Okay.

So, now the results appear to be in regarding your least favourite Prince album, what is your single-most-favourite Prince album, as of today? All Prince productions - and associated artist projects with Prince involvement (e.g. The Time) - can be included.

I shall start with my favourite: LOVESEXY

Whilst Lovsexy is by no means "the best" Prince record (I believe that accolade is probably best reserved for Purple Rain or Sign 'O' The Times), I do feel that Prince brings together an absolutely masterful stroke with this record following the heels of The Black Album, encompassing a suite of music which I find enjoyable to play the entire way through, as if on an other-wordly metaphysical journey, involving ridiculously funky stretches (e.g. Dance On, Lovsexy), incredibly uplifting and inclusive messages (Eye No, Alphabet St., Glam Slam) and amongst the most powerful array of slow jams dealing with his archetypal struggles (Anna Stesia, When 2 R In Love, I Wish U Heaven) as well as perhaps one of my favourite album finales in Positivity. I offer a brief overview, because the real rewards are in the upteem hidden elements and musical details liberally scattered throughout the entire recording. Such attention to detail is rare nowadays, and even within his creative prime, Lovesexy ranks amongst his artistic best, in my opinion.

So, what is your favourite Prince album and why?

.

[Edited 6/28/13 11:02am]

Parade

For the one millionth time on this site - my fav is SOTT!!

This is the hardest question ever, for I love almost each and every Prince album very deeply. My answer could vary from one day to another for in the end almost every Prince album IS my favorite Prince album, but the first answer to come to my mind today would be Parade. Why? Because it stands the test of time for me. I hardly ever listen to the old albums anymore save maybe once a year, but I think I listen to Parade a little bit more often and always with the same joy. Most of the others if I'm not in the right mood I listen to them without really listening, cuz I know them by heart, but I still listen to Parade with the same enthusiasm.

So let's take Parade for today

PS: I remember we had a similar thread in late 2010, every one had to name 10 albums and I remember the winners were 1) SOTT, 2) 1999 and 3) PR. It would be interesting to see if we get different results this time

SuperSoulFighter said:

C'mon, dustoff & Empress, you can do better than that! I love those albums too, but give us a reason why!

Haha, okay, I'll try. I guess I always really preferred Prince songs that were stripped down, spare, minimalist, funk grooves (The Stick, Let's Work, Housequake, Black Sweat, Feel U Up, 1+1+1=3 come to mind off the top of my head, though those are a varied group, and obviously there are many more.) That said, Prince has clearly produced some of his best work in collaboaration with bandmates. To me, Parade represents the best balance: funky, rhythm-driven tunes that feel organic (not only drum machine or keyboard driven) and benefit from the input of others: Claire Fisher's strings, the horns, etc. "Mountains" is one of my favorite Prince singles (can't believe it's not on the compliations, though I'm glad he continues to perform it live) and the bass line from "New Position" is simply my favorite bass line ever. I guess I think of "Parade" as the antithesis to the later, over-produced, Barbarella-infected work that seemed to characterize much of Prince's output in the 90's. There are songs from other albums that I like more than any on "Parade," but when I think about what album embodies everything I like about Prince's music, I always come back to this one. Obviously there's no accounting for taste, and I don't pretend that my preference for this album is anything but subjective (and perhaps a reflection of my age -- I was 14 when it came out, which seems like just the right age for an album like "Parade" to make a real impression). I think a case could be made -- easily -- that SOTT or PR or 1999 are better albums, but as much as I love those (and others), "Parade" remains my favorite. So take it with a grain of salt -- I am, after all, inclined to defend "Newpower Soul" if prompted

What a phenomenal answer, dustoff (minus the defending Newpower Soul finale)!

1999, Sign O' The Times or Purple Rain depending on the day I guess

SpiritOtter said:

What a phenomenal answer, dustoff (minus the defending Newpower Soul finale)!

Thanks! And yeah, I'll spare everyone further mention of NPS, haha. For now

dustoff said:

SpiritOtter said:

What a phenomenal answer, dustoff (minus the defending Newpower Soul finale)!

Thanks! And yeah, I'll spare everyone further mention of NPS, haha. For now

Newpower Soul is a masterpiece, one of Prince's funkiest albums really, I always have a ball listening to it and I never really understood why it's so unpopular but on the other hand I don't care because it makes ME happy

Prince-the ballads alone make it very special.

jamaicanbob said:

No contest - It may not be the "cool" choice due to its commercial success, but Purple Rain is one of the most perfect albums ever made by anyone.

true

databank said:

dustoff said:

Thanks! And yeah, I'll spare everyone further mention of NPS, haha. For now

Newpower Soul is a masterpiece, one of Prince's funkiest albums really, I always have a ball listening to it and I never really understood why it's so unpopular but on the other hand I don't care because it makes ME happy

Glad I'm not the only one!

