To the .Org,

MY NAME IS PRINCE randomly played on my sound system and, rather than my decade-long devaluing of that particular song, I was for the first time in a long while reminded of how I felt when I first heard this new Prince single on the radio. Admittedly back then I wasn't as enamoured with it as I was by the album's first single, SEXY MF, however, I do remember feeling surprised (yet again) by the sheer audacity and monster-like sound of the jam, keenly helped by the new power backing duo of Michael B's fierce drums and Sonny T's tight rhythm section.

Rather than let my player shuffle onto another song/era, I decided to allow the entire LOVE SYMBOL album to play in full. To my delight, I was transported to my 14-year old younger self, who devoured the full ensemble of musicianship and fluidity of styles. As a whole, I remember being able to play the album from start to finish, with no doubt in my mind that every single element of the album had been included to create that cohesive work of art, from the opening synth right through to the A-men closure. It was as tight, concentrated, jazzy and funky.

Certainly since the 2000s have come and gone, I have been wondering whether the 1990s were actually better at the time I was experiencing the Prince phenomena, than when I have since revisted the albums which first caught my attention. The 1990s have somewhat stuttered and stumbled in my post-era critique and re-evaluation. Perhaps until now, I hadn't gained sufficient distance to give the music the listening it might merit? Without the Warner Brother's struggle clouding both my listening experience (and dare I say it, Prince's vision), both the COME and THE GOLD EXPERIENCE albums signal just how creative and wicked Prince can be, when his back is against the wall and forced to fight. If anyone has been fortunate enough to listen to Boris Fishpaw's THE DAWN 3-CD retrospective, you will know exactly what I mean when I say that Prince actually might have had an era to rival the artistic growth between 1986-1988.

It seems clear to most everyone concerned, and even those who glimpsed Prince after 1995, that something was 'missing' after Prince found his freedom in terms of the oversight, execution and vibrancy of his work since. I have heard it often said that, in our struggle towards freedom of any kind, our best personal and professional development is inspired during the overcoming itself, rather than during the proverbial greener pasture we find in ourselves in thereafter, and I think that might ring true with Prince. There are, of course, noticable exceptions within Prince's discography, the obvious example to my mind being the often forgetten album, THE TRUTH. As I have grown to appreciate the supposed 'contract filler' releases since their release, even offerings such as CHAOS AND DISORDER and THE VAULT: OLD FRIENDS FOR SALE provide us with quite brilliant examples of both the messiness and brilliance of the cast offs, which we otherwise would have been unlikely to have glimpsed.

Perhaps the two biggest examples of the 1990s promising more than the eventual release are EMANCIPATION and RAVE UNTO THE JOY FANTASTIC. Nonetheless, both these albums provide a precious glimpse into just how much Prince was "gunning" for a release to rival his own past and outwit the commercial and critical backlash he had received during the Artist era. The songwriting and poigant musical elements of certain gems such as IN THIS BED, I SCREAM, I LOVE U, BUT I DON'T TRUST U ANYMORE, THE HOLY RIVER and COMEBACK provide a painful insight into just how difficult and trying it must have been for Prince during that time when he lost his son, his marriage, and his parents, all in a relatively short space of time. Is it really any wonder that his entire modus operandi and sense of being appeared to be derailing? They say, that if God does exist, He sends us the spirits we need at the right time. Perhaps, then, popular criticism towards both Larry Graham and the Jehovah Witnesses pales into insignificance when I think about their support over Prince's 'lost' spirit, which must have been suffering during those bleak times. I, for one, am glad that he was able to benefit personally from their guardianship, even if it both baffled and infuriated many to see a man caught up in teachings that what would appear to be the opposite of 'truth'. And just when I had probably lost hope for his music, clearly their influence had a profound impact, given the resurgence that was THE RAINBOW CHILDREN, undoubtedly in my mind one of the greatest pieces of music created by Prince.

