I think his best period was 1980 to 1987. Dirty Mind was the start and SOTT the end. It was a combination of huge talent, huge drive and fearless exploration. We may not agree with all the lyrical themes (I'm not religious myself) but things like love, sex and religion inspired him to accomplish great music.

After that period he's continued to make a lot of very good music but not as tightly packed. Prince will probably never come up with anything as jaw-dropping as Purple Rain or SOTT again but I very much doubt that I'll hear anyone else manage that in my lifetime either.

81-89, for me.

Not a big fan of For You, Prince, or Dirty Mind.

Controversy is where it all begins and the Batman sessions pretty much ended the reign. There were spots of brilliance in the 90s and 00s, but 81-89 is the longest period of genius to me.

Honestly yeah I think he was at his peak then.

I wish I could be different and say before or after cuz I know the majority of folks here probably will say the same thing, but dammit it's true.

Sure his output in ´82-´87 was incredible with all those great, and sometimes better, b-sides, 12"

and all the outtakes I still had 2 discover years 2 follow.

My fav period however is ´82-´92...the Prince I like so much!

TGE and Emancipation are also great Prince albums but the chemistry of a whole music scene or experience is gone. IMO the 00 albums give me that 80´s feeling and I really like it.

OldFriends4Sale said:

I say that because as of now, we have the record of a vast amount of music with different styles and directions just from the 1986 yrs alone, I don't think any others you can pull up the info to back that say the Gold era had the same. Just by the fact that you said "There are likely..." which means you don't know for sure, but if you have the facts of some degree. We can pull up and I have in just small details the vast amount of music that came out of the 1985/86 period

Well I can copy paste the names of some outtakes if you want me to? I really don't know what your point is? Are you saying that after 1986 Prince began to limit the styles of music he experimented with? Because thats just not true.

Back in the 80's he certainly didn't cover the kind of techno dance or hip hop styles because they weren't really around. Certainly not to the degree he did later in the 90's

How about you name a few of the styles and directions that he did cover in the 3 years you mentioned, but then didn't cover later on in his career?

Also the period I mentioned was 1980 - 1995 so I'm not sure why you're now putting so much emphasis on the Gold experience. Although since you mention it, it's fairly well documented that he was prolific around this time. With the planned 3 disc "the dawn" The undertaker, and first 2 NPG albums.

Also I don't think you can include a song 'created' into a period much later. That would misrepresent what was happening at the time period. Most of the people in the Prince camp and band at the time of GB had nothing to do with the music and weren't even in prince camp at the time.

Fair enough. I acknowledged as much in my last post. Again the period I covered was 1980 - 1995. You're the one insisting each album is an entirely seperate microcosm in his career.

For example. He released Power Fantastic officially when? How can the people who were with him at the time receive any credit for a song that was created and completed by the full Revolution band in Prince's newly created home studio in 1986 and the composition as well was by Lisa Coleman.

Ahh. The penny drops. You're a big Wendy and Lisa fan. Fair play. But then how are the people who were with him supposed to receive any credit when there are documented cases of Prince stealing ideas, flat out failing to give credit where it's due and scrawling "written, produced, performed and composed by Prince except where indicated on every album - but thats another thread.

Most people don't include that vast of time especially since those mostly inthe band and his camp in the 1980's were not there in the 1990's. The GB period can't truthfully be credited for the music created in 1985/86.

Well it depends on what their contribution was, did they come up with the melody or just shake a tamborine? Was the song released the same song as when it was recorded or did Prince completely rework it thus removing the original contributions?

Err the stuff below I dont know what that is. Looks like a definition possibly for the word prolific you didnt include the word you were defining. Regardless your #3 Certainly isn't a definition of the word. It's an example of how you would use the word in a sentence. ie the Parade era of Prince & the Revolution was very prolific, perhaps the most prolific period of his career however this point is a point of contention among Prince fans - I know you know that.

(pr-lfk)

adj.