Sign o the times is to me the best album, but its not my favourite its a bit too lugubrious and adventurous at time, and therefore a s the favourite I have to turn to its older cousin.

1999 Its always on rotation here, if not the album, its all the unreleased jams and stuff like Moonbeam Levels, Xtraloveable and Purple Music etc. Its bascially anything from 1982 here, stuff like Baby your a trip and Do yourself a favour, turn it up, What Time is it and Vanity 6 albums.

But DMSR at full volume and Automatic with xtra bass is a divine and revelatory experience. I am just so in love with the 1982 model Prince at the moment.

And people get tired of hearing Kiss and Purple Rain all the time, but honestly ask yourself, can you ever get sick of Little Red Corvette, Delirious, 1999, Lady Cab Driver or International Lover?

Its probably why the 1982 Prince is my avatar and my sig is a 1982 period song.

[Edited 6/29/13 5:34am]

The Black Album.

come

Around The World In A Day - My first album by Prince, which got me into his music.

Come. The material isn’t 1999/PR/SOTT-grade, but I never seem to get tired of the mood it sets and I think it gels as a complete listen better than anything else to my ears (though I do usually drop orgasm & solo). Before Lotuslower came out it had been the only Prince album I’d regularly revisit and play more or less in full for a good length of time.

TOTALS

-----------------

Prince | 1 vote

1999 | 2 votes

Purple Rain | 2 votes

Around The World In A Day | 1 vote

Parade | 2 votes

Sign O The Times | 2 votes

The Black Album | 1 vote

Lovesexy | 2 votes

Come | 2 votes

------------------

Quite an even spread so far, but almost the complete opposite to the spread for the least favourite Prince album votes!

1. Purple Rain
2. Sign O' The Times
3. Lovesexy
4. 1999
5. Controversy

Parade is my favorite (and probably my favorite 1980s album by any artist). It still sounds fresh and timeless to me, and I've never gotten bored of listening to it. I love the way that Prince was incorporating new sounds beyond what was expected of him following Purple Rain, the inclusion of different musicians (Claire Fischer, Sheila E., Eric Leeds, Wendy and Lisa) throughout the album, the French vibe, and the overall flow and variety in the album, from song to song. Somehow he managed to pull together all these different elements, musicians, and styles (jazz, classical, psychedelic, chanson, pop-rock, and stripped-down funk) into one concise work with its own atmosphere. It's just the perfect album, to me. It's also one of the best sounding vinyl records I've owned-- the album comes alive on vinyl.

dustoff said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

C'mon, dustoff & Empress, you can do better than that! I love those albums too, but give us a reason why!

Haha, okay, I'll try. I guess I always really preferred Prince songs that were stripped down, spare, minimalist, funk grooves (The Stick, Let's Work, Housequake, Black Sweat, Feel U Up, 1+1+1=3 come to mind off the top of my head, though those are a varied group, and obviously there are many more.) That said, Prince has clearly produced some of his best work in collaboaration with bandmates. To me, Parade represents the best balance: funky, rhythm-driven tunes that feel organic (not only drum machine or keyboard driven) and benefit from the input of others: Claire Fisher's strings, the horns, etc. "Mountains" is one of my favorite Prince singles (can't believe it's not on the compliations, though I'm glad he continues to perform it live) and the bass line from "New Position" is simply my favorite bass line ever. I guess I think of "Parade" as the antithesis to the later, over-produced, Barbarella-infected work that seemed to characterize much of Prince's output in the 90's. There are songs from other albums that I like more than any on "Parade," but when I think about what album embodies everything I like about Prince's music, I always come back to this one. Obviously there's no accounting for taste, and I don't pretend that my preference for this album is anything but subjective (and perhaps a reflection of my age -- I was 14 when it came out, which seems like just the right age for an album like "Parade" to make a real impression). I think a case could be made -- easily -- that SOTT or PR or 1999 are better albums, but as much as I love those (and others), "Parade" remains my favorite. So take it with a grain of salt -- I am, after all, inclined to defend "Newpower Soul" if prompted

Consider yourself prompted, dustoff--though it might be a bit like poking a lion with a stick.

Actually, I like NPS okay, I just sort of want to see what you have to say. And, maybe, the backlash to it.