Every couple of years I'll sit down and listen to the first few Prince albums in release order and this has been my experience:

I think, "This is mostly pretty cheesy, but he sure was good for his age." Then I get to Dirty Mind and it's mostly better. It's his first really good album.

Then Controversy. The title track sounds almost like an extension of the Dirty Mind sound. Still a very good song.

It's all the work of a very competent songwriter and musician.

When Sexuality comes on and the rhythm guitar kicks in, I always remember, "Oh, yeah, that's right. He's a fucking genius."

To me it's the first real 'Prince' song. It's his own sound, with all the weird percussion, vocal shenanigans and funk enough to make your pinky stinky.

What do you think?

It is a great song and one of my favorites of the Controversy album, but not the first display of his genius IMO. The Dirty Mind album holds that honour IMO.

PopcornFetus said:

Every couple of years I'll sit down and listen to the first few Prince albums in release order and this has been my experience:

I think, "This is mostly pretty cheesy, but he sure was good for his age." Then I get to Dirty Mind and it's mostly better. It's his first really good album.

Then Controversy. The title track sounds almost like an extension of the Dirty Mind sound. Still a very good song.

It's all the work of a very competent songwriter and musician.

When Sexuality comes on and the rhythm guitar kicks in, I always remember, "Oh, yeah, that's right. He's a fucking genius."

To me it's the first real 'Prince' song. It's his own sound, with all the weird percussion, vocal shenanigans and funk enough to make your pinky stinky.

What do you think?

Done this many times over the years and I think your right.

But wouldn`t you agree that after listening to Prince sing in falsetto for 3 albums that when "Controversy" comes on it sounds like kind of strange, hearing his voice deeper.

I personally think he showed glimpses his genius with the Prince (79) album.

with songs like "Sexy Dancer" such a sharp groove and this young kid

Playing and singing every thing you hear.

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Dirty Mind was genuis to me

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you are right however.. CONTROVERSY was the first time he stamped

his own trade mark sound and really became the artist.

@Colin2007: If he has re-recorded his entire catalogue, I hope he has done songs like Uptown and Bambi in his normal voice. But seeing as he still sings Bambi in falsetto, he probably hasn't. It would make the song a lot better.

With such an opening as the acapella For You, and amazing production throughout, he sure left some hints that he was not to be messed with. Warner must have really believed in him then, even though he didn't release a classic until Dirty Mind.

The album Prince proved that he was able to create catchy pop tunes like I Wanna Be Your Lover, and I Feel For You, while still providing monster disco funk like Bambi and Heavy Rock like Bambi. He clearly had something in him. Even though the sound he provided didn't sound completely new, he had something that would most likely make people think "damn this kid is going somewhere".

Dirty Mind however was like nothing else out there. The stripped down new waveish Tubeway Army was probably the closest sounding, as he used to memorize those drums to his sleep according to Jill Jones I think. And yeah, you can clearly hear that he has used some of that, but funkin it up to the max, making it thicker with less reverb. He also used similar synths and would use a dry clean guitar signal for a tight, yet raw and low budget production. The opposite of the album For You, and far away sonically from the album Prince. But lyrics wise it's similar, yet alot more kinky and arrogant almost in its attitude. He really flipped his entire sound upside down combining his more of a disco, funk, and rock background together with the rawness of punk and new wave. This album is GENUIOUS with no doubt. But yes, Sexuality marked a change in his sound. His unorthodox way of blending real drums with samples, the somewhat weird rhythm that kinda sounds abit like rockabilly, but nothing like it at the same time. But his first display of True Genius, I'm not sure. It's a great track though:)

I love Sexuality from the 1st time I heard it.

Tick Tick Bang(81) has that same wild new wave touch

It's definately a stand out track.

I love the performance of it on the 1999 tour

and at the March 8th 1982 1st Avenue show

live it's even more wicked

Minneapolis?! Are U Listening?! followed by one the shortest nastiest guitar pieces

1. Bambi
2. All The Critics Love U In New York
3. When You Were Mine
4. Sexy Dancer
5. Still Waiting
6. Head
7. Sexuality
8. Dance 2 The Beat W/ SueAnn Carwell
9. The Stick TheTime
19. Party UP W/ The Time

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love Sexuality from the 1st time I heard it.

