I have to say 1999.

What say you?

Too bad there was no 1983 album which surely would have combined the best of both worlds.

1999 for me.

Both are brilliant, but 1999 is slightly more brilliant, in my opinion.

1999. Starkly lovely.

Will always be 1999 for me. This photo just sums it all up....classic.

[img:$uid]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i477/billylettuce/1999inner11.jpg[/img:$uid]

That's a really easy question for me. I never listen to the stuff from Purple Rain.

1999.

Shafty said:

Will always be 1999 for me. This photo just sums it all up....classic.

[img:$uid]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i477/billylettuce/1999inner11.jpg[/img:$uid]

PR

I would say 1999 only because i think Purple Rain was not released as a new album more the soundtrack for the film. if it was a proper follow up we may of got longer full length songs, like Let's Go Crazy, full length Computer Blue. PR is a solid commercial pop rock album. 1999 wasn't edited and is how it should've been (maybe with the Free - Moonbeam Levels switch).

1999 it is then.

1999.

1999 is more creative and melodic, but I like the songs on Purple Rain for sentimental reasons and the visuals. I'm going with 1999.

1999 was the "album" that put Prince over the top with me. Dirty Mind,Controversy and then 1999....was the classic Trifecta. Purple Rain was important but my least favorite of the first ten Prince recordings. Though When Doves Cry is my favorite single ever released.

I was caught up in the "Purple Rain". Went to the concert and saw the movie in the theatre but I always felt like I was a day late and a dollar short. The original Time broke up and Vanity 6 was no more. I felt as though the 1984 releases were far inferior compared to what was released in 1982. In fact when I found out a couple of years ago that Ice Cream Castle was a Prince album, my mouth dropped. I don't even own that album. Though Purple Rain gave us Erotic City. 1999 gave us Extra-lovable. First post a little long winded and off topic but could not wait to give my 2 cents

tyroniousdex said:

digitalelectric said:

tyroniousdex said:

1999 was the "album" that put Prince over the top with me. Dirty Mind,Controversy and then 1999....was the classic Trifecta. Purple Rain was important but my least favorite of the first ten Prince recordings. Though When Doves Cry is my favorite single ever released.

I was caught up in the "Purple Rain". Went to the concert and saw the movie in the theatre but I always felt like I was a day late and a dollar short. The original Time broke up and Vanity 6 was no more. I felt as though the 1984 releases were far inferior compared to what was released in 1982. In fact when I found out a couple of years ago that Ice Cream Castle was a Prince album, my mouth dropped. I don't even own that album. Though Purple Rain gave us Erotic City. 1999 gave us Extra-lovable. First post a little long winded and off topic but could not wait to give my 2 cents

Excellent first post! Post more often. Imagine PR with Erotic City and 17 Days. And G-Spot and Wonderful Ass and She's Always in My Hair. Could've been, ya know.

Thanx my friend throw in Pop Life and he could have omitted Paisley Park and gave us another double album release that would have been very special.

[Edited 6/17/11 3:04am]

purple Rain for me. I never really liked 1999. The songs are way too long and not very exciting, the mixing is really weak. I dont like the cold computer sound. This must be prince experimental record. U never really heard him do that again this way. it has only 3 great songs, 1. little red corvette, 2. DmsR, lady cab driver,

good/ ok songs: something in the water, 1999, delirious, free,

I dont need the rest.

NouveauDance said:

Shafty said:

Will always be 1999 for me. This photo just sums it all up....classic.

[img:$uid]http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i477/billylettuce/1999inner11.jpg[/img:$uid]

Bad Assed. Have always loved that record sleeve. My favorite band.

[Edited 6/17/11 2:55am]

1999 just edges it for me, and that's mainly because of Little Red Corvette.

1999.It's alot more edgy and adventurous than 'Purple Rain' and it contains more funk.

misiu said:

purple Rain for me. I never really liked 1999. The songs are way too long and not very exciting, the mixing is really weak. I dont like the cold computer sound. This must be prince experimental record. U never really heard him do that again this way. it has only 3 great songs, 1. little red corvette, 2. DmsR, lady cab driver,

good/ ok songs: something in the water, 1999, delirious, free,

I dont need the rest.

Not very exciting?? Are you kidding? I think this might be whole new debate.

I love the lengthy songs. It's what makes the album IMO. They sound to me as though they were written and recorded deliberately as full length versions, instead of extended 12" versions a la Kiss, Rapsberry Beret etc that followed in later years.

Unskippable album

Had 1999 included "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" and "Irresistable Bitch", it would easily be my favorite Prince album.

Purple Rain is too pop oriented. The music on 1999 holds up way better 20 some years later than the music on Purple Rain, probably because 1999 is more of a funk album, and Purple Rain is a straight 80s pop album.

