Best:

1. SOTT

2. Purple Rain

3. 1999
4. Parade

5. The Gold Experience

worst:

1. Slaughtgerhouse

2. NewpowerSoul

--- cant think of any more

i dont think he has many bad albums, new powersoul has a couple of good songs. Slaughterhouse is the worst thing he ever did, dont like a single song from it.

This is a tricky one because I don't want to call them 'best' and 'worst'.

Let's just say my favorite and least favorite:

Favorites:

1. PARADE / at just 41 min, this is a gem. Not a perfect album, but it's quirkiness makes me love it.

2. SOTT / Dear god somebody please remaster this thing

3. Purple Rain - Brilliant from start to finish. Needs remastering.

4. The Gold Experience

5. 3121 (yeah, I said it).

Emancipation gets honorable mention, since despite despising 6 songs on the album, I like the other 30--that's a hell of an accomplishment for any artist to pull off. Musicology is starting to grow on me too.

Least favorite:

1. New Power Soul / call it an npg album all you want--it's a Prince album.

2. Prince - For You... meh. He's chasing trends with this one.

3. MPLSound - when it's good, it's kind of fun. As an album it doesn't hold together.

4. Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic. UGH... WTF. And Rave Un2 wasn't much better (yes, I like the original marginally better than the remix album)

5. COME - although it's grown on me a bit, I still don't like it. This is his first album in which it felt like he plateaued artistically to me. After LoveSexy, D&P, & Symbol (all imperfect, but at least offering new sounds and textures), COME sounded almost like the aftermath of years of recording...like a compilation of rushed b-sides.

Best

1. Parade
2. The Black album
3. 1999
4. Dirty mind
5. Lovesexy
6. News

The best list could go on.

worse

1. musicology
2. Graffitti Bridge
3. rave un2 the joy fantastic
4. 20Ten

Theres not much I totally dislike otherwise I wouldn't be a fan.

802 said:

Spinlight said:

Whether or not that is true, that's not the point.

Yes it is, this is a 5 best / 5 worst Prince album thread.

No, that is not the point. Of course it is a Prince album. It was written by Prince, produced by Prince, and performed by Prince. The fact Clare Fischer's orchestra arrangements are on it too do not detract from it being a Prince album. And Prince has gone by many names. Regardless if the album has his name on top of it, it is his album. His name, at the time, takes up 2/3 of the album cover as well. Why you are splitting hairs on this is boggling.

Spinlight said:

802 said:

Yes it is, this is a 5 best / 5 worst Prince album thread.

No, that is not the point. Of course it is a Prince album. It was written by Prince, produced by Prince, and performed by Prince. The fact Clare Fischer's orchestra arrangements are on it too do not detract from it being a Prince album. And Prince has gone by many names. Regardless if the album has his name on top of it, it is his album. His name, at the time, takes up 2/3 of the album cover as well. Why you are splitting hairs on this is boggling.

That's like saying The Time's albums are Prince's.

Not including protege albums etc:

Best:

Parade

Controversy

For You

Prince

1999

Worst:

Rave

MPLSound

20Ten

Musicology

3121

802 said:

That's like saying The Time's albums are Prince's.

They are. If you've got a singer who, all they are doing is following Prince's guide vocal - and Prince wrote, played and produced the thing - it's a Prince album in all but name and voice.

I dunno, I guess if you like to follow producers, it's that kind of thing - I'm pretty diplomatic about pop music, so for me it's not always the face on the sleeve who I'm buying it for, it will be the guys twiddling the knobs and playing.

NouveauDance said:

802 said:

That's like saying The Time's albums are Prince's.

They are. If you've got a singer who, all they are doing is following Prince's guide vocal - and Prince wrote, played and produced the thing - it's a Prince album in all but name and voice.

I dunno, I guess if you like to follow producers, it's that kind of thing - I'm pretty diplomatic about pop music, so for me it's not always the face on the sleeve who I'm buying it for, it will be the guys twiddling the knobs and playing.

Yes he did everything on the album except for the lead vocals, but they're still not Prince albums. They're side projects.

802 said:

Yes he did everything on the album except for the lead vocals, but they're still not Prince albums. They're side projects.

Yeah I get it, it's just what your focus is

802 said:

NouveauDance said:

They are. If you've got a singer who, all they are doing is following Prince's guide vocal - and Prince wrote, played and produced the thing - it's a Prince album in all but name and voice.

I dunno, I guess if you like to follow producers, it's that kind of thing - I'm pretty diplomatic about pop music, so for me it's not always the face on the sleeve who I'm buying it for, it will be the guys twiddling the knobs and playing.