Tick Tick Bang(81) has that same wild new wave touch

It's definately a stand out track.

I love the performance of it on the 1999 tour

and at the March 8th 1982 1st Avenue show

live it's even more wicked

Minneapolis?! Are U Listening?! followed by one the shortest nastiest guitar pieces

1. Bambi
2. All The Critics Love U In New York
3. When You Were Mine
4. Sexy Dancer
5. Still Waiting
6. Head
7. Sexuality
8. Dance 2 The Beat W/ SueAnn Carwell
9. The Stick TheTime
19. Party UP W/ The Time

damn I wish I had all these lovely concert bootlegs. I've heard some, and damn this is my music. Prince & The Revolution gets the most praise, but my personal favourite is with Dez and Andre, but also the Pre Revolution period with the super tight bass from Brownmark. Nothing against any of the other bands. But I just love this Gang. They were raw and crazy.

Replica said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love Sexuality from the 1st time I heard it.

Tick Tick Bang(81) has that same wild new wave touch

It's definately a stand out track.

I love the performance of it on the 1999 tour

and at the March 8th 1982 1st Avenue show

live it's even more wicked

Minneapolis?! Are U Listening?! followed by one the shortest nastiest guitar pieces

1. Bambi
2. All The Critics Love U In New York
3. When You Were Mine
4. Sexy Dancer
5. Still Waiting
6. Head
7. Sexuality
8. Dance 2 The Beat W/ SueAnn Carwell
9. The Stick TheTime
19. Party UP W/ The Time

damn I wish I had all these lovely concert bootlegs. I've heard some, and damn this is my music. Prince & The Revolution gets the most praise, but my personal favourite is with Dez and Andre, but also the Pre Revolution period with the super tight bass from Brownmark. Nothing against any of the other bands. But I just love this Gang. They were raw and crazy.

I love all of the band from 1978-1988 they were all raw, hungry and emulated Prince. Demonstrated his sound -Purple Music.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Replica said:

damn I wish I had all these lovely concert bootlegs. I've heard some, and damn this is my music. Prince & The Revolution gets the most praise, but my personal favourite is with Dez and Andre, but also the Pre Revolution period with the super tight bass from Brownmark. Nothing against any of the other bands. But I just love this Gang. They were raw and crazy.

I love all of the band from 1978-1988 they were all raw, hungry and emulated Prince. Demonstrated his sound -Purple Music.

I don't disagree with that. I love all those years myself. It's just that this period of Prince is what took changed me from a shy boy to a fearless man . I felt a connection to his frustration from he was young, but still had the arrogance and pride in his own abilities. I love the bridge from boy to man. The prototype PRince imo started with Dirty Mind. This is where he became a fearless man.

Ahem... I believe the corrected title is "Spirituality". All of you owe a dollar to the cussjar.

I agree with you that Controversy (the song) is just an extension of Dirty Mind (the song). By that token, 1999 (the song) is really just an extension of Controversy (the song).

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Is "Sexuality" his first display of true genius though?

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• Nothing on For You is worthy of "genius" title. Talented, clever, soulful, yes.

• IWBYL has hints of genius, but really it could've been done by anyone. WYWTMSB and Bambi are an even better hint at genius but maybe not quite there yet.

• When U Were Mine though . . . I think this one hits the "genius" button pretty hard.

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Maybe what you're asking is if "Sexuality" is his first display of true FUNK genius?

for me it's....'just as long as we're together'

Is that Morris playing drums on Party Up on that 81 show at First Avenue? That's some mean drums! What if Prince released a version like that with good sound quality. DAMN I'd die!

funksterr said:

Ahem... I believe the corrected title is "Spirituality". All of you owe a dollar to the cussjar.

man when he would open with this in Vegas (3121) it sent chills down my spine

almost did not notice he changed the lyrics

Thanks Larry!!

Pentacle said:

@Colin2007: If he has re-recorded his entire catalogue, I hope he has done songs like Uptown and Bambi in his normal voice. But seeing as he still sings Bambi in falsetto, he probably hasn't. It would make the song a lot better.

Sometimes....................... I just dont understand.

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