jdcxc said:

kewlschool said:

Spinlight said:

Really difficult to get into this album. "When You Were Mine" is a classic and all-time favorite, but I'm just not terribly fond of the rest.

It's time to turn in your FAM papers. I also think you may have lost a lot of street Cred with that statement.

When "street Cred" on the org is something I strive towards, I'll let you know of my pangs of loss.

jdcxc said:

I agree with Questlove 100% (real musicians know the deal):

* The album basically ended disco.

* Truly groundbreaking, underground and fascinating hit in the R&B audience that totally changed the sound of all funk and roll to follow. The Minneapolis sound had begun and would become the most copied production blueprint for the next ten years.

* It heralded the era of the producer. No more ten-man bands (Ohio Players, Commodores, etc)

* It showed a way for a new experimental, creative voice rarely seen in black music. Prince became our rebel and revolutionary (think Bowie or punk music). The sound was freedom. He played with gender and sex in a way never before seen in a mainstream African-American musical setting (he does owe a lot to L. Richard). Many artists would copy his overt sexuality without the humor.

Great album that still sounds revolutionary today!

It's hard to take someone seriously when they begin their post with a lie.

Spinlight said:

kewlschool said:

It's time to turn in your FAM papers. I also think you may have lost a lot of street Cred with that statement.

When "street Cred" on the org is something I strive towards, I'll let you know of my pangs of loss.

Spinlight said:

jdcxc said:

I agree with Questlove 100% (real musicians know the deal):

* The album basically ended disco.

* Truly groundbreaking, underground and fascinating hit in the R&B audience that totally changed the sound of all funk and roll to follow. The Minneapolis sound had begun and would become the most copied production blueprint for the next ten years.

* It heralded the era of the producer. No more ten-man bands (Ohio Players, Commodores, etc)

* It showed a way for a new experimental, creative voice rarely seen in black music. Prince became our rebel and revolutionary (think Bowie or punk music). The sound was freedom. He played with gender and sex in a way never before seen in a mainstream African-American musical setting (he does owe a lot to L. Richard). Many artists would copy his overt sexuality without the humor.

Great album that still sounds revolutionary today!

It's hard to take someone seriously when they begin their post with a lie.

Obviously the end of disco (some would argue that it just changed it's name) was a result of multiple factors. But you can't deny that Prince led a movement away from disco and dropped the complicated melodic structure and orchestration which typified the "disco sound". The Minny sound of sparse instrumentation, keyboard horns and lead guitar to the forefront was born on DM.

I once read an interview with a producer of the disco era, in which he described how radically Prince's one-man band approach and sound totally changed the economics and music of the era. Prince was able to merge new wave sounds and attitude with dance music into a new musical direction.

DM is one of those revolutionary musical contributions (Sex Pistols, RunDMC, etc.) in which the cultural importance outlasts it's initial commercial appeal. If you believe that Prince is one of contemporary music's true visionaries of the last forty years, DM must be recognized as the original blueprint.

jdcxc said:

Spinlight said:

It's hard to take someone seriously when they begin their post with a lie.

Obviously the end of disco (some would argue that it just changed it's name) was a result of multiple factors. But you can't deny that Prince led a movement away from disco and dropped the complicated melodic structure and orchestration which typified the "disco sound". The Minny sound of sparse instrumentation, keyboard horns and lead guitar to the forefront was born on DM.

I once read an interview with a producer of the disco era, in which he described how radically Prince's one-man band approach and sound totally changed the economics and music of the era. Prince was able to merge new wave sounds and attitude with dance music into a new musical direction.

DM is one of those revolutionary musical contributions (Sex Pistols, RunDMC, etc.) in which the cultural importance outlasts it's initial commercial appeal. If you believe that Prince is one of contemporary music's true visionaries of the last forty years, DM must be recognized as the original blueprint.

I believe that Controversy displays that idea, but not DM. To me, DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money by going for a harder, punk-inspired edge (while never actually doing punk music). Controversy displays the same artistic aesthetic that Prince carried with him the rest of his career, the length and scope of which never dawned on DM.

I feel that DM was almost a regression, artistically speaking. DM sounded more like For You than the selft-titled album did. And for all the wrong reasons.

