Ok I'm still a fairly new Prince fan. Growing up, my mama was in LOVE with him (and still is), and I was more of a Michael fan...but now I can't get enough of Prince. I'm trying to get into his discography; I know he has a million albums lol. I've only REALLY gotten into Purple Rain, Sign O' The Times and The Gold Experience. I JUST got done listening to The Black Album and I loved it.

What are your favorite and least favorite Prince albums?

1978: For You (8)
1979: Prince (8)
1980: Dirty Mind (10)
1981: Controversy (9)
1982: 1999 (10)
1984: Purple Rain (10)
1985: Around The World In A Day (10)
1986: Parade (10)
1987: Sign "O" The Times (10)
1988: Lovesexy (10)
1989: Batman (8)
1990: Graffiti Bridge (8)
1991: Diamonds & Pearls (9)
1992: / The Love Symbol Album (9)
1993: The Hits / The B-sides (10)
1994: Come (9)
1994: The Black Album (9)
1995: The Gold Experience (10)
1996: Chaos & Disorder (7)
1996: Emancipation (8)
1998: Crystal Ball (8)
1998: The Truth (7)
1998: Kamasutra (0)
1998: Newpower Soul (4)
1999: The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale (6)
1999: Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (6)
2001: Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic (7)

2001: The Rainbow Children (9)
2002: One Nite Alone... Piano (3)
2002: One Nite Alone... Live (2)

2003: N.E.W.S. (2)
2004: Musicology (7)
2004: The Chocolate Invasion (7)
2004: The Slaughterhouse (7)
2006: 3121 (5)
2007: Planet Earth (5)
2008: Indigo Nights (2)
2009: Lotusflower (8)
2009: MPLSound (8)
2010: 20Ten (8)

^ here is an overview,

All Prince albums rated out of 10..

[Edited 7/12/11 22:39pm]

You started the same way I did . I got into 1999 early too. I'd get that! It's amazing. Lovesexy is great too, Come, Around the world in a day, Parade, Dirty Mind, Controversy, I would also get the hits/b-sides as a good beginner CD set

^^^I'd listen to IntLvr82 if I were you... She's a young, but very knowledgeable Prince fan.

If you dig the Black Album, I'd focus on his material from "Dirty Mind"(1980) up to "Lovesexy"(1988)..

He has some GREAT material before & after that, but that is the root of it all...

Welcome to the Dawn...

• For You: 3/5
• Prince: 3.5/5
• Dirty Mind: 4/5
• Controversy: 3.5/5
• 1999: 4/5
• Purple Rain: 4.5/5
• Around The World In A Day: 4/5
• Parade: 5/5
• Dream Factory: 4/5
• Crystal Ball (1986): 4/5
• Sign O' The Times: 5/5
• The Black Album: 3.5/5
• Lovesexy: 4/5
• Batman: 2.5/5
• Graffiti Bridge: 3.5/5
• Diamonds And Pearls: 3/5
• O( >: 3.5/5
• Come: 3/5
• The Gold Experience: 4/5
• Chaos And Disorder: 2.5/5
• Emancipation: 3/5
• Crystal Ball: 4/5
• The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale: 3/5
• Newpower Soul: 2/5
• Rave Un2/In2 The Joy Fantastic: 3/5
• The Rainbow Children: 3.5/5
• One Nite Alone...: 3/5
• Xpectation: 3/5
• N.E.W.S.: 3.5/5
• Musicology: 3/5
• The Chocolate Invasion: 2.5/5
• The Slaughterhouse: 2/5
• C-Note: 3/5
• 3121: 3.5/5
• Planet Earth: 3/5
• Indigo Nights: 1.5/5
• LOtUSFLOW3R: 4/5
• MPLSoUND: 3/5
• 20Ten: 3.5/5

[Edited 7/12/11 23:24pm]

HarlemKnightt said:

Ok I'm still a fairly new Prince fan. Growing up, my mama was in LOVE with him (and still is), and I was more of a Michael fan...but now I can't get enough of Prince. I'm trying to get into his discography; I know he has a million albums lol. I've only REALLY gotten into Purple Rain, Sign O' The Times and The Gold Experience. I JUST got done listening to The Black Album and I loved it.

What are your favorite and least favorite Prince albums?

