Hello all.

My favourite Prince album (and it's close - 1999 and SOTT aren't far behind) is Lovesexy. Fantastic concept, wonderful songs and really energetic performances.

I know Prince and his then band recorded this album really quickly, and I think it benefited from this speedy process. I think if much more time had been taken over it, we could now be looking at an inferior album. Too ponderous and clunky, maybe, if he'd dwelled on it.

Any thoughts?

JimmyPinkerton said:

Hello all.

My favourite Prince album (and it's close - 1999 and SOTT aren't far behind) is Lovesexy. Fantastic concept, wonderful songs and really energetic performances.

I know Prince and his then band recorded this album really quickly, and I think it benefited from this speedy process. I think if much more time had been taken over it, we could now be looking at an inferior album. Too ponderous and clunky, maybe, if he'd dwelled on it.

Any thoughts?

Agreed...great album

I never understand why people point to this album as some kind of high point, compared to 1999,PR,Parade it shows that he was losing his edge. Now, don't get me wrong, most any Prince album will be great but compared to the man at his best it doesn't compare. The album has hit and miss tracks for me, the worst part was the arrangements, Prince's best music is so pure and basic that all that mess just showed he was losing something or trying to compensate for that fact. Not to say it's a bad album, I reiterate, it was a great album, just not the work of genius of some of his earlier work or the album some of you seem to think it was. I wish someone would explain what they think is so great about it.

mozfonky said:

I never understand why people point to this album as some kind of high point, compared to 1999,PR,Parade it shows that he was losing his edge. Now, don't get me wrong, most any Prince album will be great but compared to the man at his best it doesn't compare. The album has hit and miss tracks for me, the worst part was the arrangements, Prince's best music is so pure and basic that all that mess just showed he was losing something or trying to compensate for that fact. Not to say it's a bad album, I reiterate, it was a great album, just not the work of genius of some of his earlier work or the album some of you seem to think it was. I wish someone would explain what they think is so great about it.

Lovesexy has it's good and bad points. As usual, very bad choice of singles and botched music videos/release timing really hurt Lovesexy. I always felt "Glam Slam" released as a 2nd single was what tanked Lovesexy's ability to succeed commercially. I also felt "I Wish U Heaven" is one of Princes most underrated singles of all time but was released too late.

Theres also some problems with the way it was mixed/compressed. You have to get really jiggy with your EQ to get the sound you feel most comfortable with. "When 2 R In Love" should have been the single/music video released instead of "Glam Slam"- I actually love "Glam Slam" now but it took a long time for me to gel with it- Now I think it's brilliant- but it wasn't meant to be a hit single. You have to also understand that Prince was at a heavily maturing/evolving phase of his life when he recorded this. I will always defend Lovesexy as one of his most creative albums- also his most quirkiest- and that is why many don't/won't/can't get into it. Everything was great 'til '88...

Revolutionary said:

mozfonky said:

I never understand why people point to this album as some kind of high point, compared to 1999,PR,Parade it shows that he was losing his edge. Now, don't get me wrong, most any Prince album will be great but compared to the man at his best it doesn't compare. The album has hit and miss tracks for me, the worst part was the arrangements, Prince's best music is so pure and basic that all that mess just showed he was losing something or trying to compensate for that fact. Not to say it's a bad album, I reiterate, it was a great album, just not the work of genius of some of his earlier work or the album some of you seem to think it was. I wish someone would explain what they think is so great about it.

Lovesexy has it's good and bad points. As usual, very bad choice of singles and botched music videos/release timing really hurt Lovesexy. I always felt "Glam Slam" released as a 2nd single was what tanked Lovesexy's ability to succeed commercially. I also felt "I Wish U Heaven" is one of Princes most underrated singles of all time but was released too late.

Theres also some problems with the way it was mixed/compressed. You have to get really jiggy with your EQ to get the sound you feel most comfortable with. "When 2 R In Love" should have been the single/music video released instead of "Glam Slam"- I actually love "Glam Slam" now but it took a long time for me to gel with it- Now I think it's brilliant- but it wasn't meant to be a hit single. You have to also understand that Prince was at a heavily maturing/evolving phase of his life when he recorded this. I will always defend Lovesexy as one of his most creative albums- also his most quirkiest- and that is why many don't/won't/can't get into it. Everything was great 'til '88...

I never thought Glam Slam was "brilliant" in fact, I thought it was the worst, most repetitive song on the album. I thought it was a horrible knockoff of his own personal best "Little Red Corvette". I never was a stickler for sound quality, so that would have nothing to do with why I don't rate it so high. The quirkiness you advance I think had been leaving him gradually since the Purple Rain days. It's a great album, just not the vintage Prince anymore, at least to me.

Really great album, with creativity all over! It's definitely one of my favourites!

The only bad thing about LoveSexy is the second half of Alphabet Street imo.

It was Prince's first UK no1 album.We can forget the fact there is a naked man on the cover..we still bought the album.

There were really no radio friendly tracks on the album I think the album had to be listened to as a whole to be appreciated.

The production is perfect.

A masterpiece...and probably the only album to compete would be The Rainbow Children.

