TylerHippie said:

Vict0r said:

I'd go with:

1. Around The World In A Day
2. Paisley Park (Extended Version)
3. She's Always In My Hair (Extended Version)
4. America (Extended Version)
5. Raspberry Beret (Extended Version)
6. Pop Life (Extended Version)
7. Girl (Extended Version)
8. Tamborine
9. Temptation
10. The Ladder

Wow! No "Codition Of The Heart"?

Oops, I forgot it. Definitely not intentional. I'd probably put Condition Of The Heart after Girl.

Spinlight said:

I think people are confused. "Best production" doesn't really mean "favorite record."

Rainbow Children has excellent production, but that doesn't mean it's a good record.

Prince's production values were a lot different in the 80s. I don't think the word 'best' is applicable because his production values have gotten much more sophisticated. He was definitely more experimental back then, but everything past Around the World In A Day has terrible production, IMO.

Great albums, but the mixing is not great.

You don't like the production on Parade?

TylerHippie said:

Spinlight said:

I think people are confused. "Best production" doesn't really mean "favorite record."

Rainbow Children has excellent production, but that doesn't mean it's a good record.

Prince's production values were a lot different in the 80s. I don't think the word 'best' is applicable because his production values have gotten much more sophisticated. He was definitely more experimental back then, but everything past Around the World In A Day has terrible production, IMO.

Great albums, but the mixing is not great.

You don't like the production on Parade?

Naw, I think Parade - Lovesexy have pretty lacklustre production. I think the songs have charm, though, and some are simply brilliant compositions ("Do U Lie?", "Mountains", etc) but the production is muddy, to me.

To be fair, I haven't heard vinyl transfers of those late 80s albums. Since the 1981-1984 era is my favorite, I tend to stick to those.

Spinlight said:

I think people are confused. "Best production" doesn't really mean "favorite record."

Rainbow Children has excellent production, but that doesn't mean it's a good record.

Prince's production values were a lot different in the 80s. I don't think the word 'best' is applicable because his production values have gotten much more sophisticated. He was definitely more experimental back then, but everything past Around the World In A Day has terrible production, IMO.

Great albums, but the mixing is not great.

I guess to maybe help people in their decision...

production (prəˈdʌkʃən)
— n
1.	the act of producing
2.	anything that is produced; product
3.	the amount produced or the rate at which it is produced
4.	economics the creation or manufacture for sale of goods and services with exchange value
5.	any work created as a result of literary or artistic effort
6.	the organization and presentation of a film, play, opera, etc
7.	( Brit ) the artistic direction of a play
8.	a. the supervision of the arrangement, recording, and mixing of a record
	b. the overall sound quality or character of a recording: the material is very strong but the production is poor
9.	( modifier ) manufactured by a mass-production process: a production model of a car
10.	informal make a production out of , make a production of to make an unnecessary fuss about

OldFriends4Sale said:

Spinlight said:

I think people are confused. "Best production" doesn't really mean "favorite record."

Rainbow Children has excellent production, but that doesn't mean it's a good record.

Prince's production values were a lot different in the 80s. I don't think the word 'best' is applicable because his production values have gotten much more sophisticated. He was definitely more experimental back then, but everything past Around the World In A Day has terrible production, IMO.

Great albums, but the mixing is not great.

I guess to maybe help people in their decision...

World English Dictionary

production (prəˈdʌkʃən)
— n
1.	the act of producing
2.	anything that is produced; product
3.	the amount produced or the rate at which it is produced
4.	economics the creation or manufacture for sale of goods and services with exchange value
5.	any work created as a result of literary or artistic effort
6.	the organization and presentation of a film, play, opera, etc
7.	( Brit ) the artistic direction of a play
8.	a. the supervision of the arrangement, recording, and mixing of a record
	b. the overall sound quality or character of a recording: the material is very strong but the production is poor
9.	( modifier ) manufactured by a mass-production process: a production model of a car
10.	informal make a production out of , make a production of to make an unnecessary fuss about

I think Around The World In A Day is his best produced album. I'm not trying to be bias. "Condition of The Heart" alone is a hell of a production.

I really like ATWIAD and LOVE the production and like seeing everyone's personal extended versions.

Here is mine

America - Live video version...I love the French intro to Prince & the Revolution, and LOVE this version of this song...

Around The World in A Day

Paisley Park long version

Condition of the Heart

Raspberry Beret - 12"

Tambourine (FAVE track)

She's Always in My Hair

Pop Life 12"

Hello

The Ladder

Girl

Poplife88 said:

I really like ATWIAD and LOVE the production and like seeing everyone's personal extended versions.

