Following on from my review of Dirty Mind (http://prince.org/msg/7/377541) here is my review for Prince - For You (1978) taken from my blog www.princereviews.com.

For You (1978)

Prince's first album and one of his best. He burst out on the scene in Minneapolis with this album - with brilliant elaborate works or complexity and simple ballads which give you a taste of things to come. Still finding his style, he gives us a bit of everything on this album. All the tracks are stand out tracks. The first song, "For You" is a multilayered falsetto introduction to the world of Prince and the music he wants to give to us. He really means it, and puts his all into this beautiful intro to the album. "In Love" is a sweeping second song with a real 70's mid tempo disco feel to it. It sounds like it is meant to be a commercial song and while it is catchy, it is not a classic - it is a short segue onto the albums most memorable song "Soft and Wet".

Soft and Wet, apart from it's kinky title is really the funkiest and most catchy song on the album. It best encapsulates the approach Prince would have over the next 10 years, sexually charged, sparse funky pop. It is a classic and still stands out on the record today. Soft and Wet is one of many styles on For You, but it is clear from listening to it, it is the most succesful approach, and a sign of things to come.... A classic. This doesnt mean that the album doesnt offer more greatness. The following tracks are all great songs in their own right.

"Crazy You" is a brief but sublime journey into Prince's inner soul, with raindrop beats and rythmic 70's acoustic guitar you could almost imagine yourself in a French suaret with a glass of scotch wearing a white turtle neck sweater. Theres one verse and one chorus, which are so brilliant that it makes for a disappointing listen (ie just when you are getting into it, it all ends so soon). Crazy You could be considered a throw away filler, but to me it's a special peice of Prince legend.

"Just as long as were together" is one of the more ambitious songs, including a "dance" mix of the song at the end, which is as good as the song itself. "Baby" is a sugar sweet, song about responsibility and what seems to be the repercusions of teen pregnancies (in case (I guess) his condom breaks), which is out of the question, because he doesnt know how this could happen to a very careful man like him. Im sure he is careful, but considering the topic matter, the song is very grandious and perhaps a little immature, but its great fun to listen to and a masterpeice considering his age. The next song is "My love is Forever", a swinging, light, and (ultimately) very catchy song. The song never gets boring and embodies "For You", its innocence, the lightness and effortlessness all in one song. The ending of My love is forever, is about as funky as anything Prince has ever done.

The classics dont stop. The next song is another masterpeice, and like My love is forever, "So Blue" takes a few listens to truly appreciate its brilliance. How can I put this.. this song is a masterpeice, true and simple. The song is a blues song, where Prince bemoans lonliness and despair, he wallows in the the bleakness of it all. The song is perfectly structured, brilliantly sung, with all the heartfealt experience of someone 20 years older - it is a window to the genius that is Prince.

The last song is "Im Yours" and in way the most impressive song on the album musically, but probably the least intersting in terms of lyrics and songwriting. It is basically a music fest where Prince shows off his guitar playing skills. It's imbalanced, as if he was trying to catch up for the lack of guitar freakiness on the rest of the album - and who can blame him, it's his first record and he may not have another chance to show the world all his abilities, the only time to get the world to notice - and boy did they....

"For You" was not a great commercial success, but it is not a commercial record in that it takes a few listens to really get into. But once you do, you really get it, you realise this guy is a genius and this is only the start.

(4 out of 5)

One of his best? Really? I guess we all have our own opinions but how many albums would you say are among his best? If For You rates a 4/5 what do his eighties albums rate? All 5/5? I just think maybe your scoring/criticism of this album is a bit soft.

I really like the album and do think it is a bit underappreciated. Sure, it pales when compared to what would come later but there are some good songs here that I think would sound great live.

[Edited 3/16/12 3:42am]

rialb said:

One of his best? Really? I guess we all have our own opinions but how many albums would you say are among his best? If For You rates a 4/5 what do his eighties albums rate? All 5/5? I just think maybe your scoring/criticism of this album is a bit soft.

I really like the album and do think it is a bit underappreciated. Sure, it pales when compared to what would come later but there are some good songs here that I think would sound great live.

[Edited 3/16/12 3:42am]

How many albums are better than For You? I cant think of many. I tend to judge music (and it's only my opinion) on what I am still listening to, and For You always gets a listen... whereas other albums are gathering dust (ATWIAD, Batman, 1999 etc)...

vinx98 said:

rialb said:

One of his best? Really? I guess we all have our own opinions but how many albums would you say are among his best? If For You rates a 4/5 what do his eighties albums rate? All 5/5? I just think maybe your scoring/criticism of this album is a bit soft.

I really like the album and do think it is a bit underappreciated. Sure, it pales when compared to what would come later but there are some good songs here that I think would sound great live.

[Edited 3/16/12 3:42am]

How many albums are better than For You? I cant think of many. I tend to judge music (and it's only my opinion) on what I am still listening to, and For You always gets a listen... whereas other albums are gathering dust (ATWIAD, Batman, 1999 etc)...

Fair enough.

in love is one of my all time favourite prince tracks

Really enjoyed reading your review, made me go listen to this album again. I usually make a playlist of Prince songs and stick to it but this one is one of the albums that I love listening to it as a whole.

[Edited 3/16/12 19:15pm]

Emancipation89 said:

Really enjoyed reading your review, made me go listen to this album again. I usually make a playlist of Prince songs and stick to it but this one is one of the albums that I love listening to it as a whole.

Yeah 'For You' is a great intriguing introduction to not just this album but the artist Prince. It's like he's kind of showing off what he can do vocally you know? Made me wonder what kind of album was I about to listen to, whether it was pop or RnB or Disco or soul...or little bit of everything!

I always thought 'In Love', 'Soft and Wet' and 'Just As Long As We're Together' are all sort of connected to each other. 'In Love' is in a way, a weaker version and a sneak peak of 'Soft and Wet', and while I agree 'Soft and Wet' is more catchier one but I think 'In Love' is more disco oriented, I really love both songs.

'My Love is Forever' is another favorite of mine, such a feel-good pop tune.

'Crazy you' is the classic Prince sound that I was already familiar with, I know it may sound a bit weird but I'd actually listened to all his 2000's era albums before For You album.

[Edited 3/16/12 19:15pm]

I agree with everything you said, you wrote what I think and feel about for you.

... great review