It is difficult to really conclude the 1990s except perhaps to refocus towards what I would now say are amongst his 'best of' musical highlights, so I tried to compile a sequence (included below) to let the music speak for itself and I found myself residing over a quite brilliant collection of hits that often never were, quirky experimental touches and surprises (which we would nowadays likely salivate over), as well as some seriously soulful music. Of course, each of our selections will differ (and I would love to know some of your selections in case I have forgotten something), but hopefully this might prompt each of us (myself included) to re-evaluate the 1990s as a decade of strong, bold, career defining accomplishments, rather than what it is easy to become guilty of, the lazy critique that Prince 'lost it' during the 1990s, whatever 'it' was/is.

PRINCE | THE 'BEST OF' THE 1990s

Side One

01. COME

02. ENDORPHIN MACHINE (Original)

03. SPACE

04. SHHH (Live)

05. DAYS OF WILD (Live)

06. THE GREATEST ROMANCE EVER SOLD

07. THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE (Extended)

08. GETT OFF

09. COME ON (Remix)

10. PEACH

Side Two

01. DOLPHIN

02. IN THIS BED, I SCREAM

03. 7

04. ELEPHANTS AND FLOWERS

05. THE HOLY RIVER

06. WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN

07. AND GOD CREATED WOMAN

08. WILLING AND ABLE

09. SEXY MF

10. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD (Single Version)

Tracks also considered for inclusion:

THE QUESTION OF U, JOY IN REPITITION, STILL WOULD STAND ALL TIME, DIAMONDS & PEARLS, CREAM, STROLLIN', INSATIABLE, PINK CASHMERE, DA BANG, CALHOUN SQUARE, I LIKE IT THERE, DINNER WITH DELORES, THE LOVE WE MAKE, DON'T PLAY ME, COMEBACK, COME ON, THE ONE, WASTED KISSES and I LOVE YOU, BUT I DON'T TRUST YOU ANYMORE

But I was somewhat foolishly strict with myself this time around.

love,
Spirit

Great post!

Great post. I love ur list even though i would edit it. side one to me is completely perfect except for the days of wild. I think that Prince with diamonds and pearls, love symbol, and gold was still at his creative peak. All 3 of those albums are fantabulous and i can't understand how people can say his post 80s stuff sucks when he wrote those 3 albums. Come is actually better than it has any right to be and after that most of the albums have 2-4 good songs and the rest a questionable. My name is Prince is a good song if ur a Prince fan or ur a person with a little sense of humour other than that it's one most forget. Keep in mind though the love symbol album also had love 2 the 9s, sexy mf, blue light, morning papers, and the max which are all fantastic songs in my opinion. Never undestood why people loved 7 so much.

THE QUESTION OF U, JOY IN REPITITION, STILL WOULD STAND ALL TIME, PINK CASHMERE

I wouldn't include these like I wouldn't include the Black Album

Because they were made in th 1980's just not used

Anyone remember being on prince boards in the late 90's? A lot of people were viciously tearing apart his 90's work. Much hate was spewed at Come, Emancipation, , and even The Gold Experience.

I always found myself being in the minority saying that much of the 90's stuff was a strong as his 80's work. The problem, in my eyes, is that Prince was releasing a lot more music overall so the "weaker" material was finding spots on albums and altering perceptions. Whereas, in the 80's, the weaker material was reserved for bootlegs, b-sides, and side groups.

A 90's collection without Joy in Repitition, Love 2 the 9's, Sweet Baby, and Shy isn't a true collection of his best work.

I tended to think of his 90's output as the weakest of the decades he's worked in, but I've found that had more to do with his "waif" look that it does with the music. I didn't like that look at all.

But I once ranked the best songs by decades - songs I considered classic. And guess what?

There were more songs from the 90's than any other decade on my list!

The 90's wasn't a decade of "masterpieces" or "landmarks" like the 1980s, his undisputed prime. But, I think he realized that his only competition was, himself in the past (to paraphrase).

But the 90s was, for the most part, a series of moments.

1. Songs. Prince created probably dozens of his best songs in the 1990s. Most of the ones listed are great, and there are so many more which were not. "And God Created Woman," "Dark," "Emancipation," "Money Don't Matter 2Night," " Like It There," "Shhh" . . . these and many others I'd put aside (most) any given song of the 1980s.