IMO u should listen 2:

For You

Prince

Dirty Mind

Controversy

1999

Around The World In a Day

Parade

Black Album

Lovesexy

Whathever comes after Lovesexy is not at the same level anymore.

Aloisio said:

HarlemKnightt said:

Ok I'm still a fairly new Prince fan. Growing up, my mama was in LOVE with him (and still is), and I was more of a Michael fan...but now I can't get enough of Prince. I'm trying to get into his discography; I know he has a million albums lol. I've only REALLY gotten into Purple Rain, Sign O' The Times and The Gold Experience. I JUST got done listening to The Black Album and I loved it.

What are your favorite and least favorite Prince albums?

IMO u should listen 2:

For You

Prince

Dirty Mind

Controversy

1999

Around The World In a Day

Parade

Black Album

Lovesexy

Whathever comes after Lovesexy is not at the same level anymore.

when i first started listening i wasnt able to get into dirty mind so easily. it took me a while to come around. im still working on parade, but i have hope

Me too, i wasn't immediately caught by Dirty Mind, this album is absolutely a grower... http://prince.org/msg/7/362684

thedance said:

1978: For You 6

1979: Prince 7

1980: Dirty Mind 9.5

1981: Controversy 8

1982: 1999 (10)
1984: Purple Rain (9)
1985: Around The World In A Day (6)
1986: Parade (10)
1987: Sign "O" The Times (10 +++++++++++++) Best
1988: Lovesexy (9)
1989: Batman (4)
1990: Graffiti Bridge (5)
1991: Diamonds & Pearls (7)
1992: / The Love Symbol Album (9)
1993: The Hits / The B-sides (10)
1994: Come (9)
1994: The Black Album (8)
1995: The Gold Experience (6)
1996: Chaos & Disorder (2)
1996: Emancipation (6)
1998: Crystal Ball (8)
1998: The Truth (3)
1998: Kamasutra (0)
1998: Newpower Soul (1)
1999: The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale (6)
1999: Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (4)

2001: The Rainbow Children (-2) Worst

2003: N.E.W.S. (1)
2004: Musicology (6)
2006: 3121 (8)
2007: Planet Earth (7)
2008: Indigo Nights (4)
2009: Lotusflower (7)
2009: MPLSound (8)

^ here is an overview,

All Prince albums rated out of 10..

[Edited 7/12/11 22:39pm]

Thanks thedance for letting me use your template, too lonng for me to type out all the album names. As you can see I really Love SOTT and his classic 80s stuff but detest the Rainbow Homophobes, Musical Auschwitz, Satanic Cult Connection to death

I got into Prince in 91, and went for Diamonds and Pearls first and then Purple Rain, followed by all the albums from ATWIAD to Graffiti Bridge. With in a year I had everything up to and including Symbol (Except the Black Album of course, I got one of the 94 official ones)

Vict0r said:

• For You: 3/5
• Prince: 3.5/5
• Dirty Mind: 4/5
• Controversy: 3.5/5
• 1999: 4/5
• Purple Rain: 4.5/5
• Around The World In A Day: 4/5
• Parade: 5/5
• Dream Factory: 4/5
• Crystal Ball (1986): 4/5
• Sign O' The Times: 5/5
• The Black Album: 3.5/5
• Lovesexy: 4/5
• Batman: 2.5/5
• Graffiti Bridge: 3.5/5
• Diamonds And Pearls: 3/5
• O( >: 3.5/5
• Come: 3/5
• The Gold Experience: 4/5
• Chaos And Disorder: 2.5/5
• Emancipation: 3/5
• Crystal Ball: 4/5
• The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale: 3/5
• Newpower Soul: 2/5
• Rave Un2/In2 The Joy Fantastic: 3/5
• The Rainbow Children: 3.5/5
• One Nite Alone...: 3/5
• Xpectation: 3/5
• N.E.W.S.: 3.5/5
• Musicology: 3/5
• The Chocolate Invasion: 2.5/5
• The Slaughterhouse: 2/5
• C-Note: 3/5
• 3121: 3.5/5
• Planet Earth: 3/5
• Indigo Nights: 1.5/5
• LOtUSFLOW3R: 4/5
• MPLSoUND: 3/5
• 20Ten: 3.5/5

[Edited 7/12/11 23:24pm]

Wouldn't you have been better just scoring them out of ten? so many half points?!?!?