Here is mine

America - Live video version...I love the French intro to Prince & the Revolution, and LOVE this version of this song...

Around The World in A Day

Paisley Park long version

Condition of the Heart

Raspberry Beret - 12"

Tambourine (FAVE track)

She's Always in My Hair

Pop Life 12"

Hello

The Ladder

Girl

I love this version also! I can't find it, is it on a bootleg or something? I love the short guitar solo.

TylerHippie said:

rudeboy4711 said:

TylerHippie said:

I couldn't add "Go", the quality isn't that good. But the best thing to do to that album is make "America" the intro track. Pure genious. I'm still tryig to find some other ways to make it more classic.

1. America(Extended Version)

2. Around The World In A Day

3. Paisley Park(Extended Version)

4. Condition Of The Heart

5. She's Always In My Hair(Extended Version)

6. Raspberry Beret(Extended Version)

7. Pop Life(Extended Version)

8. The Ladder

9. Tamborine

10. Temptation

The Greatest Album Ever.

You could also make room for "All Day, All Night" and somehow add "Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden." Also, I think its just me but for some reason I think that "Take Me With U" fits better on ATWIAD than on Purple Rain

I could never do that to Around The World In A Day. And "Take Me With U" does fit on ATWIAD.

TylerHippie said:

Poplife88 said:

I really like ATWIAD and LOVE the production and like seeing everyone's personal extended versions.

Here is mine

America - Live video version...I love the French intro to Prince & the Revolution, and LOVE this version of this song...

Around The World in A Day

Paisley Park long version

Condition of the Heart

Raspberry Beret - 12"

Tambourine (FAVE track)

She's Always in My Hair

Pop Life 12"

Hello

The Ladder

Girl

I love this version also! I can't find it, is it on a bootleg or something? I love the short guitar solo.

A friend of mine gave it to me years ago. Not sure where he found it, and it cuts off right before he drums, which sucks...but it still RAWKS!

TylerHippie said:

Javi said:

I also love it. And, in my opinion, is more cohesive musically and lyrically than the majority of his other albums. That said, I can't believe he didn't include She's Always In My Hair.

Agree. I wish he had an extended version of Tamborine.

Hecks Yeah! I really wish he had an extended version of Tambourine. It is just exceptional, the drum playing, and overall sound still sounds fresh and just new. UNLIKE anything I have heard before, all of the songs are very cohesive and lyrically amazing. I love it. "She's Always In My Hair" is just tooo great for words! That guitar sound is soo addicting! I have a deeper love for this now. Haha

EyeJester7 said:

TylerHippie said:

Agree. I wish he had an extended version of Tamborine.

Hecks Yeah! I really wish he had an extended version of Tambourine. It is just exceptional, the drum playing, and overall sound still sounds fresh and just new. UNLIKE anything I have heard before, all of the songs are very cohesive and lyrically amazing. I love it. "She's Always In My Hair" is just tooo great for words! That guitar sound is soo addicting! I have a deeper love for this now. Haha

aha This album is insane. Have you heard the harmony on "America Extended Version" that begins at 11:03? That harmony is trippy.

[Edited 8/12/11 12:55pm]

TylerHippie said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I guess to maybe help people in their decision...

World English Dictionary

production (prəˈdʌkʃən)
— n
1.	the act of producing
2.	anything that is produced; product
3.	the amount produced or the rate at which it is produced
4.	economics the creation or manufacture for sale of goods and services with exchange value
5.	any work created as a result of literary or artistic effort
6.	the organization and presentation of a film, play, opera, etc
7.	( Brit ) the artistic direction of a play
8.	a. the supervision of the arrangement, recording, and mixing of a record
	b. the overall sound quality or character of a recording: the material is very strong but the production is poor
9.	( modifier ) manufactured by a mass-production process: a production model of a car
10.	informal make a production out of , make a production of to make an unnecessary fuss about

I think Around The World In A Day is his best produced album. I'm not trying to be bias. "Condition of The Heart" alone is a hell of a production.

Right, but its not really that kind of question. He asked if it was the best produced era and people started mentioning their favorite records and then posting tracklists and shit. I mean, sequencing is a characteristic of production so that right there flies out the window.

What would be the era in which you found the best collective productions? From top to bottom, not just your favorite songs.