It'll be up there with other concept albums like Ogdens Nut Gone Flake by the Small Faces or Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd.

mozfonky said:

I never understand why people point to this album as some kind of high point, compared to 1999,PR,Parade it shows that he was losing his edge. Now, don't get me wrong, most any Prince album will be great but compared to the man at his best it doesn't compare. The album has hit and miss tracks for me, the worst part was the arrangements, Prince's best music is so pure and basic that all that mess just showed he was losing something or trying to compensate for that fact. Not to say it's a bad album, I reiterate, it was a great album, just not the work of genius of some of his earlier work or the album some of you seem to think it was. I wish someone would explain what they think is so great about it.

I agree with you. To me Lovesexy was the beginning of Prince's creative slide that he didn't come out of until the album. Someone mentioned that it was recorded very quickly and pointed to that as a strength of the album. I very much disagree. While I can listen to the album and enjoy it for what it is I don't think it's a very strong batch of tunes and I think it would have benefited from a bit more time and effort. The arrangements are a bit of a mess and do not do the songs any favours. It's funny to me that the album is often very highly praised and I just don't hear what is so special about it.

don't care for it much. he was too enamoured with his new tools/time at Paisley Park. there can be positive things to say when someone completely throws their successful production style out the window and starts with a whole new approach. but this isn't one of those times. there's way too much clutter.

Lovesexy is my third favorite Prince album, behind Purple Rain and SOTT, ahead of 1999. For years I had it tied with SOTT at #2 on my list, but in the last year or two I've decided that SOTT edges it.

mozfonky said:

Revolutionary said:

I never thought Glam Slam was "brilliant" in fact, I thought it was the worst, most repetitive song on the album. I thought it was a horrible knockoff of his own personal best "Little Red Corvette". I never was a stickler for sound quality, so that would have nothing to do with why I don't rate it so high. The quirkiness you advance I think had been leaving him gradually since the Purple Rain days. It's a great album, just not the vintage Prince anymore, at least to me.

huh, these two songs are not sonically nor conceptually similar. sounds like LRC is YOUR best, not P's. which is fine. but how can we say?

but to the OP, this has probably been said, but the Black album being pulled surely contributed to the rapidity of LS's completion. guilt, label pressure, ?? not sure but its a great thing he has the resources to create at that pace when he wants to. i haven't listened to the album in forever as i don't have a tracked version, so i'd have to give it a fresh listen to see how its aged to my ears, but i LOVE Anna Stesia, I Wish U Heaven, Dance On, Glam Slam Alphabet St., When 2 R in Love

datdude said:

mozfonky said:

I never thought Glam Slam was "brilliant" in fact, I thought it was the worst, most repetitive song on the album. I thought it was a horrible knockoff of his own personal best "Little Red Corvette". I never was a stickler for sound quality, so that would have nothing to do with why I don't rate it so high. The quirkiness you advance I think had been leaving him gradually since the Purple Rain days. It's a great album, just not the vintage Prince anymore, at least to me.

huh, these two songs are not sonically nor conceptually similar. sounds like LRC is YOUR best, not P's. which is fine. but how can we say?

but to the OP, this has probably been said, but the Black album being pulled surely contributed to the rapidity of LS's completion. guilt, label pressure, ?? not sure but its a great thing he has the resources to create at that pace when he wants to. i haven't listened to the album in forever as i don't have a tracked version, so i'd have to give it a fresh listen to see how its aged to my ears, but i LOVE Anna Stesia, I Wish U Heaven, Dance On, Glam Slam Alphabet St., When 2 R in Love

Well, everything is subjective, LRC has been called by many different people "one of the greatest pop songs ever" I've never heard (or sang) anything so moving. You should see audiences when I do it, no joke. And there is a similarity "glam slam thank you ma'm" goes similarly to "little red corvette" . As far as "conceptually" well, I wasn't even thinking that, but conceptually, Prince was limited to sex and spirituality in the 80's.

[Edited 5/1/11 20:58pm]

rialb said:

mozfonky said:

I never understand why people point to this album as some kind of high point, compared to 1999,PR,Parade it shows that he was losing his edge. Now, don't get me wrong, most any Prince album will be great but compared to the man at his best it doesn't compare. The album has hit and miss tracks for me, the worst part was the arrangements, Prince's best music is so pure and basic that all that mess just showed he was losing something or trying to compensate for that fact. Not to say it's a bad album, I reiterate, it was a great album, just not the work of genius of some of his earlier work or the album some of you seem to think it was. I wish someone would explain what they think is so great about it.

