Ok, so if you were to introduce a newbie to Prince, where would you start? What Albums?

Purple Rain.

Then 1999

Then SOTT

I would start with those first. They're likable, not too challenging, but not light and anemic like 20Ten, Musicology, etc.

The unfortunately thing is that listening to his 80's output sequentially for those of us who lived through it, was soooooo exciting. He changed his look and his sound with every album, and every album had surprises. I wish I could tell you to go through them sequentially, it's probably safer to do those 3 first.

Depends on what kind of music that person likes.

If they like rock/pop:Purple Rain.

If they like R&B:1999.

If they like a mix-a greatest hits CD is a good start.

I started a friend of mine on Purple Rain, then Parade, then Sign O the times. (They don't really care for dirty music (early stuff)-so I have to be selective)

You know, even today, I might start 'em off with the Purple Rain film.

That was my introduction back in '84, and it absolutely blew my mind. It might be too dated now, though, I don't know... I'm too biased to tell.

I'd start with The Hits/B-Sides and after that Purple Rain. Perhaps a good live concert too.

Even though others usually recommend SOTT as well, I'd keep them away from that one for a while, unless they're musicians. Too minimalistic/experimental for most people. Most of the times 1999 is a better choice.

eyewishuheaven said:

You know, even today, I might start 'em off with the Purple Rain film.

That was my introduction back in '84, and it absolutely blew my mind. It might be too dated now, though, I don't know... I'm too biased to tell.

The movie is definitely the way to go. The film has this futuristic/retro/hip thing going for it. Plus, classics never go out of style. "What?"

Are you saying that you are a newbie?

Everybody and their dog saw Purple Rain, but it didn't create open minded Prince fans, but wanna be's who eventually jumped the purple train for Vegas--not in e.

The Hits, The B-Sides is my pick. They can get an overall view of his many songs, before they hit the more obscure shit that we love so fucking much.

2freaky4church1 said:

Everybody and their dog saw Purple Rain, but it didn't create open minded Prince fans, but wanna be's who eventually jumped the purple train for Vegas--not in e.

I'm sure that many people, like me for instance, are evidence to the contrary!

I confess, sometimes I'm embarrassed that I didn't get on board with For You or Prince, like some of y'all. But where I grew up, in small-town Alberta, Canada, Purple Rain was the first taste we got.

I certainly don't think that makes us all gift shop tourists. Some, surely... but not all.

I saw Purple Rain in 1984, it changed my world, I thought it was the greatest cultural moment ever, but I didn't buy a Prince album till 1990. I didn't get into other Prince until much later.

So, there.

2freaky4church1 said:

Are you saying that you are a newbie?

I guess you can say that too [Been listening on and off for about 10 years} but I'm not the newbie I am trying to introduce to Prince.

Play a song like Moonbeam Levels or Extraloveable to the person and if they like it, they may be a Prince person.

I second playing them Extra Lovable. I have played Extra Lovable for non-fans and they always love it. I also recommend pulling out the more popular The Time tracks and give them your favorite albums currently. Even the weird shit.

I was already hooked when I saw Purple Rain . Then my uncle turned me on to Under the Cherry Moon and then I stumbled upon extra lovable and that was that...

Start at the very beginning

Disc 1:

1. I Wanna Be Your Lover
2. Uptown
3. Kiss
4. When You Were Mine
5. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
6. Sexy Dancer
7. Erotic City
8. 1999
9. Little Red Corvette
10. Controversy
11. Dirty Mind
12. Private Joy
13. Pop Life
14. Raspberry Beret
15. Do Me, Baby
16. The Holy River
17. Saviour
18. Starfish and Coffee
19. Sign o' the Times
20. When Doves Cry

Disc 2:

1. Musicology
2. D.M.S.R.
3. She's Always In My Hair
4. If I Was Your Girlfriend
5. Colonized Mind
6. The Beautiful Ones
7. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
8. Insatiable
9. Satisfied
10. Scandalous!
11. I Love U In Me
12. Forever in My Life
13. Delirious
14. Let's Go Crazy
15. Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
16. Let's Work
17. I Would Die 4 U
18. Head
19. Housequake
20. All the Critics Love U In New York

Disc 3:

1. Laydown
2. Compassion
3. Fury
4. U Got the Look
5. Soft and Wet
6. The Question of U
7. Joy In Repetition
8. Money Don't Matter 2 Night
9. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
10. I Love U, but I Don't Trust U Anymore
11. Sometimes It Snows in April
12. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
13. Sticky Like Glue
14. Dance 4 Me
15. Dreamer
16. America
17. Electric Intercourse
18. Purple Rain
19. Somewhere Here on Earth
20. Adore

luv4u said:

Start at the very beginning

the Purple Rain album - or The Hits / The B-sides

The Hits/The B-Sides. If they do not like at least a handful of songs from this collection, then there would be no point in going any further with your introduction.

Introduce them with The Hits/The B-Sides, it's the only choice.

mblevels said:

Even though others usually recommend SOTT as well, I'd keep them away from that one for a while, unless they're musicians. Too minimalistic/experimental for most people.

I think a lot of casual listeners wouldn't really get songs like The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker and If I Was Your Girlfriend.

luv4u said:

Start at the very beginning

I don't think those 1976 demos are a good place for anyone to start.

Just stick with the basics, anything else is likely to confuse them.

802 said:

mblevels said:

Even though others usually recommend SOTT as well, I'd keep them away from that one for a while, unless they're musicians. Too minimalistic/experimental for most people.

I think a lot of casual listeners wouldn't really get songs like The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker and If I Was Your Girlfriend.

"wanna take a bath?"

Play Another Lonely Christmas, She's Always In My Hair and 17 Days. Will hook em.

luv4u said:

Start at the very beginning

the best start is Purple rain and/or the hits/b sides. For You is a pretty good album but if you give someone that as the first prince album, they might lose interest in him

Ok so I let them listen to Extra Lovable.... they liked the beginning but by the end they looked like this > when the song was over they were like this > and want more.

Make them listen to "When Doves Cry" and then make them watch the "Purple Rain" film.

That's how I got hooked anyway.

lPoeticl said:

Ok so I let them listen to Extra Lovable.... they liked the beginning but by the end they looked like this > when the song was over they were like this > and want more.

good, now get them when doves cry, little red corvette, 1999 and the othe hits