2. Moments. I think of certain "moments" in so many of his 90's songs. The crescendos in "Love 2 The 9's," "Saviour," "My Computer," and 'Come" being just a few.

3. Performances. Prince continued to blossom as a performer and showman in the 1990s.

4. The Curveballs. There are songs that may not have been "great" per se but were still pleasantly surprising. "Circle of Amour," "Strollin'," "Tangerine," etc.

If the 1980's were a five-course meal, then the 1990's were exquisite tapas.

RodeoSchro said:

I tended to think of his 90's output as the weakest of the decades he's worked in, but I've found that had more to do with his "waif" look that it does with the music. I didn't like that look at all.

I think it had everything to do with the WB dispute. With the 2d-generation, stripped-down NPG he was primed for an artistic renaissance.

But I once ranked the best songs by decades - songs I considered classic. And guess what?

There were more songs from the 90's than any other decade on my list!

It was not a decade of great albums, but a decade of a lot of great songs, and more than a few great performances.

OldFriends4Sale said:

THE QUESTION OF U, JOY IN REPITITION, STILL WOULD STAND ALL TIME, PINK CASHMERE

I wouldn't include these like I wouldn't include the Black Album

Because they were made in th 1980's just not used

Sound reasoning, but in terms of his official output, we're talking "tree falling in the woods" here. Which is why I have no problem listing songs cut in the 80's but released in the 90's among his 90's body of work.

I definitely couldn't include the black album because it seems so connected to lovesexy. Maybe if I had not gotten a copy way before it's official release I would not feel the same, but there you go!

The 90's was both an exciting and a disappointing time to be a Prince fan.

There were so many expectations--ones that he could not quite live up to. I think I would have enjoyed the 00's a lot more due to lowered expectations were it not for The Rainbow Children making me wonder once again what the hell he's doing messing around with these silly pop songs.

skywalker said:

Anyone remember being on prince boards in the late 90's? A lot of people were viciously tearing apart his 90's work. Much hate was spewed at Come, Emancipation, , and even The Gold Experience.

I always found myself being in the minority saying that much of the 90's stuff was a strong as his 80's work. The problem, in my eyes, is that Prince was releasing a lot more music overall so the "weaker" material was finding spots on albums and altering perceptions. Whereas, in the 80's, the weaker material was reserved for bootlegs, b-sides, and side groups.

I wasn't on the boards in the 90s, but for me Prince could do no wrong from 1984-1996. I enjoyed the 90s material almost as much as the 80s. I saw in another post of yours that you were at plenty of the Paisley Park and Glam Slam(?) shows in the 90s also. People on here always talk about how dark of a time that was for Prince, the Come album escpecially. I call BS on it though. Prince seemed to me like he was having a freaking blast. Another big misconception is that songs that ended up on Come and Gold were picked to either be on one or the either. Which really wasn't the case either. I kind of lost some interest after Emancipation was released and he praised the album so much and went on tour and only did a handful of songs from it.

There seem to be a lot of "it wasn't so bad" type threads regarding his 90's output. But honestly, if you have to even keep questioning it, like asking "does my ass look big in these jeans" then you really know the answer, but don't like the answer. Keep asking it though, if it makes you feel better, but like your ass in jeans, time won't be any kinder to it. No it won't.

YES, Great Post! You really outlined your points so wonderfully! You paint a wonderful picture in how it was for those who was really around in the 90's to taste of his creativity.

I believe the 90's was a great time for Prince artistically, a lot people forget the struggles he went through. I am glad you mentioned them, because obviously Prince has a personal life, and he likes to be 'Mysterious' to hide some of that. Those changes in his life, had much to do with how he created and saw life.

SO many changes went on around this time for him, more so in the 80's (At least from where we can tell). I believe around this time, Prince started to explore and become influenced by the sounds that were hitting hard. Which is why he experimented with rap and hip-hop; creating a sense of music that was influenced by that style but still irrevocably Prince.

Eye see just as many wonders in the 90's as in the 80's. As a lot people have suggested, I find his 90's work just as great sometimes even better. Overall, when I evaluate how I listen to Prince. I find myself digging his recent stuff more so than the 80's. It was '20Ten' that really broaden my mind to sounds I never heard before. BUT back on topic!