Spinlight said:

jdcxc said:

Obviously the end of disco (some would argue that it just changed it's name) was a result of multiple factors. But you can't deny that Prince led a movement away from disco and dropped the complicated melodic structure and orchestration which typified the "disco sound". The Minny sound of sparse instrumentation, keyboard horns and lead guitar to the forefront was born on DM.

I once read an interview with a producer of the disco era, in which he described how radically Prince's one-man band approach and sound totally changed the economics and music of the era. Prince was able to merge new wave sounds and attitude with dance music into a new musical direction.

DM is one of those revolutionary musical contributions (Sex Pistols, RunDMC, etc.) in which the cultural importance outlasts it's initial commercial appeal. If you believe that Prince is one of contemporary music's true visionaries of the last forty years, DM must be recognized as the original blueprint.

I believe that Controversy displays that idea, but not DM. To me, DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money by going for a harder, punk-inspired edge (while never actually doing punk music). Controversy displays the same artistic aesthetic that Prince carried with him the rest of his career, the length and scope of which never dawned on DM.

I feel that DM was almost a regression, artistically speaking. DM sounded more like For You than the selft-titled album did. And for all the wrong reasons.

Dirty Mind is radically different than For You. Rolling Stone called DM "the most radical 180 degree turns in the history of pop music" for a reason. Controversy is a cool album, but P is continuing to work out the ideas he started on the previous album. 1999 brings those ideas to the masses.

David Sitek of TV On The Radio weighs in in the October issue of Uncut :

My favourite Prince album : Dirty Mind

'Purple Rain probably had the most impact on me of all of Prince's albums, but this was sinister, cool as shit, still punk rock, and very well executed. 'Sister' threw me off when I was a kid. The line 'My sister never fucked anyone but me' - it didn't dawn on me that that could be on a major label. And 'When You Were Mine' is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard.'

Musicians know best.

Spinlight said:

jdcxc said:

Obviously the end of disco (some would argue that it just changed it's name) was a result of multiple factors. But you can't deny that Prince led a movement away from disco and dropped the complicated melodic structure and orchestration which typified the "disco sound". The Minny sound of sparse instrumentation, keyboard horns and lead guitar to the forefront was born on DM.

I once read an interview with a producer of the disco era, in which he described how radically Prince's one-man band approach and sound totally changed the economics and music of the era. Prince was able to merge new wave sounds and attitude with dance music into a new musical direction.

DM is one of those revolutionary musical contributions (Sex Pistols, RunDMC, etc.) in which the cultural importance outlasts it's initial commercial appeal. If you believe that Prince is one of contemporary music's true visionaries of the last forty years, DM must be recognized as the original blueprint.

I believe that Controversy displays that idea, but not DM. To me, DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money by going for a harder, punk-inspired edge (while never actually doing punk music). Controversy displays the same artistic aesthetic that Prince carried with him the rest of his career, the length and scope of which never dawned on DM.

I feel that DM was almost a regression, artistically speaking. DM sounded more like For You than the selft-titled album did. And for all the wrong reasons.

Man, no offense, but seriously: is your dislike of Dirty Mind completely CLOUDING your objectivity or what?

Dirty Mind was an artistic success, and a complete innovation; as many have said, the mix of dance & synths with 70s funk and new wave was COMPLETELY visionary in 1980. Say ONE, just one artist that had created something remotely similar as Uptown or Dirty Mind at that point of pop history (1980). None. Not even George Clinton. Certainly, a couple of tracks are a bit late-70s (Party Up, Do It All Night, GBHA), but the rest of the album sounds completely fresh, completely 1980...

Also, it's puzzling that you say that Dirty Mind sounded more like For You really? with something as nasty and nihilistic as Head? With something as epic and revelatory as Uptown? With mature/ironic lyrics like When You Were Mine? A regression of Prince 1979?? Dirty Mind is generally accepted as the album that broke Prince free from the late-70s, disco and old-school funk, the kind of music that "he was supposed to play", just because he was black

Dirty Mind kills both For You and Prince, in terms of attitude, lyrics, ambition, sincerity and innovation... Bland songs like My Love is Forever or With You, or generic/predictable disco cuts like Just As Long as We're Together would never have been permitted on Dirty Mind. Songs like Uptown, Head, or Party Up feature lyrics that look truly heartfelt...while songs like In Love, My Love is Forever, With You or Still Waiting look completely generic...completely insincere...

