Because it was about revisiting the classics and not creating new ones.

80-87

For me Lovesexy marks the start of the heavy handed cheesy excess. Even supposedly better 90's album like The Gold Experience are not listenable to me for its excess in cheesiness

[Edited 4/22/13 7:09am]

skywalker said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

when people say 'era' it's about the whole of the project. Not just the album

Dirty Mind & Lovesexy are 2 very exciting eras in Prince history

Well, in that case, how can people NOT view the Musicology era as classic? It was one of the best times to be a Prince fan. There was so much good Prince stuff happening on a large scale. I'd argue that it was one of his all time peaks in terms of mass appeal and commercial success.

[Edited 4/22/13 6:08am]

I think it was a good era but a 'Comeback era' I don't think it's classic in the sense of 1982 or 1988. It was exciting, in that we also saw him mixing shows and performances with his current band and The Time, Sheila E, Wendy Susannah Lisa Coleman

*

but the issue I have is it at times came across still has a Hit n Run period. 3121 & Planet Earth as far as era's were almost like duplicates of the same thing. Not much focus on the music of that album.

*

Prince was excited (and whether he wants to realize it) it was a comeback of sorts. I don't know if Musicology had such a cohesive direction... (I know people don't like it but I wish Rainbow Children had a proper period)

novabrkr said:

Because it was about revisiting the classics and not creating new ones.

"While my Guitar Gently weeps" is not a new "classic moment"?

"Reflection" acoustic side by side with Wendy is not a new "classic moment"?

The entire "musicology" tour was entirely fresh. When had he ever done an acoustic set section on an arena tour before?

Hell, the song "Musicology" is about as close to a modern Prince classic as you can get.

Disagree?

OldFriends4Sale said:

I think it was a good era but a 'Comeback era' I don't think it's classic in the sense of 1982 or 1988

*

but the issue I have is it at times came across still has a Hit n Run period. 3121 & Planet Earth as far as era's were almost like duplicates of the same thing. Not much focus on the music of that album.

*

Prince was excited (and whether he wants to realize it) it was a comeback of sorts. I don't know if Musicology had such a cohesive direction... (I know people don't like it but I wish Rainbow Children had a proper period)

You make it seem like there are rigid definitions on what makes an era classic? Explain more. Also, The Rainbow Children era blends right into the ONA era. To me, they are one and the same. Distinct and definable.

skywalker said:

novabrkr said:

Because it was about revisiting the classics and not creating new ones.

"While my Guitar Gently weeps" is not a new "classic moment"?

"Reflection" acoustic side by side with Wendy is not a new "classic moment"?

The entire "musicology" tour was entirely fresh. When had he ever done an acoustic set section on an arena tour before?

Hell, the song "Musicology" is about as close to a modern Prince classic as you can get.

Disagree?

Yeah, I disagree.

It's not that I don't like those "moments", but I don't think they have occupied a "special status" in the "canon" of popular music. The RRHOF performance, perhaps, but it's still just an isolated moment.

The whole Musicology period was when Prince started becoming a nostalgia act (from the perspective of the mainstream audience at least).

Musicolgy was a good era: but, more for some kinda redemption from being into some weirdo with a symbol for a name and a guy that most people thought hadn't put out anything worthwhile in AGES! for me personally the music was just Ok.. and the tour was a nice introduction to Prince for casual fans but none of the stuff during that era felt New or Groundbreaking to me.

The song Musicolgy was fun but "The Work" off of the rainbow children was just as funky in a similar James Brownish way and largely went unnoticed.

skywalker said:

novabrkr said:

Because it was about revisiting the classics and not creating new ones.

"While my Guitar Gently weeps" is not a new "classic moment"?

"Reflection" acoustic side by side with Wendy is not a new "classic moment"?

The entire "musicology" tour was entirely fresh. When had he ever done an acoustic set section on an arena tour before?

Hell, the song "Musicology" is about as close to a modern Prince classic as you can get.

Disagree?

OldFriends4Sale said:

I think it was a good era but a 'Comeback era' I don't think it's classic in the sense of 1982 or 1988

*

but the issue I have is it at times came across still has a Hit n Run period. 3121 & Planet Earth as far as era's were almost like duplicates of the same thing. Not much focus on the music of that album.

*

Prince was excited (and whether he wants to realize it) it was a comeback of sorts. I don't know if Musicology had such a cohesive direction... (I know people don't like it but I wish Rainbow Children had a proper period)

You make it seem like there are rigid definitions on what makes an era classic? Explain more. Also, The Rainbow Children era blends right into the ONA era. To me, they are one and the same. Distinct and definable.

In the way that Prince was changing the broad musical world - it was 81-90. Daring, controversial, and the world noticing and copying. Mysterious and funky...