You're playlist is wonderful, I would add:

She Gave Her Angels (Pure Soul, and emotion...Nothing Like it)

Tangerine (Extended...Just a humble song that carries deep overtones of what was going to happen with him and Mayte)

Into The Light/I Will (For the life of me, I still don't know why people seem to ignore this song? It proves to be one of Prince's most creative and sensual songs ever. The guitar solo in 'I Will' is pure passion!)

The Exodus Has Begun (Pure Funk, One of the nastiest funk pieces he has done...PERIOD..Those horns are sick and need medication!)

Fascination (So free feeling, and tightly produced)

Beautiful Strange (Spiritual, Emotional, and Doubtful..I love it)

I can think of so many, but these deserve recognition!

Prince released a lot of great, great songs during the 90s.

BillyJackBitch was one of the fiercest things he'd ever released.

The Gold Experience is a great album.

Emancipation is filled with great (if sappy and sugary) songs.

It ended with a dull fizzle, but it was a great decade.

The problem is that it was a needlessly dramatic decade for him,

and it was extremely inconsistent. For every great song there was

an unusual and boring 'filler' song. For every innovative sound,

there was a dirivitive copy-the-trend song.

Plus, he opened his mouth more often in interviews. It was the decade

I fell out of love with Prince.

NDRU said:

I definitely couldn't include the black album because it seems so connected to lovesexy. Maybe if I had not gotten a copy way before it's official release I would not feel the same, but there you go!

It was just a different time and different sound and included people who were no longer in his camp/band. And like you said it's connected to a time period of Prince history, so even though it was officially released in the 1990's it's impact was in the 1980's. The whole Blue Tuesday, X, enlightenment, Sheila E Birthday music, Susannah on Rock Hard in a Funky Place, the music styles were still reflective of the Parade/Dream Factory/SOTT periods

Plus in that time period the Black album was rated by Rolling Stones as being in the top 10 album of the year.

So it can't be rated with the 1990's

namepeace said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

THE QUESTION OF U, JOY IN REPITITION, STILL WOULD STAND ALL TIME, PINK CASHMERE

I wouldn't include these like I wouldn't include the Black Album

Because they were made in th 1980's just not used

Sound reasoning, but in terms of his official output, we're talking "tree falling in the woods" here. Which is why I have no problem listing songs cut in the 80's but released in the 90's among his 90's body of work.

for me it's hard because it's like him releasing the Our Destiny Lust U Always or MoonBeams in 1995, it just doesn't work, it's crediting a period for something it didn't produce

I mean he released Power Fantastic (as an internet release?) in the 1990's, a song that was a cornerstone cut of Dream Factory full Revolution band live take (at his new home studio in 1986) composition by Lisa Coleman etc etc It can't represent what Prince was doing in the 1990's

I glad he remade Tick Tick Bang & Old Friends 4 Sale and released them, because I can (accept them) as 1990's cuts, but if he rel 1981Tick Tick Bang and 1985Old Friends 4 Sale in the 1990's they just wouldn't work as far as meshing with his current music and life experiences. Especially a song like Old Friends 4 Sale or Hello

I just can't count it as a 1990's era song because it doesn't really represent what the NPG was doing, same with those other songs,

When I hear Still Would Stand All Time, I'm hearing it live on the Lovesexy tour aftershows, calling Sheila E for the drums, asking for the band to come out etc

Joy in Repetion a song that segues into another DF era cut and has another DF era cut segue into it

the inspiration, the musicians, the sounds, experiments are 1980's not 1990's

SuperSoulFighter said:

Sure, some of those songs might make their way into a "Second Best of Prince" CD, but overall the 90s was a time when his music was starting to get predictable. It began with the Nude tour in 1990, which really was his first "greatest hits" tour which set the tone for the rest of the decade. On record he started to repeat himself and he made the headlines by being as wacko as Jacko by the time he changed his name. It was the bootlegs and the touring that kept me interested. Emancipation has some good songs and The Truth is a hidden gem, but there really is no album between Lovesexy and Loteusflower that I can listen to without skipping something. But onstage, he still kicks ass.