No, no matter how you look at it, Dirty Mind was completely groundbreaking, and it has influenced any Modern-R&B, Dance/Rock or Synth-Pop artist/band in the 80s, the 90s or the 00s, specially during the 80s and 00s...

And don't get me started with the "DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money" line What Prince and MJ accomplished during the 80-84 years is something to be proud of ...(they basically destroyed the silly/insulting distinction between "black" and "white" music and created something fresh and new for everybody)...

Prince has released 8 or 9 masterpieces, but his 3 most innovative records, in my opinion, are still Dirty Mind, 1999 and Parade, followed closely by SOTT and Purple Rain...

JoeTyler said:

Spinlight said:

I believe that Controversy displays that idea, but not DM. To me, DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money by going for a harder, punk-inspired edge (while never actually doing punk music). Controversy displays the same artistic aesthetic that Prince carried with him the rest of his career, the length and scope of which never dawned on DM.

I feel that DM was almost a regression, artistically speaking. DM sounded more like For You than the selft-titled album did. And for all the wrong reasons.

Man, no offense, but seriously: is your dislike of Dirty Mind completely CLOUDING your objectivity or what?

Dirty Mind was an artistic success, and a complete innovation; as many have said, the mix of dance & synths with 70s funk and new wave was COMPLETELY visionary in 1980. Say ONE, just one artist that had created something remotely similar as Uptown or Dirty Mind at that point of pop history (1980). None. Not even George Clinton. Certainly, a couple of tracks are a bit late-70s (Party Up, Do It All Night, GBHA), but the rest of the album sounds completely fresh, completely 1980...

Also, it's puzzling that you say that Dirty Mind sounded more like For You really? with something as nasty and nihilistic as Head? With something as epic and revelatory as Uptown? With mature/ironic lyrics like When You Were Mine? A regression of Prince 1979?? Dirty Mind is generally accepted as the album that broke Prince free from the late-70s, disco and old-school funk, the kind of music that "he was supposed to play", just because he was black

Dirty Mind kills both For You and Prince, in terms of attitude, lyrics, ambition, sincerity and innovation... Bland songs like My Love is Forever or With You, or generic/predictable disco cuts like Just As Long as We're Together would never have been permitted on Dirty Mind. Songs like Uptown, Head, or Party Up feature lyrics that look truly heartfelt...while songs like In Love, My Love is Forever, With You or Still Waiting look completely generic...completely insincere...

No, no matter how you look at it, Dirty Mind was completely groundbreaking, and it has influenced any Modern-R&B, Dance/Rock or Synth-Pop artist/band in the 80s, the 90s or the 00s, specially during the 80s and 00s...

And don't get me started with the "DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money" line What Prince and MJ accomplished during the 80-84 years is something to be proud of ...(they basically destroyed the silly/insulting distinction between "black" and "white" music and created something fresh and new for everybody)...

Prince has released 8 or 9 masterpieces, but his 3 most innovative records, in my opinion, are still Dirty Mind, 1999 and Parade, followed closely by SOTT and Purple Rain...

With bands like New Order, Stray Cats, Minor Threat, Violent Femmes, The Fixx, Duran Duran, and classic albums like Double Fantasy* coming out in 1980 before Dirty Mind's October release, I think it's unfair to give Dirty Mind that much of a portion of the proceeds for pioneering synth music.

Controversy began Prince's trip down the rabbit hole of psychedelia, acid rock, and, in my opinion, is leagues funkier than DM. Even when it comes down to title tracks, "Controversy" is something you've never heard before and you'll never hear again.

JoeTyler said:

Spinlight said:

I believe that Controversy displays that idea, but not DM. To me, DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money by going for a harder, punk-inspired edge (while never actually doing punk music). Controversy displays the same artistic aesthetic that Prince carried with him the rest of his career, the length and scope of which never dawned on DM.

I feel that DM was almost a regression, artistically speaking. DM sounded more like For You than the selft-titled album did. And for all the wrong reasons.

Man, no offense, but seriously: is your dislike of Dirty Mind completely CLOUDING your objectivity or what?

Dirty Mind was an artistic success, and a complete innovation; as many have said, the mix of dance & synths with 70s funk and new wave was COMPLETELY visionary in 1980. Say ONE, just one artist that had created something remotely similar as Uptown or Dirty Mind at that point of pop history (1980). None. Not even George Clinton. Certainly, a couple of tracks are a bit late-70s (Party Up, Do It All Night, GBHA), but the rest of the album sounds completely fresh, completely 1980...