Purple Rain is just a perfect "whole".

I love 1999 but as has already been said, ithe production could have been better and some of the songs are a bit second rate ( Automatic, "Critics").

Purple Rain still sounds as exciting today as it did when it was released.

I know for a fact that I've listened to '1999' much more than I have 'Purple Rain' [if you don't count hearing it while watching the movie ]. '1999' is just rawer imho. It also has some of the catchiest melody's Prince ever came with. It was also a bit more varied than 'Purple Rain' to me. 'Purple Rain' is the public's choice, but I don't think it's Prince's best album. It's one of his best, but not my personal fav.

easily 1999, I rarely listen to Purple Rain. Mostly because I find the production a bit dated. Sounds like he one some of the songs had on his auto pilot drum programming with the exception of Darling Nikki and When Doves Cry which have some of his most genuis drum patterns to this day. But the songs on Purple Rain are mostly all classics, at the same time put together perfectly. The Prince album with the best flow throughout.

Purple Rain for me by a mile. Too many songs I don't care for on 1999, Automatic, Lady Cab Driver, All The Critics.

Nothing skippable on PR

1999

digitalelectric said:

I have to say 1999.

What say you?

Too bad there was no 1983 album which surely would have combined the best of both worlds.

I have to pick 1999 over PR. I never listen to PR anymore at all.

As far as the album, you have to remember that the album 1999 was released in October of 1982 and started gaining momentum after MTV played the hell out of LRC.

PURPLE RAIN

1999 is a masterpiece, but it is NOT an easy album to diggest; in fact, the songs 6, 7 and 8 are slighty bleak, lesser and uninviting. If only he had replaced those songs with Irresistible Bitch, Extra Lovable, and Moonbeam Levels; if only...

JoeTyler said:

PURPLE RAIN

1999 is a masterpiece, but it is NOT an easy album to diggest; in fact, the songs 6, 7 and 8 are slighty bleak, lesser and uninviting. If only he had replaced those songs with Irresistible Bitch, Extra Lovable, and Moonbeam Levels; if only...

Wow! I don't think I've ever heard "Automatic" referred to as "bleak."

If you were around in 1982/1983 (I don't think you were by looking at your profile), you would know that those songs were very cutting edge. In fact, "Automatic" used to get quite a bit of radio play in major markets (so did DMSR, Lady Cab Driver and International Lover). I don't recall hearing another r&b/pop artist getting their ass beat on record before "Automatic."

The only ones that I found hard to digest were "Something In The Water" and "All The Critics." When I first got the album, I didn't get those trax, but probably a year later, I finally got it and fell in love with them.

daPrettyman said:

JoeTyler said:

PURPLE RAIN

1999 is a masterpiece, but it is NOT an easy album to diggest; in fact, the songs 6, 7 and 8 are slighty bleak, lesser and uninviting. If only he had replaced those songs with Irresistible Bitch, Extra Lovable, and Moonbeam Levels; if only...

Wow! I don't think I've ever heard "Automatic" referred to as "bleak."

If you were around in 1982/1983 (I don't think you were by looking at your profile), you would know that those songs were very cutting edge. In fact, "Automatic" used to get quite a bit of radio play in major markets (so did DMSR, Lady Cab Driver and International Lover). I don't recall hearing another r&b/pop artist getting their ass beat on record before "Automatic."

The only ones that I found hard to digest were "Something In The Water" and "All The Critics." When I first got the album, I didn't get those trax, but probably a year later, I finally got it and fell in love with them.

Automatic is too long and repetitive for me, DMSR is just perfect, but Automatic needs some serious editing; yeah I know it's blasphemy, but I've never thought that the song is particularly inviting or kick-ass, the Pointed Sisters song of the same name is much better. lol

daPrettyman said:

JoeTyler said:

PURPLE RAIN

1999 is a masterpiece, but it is NOT an easy album to diggest; in fact, the songs 6, 7 and 8 are slighty bleak, lesser and uninviting. If only he had replaced those songs with Irresistible Bitch, Extra Lovable, and Moonbeam Levels; if only...

Wow! I don't think I've ever heard "Automatic" referred to as "bleak."

If you were around in 1982/1983 (I don't think you were by looking at your profile), you would know that those songs were very cutting edge. In fact, "Automatic" used to get quite a bit of radio play in major markets (so did DMSR, Lady Cab Driver and International Lover). I don't recall hearing another r&b/pop artist getting their ass beat on record before "Automatic."

The only ones that I found hard to digest were "Something In The Water" and "All The Critics." When I first got the album, I didn't get those trax, but probably a year later, I finally got it and fell in love with them.

"Automatic" is one of the finest electro pop funk jams ever.

This is the album for me that needs the remastering treatment soonest.