1. Producing offspring or fruit in great abundance; fertile.

2. Producing abundant works or results

3. the Parade era of Prince & the Revolution

Arbitrarily: 1. Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle:

My reply #3 is definately not Arbitrarily. That's Facts & Pure Reason behind my decision

I mean if you can pull up an area you feel was his most prolific, with with similar information, I'd welcome a challenge on that end.

I'll also say that Prince acknowledge that year on his LotusFlow3r site on that little black n white tv screen trying to hype 2009 in connection with that very creative year of 86

Ok, how many songs were created in the time period you specified? However many it was I bet there were more created between the years of 1980 and 1995.

And no your #3 is not Arbitrarily it was Arbitrary: I'll keep it simple with just the first definition and none that I've made up myself:

Adjective:

Based on random choice OR personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Obviously not random choice - but Personal whim / because it was the Wendy and Lisa years.

[Edited 7/28/12 13:08pm]

no not some, if you say other eras were just as or more in comparison to the 1985/86 yrs then prove it. I posted just some of the vast amount of music created during this period. Do the same.

You know what my point is. No where did I say the styles of music was limited, I clearly said the amount of music. and the Techno and hip hop stuff eh, everything isn't for everyone to mess with. I doubt it did anything for his music. Plus most of that stuff was him just doing what was already being done. He didn't make it his. vs what he was doing from 1980-1986

I'm not putting emphasis on the Gold Years, I only mentioned it because you brought it up. Noodled24 said: From there he continued to release great music up until 'The Gold Experience'

Noodled24 said:You're the one insisting each album is an entirely seperate microcosm in his career.

I am insisting that. To give credit to the year he released "Power Fantastic" vs giving it credit to the year it was created and complete is not realistic. It's like Prince releasing all 1984 outtakes in 1994 and saying 'see Prince is still prolific' isn't correct.

Weak arguement, it weird when people have to try to pigeonhold you by saying "your a Wendy & Lisa fan" that's silly I'm just as much a SOTT fan, Im a huge Purple Rain fan probably moreso than 1986, I'm also a HUGE 1978-1980's fan and Lisa Joined the band in 1980, and I'm a fan of the 1981-1986 period because it was his best and greatest protege period. I'm an HUGE fan of the Uptown Erotic City Paisley Park vision. So don't try to throw the whole W&L scapegoat crap. 1986 was by far his most creative and diverse period and the facts show, It was Prince and the many people in his camp. And I've never limited my love for this period to W & Lisa, it was the whle revolution, it was Sheila E & band, Susannah Levi, Dr Fink, Susan Rogers, it was the different styles of music the Family Mazarati the Bsides the outtakes the superb videos style etc

Again when you can post the year you say was the most prolific and back it up with musical facts as I have done, then we can talk. No problem. Again I used facts NOT a whim. Yours is a whim because you had to try to simplify it to the W&L arguement, and hey they did what they did. Go quote Prince in "How did we loose our sound -In this Bed I Scream" I'm not taking anything away from what they had with Prince. Band members like Eric Leeds and Dr Fink acknowledged the same. Yours is a whim because you have posted no facts of some other years musical expanse in comparison to 1986

Noodled24 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I say that because as of now, we have the record of a vast amount of music with different styles and directions just from the 1986 yrs alone, I don't think any others you can pull up the info to back that say the Gold era had the same. Just by the fact that you said "There are likely..." which means you don't know for sure, but if you have the facts of some degree. We can pull up and I have in just small details the vast amount of music that came out of the 1985/86 period

Well I can copy paste the names of some outtakes if you want me to? I really don't know what your point is? Are you saying that after 1986 Prince began to limit the styles of music he experimented with? Because thats just not true.

Back in the 80's he certainly didn't cover the kind of techno dance or hip hop styles because they weren't really around. Certainly not to the degree he did later in the 90's

How about you name a few of the styles and directions that he did cover in the 3 years you mentioned, but then didn't cover later on in his career?

Also the period I mentioned was 1980 - 1995 so I'm not sure why you're now putting so much emphasis on the Gold experience. Although since you mention it, it's fairly well documented that he was prolific around this time. With the planned 3 disc "the dawn" The undertaker, and first 2 NPG albums.

