I am a huge Stevie fan, but as the years go by I really think his best work was in the 70's and he might have run out of good new material. Prince is similar, he owned the 80's but it seems he just isn't as creative anymore. It's a lot of hard work to make such masterpieces and the well might be dry. But the performers are still there so thats ok. I'll take that.

Some artists peak with one album. The fact that Prince and Stevie sustained their respective creative highs for a decade speaks a great deal to their talent.

Been listening to Lotusflower a lot and I feel it's an excellent cd. Over the years Prince has had several creative peaks and valleys. IMHO, Lotusflower is another peak. And you know he can kill it live.

As for Stevie's last album, 2005's "A Time To Love", I feel it's his best work since 1980's "Hotter Than July". Also his "Live At Last" DVD is a must see.

manray10 said:

Agree on all counts. Listen to Lotusflow3r with a good pair of headphones and play it loud. It's a masterpiece IMO.

Prince 1991-1995 was brilliant imo. "The Gold Experience" is as good as his 80's material, imo.

Stevie... his 1995 album "Conversation Peace" is overlooked.. a great album.

thedance said:

Agreed. I loved the Jungle Fever soundtrack for its melodies and harmonies. I thought that "Conversation Peace" was better produced than Jungle Fever but not as melodious. "A Time To Love" nailed the melodies,harmonies and the production.

DMSR said:

Defined "Peaked".

Then, name an artist/group that didn't "peak" in one decade or another.

DMSR said:

I have yet to be disappointed in any of Stevie's albums. Prince is an arrogant hack. Without truly knowledgeable and energized creative people around him he has released some real stinkers. Stevie always comes correct no matter if he's dueting with great jazz artists, or the latest no talent pop star.

thedance said:

I completely agree with this. There has been other peaks too, but the Gold era was outstanding and prolific.

I you mean "peaked" in terms of record sales, it would be good to post the numbers.

In terms of creativity, production and/or appeal, I think you may be selling both artists way too short.

Prince has had several songs and albums that show his mastery at production, composition and creativity. Stevie took a break from the spotight for apx. 12 years but A Time 2 Love is as creative and musically satsfying as Innervisions. Both artists work is refined and solid.

In life, love and career we start as experimentors and endeavor to become specialists--shouldn't be confused with lack of creatiity or ability.

They are like boxers, the prime is a window of time that is very breif where nodoby can touch them. Prince and Stevie to their credit cracked that window for a whole decade ( a blessing) and were still amazing enough to provide us with flashes of brilliance here and there.When a figher hits that window, and the money is there i (as boxing journalist) call for them to take the career defining challenges because you dont want to take them when you've lost some of what made you great. Prince, between 82 and 87 was on a run Sugar Ray Leonard would envy, confirmed genuis, sales, movies, oscars, best tours and bands, and even some flops in there. Everything else is gravy.

renfield said:

I appreciate your opinion, however, right up to date...

How can you hear the song, "Colonized Mind," and say it isn't creative?

Tame said:

absolutely. I heard Miles Davis using MIDI keyboards on BBC Radio 3 once.

Cx

manray10 said:

Excellent points, and exactly how I hear both examples.

I've already said enough about 'Lotusflow3r' "standing up 2" any Prince album ever, and as far as Stevie's 'Time 2 Love', the sounds used, the recording itself, and Stevie's singing, are all reminiscent of some classic eras within his repertoire, but all very fresh, as well. I know the both Femi Jiya and a good friend of mine, Steve Jones, worked VERY hard on that project. Steve worked with Stevie for nearly ten years on what would finally become the album that was released.

Both are capable of peaks, but sustained innovation/creativity and monster songwriting is a part of what i believe to be a "zone" and true artist can live there for long. For these two to be in that zone for a decade is mind boggling

dreamshaman32 said:

I'll give "Time to Love" another chance. Maybe my ears just like that classic Stevie production with him on drums, real bass and guitar and clavinet. Maybe I just love the way Prince used the Linn drum machine to make up crazy drum patterns in the 80's. "1999" is a headphone album, there's so much to hear, but I don't hear that creativity from his latest stuff. I like some of Lotus Flower but my main issue is the crappy 3rd rate production It just doesn't sound good to my ears. I know there are some good songs there, but what happened to the production of Prince's albums in recent years?

Stevie boxed music for three decades in his time, Prince boxed for three decades in his time; both put out huge amounts of music and both are still performing... Stevie still tours...and P still puts out original music whether it is accepted or not--volumes of songs, not all hit, but considering the output and energy--many still do! Don't Disrespect the Art and Work of the Ole School!

I don't think Prince has peaked yet

Purple Rain was great, but there are fans that dig other songs/compilations even more than this gem

Prince is still rising, y'all ain't seen nothing yet

MyLawd said:

you know, within the context of Prince "peaking" and pop culture's adoration of Purple Rain...

...as a long-time fan, sometimes I wonder if Purple Rain the song itself,
was not borrowed even slightly from Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door."

Consider the beat structure, etc.

1979to 1988.. his best period

A master never peaks.....he just peeks out, so U can see him.

I find that it's usually a general rule that once an artist hits the 40's they really don't have the capacity to make the same music quality music as they did before. Having said that I feel Prince is still releasing quality music(especially when compared to a lot of modern crap we have today).

I agree, Stevies work was the best in the 70s, his 80s albums are just not as good. Hotter than July was too pop orientated and In Square Circle onwards is barely listenable. For your love was his only good post 1990 song. Every album from Talking Book and Music of my Mind to the Secret life of plants was a classic.
Prince I kind of agree too, all his classic albums date from that 1980 to 1988 period, with the intervening 22 years being a decline or flat rumble with some peaks (Depending on who you ask, some people love his 90s experimental stuff, others see it as self indulgent). I mean the Gold Experience and Symbol are good albums and add the last 3 albums as well (3121 onwards), but these are not Purple Rain and Sign o the times quality. Prince's golden age was bounded by the release of Dirty Mind and the release of Lovesexy, and some fans may even suggest it ended with Sign, and Lovesexy was the start of the decline (The album was the first to be really overproduced.
I believe another artist who peaked in a decade was David Bowie in the 70s, his albums from The Man who sold the world through to Lodger or even Scary Monsters were all classics that built upon each other and each successive disc bought a new look Bowie and almost a new sound (Eg Young Americans vs Station to Station vs Low). Yet the 80s stuff from Lets Dance onwards was nowhere near as inspired, Bowie was being self indulgent or playing it safe.

So yes I agree.

I do think the prince had a peak of 15 years, and after that some good good years and albums.
If Prince had decided to release an album every 3 years (for the 15 straight years of peaks) just like some over rated artist I could mention, Prince peaked for 45 Years!
[Edited 2/4/10 4:40am]

Graycap23 said:

Love this!

As far as I'm concerned, "Come", "The Gold Experience", and "3121" are essential to the catalog of any Prince fan.

renfield said:

very true..they both had great runs.

And aging is what dulls the talent of these musical geniuses...does it to everyone.

FunkiestOne said:

Seems that religion has dulled Prince's output.....not age.