Also, it's puzzling that you say that Dirty Mind sounded more like For You really? with something as nasty and nihilistic as Head? With something as epic and revelatory as Uptown? With mature/ironic lyrics like When You Were Mine? A regression of Prince 1979?? Dirty Mind is generally accepted as the album that broke Prince free from the late-70s, disco and old-school funk, the kind of music that "he was supposed to play", just because he was black

Dirty Mind kills both For You and Prince, in terms of attitude, lyrics, ambition, sincerity and innovation... Bland songs like My Love is Forever or With You, or generic/predictable disco cuts like Just As Long as We're Together would never have been permitted on Dirty Mind. Songs like Uptown, Head, or Party Up feature lyrics that look truly heartfelt...while songs like In Love, My Love is Forever, With You or Still Waiting look completely generic...completely insincere...

No, no matter how you look at it, Dirty Mind was completely groundbreaking, and it has influenced any Modern-R&B, Dance/Rock or Synth-Pop artist/band in the 80s, the 90s or the 00s, specially during the 80s and 00s...

And don't get me started with the "DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money" line What Prince and MJ accomplished during the 80-84 years is something to be proud of ...(they basically destroyed the silly/insulting distinction between "black" and "white" music and created something fresh and new for everybody)...

Prince has released 8 or 9 masterpieces, but his 3 most innovative records, in my opinion, are still Dirty Mind, 1999 and Parade, followed closely by SOTT and Purple Rain...

Brilliant.

Spinlight said:

JoeTyler said:

Man, no offense, but seriously: is your dislike of Dirty Mind completely CLOUDING your objectivity or what?

Dirty Mind was an artistic success, and a complete innovation; as many have said, the mix of dance & synths with 70s funk and new wave was COMPLETELY visionary in 1980. Say ONE, just one artist that had created something remotely similar as Uptown or Dirty Mind at that point of pop history (1980). None. Not even George Clinton. Certainly, a couple of tracks are a bit late-70s (Party Up, Do It All Night, GBHA), but the rest of the album sounds completely fresh, completely 1980...

Also, it's puzzling that you say that Dirty Mind sounded more like For You really? with something as nasty and nihilistic as Head? With something as epic and revelatory as Uptown? With mature/ironic lyrics like When You Were Mine? A regression of Prince 1979?? Dirty Mind is generally accepted as the album that broke Prince free from the late-70s, disco and old-school funk, the kind of music that "he was supposed to play", just because he was black

Dirty Mind kills both For You and Prince, in terms of attitude, lyrics, ambition, sincerity and innovation... Bland songs like My Love is Forever or With You, or generic/predictable disco cuts like Just As Long as We're Together would never have been permitted on Dirty Mind. Songs like Uptown, Head, or Party Up feature lyrics that look truly heartfelt...while songs like In Love, My Love is Forever, With You or Still Waiting look completely generic...completely insincere...

No, no matter how you look at it, Dirty Mind was completely groundbreaking, and it has influenced any Modern-R&B, Dance/Rock or Synth-Pop artist/band in the 80s, the 90s or the 00s, specially during the 80s and 00s...

And don't get me started with the "DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money" line What Prince and MJ accomplished during the 80-84 years is something to be proud of ...(they basically destroyed the silly/insulting distinction between "black" and "white" music and created something fresh and new for everybody)...

Prince has released 8 or 9 masterpieces, but his 3 most innovative records, in my opinion, are still Dirty Mind, 1999 and Parade, followed closely by SOTT and Purple Rain...

With bands like New Order, Stray Cats, Minor Threat, Violent Femmes, The Fixx, Duran Duran, and classic albums like Double Fantasy* coming out in 1980 before Dirty Mind's October release, I think it's unfair to give Dirty Mind that much of a portion of the proceeds for pioneering synth music.

Forgot to add my addendum that although Double Fantasy came out a month after Dirty Mind, it still adds credence to my thoughts about the divisions in music that Prince contributed to.

Also would like to note that because rock was changing during this period, Prince's sound became much edgier. I don't think Dirty Mind was as ex nihilo as you think it is. I think he knew what he was doing cuz he saw it before.

I gotta say when you were mine is probably Prince's most underrated song. I love this song, although the line about the three some is disturbing.