Yes he did everything on the album except for the lead vocals, but they're still not Prince albums. They're side projects.

Its an instrumental album. What more could Prince do on the thing to prove to you that its his album?

And why would The Time have anything to do with Kamasutra? It's not remotely the same. Since when is it a plausible idea that Prince, the NPG hornz, and an orchestra of 40 people (guesstimate) would go out on tour? Perhaps they'd open for Prince and Prince would play the drums, guitars, and synths all at the same time? Hmm?

NouveauDance said:

802 said:

Yes he did everything on the album except for the lead vocals, but they're still not Prince albums. They're side projects.

Yeah I get it, it's just what your focus is

Good.

Spinlight said:

And why would The Time have anything to do with Kamasutra? It's not remotely the same. Since when is it a plausible idea that Prince, the NPG hornz, and an orchestra of 40 people (guesstimate) would go out on tour? Perhaps they'd open for Prince and Prince would play the drums, guitars, and synths all at the same time? Hmm?

The NPG Orchestra and The Time are both side projects, not real Prince albums.

802 said:

Spinlight said:

And why would The Time have anything to do with Kamasutra? It's not remotely the same. Since when is it a plausible idea that Prince, the NPG hornz, and an orchestra of 40 people (guesstimate) would go out on tour? Perhaps they'd open for Prince and Prince would play the drums, guitars, and synths all at the same time? Hmm?

The NPG Orchestra and The Time are both side projects, not real Prince albums.

No, Kamasutra is definitely a real Prince album.

Adorecream said:

Chiquetet said:

Sorry, why are the last two not "proper" studio albums?

Kamasutra is just background muzak, and has no singing.

The other is just Prince tinkling some ivories and singing a bit.

Studio albums have a release, several diverse tracks (Unlike K and ONAP which are single genre) and TRC actually has some enjoyable parts unlike the universally dull K and ONAP

To each his own, but your opinion is based on some stooooopid criteria.

In my opinion

Spinlight said:

802 said:

The NPG Orchestra and The Time are both side projects, not real Prince albums.

No, Kamasutra is definitely a real Prince album.

A real Prince side project album, yes.

V10LETBLUES said:

Best

1. SOTT

2. Purple Rain

3. 1999

4. Parade

5. Controversy

Worst

5th worst = Emancipation

4th worst = Diamonds And Pearls

3rd worst = MplSound

2nd worst = The Gold Experience

Worst = The Rainbow Children

Worst:

New Power Soul

Rave

C-note

Musicology

20ten

Best:

1999

Purlpe Rain

Sign of the times

Lovesexy

The rainbow children

802 said:

Spinlight said:

No, Kamasutra is definitely a real Prince album.

A real Prince side project album, yes.

No, Prince using a psuedonym. There's a difference. He wasn't using a psuedonym for The Time, Apples/Vanity 6, Jill Jones, The Family, Sheila E...

All tracks were initially recorded by Prince in 1994-1995 and then were sent to Clare Fischer for orchestral overdubs later in 1995. A Madhouse version was also recorded of some songs.

Additionally, the album's opening track, "The Plan" doesn't even have any other involvement in the track but Prince. In fact, Prince was the primary orchestrator. It's a Prince album, using a psuedonym. It is not another band's album. The Time is their own band, they helped write the music (some of it), and they performed all of the music live. The NPG Orchestra is none of that. It is Prince with Clare Fischer's orchestra backing him.

Actually this should be Ten best and worst

Worst:

Emancipation

Crystal ball

The vault old friends 4 sale

New Power Soul

Rave

C-note

Musicology

3121

MPLS sound

20ten

Best:

1999

Purple Rain

Parade

Sign of the times

Lovesexy

Diamonds and pearls

The Gold experience

The Truth

The Rainbow children

Lotus flower

Best:

Order > Best first

Graffiti Bridge (my personal favourite - spiritual and idealistic as well as fun, not given as much credit as Lovesexy for the spiritual themes)

The Black Album (so addictive and funky, keeps you listening and listening, it's like a drug in itself, interesting that Prince was allegendly on drugs when it was made)

Diamonds and Pearls (Beautiful songs and videos - love Money Don't Matter 2 Night and beauty of title track)

Emancipation - Underrated, very upbeat and romantic and spiritual and has not aged at all (like Prince )

Dirty Mind - So raw, controversial and damn funky, great music for getting things off your chest! I love the daring and shock value in releasing a song like Sister.

Close to the list: Planet Earth - A surprise gem, excellent production and subject matter. Also Lotusflow3r 3cd set.