To a certain extent, I would certainly agree that 'predictable' is a useful construct to think of when considering Prince's work in the 90s. However, I would suggest that this predictability was a natural progression for any performer across industry when they develop from pioneer/innovator to consolidation of their unique bluprint. He created the Prince sound in the 80s and consolidated it within a readily identifiable sound in the 90s, in context to the marketplace. In other words, he sought to replicate his already successful musical blueprint, rather than pioneer a distinctly different sound. If anything, I think Prince simply honed his craft, whilst concentrating increasingly on new business development and delivery models, as his contract no longer proved artistically or financially viable with Warner Brothers.

love,

Spirit

riocoolnes said:

Great post. I love ur list even though i would edit it. side one to me is completely perfect except for the days of wild. I think that Prince with diamonds and pearls, love symbol, and gold was still at his creative peak. All 3 of those albums are fantabulous and i can't understand how people can say his post 80s stuff sucks when he wrote those 3 albums. Come is actually better than it has any right to be and after that most of the albums have 2-4 good songs and the rest a questionable. My name is Prince is a good song if ur a Prince fan or ur a person with a little sense of humour other than that it's one most forget. Keep in mind though the love symbol album also had love 2 the 9s, sexy mf, blue light, morning papers, and the max which are all fantastic songs in my opinion. Never undestood why people loved 7 so much.

Wow - I think you must be the first person I have heard who has said they don't like Days of Wild? I can vividly remember even now, almost 20 years later, how surprised (and disappointed) I was that The Gold Experience was released without it.

love,

Spirit

paraphrase, please? i would rather listen to all the half-ass to god-awful (pheromone will always be my favorite ) songs from the 90s 100 more times than read all that "gettin' funky in the house tonight..."

I still think that the 93-95 period (give or take a few months) was incredible. Different to his creative purple patch in the 80s, but the material that was released and the material that wasn't from this era is amongst his best.

Come, TGE, selected cuts off C&D, the various songs on Crystal Ball etc. all have a really distinct vibe running thought them - dark, organic, funky, rocky, sexy songs.

Part of this is due to the line-up (Michael B, Sonny T, Tommy B, Mr Hayes & Mayte) being arguably the strongest he's ever had, but the rest is down to the songs just being consistently awesome. (apart from I Rock Therefore I Am, which I have wiped from history).

OldFriends4Sale said:

THE QUESTION OF U, JOY IN REPITITION, STILL WOULD STAND ALL TIME, PINK CASHMERE

I wouldn't include these like I wouldn't include the Black Album

Because they were made in th 1980's just not used

For all intents and purposes, I do actually agree with you, OldFriends (which is why I considered those songs, but decided that they were not a true representation of the 90s). That said, wasn't The Question of You updated for the Graffiti Bridge release? It certainly sounds like the heavier, early incarnation, of the New Power Generation band sound, rather than the Revolution.

love,

Spirit

skywalker said:

Anyone remember being on prince boards in the late 90's? A lot of people were viciously tearing apart his 90's work. Much hate was spewed at Come, Emancipation, , and even The Gold Experience.

I always found myself being in the minority saying that much of the 90's stuff was a strong as his 80's work. The problem, in my eyes, is that Prince was releasing a lot more music overall so the "weaker" material was finding spots on albums and altering perceptions. Whereas, in the 80's, the weaker material was reserved for bootlegs, b-sides, and side groups.

skywalker,

You make an excellent point; in the 90s (and in the 00s) Prince appeared to release far more output than in the 80s, certainly in terms of album length (I believe this was due to the advent of new technology i.e. CD capacity, but I could be mistaken).

Indeed, the quality control and distinct product marketing, either by Warner Brothers and/or Prince, in the 80s was second to none in my opinion, especially when you think about the strength of the vision for each album/concept/era within the 80s. The 90s somewhat suffered in this respect, especially from Emancipation onwards, with the beginning of less readily identifiable brand concepts/messages. I suspect this was because Prince was understandibly trying to understand new business models and methods of delivery in a way he simply wasn't required to do when he was under contract and the business side of his output was largely taken care of by a global company.