Also I don't think you can include a song 'created' into a period much later. That would misrepresent what was happening at the time period. Most of the people in the Prince camp and band at the time of GB had nothing to do with the music and weren't even in prince camp at the time.

Fair enough. I acknowledged as much in my last post. Again the period I covered was 1980 - 1995.

For example. He released Power Fantastic officially when? How can the people who were with him at the time receive any credit for a song that was created and completed by the full Revolution band in Prince's newly created home studio in 1986 and the composition as well was by Lisa Coleman.

Ahh. The penny drops. You're a big Wendy and Lisa fan. Fair play. But then how are the people who were with him supposed to receive any credit when there are documented cases of Prince stealing ideas, flat out failing to give credit where it's due and scrawling "written, produced, performed and composed by Prince except where indicated on every album - but thats another thread.

Most people don't include that vast of time especially since those mostly inthe band and his camp in the 1980's were not there in the 1990's. The GB period can't truthfully be credited for the music created in 1985/86.

Well it depends on what their contribution was, did they come up with the melody or just shake a tamborine? Was the song released the same song as when it was recorded or did Prince completely rework it thus removing the original contributions?

Err the stuff below I dont know what that is. Looks like a definition possibly for the word prolific you didnt include the word you were defining. Regardless your #3 Certainly isn't a definition of the word. It's an example of how you would use the word in a sentence. ie the Parade era of Prince & the Revolution was very prolific, perhaps the most prolific period of his career however this point is a point of contention among Prince fans - I know you know that.

(pr-lfk)

adj.

1. Producing offspring or fruit in great abundance; fertile.

2. Producing abundant works or results

3. the Parade era of Prince & the Revolution

Arbitrarily: 1. Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle:

My reply #3 is definately not Arbitrarily. That's Facts & Pure Reason behind my decision

I mean if you can pull up an area you feel was his most prolific, with with similar information, I'd welcome a challenge on that end.

I'll also say that Prince acknowledge that year on his LotusFlow3r site on that little black n white tv screen trying to hype 2009 in connection with that very creative year of 86

Ok, how many songs were created in the time period you specified? However many it was I bet there were more created between the years of 1980 and 1995.

And no your #3 is not Arbitrarily it was Arbitrary: I'll keep it simple with just the first definition and none that I've made up myself:

Adjective:

Based on random choice OR personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Obviously not random choice - but Personal whim / because it was the Wendy and Lisa years.

[Edited 7/28/12 13:08pm]

Was Prince's Best Years Musically?

make it 1980 to 1988, from Dirty Mind on - and incl the great Lovesexy album.

thedance said:

Was Prince's Best Years Musically?

make it 1980 to 1988, from Dirty Mind on - and incl the great Lovesexy album.

yes!

I say prince was popping a good song or 2 on dirty mind and controversy

by 1999 he nailed it thru sott .. lovesexy was a huge fall off in quality returning to a decent song or 2 up to the end of the wb years ... beginning with gold prince completely ruined his career reverting his status to JOKE ... and I don't mean the 'slave' battle .. i mean the cartoon music

clearly his surroundings were full of colorful people at his peak .. and they all shined as did prince as a result of being around each other .. when the leftovers from his peak were gone we got a whole different prince .. prince the rapper .. ugh .. prince the autotuned .. ugh .. prince the preacher .. ugh .. prince the homophobe .. ugh .. prince the revisionist .. ugh .. prince the new age wannabe .. ugh .. prince the donald trump (3121house anyone?) .. ugh .. and last but not least .. prince .. master of easy listening blase .. ... ... ..................... ugh

TrevorAyer said:

I say prince was popping a good song or 2 on dirty mind and controversy

by 1999 he nailed it thru sott .. lovesexy was a huge fall off in quality returning to a decent song or 2 up to the end of the wb years ... beginning with gold prince completely ruined his career reverting his status to JOKE ... and I don't mean the 'slave' battle .. i mean the cartoon music

clearly his surroundings were full of colorful people at his peak .. and they all shined as did prince as a result of being around each other .. when the leftovers from his peak were gone we got a whole different prince .. prince the rapper .. ugh .. prince the autotuned .. ugh .. prince the preacher .. ugh .. prince the homophobe .. ugh .. prince the revisionist .. ugh .. prince the new age wannabe .. ugh .. prince the donald trump (3121house anyone?) .. ugh .. and last but not least .. prince .. master of easy listening blase .. ... ... ..................... ugh

aha All I wanted to know was if you agree that '82-'87 was his best years...