After this, he had many golden moments, and still does - but really he is not changing the perception of what music can do any longer.

novabrkr said:

skywalker said:

"While my Guitar Gently weeps" is not a new "classic moment"?

"Reflection" acoustic side by side with Wendy is not a new "classic moment"?

The entire "musicology" tour was entirely fresh. When had he ever done an acoustic set section on an arena tour before?

Hell, the song "Musicology" is about as close to a modern Prince classic as you can get.

Disagree?

Yeah, I disagree.

It's not that I don't like those "moments", but I don't think they have occupied a "special status" in the "canon" of popular music. The RRHOF performance, perhaps, but it's still just an isolated moment.

The whole Musicology period was when Prince started becoming a nostalgia act (from the perspective of the mainstream audience at least).

Okay, I hear you. Help me out with an example: What "special status" has the lovesexy era occupied in the "canon" of popular music? The tour was a bust in the USA, the album cover was infamously responsible for some of Prince's lowest album sales ever. You think the majority of casual fans went to that tour hoping to hear "I Wish U heaven" or "Purple Rain"? Talk about nostalgia. "Alphabet Street" was a hit on the low end of the top 10.

Listen, I understand that this era is one of the all time favs amongst Prince fans (the aftershows even moreso), but it's not like Prince 1988 set the rest of the world on fire. The main reason he was part of the Batman project is because of how hard this era missed the mark for everyone but his fanbase.

skywalker said:

novabrkr said:

Yeah, I disagree.

It's not that I don't like those "moments", but I don't think they have occupied a "special status" in the "canon" of popular music. The RRHOF performance, perhaps, but it's still just an isolated moment.

The whole Musicology period was when Prince started becoming a nostalgia act (from the perspective of the mainstream audience at least).

Okay, I hear you. Help me out with an example: What "special status" has the lovesexy era occupied in the "canon" of popular music? The tour was a bust in the USA, the album cover was infamously responsible for some of Prince's lowest album sales ever. You think the majority of casual fans went to that tour hoping to hear "I Wish U heaven" or "Purple Rain"? Talk about nostalgia. "Alphabet Street" was a hit on the low end of the top 10.

Listen, I understand that this era is one of the all time favs amongst Prince fans (the aftershows even moreso), but it's not like Prince 1988 set the rest of the world on fire. The main reason he was part of the Batman project is because of how hard this era missed the mark for everyone but his fanbase.

Do you have similar bad words about SOTT to support your argument?

You're just being argumentative there.

novabrkr said:

skywalker said:

Okay, I hear you. Help me out with an example: What "special status" has the lovesexy era occupied in the "canon" of popular music? The tour was a bust in the USA, the album cover was infamously responsible for some of Prince's lowest album sales ever. You think the majority of casual fans went to that tour hoping to hear "I Wish U heaven" or "Purple Rain"? Talk about nostalgia. "Alphabet Street" was a hit on the low end of the top 10.

Listen, I understand that this era is one of the all time favs amongst Prince fans (the aftershows even moreso), but it's not like Prince 1988 set the rest of the world on fire. The main reason he was part of the Batman project is because of how hard this era missed the mark for everyone but his fanbase.

Do you have similar bad words about SOTT to support your argument?

You're just being argumentative there.

Not at all.

Lovesexy is one of my favorite eras, but I fail to see how an album/era like Lovesexy meets the requirements to be a classic that you layed out: "occupied a "special status" in the "canon" of popular music." I think only a handful of Prince eras actually do this as it relates to the masses and I think the "Musicology" era is one of them.

[Edited 4/22/13 8:42am]

It's a classic album and the tour is a classic too. Deal with it.

novabrkr said:

It's a classic album and the tour is a classic too. Deal with it.

You don't have to convince me. I am a Prince fan. I am just saying that, for the most part, Lovesexy is only a classic to Prince fans.

You brought up "special status in the canon of pop music", but there are many Prince albums that Prince fans love that aren't regarded as such by folks outside of the fan base. Again, what is the legacy of lovesxy in the canon of popular music?

Lastly, thanks for the insightful back and forth. It's so nice when someone just declares their opinion (popular as it may be here at prince.org) as undisputed truth.

[Edited 4/22/13 8:57am]

For me? Dirty Mind to Lovesexy. Before and after that, I'm skipping songs.

skywalker said:

novabrkr said:

Do you have similar bad words about SOTT to support your argument?

You're just being argumentative there.

Not at all.

Lovesexy is one of my favorite eras, but I fail to see how an album/era like Lovesexy meets the requirements to be a classic that you layed out: "occupied a "special status" in the "canon" of popular music." I think only a handful of Prince eras actually do this as it relates to the masses and I think the "Musicology" era is one of them.

[Edited 4/22/13 8:42am]

Overall I don't think 'appeal' to the masses defines Classic Prince

I think it's the Prince fans that define classic.