Worst:

Order > Worst first

New Power Soul (except Until U're In My Arms again which is v touching)

TRC (musically I liked it but hated the voiceover and monologues, couldn't get past them, if released as a jazz album minus narration would have been one of the best)

ONA Live As above but there are plenty of other more worthy live releases. Fans would kill for an official release of Lovesexy Live.

C NOTE /NEWS - OK but lacks focus and i'm sure Prince could do much better jazz, you only need to hear outtakes like Rootie Kazootie from Madhouse to know that.

Musicology - Never got into it, think was let down by plasticy and lifeless sounding production and also I saw Musicology performed live by Prince on TV which I loved so the album version couldn't live up to that.

Close to the list: 20TEN - let down by rushed plasticy production and slightly corny lyrics. Also because it pales in comparison to the excellent Lotusflow3r 3cd set (which had good production).

[Edited 4/20/11 3:22am]

[Edited 4/20/11 3:25am]

[Edited 4/20/11 3:26am]

SagsWay2low said:

This is a tricky one because I don't want to call them 'best' and 'worst'.

Let's just say my favorite and least favorite:

5. 3121 (yeah, I said it).

No its a good choice, that album appears on my top 10. Its the best mature Prince album, funky, catchy and plus some well written songs, Black sweat, 3121, Love and Fury are all stand outs along with Lolita, and TAC a believable ballad, The Dance is a classic too. Theres so much to like on 3121, I don't know why people hate on it all the time.

BEST:

The Gold Experience

Purple Rain

SOTT

1999

Symbol

WORST:

For You

Rave Into The Joy Fantastic

C-Note

Graffiti Bridge

MPLSound

best:

controversy

lovesexy

sign o the times

1999

lotusflower

worst:

for you

prince

dirty mind

20TEN

MPLSound

Tremolina said:

Actually this should be Ten best and worst

Worst:

Emancipation

Crystal ball

The vault old friends 4 sale

New Power Soul

Rave

C-note

Musicology

3121

MPLS sound

20ten

Best:

1999

Purple Rain

Parade

Sign of the times

Lovesexy

Diamonds and pearls

The Gold experience

The Truth

The Rainbow children

Lotus flower

My 6 to 12

Best

6. Controversy

7. 3121

8. Come

9. The Lovesymbol album

10. Lovesexy

11. Prince

12. Crystal Ball (3 CD SET)

Worst

6th worst = Indigo Nights

7th Rave

8th Graffiti Bridge

9th The Truth

10th Cnote

11th Slaughterhouse

12th Batman

Spinlight said:

802 said:

A real Prince side project album, yes.

No, Prince using a psuedonym. There's a difference. He wasn't using a psuedonym for The Time, Apples/Vanity 6, Jill Jones, The Family, Sheila E...

All tracks were initially recorded by Prince in 1994-1995 and then were sent to Clare Fischer for orchestral overdubs later in 1995. A Madhouse version was also recorded of some songs.

Additionally, the album's opening track, "The Plan" doesn't even have any other involvement in the track but Prince. In fact, Prince was the primary orchestrator. It's a Prince album, using a psuedonym. It is not another band's album. The Time is their own band, they helped write the music (some of it), and they performed all of the music live. The NPG Orchestra is none of that. It is Prince with Clare Fischer's orchestra backing him.

Kamasutra isn't just Prince:

Personnel

Musicians

• – all instruments, except where noted
• Eric Leeds – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8, baritone saxophone on Promise/Broken
• Michael B. Nelson - trombone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Kathy J. - baritone saxophone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Dave Jensen - trumpet on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Brian Gallagher - tenor saxophone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Steve Strand - trumpet on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Clare Fischer - orchestral arrangements on Kamasutra, At Last… "The Lost Is Found", The Ever Changing Light, Cutz, Serotonin, Promise/Broken, Barcelona, Kamasutra/Overture #8, Coincidence Or Fate? andKamasutra/Eternal Embrace

[hide]Orchestral players on Kamasutra, At Last… "The Lost Is Found", The Ever Changing Light, Cutz, Serotonin, Promise/Broken, Barcelona, Kamasutra/Overture #8, Coincidence Or Fate? andKamasutra/Eternal Embrace:

Morris Repass, Assa Drori, Isabelle Daskoff, Edward P. Greene, Harry Scorzo, Francine Walsh, Robert Lezin, Norma Leonard, Anita A. Thompson, Pamela Gates, Russel Cantor, Betty Byers, Robert Sushel, Don Palmer, Ross Shub, Pamela Tomkins, Yvette Devereaux, Calabria McChesney, Marshall Daniel Thomason, Marilyn Baker, Harry Shirinian, Hershel Wise, Peter Hatch, Suzanna Giordano, Benjamin Simon, James V. Ross, Gladys Secunda, Frederick Seykora, Raymond Kelley, Marie Fera, Douglas Davis, Judith Johnson, Cecilia Tsan, David Randall Stone, Morton Klanfer, James D. Hughart, Don Shelton, Daniel L. Higgins, Lisa Edelstein, James R. Walker, C. Terry Harrington, Jack Mimitz, Charles Boito, Charles A Coker, Jenice Rosen, Robert D. Carr, Dave Duke, Joseph Meyer, Marilyn L. Johnson, Alexander P. Iles, Leslie K. Benedict, Brent Fischer, Gerald Vinci, Mari Tsumara, Israel Baker, Yoko Matsuda, Murry Adler, Jorge Moraga, Carole Mukogawa, Margot MacLaine, Nancy Roth, Anne Karam, Judith Johnson, Arni Egilson, Richard Mitchell, Jon C. Clark, John F. Reilly, John J. Mitchell, Robert Tricarico, Yvonne Moriarty, Andrew M. Martin, Richard Hamilton, Larry Bunker, Thomas John Ranier, Dennis Budimer, G. Levant (full breakdown of instruments to follow)

802 said:

Spinlight said:

No, Prince using a psuedonym. There's a difference. He wasn't using a psuedonym for The Time, Apples/Vanity 6, Jill Jones, The Family, Sheila E...

All tracks were initially recorded by Prince in 1994-1995 and then were sent to Clare Fischer for orchestral overdubs later in 1995. A Madhouse version was also recorded of some songs.

Additionally, the album's opening track, "The Plan" doesn't even have any other involvement in the track but Prince. In fact, Prince was the primary orchestrator. It's a Prince album, using a psuedonym. It is not another band's album. The Time is their own band, they helped write the music (some of it), and they performed all of the music live. The NPG Orchestra is none of that. It is Prince with Clare Fischer's orchestra backing him.

Kamasutra isn't just Prince:

Personnel

Musicians

• – all instruments, except where noted
• Eric Leeds – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8, baritone saxophone on Promise/Broken
• Michael B. Nelson - trombone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Kathy J. - baritone saxophone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Dave Jensen - trumpet on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Brian Gallagher - tenor saxophone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Steve Strand - trumpet on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Clare Fischer - orchestral arrangements on Kamasutra, At Last… "The Lost Is Found", The Ever Changing Light, Cutz, Serotonin, Promise/Broken, Barcelona, Kamasutra/Overture #8, Coincidence Or Fate? andKamasutra/Eternal Embrace

[hide]Orchestral players on Kamasutra, At Last… "The Lost Is Found", The Ever Changing Light, Cutz, Serotonin, Promise/Broken, Barcelona, Kamasutra/Overture #8, Coincidence Or Fate? andKamasutra/Eternal Embrace:

Morris Repass, Assa Drori, Isabelle Daskoff, Edward P. Greene, Harry Scorzo, Francine Walsh, Robert Lezin, Norma Leonard, Anita A. Thompson, Pamela Gates, Russel Cantor, Betty Byers, Robert Sushel, Don Palmer, Ross Shub, Pamela Tomkins, Yvette Devereaux, Calabria McChesney, Marshall Daniel Thomason, Marilyn Baker, Harry Shirinian, Hershel Wise, Peter Hatch, Suzanna Giordano, Benjamin Simon, James V. Ross, Gladys Secunda, Frederick Seykora, Raymond Kelley, Marie Fera, Douglas Davis, Judith Johnson, Cecilia Tsan, David Randall Stone, Morton Klanfer, James D. Hughart, Don Shelton, Daniel L. Higgins, Lisa Edelstein, James R. Walker, C. Terry Harrington, Jack Mimitz, Charles Boito, Charles A Coker, Jenice Rosen, Robert D. Carr, Dave Duke, Joseph Meyer, Marilyn L. Johnson, Alexander P. Iles, Leslie K. Benedict, Brent Fischer, Gerald Vinci, Mari Tsumara, Israel Baker, Yoko Matsuda, Murry Adler, Jorge Moraga, Carole Mukogawa, Margot MacLaine, Nancy Roth, Anne Karam, Judith Johnson, Arni Egilson, Richard Mitchell, Jon C. Clark, John F. Reilly, John J. Mitchell, Robert Tricarico, Yvonne Moriarty, Andrew M. Martin, Richard Hamilton, Larry Bunker, Thomas John Ranier, Dennis Budimer, G. Levant (full breakdown of instruments to follow)

Booboo, you don't need to copy paste, to me, the same source I've been citing to you. I know full-well who and what the NPG Orchestra is. And like I told you, it is Prince with Clare's orchestra backing him. Additionally, Eric Leeds and the NPG Hornz are around as well. Perhaps you should dig deeper and see that Prince, again, performed all non orchestral instruments other than the NPG Hornz and Eric Leeds.