I also agree that, whilst we all appear to salivate at the release of yet more 80s outtakes, I wonder how many of us would have been as enamoured with these hidden gems had they actually been released on lengthier albums at the time. It is true that the quality is largely phenomenal in the 80s, as you would expect, however, I suspect the 90s represented the first time that Prince had free reign to put all his creations into each product, hence the lengthier, seemingly less cohesive, albums, (Emancipation, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, The Gold Experience, Diamonds and Pearls and Love Symbol). I suspect if the original incarnation of The Dawn had been released it might also have suffered the same fate i.e. overload.

love,

Spirit

RodeoSchro said:

I tended to think of his 90's output as the weakest of the decades he's worked in, but I've found that had more to do with his "waif" look that it does with the music. I didn't like that look at all.

But I once ranked the best songs by decades - songs I considered classic. And guess what?

There were more songs from the 90's than any other decade on my list!

RodeoSchro,

I would love to see what your list of classic 90's songs were then, if you can still recall your collection?

love,

Spirit

namepeace said:

The 90's wasn't a decade of "masterpieces" or "landmarks" like the 1980s, his undisputed prime. But, I think he realized that his only competition was, himself in the past (to paraphrase).

But the 90s was, for the most part, a series of moments.

1. Songs. Prince created probably dozens of his best songs in the 1990s. Most of the ones listed are great, and there are so many more which were not. "And God Created Woman," "Dark," "Emancipation," "Money Don't Matter 2Night," " Like It There," "Shhh" . . . these and many others I'd put aside (most) any given song of the 1980s.

2. Moments. I think of certain "moments" in so many of his 90's songs. The crescendos in "Love 2 The 9's," "Saviour," "My Computer," and 'Come" being just a few.

3. Performances. Prince continued to blossom as a performer and showman in the 1990s.

4. The Curveballs. There are songs that may not have been "great" per se but were still pleasantly surprising. "Circle of Amour," "Strollin'," "Tangerine," etc.

If the 1980's were a five-course meal, then the 1990's were exquisite tapas.

Nice critique, namepeace.

I hadn't thought about it, as in songs/moments (rather than albums) being a defining factor of Prince's output in the 90s, but I can see how that argument rings true in many respects.

Thank you also for reminding me of DARK and MONEY DON'T MATTER TONIGHT. I would rework my initial tracklisting above to certainly include both of these songs. However, the problem I had was that there were so many brilliant "album" songs, like these two, that it became more and more difficult for me to include one, but not the other. Hence, I would have loved to have included songs like MY COMPUTER, CALHOUN SQUARE, BILLY JACK BITCH, WHITE MANSION, STROLLIN', 3RD EYE, THE LOVE WE MAKE and I LIKE IT THERE, to name but a few, but then it became impossible to streamlime the 'best of' to two discs. Needless to say, I found it a largely impossible task, as there was just so much great material I didn't include (but would have done so in a heartbeat if it was a 4CD retrospective)!

love,

Spirit

NDRU said:

The 90's was both an exciting and a disappointing time to be a Prince fan.

There were so many expectations--ones that he could not quite live up to. I think I would have enjoyed the 00's a lot more due to lowered expectations were it not for The Rainbow Children making me wonder once again what the hell he's doing messing around with these silly pop songs.

Great point, NRDU.

For those of us who enjoyed it, The Rainbow Children was both a blessing and curse, as I, too, kept asking myself why he was releasing largely popular efforts after the One Night Alone/NEWS era, when he clearly had the capacity to grow deeper, both professionally and personally.

love,
Spirit

V10LETBLUES said:

There seem to be a lot of "it wasn't so bad" type threads regarding his 90's output. But honestly, if you have to even keep questioning it, like asking "does my ass look big in these jeans" then you really know the answer, but don't like the answer. Keep asking it though, if it makes you feel better, but like your ass in jeans, time won't be any kinder to it. No it won't.

I disagree with your statement, V1OLETBLUES.

If anything, a deeper, more nuanced and informed analysis often requires both time and separation, therefore isn't it important the questions resurface, as clearly there is yet further room for reflection (otherwise the questions wouldn't keep coming)?

love,

Spirit