*

According to the OP I think they are looking for Prince fan opinions, not the general public:According to every Prince fan ever, there's an untouchable golden age for Prince.

*

novabrkr said:

It's a classic album and the tour is a classic too. Deal with it.

what album are u refering too?

The classic era is yet to come.

It will be when he regains his senses and does stuff more sensible.

Not just making music but also the rest of the business.

The freshened effectiveness of that package will help store the experience in peoples' memories.

EMPEROR101 said:

Musicolgy was a good era: but, more for some kinda redemption from being into some weirdo with a symbol for a name and a guy that most people thought hadn't put out anything worthwhile in AGES! for me personally the music was just Ok.. and the tour was a nice introduction to Prince for casual fans but none of the stuff during that era felt New or Groundbreaking to me.

The song Musicolgy was fun but "The Work" off of the rainbow children was just as funky in a similar James Brownish way and largely went unnoticed.

skywalker said:

You make it seem like there are rigid definitions on what makes an era classic? Explain more. Also, The Rainbow Children era blends right into the ONA era. To me, they are one and the same. Distinct and definable.

I always looked at the ONA period taking in the Rainbow Children, almost like he was too scared to do to much promo with the album:1 official single, no videos... I think the music of that album is so unique and different and colorful that it should have stood on it's own. But I know it had a certain level of 'controversy' to it, so I don't know why he didn't do much more with it.

EMPEROR101 said:

Musicolgy was a good era: but, more for some kinda redemption from being into some weirdo with a symbol for a name and a guy that most people thought hadn't put out anything worthwhile in AGES! for me personally the music was just Ok.. and the tour was a nice introduction to Prince for casual fans but none of the stuff during that era felt New or Groundbreaking to me.

The song Musicolgy was fun but "The Work" off of the rainbow children was just as funky in a similar James Brownish way and largely went unnoticed.

skywalker said:

You make it seem like there are rigid definitions on what makes an era classic? Explain more. Also, The Rainbow Children era blends right into the ONA era. To me, they are one and the same. Distinct and definable.

I agree,

Musicology was like some kind of humbled return to the overall music scene

the 1990's for him before it got started good, it turned into a lot of distractions and confusion for a lot of fans and the general public and that went on till after Rave-RainbowChildren

*

Musicology

3121

Planet Earth

to me were very similar in look vibe presentation, and mostly a reintroduction of the 'hits' and it's been that way ever since

OldFriends4Sale said:

skywalker said:

Not at all.

Lovesexy is one of my favorite eras, but I fail to see how an album/era like Lovesexy meets the requirements to be a classic that you layed out: "occupied a "special status" in the "canon" of popular music." I think only a handful of Prince eras actually do this as it relates to the masses and I think the "Musicology" era is one of them.

[Edited 4/22/13 8:42am]

Overall I don't think 'appeal' to the masses defines Classic Prince

I think it's the Prince fans that define classic.

*

According to the OP I think they are looking for Prince fan opinions, not the general public:According to every Prince fan ever, there's an untouchable golden age for Prince.

*

I get it, but in this instance, I was referring to novabrkr's stipulation/declaration of what makes an era "classic" not the op.

skywalker said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Overall I don't think 'appeal' to the masses defines Classic Prince

I think it's the Prince fans that define classic.

*

According to the OP I think they are looking for Prince fan opinions, not the general public:According to every Prince fan ever, there's an untouchable golden age for Prince.

*

I get it, but in this instance, I was referring to novabrkr's stipulation/declaration of what makes an era "classic" not the op.

Yeah, When I hear Prince songs on the radio (broadly) it's usually music from 1999 Purple Rain ATWIAD Parade

1999, Little Red Corvette, DMSR, How Come U Don't Call Me

Let's Go Crazy, Take Me With U, I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm a Star, Purple Rain, Erotic City

Raspberry Beret, Pop Life

Kiss, AnotherLoverholenYoHead, Girls & Boys

paisleypark4 said:

1980-1990.

.

Then 2000 - present.

.

I really did not like the 90's era Prince much. NO FUNK.

.

In recent times he went back and it seemed like he calmed down from the drama of the 90's, however it must have weined on him because the music is still good, just his lyrics and album promotion have been hit or miss. I like this era though because of the return of funky Prince so I give him that.

^ Okay may I disagree with you...?

.

to me the 00's has been pretty weak, compared to the 90's.

.

Musicology & 3121 & Planet Earth,

.

-- those 3 are much weaker albums than " " & Come & The Gold Experience.

.

I absolutely love the first half of the 90s' Prince albums,

.

the problems for Prince began when he left Warner Bros. in '95.

.

"Free the music", oh yeah --- that never happened.

.

LF/MPLS and TRC are good though, I have to say that.. it's not all bad.

thedance said:

paisleypark4 said:

1980-1990.

.

Then 2000 - present.

.

