I probably didn't get around to purchasing For You until...maybe '84 or '85, but you bet I wore it out listening to it. I knew all the lyrics by heart. I listen to it a couple times a year to reconnect and chill to it. Still find pure joy in listeing to this album.

bonatoc said:

chocolate1 said:

SuperSoulFighter said: Well said!

I'm not totally on par with you. Nothing in "For You" suggests "Dirty Mind".

[...]

I don't think "In Love" is that far removed from the title track from "Dirty Mind" or "Do It All Night" stylistically. It's essentially the same type of music, but like you've stated he just needed to introduce more edge to it. If we're honest about it, The Dirty Mind album still has its moments that aren't forward-thinking new wave-y stuff - "Gotta Broken Heart Again" could have easily been on the first two albums as well.

novabrkr said:

bonatoc said:

I'm not totally on par with you. Nothing in "For You" suggests "Dirty Mind".

[...]

I don't think "In Love" is that far removed from the title track from "Dirty Mind" or "Do It All Night" stylistically. It's essentially the same type of music, but like you've stated he just needed to introduce more edge to it. If we're honest about it, The Dirty Mind album still has its moments that aren't forward-thinking new wave-y stuff - "Gotta Broken Heart Again" could have easily been on the first two albums as well.

Mmm... "Do It All Night" has its share of Disco gimmicks, but I think it's closer to "I Feel For You" : you could easily swap the bars that launch the chorus between the two songs.

But "Dirty Mind", the song ? No, I don't hear it in any of his previous works. It's his first true attempt at minimalism, the first synth riff "à la Prince" (think "1999", "Lovesexy"), the first ostinato bass, even the lyrics are much more original than anything on "For You" in their way of bringing rock'n'roll to the soul/funk table. There aren't many black artists that would come up with the line "in my daddy's car", which is a direct reference to the 50's (Bill Haley, Elvis, Jerry Lee, etc.). It's a black guy reclaiming the rock'n'roll heritage, whereas before (in the 70's), black music (blaxploitation, soul music) and white music (california FM, country) were two very distinct cultures.

Dirty Mind is the first real musical cross-over between white music (telecaster, synthetic, punk) and black music (falsettos, horns, repetitive) of the 80's.
In this respect it's in an entirely different league than "In Love", which, for all is craftsmanship, is a fine product of a shy talentend musician.
"Dirty Mind" instead breaks many rules.

[Edited 2/8/15 12:20pm]