Thank y'all so much. I'm going to listen to Lovesexy today.

HarlemKnightt said:

Ok I just got done listening to LOVESEXY..I thought it was OK. The only 5/5 songs for me were ALPHABET ST. and ANNA STESIA...the rest are 3/5 or below...

HarlemKnightt said:

3121

TGE

TRC

Around The World In A Day

1999

Musicology

The Chocolate Invasion

Dirty Mind

Symbol

Rave

Planet Earth

Dirty Mind, Controversy and 1999 is a perfect trilogy to me that was the blueprint for his later 80s output. Great study for his one man band music and his persona.

Purple Rain, Around The World in A Day and Parade is a great trilogy of the Revolution era. More live music, and introducing the band.

These 6 albums together ranks 10 out of 10 in my opinion.

Sign of The Times was Prince looking back at what he had done, it's like a best of of material he never had released earlier. It's like he's summing up the best of his earlier work wrapped in new songs. TIt's the 1999 of 1987. Him drum programming and playing most of the instruments himself, but with alot more life experience and inspiration from new directions.

Aloisio said:

HarlemKnightt said:

the rest are 3/5 or below...

What????????

I definitely understood her opinion. I was the same, but only liked Alphabet Street. But the album grew on me after 2.5 years.

Definitely hit up Dirty Mind (I wish you could have immediate access to the 2 DM boots, u will be in LOVE)

Purple Rain (definitely an instant fav)

1999 (dance anthem album)

Diamonds & Pearls (I think you'll like that )

Aloisio said:

HarlemKnightt said:

the rest are 3/5 or below...

What????????

HarlemKnightt said:

Ok I just got done listening to LOVESEXY..I thought it was OK. The only 5/5 songs for me were ALPHABET ST. and ANNA STESIA...the rest are 3/5 or below...

One mans opinion, my marks out of 5 for the tracks off Lovesexy

Eyeknow 4.5/5

Alphabet Street 5/5

Glam Slam 4/5

Annastesia 5/5

Dance On 3.5/5

Lovesexy 3.5/5

When 2 R in Love 5/5

Eye Wish u heaven 4.5/5

Positivity 4/5

Total 39/45 = 87%

Would love to c what you gave individual songs out of 5 for this album, I can't believe any are less than 3/5 (Good, Satisfactory level).

I think for the new fan, the most essential albums to listen to are

Purple Rain, then Sign O the Times, Parade, 1999, Diamonds and Pearls, 3121, Dirty Mind

After that, listen to Prince, Lovesexy, Controversy, The Gold Experience, Musicology, Lotusflow3r and Mplsound

Then the rest except Rainbow Children, Kamasutra, Newpower Soul and Chaos and Disorder, and Batman, as these add nothing to Prince for the casual listener.

Doing a Q magazine (British Musical Review magazine) on Prince albums for the new fan and casual listener. This list is more general rather than my personal fvourites

5 Star - Classic, essential in any record collection

1999

Purple Rain

Parade

Sign O the Times

Lovesexy

4 Star - Great, a good addition to any collection

Dirty Mind

Controversy

Black Album

Diamonds and Pearls

Lovesymbol

The Hits/Bsides

Come

The Gold Experience

3121

3 Star - Good, great in its field but not for every one

For You

Prince

Around the World in a day

Graffiti Bridge

Emancipation

Crystal Ball (3 discs only)

Musicology

The Ultimate Prince

Planet Earth

Lotusflow3r

MPLsOUND

2 Star - Exercise caution, flawed

Batman

The Truth

The Vault, old friends for sale

Rave UN2 the Joy Fantastic

N.E.W.S

20ten

1 Star - Avoid, not for the faint hearted

Kamasutra

Chaos and Disorder

NewPOwer Soul

Rave in 2 the Year 2000

1999 The New Master

One Night Alone (All versions)

NPGMC releases.

0 Star - Avoid any continent this album is near

The Rainbow Children

Essential Beginners Album - The very best of Prince (Contains all the cliched hit singles, great for the non fan or person with a passing interest in Prince)

I gave ALPHABET ST and ANNA STESIA 5/5...

