... without thinking twice about it, what is the BEST Prince album you've ever heard?

I would have to say my best and most favorite ablum would be 1999, why: because I can put the album on from first to last song without skipping any of the tracks.

That's ... What I consider a BEST album ...

(I had to think about it) ... [img:$uid]http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/71.gif[/img:$uid]

4 me its COME, oh yeah!

There's albums I prefer to listen to, but the only correct answer to this question is Sign Of The Times. As the years pass and the dust settles, as we are able to catch our breath and study the world's greatest pop musical genius and his work outside of radio trends and generational influence, I think it will be fairly evident - if it isn't already - that SOTT was everything he was heading towards and, in effect, everything he's been trying to replicate since. It is outrageous art. Most people don't have the mental capacity to appreciate the almost supernatural genius of his work. Truly this strange little man was once tuned into something beyond our comprehension, maybe even his.

[Edited 11/18/10 14:06pm]

Number23 said:

There's albums I prefer to listen to, but the only correct answer to this question is Sign Of The Times. As the years pass and the dust settles, as we are able to catch our breath and study the world's greatest pop musical genius and his work outside of radio trends and generational influence, I think it will be fairly evident - of it isn't already - that SOTT was everything he was heading towards and, in effect, everything he's been trying to replicate since. It is outrageous art. Most people don't have the mental capacity to appreciate the almost supernatural genius of his work. Truly this man was once tuned into something beyond our comprehension, maybe even his.

[Edited 11/18/10 14:05pm]

yes ...sign o the times was his peak as an artist...i remember getting the album and i had already heard six of the tracks a few days before the release as radio 1 previewed some of the tracks so i knew it was going to be very good but i remember being blown away by how brilliant the album was...it was like he had recorded the ulimate song in each style of music and stuck it all together....the platinum disc hangs on my living room wall as it is and probably always will be my favourite album of all time...

[Edited 11/18/10 14:43pm]

I have to pick just one?! I don't think I can...there are just too many!

[Edited 11/18/10 14:49pm]

Number23 said:

There's albums I prefer to listen to, but the only correct answer to this question is Sign Of The Times. As the years pass and the dust settles, as we are able to catch our breath and study the world's greatest pop musical genius and his work outside of radio trends and generational influence, I think it will be fairly evident - if it isn't already - that SOTT was everything he was heading towards and, in effect, everything he's been trying to replicate since. It is outrageous art. Most people don't have the mental capacity to appreciate the almost supernatural genius of his work. Truly this strange little man was once tuned into something beyond our comprehension, maybe even his.

[Edited 11/18/10 14:06pm]

That's how I feel about Prince and his music. He is almost too great to comprehend!! And that's why I also can't name a "best" album, because for me that is an impossible question to answer. Sign of The Times is one of my favorites, though, that I can say for sure. The Gold Experience would be another.

Number23 said:

There's albums I prefer to listen to, but the only correct answer to this question is Sign Of The Times. As the years pass and the dust settles, as we are able to catch our breath and study the world's greatest pop musical genius and his work outside of radio trends and generational influence, I think it will be fairly evident - if it isn't already - that SOTT was everything he was heading towards and, in effect, everything he's been trying to replicate since. It is outrageous art. Most people don't have the mental capacity to appreciate the almost supernatural genius of his work. Truly this strange little man was once tuned into something beyond our comprehension, maybe even his.

[Edited 11/18/10 14:06pm]

WetDream said:

Purple Rain

[Edited 11/18/10 15:06pm]

Sign "☮" The Times - or - Purple Rain !

with

1999 and Lovesexy coming in right after.

My kneejerk answer would be Sign of the Times. I was a Prince fan before, but Sign of the Times was my first Holy Sh*t this guy is a genius, this guy is versitile moments.

With that said, I find that it may take me years to truly hear a Prince album.

What I mean by that is that I can listen to an album a thousand times, and then suddenly one day, I will hear something that speaks to me.

20Ten didnt do alot for me. Naturally, I liked one or two songs, but being completely honest, I thought it was just slightly better than awful.