I really did not like the 90's era Prince much. NO FUNK.

.

In recent times he went back and it seemed like he calmed down from the drama of the 90's, however it must have weined on him because the music is still good, just his lyrics and album promotion have been hit or miss. I like this era though because of the return of funky Prince so I give him that.

^ Okay may I disagree with you...?

.

to me the 00's has been pretty weak, compared to the 90's.

.

Musicology & 3121 & Planet Earth,

.

-- those 3 are much weaker albums than " " & Come & The Gold Experience.

.

I absolutely love the first half of the 90s' Prince albums,

.

the problems for Prince began when he left Warner Bros. in '95.

.

"Free the music", oh yeah --- that never happened.

.

LF/MPLS and TRC are good though, I have to say that.. it's not all bad.

I say the same thing: Musicology 3121 & Planet Earth aren't that strong. Rainbow Children to me is the strongest most cohesive Prince album of the 2000s

*

the 2000's have been a very 'active' performing period, but the music over all was not.

Actually even his 'look' was the same overall, he didn't even change up his look much from what we see from ONA-Planet Earth was the same, which is a stretch for Prince.

*

paisleypark4 said:

I really did not like the 90's era Prince much. NO FUNK.

What? Most of his funkiest stuff was from the 90's.

herb4 said:

paisleypark4 said:

I really did not like the 90's era Prince much. NO FUNK.

What? Most of his funkiest stuff was from the 90's.

Wasnt nothing like

The Work

Dance 4 Me

Lavaux

Everlasting Now

Breakfast Can WAit

No Candy 4 U

Valentina

Black Sweat

Lolita

Get On The Boat

1+1+1=3

Chelsea Rogers

or even Y Should I Do That When I Can Do This

in the 90s child

thedance said:

paisleypark4 said:

1980-1990.

.

Then 2000 - present.

.

I really did not like the 90's era Prince much. NO FUNK.

.

In recent times he went back and it seemed like he calmed down from the drama of the 90's, however it must have weined on him because the music is still good, just his lyrics and album promotion have been hit or miss. I like this era though because of the return of funky Prince so I give him that.

^ Okay may I disagree with you...?

.

to me the 00's has been pretty weak, compared to the 90's.

.

Musicology & 3121 & Planet Earth,

.

-- those 3 are much weaker albums than " " & Come & The Gold Experience.

.

I absolutely love the first half of the 90s' Prince albums,

.

the problems for Prince began when he left Warner Bros. in '95.

.

"Free the music", oh yeah --- that never happened.

.

LF/MPLS and TRC are good though, I have to say that.. it's not all bad.

I did not like Come much that seemed just as off as Planet Earth was imo. I do agree and Gold were great. I played those out as a tween.

Easy, he was too obscure for some in the beggining so even though he has been super talented since "For You" He had trash thrown at him in '81 I reca'l reading, as an opening act. Therefore:

.

1999-Batman ('82-89')

.

I know this is a conservative estimate, but let me justify:

.

When you make a soundrack for a film other than your own, that is the epitome of...something, "classic" I think. And 1999 was when he really "arrived" and people were chattering about him, in some kind of bizzare awe. At least this is what my Dad tells me, I was born in 1985 and in fact concieved after my parents saw Purple Rain in the theater, and they got the soundtrack at the record store next door RIGHT after the film. (Yeah, super grossed out they told me that. Ew.) I would not have been born without Prince music therefore I consider my opinion valid even though I am only 27.

.

Any success after that is throwback. (I would never say "comeback" because he never left!).

.

I wonder if there are any other "Prince babies" here at the org. Hahahaha. For another thread I suppose.

[Edited 4/24/13 17:03pm]

1979-1989, for me.
Prince to Batman, that is. All classic albums.

herb4 said:

paisleypark4 said:

I really did not like the 90's era Prince much. NO FUNK.

What? Most of his funkiest stuff was from the 90's.

Gett off

The max

Sexy MF

My name is Prince

Pheromone

Billy Jack bitch

Pussy control

Are these not funky????

They are of a very different style from his 80s funk songs, but that's what makes them even better, they were innovative for Prince himself.

January 1st 1987 until December 31st 1987

Websters defines classic as, "serving as a standard of excellence." So, I would have to not include Batman in this definition. 1979-1987 would apply. Although we all love "Lovesexy" but it's really only Prince fans that do. Musicology was good, but really it was only because he gave away the album at the shows for free (that's how I got copy) and the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame performance gave him huge momentum to drive up album sales, not to mention the big tour. I don't really think the album itself is much better PE, or 20ten and surely not better than 3121, but the hype was huge.

He's getting old and the potential for him being the future is minimum so we have to stop thinking that he's gonna be huge again because outside of us, no one really cares. I just wish he'd get his management together so he could just sit back and make music instead of worrying about all the little details like money and lawsuits and crap.