I agree with the OP, mostly. I simply don't think anything past 84 has the same flare or attitude. It's much different. The productions are muted, soft. Artistic, experimental, but not rough around the edges, the cleverness is mostly gone, and the focus is less about these wonderfully epic records like 1999 and PR, and more about these toned down productions like SOTT (which barely has a loud bone in its body) and Parade (which is super chill).

Lovesexy is my 2nd favorite album ever, behind Controversy, and I think its production is pretty cheeseball in some areas. "Glam Slam" for instance is just an awkward song. Personally, I love it because of its awkwardness. The monkey sounds, the stupid lyrics, the airy vocals, etc.

Spinlight said:

TylerHippie said:

I think Around The World In A Day is his best produced album. I'm not trying to be bias. "Condition of The Heart" alone is a hell of a production.

Right, but its not really that kind of question. He asked if it was the best produced era and people started mentioning their favorite records and then posting tracklists and shit. I mean, sequencing is a characteristic of production so that right there flies out the window.

What would be the era in which you found the best collective productions? From top to bottom, not just your favorite songs.

I agree with the OP, mostly. I simply don't think anything past 84 has the same flare or attitude. It's much different. The productions are muted, soft. Artistic, experimental, but not rough around the edges, the cleverness is mostly gone, and the focus is less about these wonderfully epic records like 1999 and PR, and more about these toned down productions like SOTT (which barely has a loud bone in its body) and Parade (which is super chill).

Lovesexy is my 2nd favorite album ever, behind Controversy, and I think its production is pretty cheeseball in some areas. "Glam Slam" for instance is just an awkward song. Personally, I love it because of its awkwardness. The monkey sounds, the stupid lyrics, the airy vocals, etc.

Yeah, I think Around The World In A Day is his best production.

I find 85' material sweet to my ear. His 85' stuff sound so personal to me. Stuff like "Old Friends 4 Sale", "Go" etc...this is my favorite era of production. 86' comes in second.

Spinlight said:

TylerHippie said:

I think Around The World In A Day is his best produced album. I'm not trying to be bias. "Condition of The Heart" alone is a hell of a production.

Right, but its not really that kind of question. He asked if it was the best produced era and people started mentioning their favorite records and then posting tracklists and shit. I mean, sequencing is a characteristic of production so that right there flies out the window.

What would be the era in which you found the best collective productions? From top to bottom, not just your favorite songs.

I agree with the OP, mostly. I simply don't think anything past 84 has the same flare or attitude. It's much different. The productions are muted, soft. Artistic, experimental, but not rough around the edges, the cleverness is mostly gone, and the focus is less about these wonderfully epic records like 1999 and PR, and more about these toned down productions like SOTT (which barely has a loud bone in its body) and Parade (which is super chill).

Lovesexy is my 2nd favorite album ever, behind Controversy, and I think its production is pretty cheeseball in some areas. "Glam Slam" for instance is just an awkward song. Personally, I love it because of its awkwardness. The monkey sounds, the stupid lyrics, the airy vocals, etc.

I am glad I am not the only one! Lovesexy is indeed one of my favorite albums. I love the awkwardness and everything. That is why "Alphabet Street" is exceptional for me. Everything is on that album, it was one of the first songs that had drawn me to everything Prince is about.

EyeJester7 said:

Spinlight said:

Right, but its not really that kind of question. He asked if it was the best produced era and people started mentioning their favorite records and then posting tracklists and shit. I mean, sequencing is a characteristic of production so that right there flies out the window.

What would be the era in which you found the best collective productions? From top to bottom, not just your favorite songs.

I agree with the OP, mostly. I simply don't think anything past 84 has the same flare or attitude. It's much different. The productions are muted, soft. Artistic, experimental, but not rough around the edges, the cleverness is mostly gone, and the focus is less about these wonderfully epic records like 1999 and PR, and more about these toned down productions like SOTT (which barely has a loud bone in its body) and Parade (which is super chill).

Lovesexy is my 2nd favorite album ever, behind Controversy, and I think its production is pretty cheeseball in some areas. "Glam Slam" for instance is just an awkward song. Personally, I love it because of its awkwardness. The monkey sounds, the stupid lyrics, the airy vocals, etc.

I am glad I am not the only one! Lovesexy is indeed one of my favorite albums. I love the awkwardness and everything. That is why "Alphabet Street" is exceptional for me. Everything is on that album, it was one of the first songs that had drawn me to everything Prince is about.