Then yesteday, a lyric popped in my head from

The Gold Experience.

Welcome 2 the dawn.

Purple Rain

purplethunder3121 said:

I have to pick just one?! I don't think I can...there are just too many!

[Edited 11/18/10 14:49pm]

Lelaina said:

Purple Rain

I Cant Pick 1 so my top 5 of all time is

1) Purple Rain

2) The Gold Experience

3) Lotusflow3r

4) Love Symbol

5) 3121

Cant pick one...so I'll pick 3..

1) Purple Rain

2) 1999

3) Love Symbol

I don't even have to think about this question.

Sign 'O' The Times.

Words cannot express how good this album is. It is an emanation of pure genius.

blackbob said:

Number23 said:

There's albums I prefer to listen to, but the only correct answer to this question is Sign Of The Times. As the years pass and the dust settles, as we are able to catch our breath and study the world's greatest pop musical genius and his work outside of radio trends and generational influence, I think it will be fairly evident - of it isn't already - that SOTT was everything he was heading towards and, in effect, everything he's been trying to replicate since. It is outrageous art. Most people don't have the mental capacity to appreciate the almost supernatural genius of his work. Truly this man was once tuned into something beyond our comprehension, maybe even his.

[Edited 11/18/10 14:05pm]

yes ...sign o the times was his peak as an artist...i remember getting the album and i had already heard six of the tracks a few days before the release as radio 1 previewed some of the tracks so i knew it was going to be very good but i remember being blown away by how brilliant the album was...it was like he had recorded the ulimate song in each style of music and stuck it all together....the platinum disc hangs on my living room wall as it is and probably always will be my favourite album of all time...

[Edited 11/18/10 14:43pm]

I remember that Radio 1 review. that was the one they used to do about 4pm on a Saturday. remember hearing the Cross and being very surprised. I remember the on for GB and Andrew Loyd Webber was the guest reviewer

jcurley said:

blackbob said:

yes ...sign o the times was his peak as an artist...i remember getting the album and i had already heard six of the tracks a few days before the release as radio 1 previewed some of the tracks so i knew it was going to be very good but i remember being blown away by how brilliant the album was...it was like he had recorded the ulimate song in each style of music and stuck it all together....the platinum disc hangs on my living room wall as it is and probably always will be my favourite album of all time...

[Edited 11/18/10 14:43pm]

I remember that Radio 1 review. that was the one they used to do about 4pm on a Saturday. remember hearing the Cross and being very surprised. I remember the on for GB and Andrew Loyd Webber was the guest reviewer

going back a few years here ...yes sott preview on radio 1 ,,it was the saturday afternoon before the release....the single was already out and i think they played...play in the sunshine..housequake..forever in my life starfish and coffee and the cross....he was just soo good at that point in his career....

Number23 said:

WetDream said:

[img:$uid]http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/113.gif[/img:$uid] I wouldn't say he's been trying to replicate it though.

Not musically, I mean the artistic breadth and casual mastery of all he attempts. What I did say which was wrong was that Prince is a strange little man. I really don't think he is. He's a prime example that extremely rare human who actually becomes all he can be. He has won absolute freedom to follow all his heart and mind's whims and fancies. What marks Prince out from the herd is his bravery, both as an artist and societal human being. He has no fear of ridicule or hate. I think all he sees in his mind's eye are increasingly perfect versions of himself, to his perception. All his protogees, lovers, friends, bandmates - to me - are just recooked slices of Prince's own personality and vision. It's all him. And he has been gifted the imaginative power of small gods.

I cannot put into words how much this warmed my heart to hear (read) you say this. I too feel Prince is a enigmatic force musically speaking. Some people cannot say who they think is TRULY the greatest of all time but, I can say that he's ONE of the greatest of all time, in my generation. I feel truly honored to be a admirer of his art and yes, it was difficult to just say one album: 1999 but, there's a pull that album has where it sounds like it can be released today and still sound fresh, innovative and new and that's what music is all about. How it can be put in a time capsule of sorts and still sound like it was made ... well ... TODAY ...