Spinlight said:

JoeTyler said:

Man, no offense, but seriously: is your dislike of Dirty Mind completely CLOUDING your objectivity or what?

Dirty Mind was an artistic success, and a complete innovation; as many have said, the mix of dance & synths with 70s funk and new wave was COMPLETELY visionary in 1980. Say ONE, just one artist that had created something remotely similar as Uptown or Dirty Mind at that point of pop history (1980). None. Not even George Clinton. Certainly, a couple of tracks are a bit late-70s (Party Up, Do It All Night, GBHA), but the rest of the album sounds completely fresh, completely 1980...

Also, it's puzzling that you say that Dirty Mind sounded more like For You really? with something as nasty and nihilistic as Head? With something as epic and revelatory as Uptown? With mature/ironic lyrics like When You Were Mine? A regression of Prince 1979?? Dirty Mind is generally accepted as the album that broke Prince free from the late-70s, disco and old-school funk, the kind of music that "he was supposed to play", just because he was black

Dirty Mind kills both For You and Prince, in terms of attitude, lyrics, ambition, sincerity and innovation... Bland songs like My Love is Forever or With You, or generic/predictable disco cuts like Just As Long as We're Together would never have been permitted on Dirty Mind. Songs like Uptown, Head, or Party Up feature lyrics that look truly heartfelt...while songs like In Love, My Love is Forever, With You or Still Waiting look completely generic...completely insincere...

No, no matter how you look at it, Dirty Mind was completely groundbreaking, and it has influenced any Modern-R&B, Dance/Rock or Synth-Pop artist/band in the 80s, the 90s or the 00s, specially during the 80s and 00s...

And don't get me started with the "DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money" line What Prince and MJ accomplished during the 80-84 years is something to be proud of ...(they basically destroyed the silly/insulting distinction between "black" and "white" music and created something fresh and new for everybody)...

Prince has released 8 or 9 masterpieces, but his 3 most innovative records, in my opinion, are still Dirty Mind, 1999 and Parade, followed closely by SOTT and Purple Rain...

With bands like New Order, Stray Cats, Minor Threat, Violent Femmes, The Fixx, Duran Duran, and classic albums like Double Fantasy* coming out in 1980 before Dirty Mind's October release, I think it's unfair to give Dirty Mind that much of a portion of the proceeds for pioneering synth music.

...

and Duran's debut is from 1981...

JoeTyler said:

Spinlight said:

With bands like New Order, Stray Cats, Minor Threat, Violent Femmes, The Fixx, Duran Duran, and classic albums like Double Fantasy* coming out in 1980 before Dirty Mind's October release, I think it's unfair to give Dirty Mind that much of a portion of the proceeds for pioneering synth music.

...

and Duran's debut is from 1981...

Yeah and so is Stray Cats', but they were still around before their major label debuts.

Spinlight said:

JoeTyler said:

Man, no offense, but seriously: is your dislike of Dirty Mind completely CLOUDING your objectivity or what?

Dirty Mind was an artistic success, and a complete innovation; as many have said, the mix of dance & synths with 70s funk and new wave was COMPLETELY visionary in 1980. Say ONE, just one artist that had created something remotely similar as Uptown or Dirty Mind at that point of pop history (1980). None. Not even George Clinton. Certainly, a couple of tracks are a bit late-70s (Party Up, Do It All Night, GBHA), but the rest of the album sounds completely fresh, completely 1980...

Also, it's puzzling that you say that Dirty Mind sounded more like For You really? with something as nasty and nihilistic as Head? With something as epic and revelatory as Uptown? With mature/ironic lyrics like When You Were Mine? A regression of Prince 1979?? Dirty Mind is generally accepted as the album that broke Prince free from the late-70s, disco and old-school funk, the kind of music that "he was supposed to play", just because he was black

Dirty Mind kills both For You and Prince, in terms of attitude, lyrics, ambition, sincerity and innovation... Bland songs like My Love is Forever or With You, or generic/predictable disco cuts like Just As Long as We're Together would never have been permitted on Dirty Mind. Songs like Uptown, Head, or Party Up feature lyrics that look truly heartfelt...while songs like In Love, My Love is Forever, With You or Still Waiting look completely generic...completely insincere...

No, no matter how you look at it, Dirty Mind was completely groundbreaking, and it has influenced any Modern-R&B, Dance/Rock or Synth-Pop artist/band in the 80s, the 90s or the 00s, specially during the 80s and 00s...

