. Dusty Springfield / Dusty In Memphis
59. The Allman Bros. Band / At The Fillmore East
60. The Doors / The Doors
61. CSN&Y / Deja Vu
62. NWA / Straight Outta Compton
63. Curtis Mayfield / Superfly
64. Miles Davis / Bitches Brew
65. U2 / Achtung Baby
66. Miles Davis / Kind Of Blue
67. The Rolling Stones / Beggar's Banquet
68. Bruce Springsteen / Darkness On The Edge Of Town
69. Iggy Pop & The Stooges / Raw Power
70. Al Green / Call Me
71. Led Zeppelin / Physical Graffiti
72. The Jimi Hendrix Experience / Electric Ladyland
73. Jeff Buckley / Grace
74. The Beastie Boys / Paul's Boutique
75. The Replacements / Let It Be
76. Aretha Franklin / Young, Gifted & Black
77. James Taylor / Sweet Baby James
78. The Jimi Hendrix Experience / Axis: Bold As Love
79. Pearl Jam / Ten
80. Elvis Costello / My Aim Is True
81. Otis Redding / Otis Blue
82. AC/DC / Back In Black
83. Television / Marquee Moon
84. Paul Simon / Graceland
85. Santana / Abraxas
86. The Who / Quadrophenia
87. Cream / Disraeli Gears
88. Talking Heads / Remain in Light
89. Derek & The Dominoes / Layla
90. The Who / Tommy
91. Peter Gabriel / So
92. REM / Murmur
93. Simon & Garfunkel / Bookends
94. Radiohead / OK Computer
95. Tina Turner / Private Dancer
96. Liz Phair / Exile In Guyville
97. Ray Charles / Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music
98. The Jackson Five / ABC
99. The B=52's / The B=52's
100.Madonna / Like A Prayer

I hope there are not too many typos.
[Edited 2/6/10 15:58pm]
[Edited 2/6/10 16:11pm]

rmartin70 said:

At least Purple Rain is ahead of Thriller

rmartin70 said:

wow!! thanks rmartin...

did you really type all this by yourself...

I didn't see Pink Floyd's THE WALL??? Def. belongs in top 10, imo.

Huggiebear said:

and... Sign "☮" The Times is higher than Off The Wall...

thedance said:

I have that issue and it is one of the most accurate "lists" ever.

IMHO Around The World In A Day should be in a list for most avant garde albums ever.

Nirvana's Nevermind is the most overrated album ever.
There are at least 40 albums on this list that are better albums than Nevermind.

^ Nirvana is overrated in general,

I agree 100%.

thedance said:

Your welcome. Yes, I did type it by myself. I double checked the list, and THE WALL is not on it. I agree with you, it definately belongs on the list.(Maybe top 20 though.)

Riverpoet31 said:

I agree, except that 1999 should be in the top 100. I think people don't give R&B the respect it deserves.

muleFunk said:

No just the list, for "most self indulgent albums ever" and "The quickest way to kill a promising career albums list"

^ Huggiebear... must be nuts...

or: are you deaf...? ATWIAD is a truly fine album,

I this album from start to finish,

and these:

Raspberry Beret (New Mix 6:37)
Paisley Park (Remix 6:59)
She's Always In My Hair (New Mix 6:33)
Pop Life (UK Extended Version 9:08)
Pop Life (Fresh Dance Mix 6:20)
Hello (Fresh Dance Mix 6:15)
America (21:39)

those 12 Inch versions are some of Prince's finest material,

100% funky music, not the pseudo music Prince is releasing today

ATWIAD.....

rmartin70 said:

wow, cool and thanks again.

thedance said:

Co-sign !!! We're two on this boat !!!!