Agreed. "Alphabet St" has that cool dry crack on the drums that I really like. Actually, back when I first heard the track, I had never heard a drum track like that before. (You later saw something similar on "They Don't Care About Us" by MJ.)

Really love "I Know" and "Dance On"! And the extended "Wish U Heaven" is crazy!

As a final product Lovesexy is good. It could have been better if they wouldn't have need Cat to rap. They didn't want her to give it to them slow because New Power Soul needed to go as in to flow, but Cat somehow misunderstood New Power Soul for New Power SUCK and so the production of Lovesexy catapulted in it's demise. I wish the album version of alphabet st didn't include Cat's rap. That would have worked better as a 12inch version only. Glam Slam is corny but it's my favorite on the album. There are a lot of cool things going on in that track and it is a one of a kind Prince track in it's own special way.

BEST PRODUCTION: Around The World In A Day (First Place)

It has a very cool album cover, slammin b-sides, great extended versions of singles and b-sides, and it really is like a trip around the world in a day. First comes the endeavor to take a trip around the world in a day. First stop is Paisley Park and in this phase of the trip one notices the effect people experience by the Condition of The Heart. Then while on the journey comes the story of working part time in a 5&dime and meeting a stunning beauty that's not all that bright but knows how to get a kiss. Yeah she wore a Raspberry Beret! More into the journey comes long days and lonely nights. All alone by myself when I play my Tamborine. Its a mental trip of some sort. Next stop: America. Here we see things like little sister making minimum wage while living in a one room jungle monkey cage. She can't get over, and she's almost dead. She may not be in the black yet happy she aint in the red!America is what it is. God shed his grace on her and yeah that's what freedom is like. Being in America is like being in a rat race and life ain't very funky unless it's got that Pop. Pop Life. No matter how hard you search it's hard to reach and what you realize is that you're not alone in all of this. Everybody's lookin for The Ladder. Stay focused and remain aware. Temptation is always lurking around the corner. Just be good and realize love is more important than sex and then you'll understand. Wait! That's the end of the journey. I don't know what I'll do. Goodbye.

Spinlight said:

EyeJester7 said:

I am glad I am not the only one! Lovesexy is indeed one of my favorite albums. I love the awkwardness and everything. That is why "Alphabet Street" is exceptional for me. Everything is on that album, it was one of the first songs that had drawn me to everything Prince is about.

Agreed. "Alphabet St" has that cool dry crack on the drums that I really like. Actually, back when I first heard the track, I had never heard a drum track like that before. (You later saw something similar on "They Don't Care About Us" by MJ.)

Really love "I Know" and "Dance On"! And the extended "Wish U Heaven" is crazy!

Hecks YEAH! I really love that! WOW! I listen to MJ often, and did not even realize how those drums are very similar on "They Don't Really Care About Us" Shows the power of his strange mixes.

"I Know" is definitely my strong favorites as well as everything you mentioned, there is reason I love the mixes so much. It is all crazy good!

Yeah I agree about that nearly 10-year period being the best in terms of production. He's tried hard to produce some quality material afterwards. It's either decent or falls flat in some areas nowadays.

Tough question.

Best production 1980-1988: 1999

romeo77090 said:

As a final product Lovesexy is good. It could have been better if they wouldn't have need Cat to rap. They didn't want her to give it to them slow because New Power Soul needed to go as in to flow, but Cat somehow misunderstood New Power Soul for New Power SUCK and so the production of Lovesexy catapulted in it's demise. I wish the album version of alphabet st didn't include Cat's rap. That would have worked better as a 12inch version only. Glam Slam is corny but it's my favorite on the album. There are a lot of cool things going on in that track and it is a one of a kind Prince track in it's own special way.

imo, Alphabet Street would've been one of his all-time greatest tracks if he didn't ruin it. Possibly even top 10.

Hmm.

Parade.

"Production" in the context of recorded music refers to something quite different than what it means in other walks of life. So providing list of the possible meanings the word has is pretty pointless. That's not to say that the word would be used unambiguously in the context of recorded music either.

production wise?

im gonna go for Lovesexy.

Everything is perfectly polished, sexy guitar tones and a shit load of layering making a very lush sounding recording.... Thats if you like a big produced album!!!

Sign o the Times is the opposite i think, a very rough sounding production, more gritty....but still with some weird fucking sounds, like the guitar tone to "u got the look" Depends what you are looking for.

The weird sound on "If i was your girlfriend" makes me think of David Bowies "sound and vision"

[Edited 8/15/11 4:19am]