for me...yes 82-87 was the golden period but i also thought that 93-94 was another great period for prince music....anyone who has a copy of the 3 cd set "the dawn" which most of it comes from this timeframe would have to agree that he was on fire during this period....

interesting to me that..outwith the prince fan community...no one talks about how good "the gold experience" album was.....the last truly outstanding album he has done..

I actually agree with the statement, because I agree Dirty Mind and Controversy were great albums, and they were part of a grand progression. But despite its greatness, raw funk and pure power along with unbridled lust, Dirty Mind does not have any maturity, he sounds like an oversexed teenager, the lyrics don't go beyond sex and his done wrong self after these lustful girlfriends, the sound is not full.

Controversy is better in maturity stakes but more boring and patchy, he finds the Linn Machine, and Controversy and Do Me Baby are more sophisticated than DM, but with experiments like Ronnie talk 2 Russia and Annie Christian, he is still showing his naivety and immaturity.

Compare this to 1999, the much more mature and assured sound of tracks like 1999, Free, DMSR the music of a man and the unified sound of the Linn Drums and his band feel. This is a contrast to the boyish sound of DM and Controversy, But at least DM is fun and a cohesive whole, Controversy is inconsistent and flawed in places (Although it has 3 supreme opener songs like the later albums do, the second half is patchy and almost more like his 90s flawed masterpieces).

1999 and all the albums to Sign o the Times are consistent and all seem to build upon the last - Keyboard and Pop wizard - Stadium rock - Experimental flair - Funky flair and Genius are the words I can use to describe those five magical albums from the 1982 -1987 period.

If anything I might even say 1987 was the start of the decline, that year he had finished writing Sign o the Times and was working on Lovesexy and Black albums, both of which have very minor flaws.

And then by 1988/89 he has dropped back to mediocrity and flashes of brilliance, for every Love thy will be done and When 2 R in Love there is a lemon crush and new power generation lurking in the distance.

The Marks out of 100 I have assigned these albums speak for themselves

1978 -1981 The accession

For You 59

Prince 68

Dirty Mind 90 (Very good)

Controversy 79 (The first three songs though are 10s)

1982 -1987 the Peak

1999 - 91

Purple Rain - 96

ATWIAD - 85 (A few flawed tracks, but gain many highlights, the first three songs again are light years beyond anything he had done before)

Parade - 93

SOTT - 98 (Disc 1 - 97, Disc 2 -100) I think everyone already knows my opinion of this album.

1988 -1991 Beginning of the decline

Black Album (Very late 1987 I know) - 78

Lovesexy - 83 (Some highlights and few lesser tracks)

Batman - 68 (Very patchy and indulgent)

GB - 66 (Again self indulgent and patchy, but 3 or 4 songs that are genius)

D and P - 65 (The come back, but again some huge hits - Cream, Gett Off etc and megamisses - Jughead and Push)

Plus I agree that period rocks too because of all his protege work at the time, the albums by Time and Jill Jones, the Family and Sheila E and songs like Nothing Compares 2 U, the alternate versions and of course all the Crystal Ball, Charade and Dream Factory tracks, they are genius.

It would be hard for me to imagine anyone dissagreeing.

Albeit, The GOld Experience/Emancipation material is good.

musically? no.

creatively? yes.

NouveauDance said:

I think it's generally accepted that Prince's white heat period was just that era yes, give or take a year or two - It certainly his most critical and commercially successful run no doubt. When you look at the studio recording dates, it seemed like there were classic songs pouring out of the Paisley camp every day, sometimes several a day.

We all have our favourite eras and albums, but I think anyone who disagrees with this general assessment would being doing so just to be contrary.