And don't get me started with the "DM was Prince's first grab for 'white' money" line What Prince and MJ accomplished during the 80-84 years is something to be proud of ...(they basically destroyed the silly/insulting distinction between "black" and "white" music and created something fresh and new for everybody)...

Prince has released 8 or 9 masterpieces, but his 3 most innovative records, in my opinion, are still Dirty Mind, 1999 and Parade, followed closely by SOTT and Purple Rain...

With bands like New Order, Stray Cats, Minor Threat, Violent Femmes, The Fixx, Duran Duran, and classic albums like Double Fantasy* coming out in 1980 before Dirty Mind's October release, I think it's unfair to give Dirty Mind that much of a portion of the proceeds for pioneering synth music.

I'd point to artists like:

• Kraftwerk
• Giorgio Moroder (producer of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love")
• Ultravox
• The Human League
• Devo
• Tubeway Army/Gary Numan

Most of those had had actual hits before Prince had released Dirty Mind.

jdcxc said:

I agree with Questlove 100% (real musicians know the deal):

* The album basically ended disco.

Yeah sure.

* Truly groundbreaking, underground and fascinating hit in the R&B audience that totally changed the sound of all funk and roll to follow. The Minneapolis sound had begun and would become the most copied production blueprint for the next ten years.

Except this isn't true.

* It heralded the era of the producer. No more ten-man bands (Ohio Players, Commodores, etc)

Prince fans and their idiotic "Prince did X first" nonsense.

* It showed a way for a new experimental, creative voice rarely seen in black music. Prince became our rebel and revolutionary (think Bowie or punk music). The sound was freedom. He played with gender and sex in a way never before seen in a mainstream African-American musical setting (he does owe a lot to L. Richard).

Yes, no artist ever talked about sex before Prince...

BartVanHemelen said:

Spinlight said:

With bands like New Order, Stray Cats, Minor Threat, Violent Femmes, The Fixx, Duran Duran, and classic albums like Double Fantasy* coming out in 1980 before Dirty Mind's October release, I think it's unfair to give Dirty Mind that much of a portion of the proceeds for pioneering synth music.

I'd point to artists like:

• Kraftwerk
• Giorgio Moroder (producer of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love")
• Ultravox
• The Human League
• Devo
• Tubeway Army/Gary Numan

Most of those had had actual hits before Prince had released Dirty Mind.

Dudes, can't you even read?

I thought it was clear that we have said that Dirty Mind mixed synths/dance with funk, new wave and R&B, thus creating the blueprint for dance/R&B oriented acts in the 80s and, to a lesser extent, in the 00s

why the fuck are you including bands that had NOTHING to do with funk/R&B ?? ... is beyond me...

Devo? Kraftwerk? you're the first fool that has ever compared those acts with Prince...pointless, really...

[Edited 10/11/10 5:07am]

Spinlight said:

Really difficult to get into this album. "When You Were Mine" is a classic and all-time favorite, but I'm just not terribly fond of the rest.

What's funny about this is that, of all the songs on the album, "When You Were Mine" was an instant LEAST favorite on the album, and continues to hold that position. I don't get the appeal of the song, and the production is terrible. To me, the most overhyped song in his catalog. There is a lot of the album I do enjoy, however, especially side 2.

It will never be in the top 5 of Prince albums for me, though.

Oh, and to say that "Dirty Mind" ended disco is just silly.

=0P

Hero0101 said:

Spinlight said:

Really difficult to get into this album. "When You Were Mine" is a classic and all-time favorite, but I'm just not terribly fond of the rest.

What's funny about this is that, of all the songs on the album, "When You Were Mine" was an instant LEAST favorite on the album, and continues to hold that position. I don't get the appeal of the song,

one of the most recognizable melodies in pop history?

JoeTyler said:

BartVanHemelen said:

I'd point to artists like:

• Kraftwerk
• Giorgio Moroder (producer of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love")
• Ultravox
• The Human League
• Devo
• Tubeway Army/Gary Numan

Most of those had had actual hits before Prince had released Dirty Mind.

Dudes, can't you even read?

I thought it was clear that we have said that Dirty Mind mixed synths/dance with funk, new wave and R&B, thus creating the blueprint for dance/R&B oriented acts in the 80s and, to a lesser extent, in the 00s

why the fuck are you including bands that had NOTHING to do with funk/R&B is beyond me...