Thank you for everyone who responded. I am honored and humbled at some of the responses made. [img:$uid]http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/111.gif[/img:$uid]

1999 or ONA Piano

Parade.

PurpleLove7 said:

... without thinking twice about it, what is the BEST Prince album you've ever heard?

I would have to say my best and most favorite ablum would be 1999, why: because I can put the album on from first to last song without skipping any of the tracks.

That's ... What I consider a BEST album ...

(I had to think about it) ... [img:$uid]http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/71.gif[/img:$uid]

Can't believe i'm reading that, goddamn spoiled i-pod kids!!!

Soon people r gonna skip sequences from movies as well

databank said:

PurpleLove7 said:

... without thinking twice about it, what is the BEST Prince album you've ever heard?

I would have to say my best and most favorite ablum would be 1999, why: because I can put the album on from first to last song without skipping any of the tracks.

That's ... What I consider a BEST album ...

(I had to think about it) ... [img:$uid]http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/71.gif[/img:$uid]

Can't believe i'm reading that, goddamn spoiled i-pod kids!!!

Soon people r gonna skip sequences from movies as well

lol, oh come on. You could skip songs on records, too. I definitely remember fucking up one of my first vinyls by trying to find a song I wanted by bouncing that stylus around.

To be fair, the record players was one of those old school Mickey Mouse ones and the record was probably some kind of Teddy Ruxpen or Ronald McDonald album from the 80s, but still.

My favorite ever is still Black Album, the tightest thickest vibe and phenomenally strange in an uncontrived way. The only track that I might skip is the ballad, but even that is really dense with that crazy slowed down effected hihat making a bizarre pattern.

Listening to this back in 1988 was like getting a peek into some strange midnight party that you had no business at, and might even be a bit dangerous with a hint of rape, voodoo, dirty destructive sex, and insanity. It also sounded so hard and complex in rhythmic attitude and arrangement compared to the more conventional structure and textures of rising rap at the time. This is probably the only Prince album that makes no allusion to spirituality or god.

I must have listened to Le Grind more than any other Prince song.

With SOTT the album, I was skipping tracks at first like Slow Love, and It.

The standouts at first were the title track, Housequake, Dorothy Parker, If I was Your Girlfriend, and Starfish and Coffee.

Number23 said:

There's albums I prefer to listen to, but the only correct answer to this question is Sign Of The Times. As the years pass and the dust settles, as we are able to catch our breath and study the world's greatest pop musical genius and his work outside of radio trends and generational influence, I think it will be fairly evident - if it isn't already - that SOTT was everything he was heading towards and, in effect, everything he's been trying to replicate since. It is outrageous art. Most people don't have the mental capacity to appreciate the almost supernatural genius of his work. Truly this strange little man was once tuned into something beyond our comprehension, maybe even his.

You are right, that should be counted as his best

(though for more personal reasons my favorite is Lovesexy)

blackbob said:

jcurley said:

I remember that Radio 1 review. that was the one they used to do about 4pm on a Saturday. remember hearing the Cross and being very surprised. I remember the on for GB and Andrew Loyd Webber was the guest reviewer

going back a few years here ...yes sott preview on radio 1 ,,it was the saturday afternoon before the release....the single was already out and i think they played...play in the sunshine..housequake..forever in my life starfish and coffee and the cross....he was just soo good at that point in his career....

Good days. I get the feeling I wasn't as ready as you for this album but I, as always, became its biggest advocate. Parade is my favourite album but SOTT is I know Prince's BEST album

Sign O the times. Pararde is a very close second

jcurley said:

blackbob said:

going back a few years here ...yes sott preview on radio 1 ,,it was the saturday afternoon before the release....the single was already out and i think they played...play in the sunshine..housequake..forever in my life starfish and coffee and the cross....he was just soo good at that point in his career....

Good days. I get the feeling I wasn't as ready as you for this album but I, as always, became its biggest advocate. Parade is my favourite album but SOTT is I know Prince's BEST album

I feel the exact same way. I know SOTT is his best because it was pure genius from start to finish. However, Pararde is my favorite. It is truly unlike any other album he's ever released.