Damn, I can tell you are young because you're fucking contrary.

Spinlight said:

802 said:

Kamasutra isn't just Prince:

Personnel

Musicians

• – all instruments, except where noted
• Eric Leeds – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8, baritone saxophone on Promise/Broken
• Michael B. Nelson - trombone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Kathy J. - baritone saxophone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Dave Jensen - trumpet on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Brian Gallagher - tenor saxophone on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Steve Strand - trumpet on Kamasutra and Kamasutra/Overture #8
• Clare Fischer - orchestral arrangements on Kamasutra, At Last… "The Lost Is Found", The Ever Changing Light, Cutz, Serotonin, Promise/Broken, Barcelona, Kamasutra/Overture #8, Coincidence Or Fate? andKamasutra/Eternal Embrace

[hide]Orchestral players on Kamasutra, At Last… "The Lost Is Found", The Ever Changing Light, Cutz, Serotonin, Promise/Broken, Barcelona, Kamasutra/Overture #8, Coincidence Or Fate? andKamasutra/Eternal Embrace:

Morris Repass, Assa Drori, Isabelle Daskoff, Edward P. Greene, Harry Scorzo, Francine Walsh, Robert Lezin, Norma Leonard, Anita A. Thompson, Pamela Gates, Russel Cantor, Betty Byers, Robert Sushel, Don Palmer, Ross Shub, Pamela Tomkins, Yvette Devereaux, Calabria McChesney, Marshall Daniel Thomason, Marilyn Baker, Harry Shirinian, Hershel Wise, Peter Hatch, Suzanna Giordano, Benjamin Simon, James V. Ross, Gladys Secunda, Frederick Seykora, Raymond Kelley, Marie Fera, Douglas Davis, Judith Johnson, Cecilia Tsan, David Randall Stone, Morton Klanfer, James D. Hughart, Don Shelton, Daniel L. Higgins, Lisa Edelstein, James R. Walker, C. Terry Harrington, Jack Mimitz, Charles Boito, Charles A Coker, Jenice Rosen, Robert D. Carr, Dave Duke, Joseph Meyer, Marilyn L. Johnson, Alexander P. Iles, Leslie K. Benedict, Brent Fischer, Gerald Vinci, Mari Tsumara, Israel Baker, Yoko Matsuda, Murry Adler, Jorge Moraga, Carole Mukogawa, Margot MacLaine, Nancy Roth, Anne Karam, Judith Johnson, Arni Egilson, Richard Mitchell, Jon C. Clark, John F. Reilly, John J. Mitchell, Robert Tricarico, Yvonne Moriarty, Andrew M. Martin, Richard Hamilton, Larry Bunker, Thomas John Ranier, Dennis Budimer, G. Levant (full breakdown of instruments to follow)

Booboo, you don't need to copy paste, to me, the same source I've been citing to you. I know full-well who and what the NPG Orchestra is. And like I told you, it is Prince with Clare's orchestra backing him. Additionally, Eric Leeds and the NPG Hornz are around as well. Perhaps you should dig deeper and see that Prince, again, performed all non orchestral instruments other than the NPG Hornz and Eric Leeds.

Damn, I can tell you are young because you're fucking contrary.

On your previous post about this you said that it was recorded by just Prince and Clarie Fischer's orchestra, so I did what I had to do.

[Edited 4/20/11 3:37am]

BEST:

Batman

The Gold Experience

1999

.

.

.

MPLSound

WORST

Couldn't rank much more than that...It's worth noting, however, that my favorite Prince TRACK is on none of these albums, that would be "Crystal Ball."

And for the record, Kamasutra counts. Is a Vanessa Carlton album not hers because there is an entire orchestra playing behind her? I think not.

=0P

Best:

TRC

SOTT

Exodus

ATWIAD

Lovesexy

Least Best:

Planet Earth

Musicology

Kamasutra

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

The Chocolate Invasion

Best: - Sign O' The Times (10) - 1999 (10) - Parade (10) - Lovesexy (10) - Diamonds And Pearls (10) Worst: - Chaos And Disorder (4) - Goldnigga (4) - MPLSound (3) - 20ten (3) - New Power Soul (3)