Eye No and Glam Slam are 2/5..

When 2 R In Love 1/5

the rest are 3/5

HarlemKnightt said:

I gave ALPHABET ST and ANNA STESIA 5/5...

Eye No and Glam Slam are 2/5..

When 2 R In Love 1/5

the rest are 3/5

WTF!!!!!! If you are a newbie, you have a LOT to learn

[Edited 7/13/11 22:44pm]

LOL what do I have to learn? If I don't like something then I don't like it.

For You - 7
Prince - 8
Dirty Mind - 9
Controversy - 9
1999 - 10
Purple Rain - 10
Around The World In A Day - 8
Parade - 6
Sign "O" The Times - 9
Lovesexy - 8
Batman - 7
Graffiti Bridge - 7
Diamonds & Pearls - 8

- 6
The Hits / The B-sides - 10 [For the B-Sides alone]
Come - 8
The Black Album - 8
The Gold Experience - 9
Chaos & Disorder - 5
Emancipation - 7
Crystal Ball - 5 [Somewhat of a waste, more filler than not. BUT, what's good is definitely good!]
The Truth - 6
Kamasutra - Below 0
Newpower Soul - 3
The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale - 4
Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic - 7
Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic - 8

The Rainbow Children - 9
One Nite Alone - 4
One Nite Alone... Live - 4

N.E.W.S. - 1 [It IS good, but all instrumental majorly messes it up]
Musicology - 7
The Chocolate Invasion - 5
The Slaughterhouse - 7
3121 - 6
Planet Earth - 8
Indigo Nights - 3
Lotusflower - 7
MPLSound - 9
20Ten - 8

I know I may be a bit critical, but that's what we're here for, right?

[Edited 7/14/11 9:10am]

HarlemKnightt said:

LOL what do I have to learn? If I don't like something then I don't like it.

It's cool that people are giving you their opinion on these albums and I know that that was what you asked of this thread, but to be honest, the best thing you can do is ignore these silly ratings that people give things because they mean very little to anyone exept the person giving them.

Go your own journey, follow your own path on this, there will be stops on the path that you don't like of course, but at least most of your journey will be a rewarding and interesting one.

Someone has listed all the albums available, I just hope that you decide to work your way through them without being influenced too much by peoples ratings, after all, someones shit could well be your treasure.

^ I agree, but I did it for two reasons. One, because I was bored and it gave me something to do. . And two, because it was fun. I'm a bit critical, especially of Parade, but, like I said, that's why we're here.

DJFreelan said:

^ I'm a bit critical, especially of Parade, but, like I said, that's why we're here.

Indeed, yes.

TheDigitalGardener said:

HarlemKnightt said:

LOL what do I have to learn? If I don't like something then I don't like it.

It's cool that people are giving you their opinion on these albums and I know that that was what you asked of this thread, but to be honest, the best thing you can do is ignore these silly ratings that people give things because they mean very little to anyone exept the person giving them.

Go your own journey, follow your own path on this, there will be stops on the path that you don't like of course, but at least most of your journey will be a rewarding and interesting one.

Someone has listed all the albums available, I just hope that you decide to work your way through them without being influenced too much by peoples ratings, after all, someones shit could well be your treasure.

I like this explanation DG Very good and true

HarlemKnightt said:

LOL what do I have to learn? If I don't like something then I don't like it.

That's the thing with Prince... You pretty much have to explore for yourself. He's put out an endless range of music through the years. Some of it garbage, but most of it brilliant & one fan's garbage is another's gold..

I was sort of surprised that you disliked "When 2 R in Love" so much since you started this thread by saying..." I JUST got done listening to The Black Album and I loved it"..... You do know that song is on The Black Album too, right?

I am sort of a new fan. Back in the Purple Rain days I was a huge fan but I was just a little girl. After hitting puberty I turned to metal and you know how kids are with metal... they get very devoted sometimes. I wouldn't listen to much else because I was too busy finding heavier metal to listen to.

I was listening to little red corvette recently and looked some things up and next thing I know I am reading all sorts of things I did not know and hearing music I had not heard and once again, I was moved and decided to make a more thorough study of the artist who I am not sure why I ever distanced myself as a fan to begin with.