FYI: If I Love U 2Night is originally from '79 and Pink Cashmere is only from '88 too

actually, if you look at the recording dates, I think you can trace the beginning of the creative downfall to the day he started recording at Paisley Park.

too many tools at his disposal, too much time with studio access. it's where the "everything but the kitchen sink" approach began to creep in. and then he'd throw in the kitchen sink, too, just for good measure.

No..........period.

Dee1991 said:

I remember ?uestlove saying this some time ago. I think I have to agree.

Because there's not that many outtakes from 78-81. Well, there's a lot stuff from 77-79. The albums from 78-81 are great don't get me wrong, but those are the albums that people like to mess with and add tracks that wasn't on the albums.

From '82-'87, those albums were perfect, well people wanted the extended version of "Computer Blue", and they wanted "She's Always In My Hair" on Around The World In A Day. Matter of fact, this is a time where people wanted certain tracks on an album also. He's too prolific I guess.

There were some gems from the years after also, "If I Love U 2Night", "Pink Cashmere" etc...

But do you agree with that original question?

his best years is when his last album was released 20TEN in 2010

Astasheiks said:

Dee1991 said:

I remember ?uestlove saying this some time ago. I think I have to agree.

Because there's not that many outtakes from 78-81. Well, there's a lot stuff from 77-79. The albums from 78-81 are great don't get me wrong, but those are the albums that people like to mess with and add tracks that wasn't on the albums.

From '82-'87, those albums were perfect, well people wanted the extended version of "Computer Blue", and they wanted "She's Always In My Hair" on Around The World In A Day. Matter of fact, this is a time where people wanted certain tracks on an album also. He's too prolific I guess.

There were some gems from the years after also, "If I Love U 2Night", "Pink Cashmere" etc...

But do you agree with that original question?

his best years is when his last album was released 20TEN in 2010

lol uh oh someone has been drinking from the mountain stream on th 20Ten cd picture

hmmmm he plays Let's Go Crazy Take Me With U the Beautiful Ones I Would Die 4 U Baby I'm a Star & Purple Rain 1984/85 all on the Welcome 2... concerts but what songs is he playing from the 2oTen cd? in 2010?

It's funny, I was just thinking about whart period I would place as my fave Prince music/productivity/whole output time.

For me, it has to be 1979-1983 HANDS DOWN.

I mean, think about it. He had so many things brewing in terms of musicanship, creativity and scope. Plus, my fave ever Prince album came out in this period "Dirty Mind"

Let's not forget he had time as well to create two new side projects (at least) The Time (with x2albums from them in this period) and Vanity 6

1979-1983 takes the cake for me

errant said:

NouveauDance said:

I think it's generally accepted that Prince's white heat period was just that era yes, give or take a year or two - It certainly his most critical and commercially successful run no doubt. When you look at the studio recording dates, it seemed like there were classic songs pouring out of the Paisley camp every day, sometimes several a day.

We all have our favourite eras and albums, but I think anyone who disagrees with this general assessment would being doing so just to be contrary.

FYI: If I Love U 2Night is originally from '79 and Pink Cashmere is only from '88 too

actually, if you look at the recording dates, I think you can trace the beginning of the creative downfall to the day he started recording at Paisley Park.

too many tools at his disposal, too much time with studio access. it's where the "everything but the kitchen sink" approach began to creep in. and then he'd throw in the kitchen sink, too, just for good measure.

I was thinking this, but some of his so-so newer material was recorded at other studios--not Paisley Park, no?

For example, 3121, Lotusflow3r and 20Ten weren't exlcusively recorded at the Park, were they?

From the images I've seen of Paisley Park's exterior and interior though, the place is a Feng Shui nightmare. The energy in there must be all wonky.

1980-88.

No need to leave Dirty Mind, Controversy, Black Album and Lovesexy out of it.

errant said:

NouveauDance said:

I think it's generally accepted that Prince's white heat period was just that era yes, give or take a year or two - It certainly his most critical and commercially successful run no doubt. When you look at the studio recording dates, it seemed like there were classic songs pouring out of the Paisley camp every day, sometimes several a day.