I agree with you. To me Lovesexy was the beginning of Prince's creative slide that he didn't come out of until the album. Someone mentioned that it was recorded very quickly and pointed to that as a strength of the album. I very much disagree. While I can listen to the album and enjoy it for what it is I don't think it's a very strong batch of tunes and I think it would have benefited from a bit more time and effort. The arrangements are a bit of a mess and do not do the songs any favours. It's funny to me that the album is often very highly praised and I just don't hear what is so special about it.

not to mention the poor sales and refusal to even stock the album because of the cover, it was the worst selling P album since Dirty Mind makes you wonder how an album that sold 500,000 copies could be held in such high regard by some. Of course sales don't mean everything, but with Prince, there is a relation, he was a megastar after all. and yes the arrangements were complicated and disguised the fact that the songs just weren't there. Songs I liked alot but wouldn't compare to his prime stuff were Alphabet St., Positivity, Dance On, Eye No, Anna Stesia, so not bad stuff, just not his best. When 2 are in love was a gorgeous song too. But he's never really topped his best albums from Prince to Sott. Again, don't get me wrong, he's done so much great work, just not as good as those years (to me).

One of my favorite Prince albums.I agree with the person who said that the wrong singles were chosen."Glam Slam" was a poor choice.It's a cool album track but in 1988,it didn't stand a chance on pop radio.I would have chosen the dynamic title track.

by no means his best work but probably my favourite. i appreciate it for the reasons many seem to dislike it. right from that "no smack in my brain" opening it bristles with energy and weirdness, and when i listen to it racecars burn rubber in my pants.

robertgeorgeakabob said:

by no means his best work but probably my favourite. i appreciate it for the reasons many seem to dislike it. right from that "no smack in my brain" opening it bristles with energy and weirdness, and when i listen to it racecars burn rubber in my pants.

I think there's a lotion for that.

mozfonky said:

rialb said:

I agree with you. To me Lovesexy was the beginning of Prince's creative slide that he didn't come out of until the album. Someone mentioned that it was recorded very quickly and pointed to that as a strength of the album. I very much disagree. While I can listen to the album and enjoy it for what it is I don't think it's a very strong batch of tunes and I think it would have benefited from a bit more time and effort. The arrangements are a bit of a mess and do not do the songs any favours. It's funny to me that the album is often very highly praised and I just don't hear what is so special about it.

not to mention the poor sales and refusal to even stock the album because of the cover, it was the worst selling P album since Dirty Mind makes you wonder how an album that sold 500,000 copies could be held in such high regard by some. Of course sales don't mean everything, but with Prince, there is a relation, he was a megastar after all. and yes the arrangements were complicated and disguised the fact that the songs just weren't there. Songs I liked alot but wouldn't compare to his prime stuff were Alphabet St., Positivity, Dance On, Eye No, Anna Stesia, so not bad stuff, just not his best. When 2 are in love was a gorgeous song too. But he's never really topped his best albums from Prince to Sott. Again, don't get me wrong, he's done so much great work, just not as good as those years (to me).

For me it's the whole album...and the fact that the songs segue together meant that the album was meant to be listened to non-stop.

So, while I agree that certain songs ( When 2 R in love, Positivity.....) are far from great, as a whole, for me this is in the top 5.

mozfonky said:

I never understand why people point to this album as some kind of high point, compared to 1999,PR,Parade it shows that he was losing his edge. Now, don't get me wrong, most any Prince album will be great but compared to the man at his best it doesn't compare. The album has hit and miss tracks for me, the worst part was the arrangements, Prince's best music is so pure and basic that all that mess just showed he was losing something or trying to compensate for that fact. Not to say it's a bad album, I reiterate, it was a great album, just not the work of genius of some of his earlier work or the album some of you seem to think it was. I wish someone would explain what they think is so great about it.

Taste. Opinion. Flavor. Preference.

Changed my mind. now think that this album was his worst since 4 U, & the only non-great Prince album 1979-1992 (Graffiti Bridge doesn't count)

1. Know - 10/10

2. Alphabet Street - 6/10 [7"/Video version 10/10]

3. Glam Slam - 6/10

4. Anna Stesia - 10/10

5. Dance On - 5/10

6. LoveSexy - 5/10

7. When 2 R In Love - 10/10

8. Wish U Heaven - 10/10

9. Positivity - 5/10

Total Score: 7

Best Track: When 2 R In Love [would have been Alphabet Street if it was only the 1st half]

Worst Track: Dance On

[Edited 5/2/11 23:34pm]

I agree that "Dance On" is the worst song.It has a few interesting ideas,but it never really becomes a complete,focused song.

Best songs on the album: Anna Stesia,When 2 R In Love,I Wish U Heaven and the title track.

It was one of Prince's most spiritual albums and a brave experiment that fortunately worked.

I find the intro and outro to the album really touches the soul..

[Edited 5/3/11 11:10am]

802 said:

Changed my mind. now think that this album was his worst since 4 U, & the only non-great Prince album 1979-1992 (Graffiti Bridge doesn't count)

1. Know - 10/10

2. Alphabet Street - 6/10 [7"/Video version 10/10]

3. Glam Slam - 6/10

4. Anna Stesia - 10/10

5. Dance On - 5/10

6. LoveSexy - 5/10

7. When 2 R In Love - 10/10

8. Wish U Heaven - 10/10

9. Positivity - 5/10

Total Score: 7

Best Track: When 2 R In Love [would have been Alphabet Street if it was only the 1st half]

Worst Track: Dance On

[Edited 5/2/11 23:34pm]

Glam Slam and Lovesexy deserve 10/10 too!!!! Dance on especially is the only real dissapointing song imo....