Devo? Kraftwerk? you're the first fool that has ever compared those acts with Prince...pointless, really...

So then why aren't you comparing Dirty Mind to Blondie (having hits with R&B/Disco/Funk songs like "Heart of Glass" and "Rapture"), David Bowie ("Ashes to Ashes", "Sound and Vision", "Fashion"), and the like?

Or... are you really turning your eye toward a specific demographic?

JoeTyler said:

Hero0101 said:

What's funny about this is that, of all the songs on the album, "When You Were Mine" was an instant LEAST favorite on the album, and continues to hold that position. I don't get the appeal of the song,

one of the most recognizable melodies in pop history?

Say what? To whom? The song wasn't a hit. It's one of my all-time favorite Prince songs, but I don't know many people who don't already know about old school black music who knows the song "When You Were Mine".... "I Wanna Be Your Lover" or "Do Me, Baby" maybe... But nothing from Dirty Mind is remotely mainstream.

Spinlight said:

JoeTyler said:

one of the most recognizable melodies in pop history?

Say what? To whom? The song wasn't a hit. It's one of my all-time favorite Prince songs, but I don't know many people who don't already know about old school black music who knows the song "When You Were Mine".... "I Wanna Be Your Lover" or "Do Me, Baby" maybe... But nothing from Dirty Mind is remotely mainstream.

So what?

Pop history is pop history, not the Billboard Top20

Bob Dylan had only a few hits in the mid-60s but almost 40 of his songs are timeless classics by any standard...

and Heart of Glass was basically a disco song, but I do agree that Rapture was just as innovative as anything on Dirty Mind...

jdcxc said:

I agree with Questlove 100% (real musicians know the deal):

* The album basically ended disco.

* Truly groundbreaking, underground and fascinating hit in the R&B audience that totally changed the sound of all funk and roll to follow. The Minneapolis sound had begun and would become the most copied production blueprint for the next ten years.

* It heralded the era of the producer. No more ten-man bands (Ohio Players, Commodores, etc)

* It showed a way for a new experimental, creative voice rarely seen in black music. Prince became our rebel and revolutionary (think Bowie or punk music). The sound was freedom. He played with gender and sex in a way never before seen in a mainstream African-American musical setting (he does owe a lot to L. Richard). Many artists would copy his overt sexuality without the humor.

Great album that still sounds revolutionary today!

Yes!!!

JoeTyler said:

Spinlight said:

Say what? To whom? The song wasn't a hit. It's one of my all-time favorite Prince songs, but I don't know many people who don't already know about old school black music who knows the song "When You Were Mine".... "I Wanna Be Your Lover" or "Do Me, Baby" maybe... But nothing from Dirty Mind is remotely mainstream.

So what?

Pop history is pop history, not the Billboard Top20

Bob Dylan had only a few hits in the mid-60s but almost 40 of his songs are timeless classics by any standard...

and Heart of Glass was basically a disco song, but I do agree that Rapture was just as innovative as anything on Dirty Mind...

But I'm saying that I don't think the average joe knows the song "When You Were Mine".... I think people who listened to black radio back then or now probably does. I think Prince fans obviously do. But when you ask the average music listener, they will tell you it doesn't ring a bell.

This is one of my top 3 Prince albums.It's a masterpiece.

Spinlight said:

JoeTyler said:

So what?

Pop history is pop history, not the Billboard Top20

Bob Dylan had only a few hits in the mid-60s but almost 40 of his songs are timeless classics by any standard...

and Heart of Glass was basically a disco song, but I do agree that Rapture was just as innovative as anything on Dirty Mind...

But I'm saying that I don't think the average joe knows the song "When You Were Mine".... I think people who listened to black radio back then or now probably does. I think Prince fans obviously do. But when you ask the average music listener, they will tell you it doesn't ring a bell.

I know what you mean, but THANKFULLY, pop music doesn't depend on the "knowledge" of the average Joe but on the knowledge of producers, DJ's, execs of international labels, musicians, serious fan of pop music, the owners of "serious" mass media music magazines ...etc

Always, always, always in my top 5 Prince albums. And When You Were Mine is my favorite Prince song ever.

Genesia said:

Always, always, always in my top 5 Prince albums. And When You Were Mine is my favorite Prince song ever.

My admiration for you has vastly increased