We all have our favourite eras and albums, but I think anyone who disagrees with this general assessment would being doing so just to be contrary.

FYI: If I Love U 2Night is originally from '79 and Pink Cashmere is only from '88 too

actually, if you look at the recording dates, I think you can trace the beginning of the creative downfall to the day he started recording at Paisley Park.

too many tools at his disposal, too much time with studio access. it's where the "everything but the kitchen sink" approach began to creep in. and then he'd throw in the kitchen sink, too, just for good measure.

Right! Paisley Park, though a fulfilment of a dream, marked the end of Prince's most creative years.

I can't agree with that view entirely. He always had a recording facility set up earlier as well, so I don't think it could have been just about the unhindrered accessibility to a studio that "ruined" him.

I think what the recently surfaced outtakes from the late-80s display is that Prince got a bit lost when his tools changed. The material that ended up on the albums was still strong for the most part, but there's definitely a decline in the overall quality of what the recording session spawned (at least if you compare it to the "1999" and "Dream Factory" sessions when he could make several amazing tracks a week and afford to leave them unreleased).

However, it's not because of the Paisley Park Studio(s) that he ditched the hard-hitting drums and the keyboard sounds that worked so well earlier. It seems like he was actually using more expensive and hard-to-obtain gear earlier and began to use the same mass manufactured stuff like everyone else in the late-80s. That was the same period when artists like Bobby Brown were hot and he tried to change with the times. He also started to write fairly disposal pop material for the artists signed to Paisley Park Records and I think that made him lose the focus on what he was himself about musically.

bugsbunny,

Great point; perhaps, the most revealing one on this thread.

Thanks for contributing...

love,

Spirit

novabrkr said:

I can't agree with that view entirely. He always had a recording facility set up earlier as well, so I don't think it could have been just about the unhindrered accessibility to a studio that "ruined" him.

I think what the recently surfaced outtakes from the late-80s display is that Prince got a bit lost when his tools changed. The material that ended up on the albums was still strong for the most part, but there's definitely a decline in the overall quality of what the recording session spawned (at least if you compare it to the "1999" and "Dream Factory" sessions when he could make several amazing tracks a week and afford to leave them unreleased).

However, it's not because of the Paisley Park Studio(s) that he ditched the hard-hitting drums and the keyboard sounds that worked so well earlier. It seems like he was actually using more expensive and hard-to-obtain gear earlier and began to use the same mass manufactured stuff like everyone else in the late-80s. That was the same period when artists like Bobby Brown were hot and he tried to change with the times. He also started to write fairly disposal pop material for the artists signed to Paisley Park Records and I think that made him lose the focus on what he was himself about musically.

Of course there are other reasons. Nonetheless it's an interesting observation that the possibility of recording at PP, his own studio complex, didn't prevent it from happening.

[Edited 7/31/12 2:39am]

novabrkr said:

1980-88.

No need to leave Dirty Mind, Controversy, Black Album and Lovesexy out of it.

^

right..... !

1979-1988 for me.

errant said:

NouveauDance said:

I think it's generally accepted that Prince's white heat period was just that era yes, give or take a year or two - It certainly his most critical and commercially successful run no doubt. When you look at the studio recording dates, it seemed like there were classic songs pouring out of the Paisley camp every day, sometimes several a day.

We all have our favourite eras and albums, but I think anyone who disagrees with this general assessment would being doing so just to be contrary.

FYI: If I Love U 2Night is originally from '79 and Pink Cashmere is only from '88 too

actually, if you look at the recording dates, I think you can trace the beginning of the creative downfall to the day he started recording at Paisley Park.

too many tools at his disposal, too much time with studio access. it's where the "everything but the kitchen sink" approach began to creep in. and then he'd throw in the kitchen sink, too, just for good measure.

Yes, I completely agree, cloistering himself up in his (literal) ivory tower was creative suicide.

By Paisley camp, I just meant Prince, the band and associated artists/people around him then, not PP itself.

I disagree. 1980-1988 was it.

smoothcriminal12 said:

I disagree. 1980-1988 was it.

Bingo!