ChrisLacy1990 said:

1. PURPLE RAIN: ICONIC

2. SIGN O' THE TIMES: MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

3. 1999: BEGINNING OF PURPLE LEGACY

4. PARADE: MOST UNDERATED PRINCE ALBUM BY THE PUBLIC

ChrisLacy1990 said:

Appreciate the feedback! Tell me why you feel PARADE is greater and/or more important than PURPLE RAIN.

Musically and iconically PURPLE RAIN IMO is a better album overall than PARADE...

However I feel PARADE is one of the best Prince albums of all time, more complete than ATWIAD, DIRTY MIND, CONTROVERSY, LOVESEXY and BATMAN...

feeluupp said:

ChrisLacy1990 said:

Appreciate the feedback! Tell me why you feel PARADE is greater and/or more important than PURPLE RAIN.

Musically and iconically PURPLE RAIN IMO is a better album overall than PARADE...

However I feel PARADE is one of the best Prince albums of all time, more complete than ATWIAD, DIRTY MIND, CONTROVERSY, LOVESEXY and BATMAN...

Sorry about that. That comment was intended for jdcxc - I agree that PARADE is one of the best (it's in my personal Top 5.

feeluupp said:

1. PURPLE RAIN: ICONIC

2. SIGN O' THE TIMES: MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

3. 1999: BEGINNING OF PURPLE LEGACY

4. PARADE: MOST UNDERATED PRINCE ALBUM BY THE PUBLIC

I really dig your list! If this was a "favorite albums" blog, I would keep 1-3 the same and add LOVESEXY at the #4 spot.

"DIRTY MIND"...The real arrival..."S.O.T.T" - Headphone masterpiece..a funky "Wizard Of Oz" like journey..."CONTROVERSY"..Great production/killer R&B..."1999"..Always thought it was the sister record to CONTROVERSY.."PARADE"..jazz, funk, Middle Eastern, vaudville, R&B pop, odd orchestration..it's all here..very underrated record.

ChrisLacy1990 said:

If you had to choose four of Prince's greatest and most important albums, which would you pick? To help get things started, here's my personal list: 4. DIRTY MIND (1980): DIRTY MIND did for Prince what OFF THE WALL did for Michael Jackson. It was a turning point that perfectly captures the swagger that Prince had as an up-and-coming artist. More than thirty years later since its release, listeners and critics alike are still buzzing about how great this record is. 3. 1999 (1982): The songs work like cinematic dream capsules, taking listeners from an apocalyptic world ("1999") to a BDSM bedroom scene ("Automatic"), from the backseat of a taxi ("Lady Cab Driver") to an erotic airline leaving the runway ("International Lover"). One of the greatest creative breakthroughs by any artist. 2. PURPLE RAIN (1984): This was more than just an album; it was a cultural phenomenon that very few artists have ever experienced. Sonically, it pressed forward as it continued to cross and mix genres (R&B, rock, funk, pop, New Wave, and soul). The semi-biographical film would soon follow and help bring the soundtrack to life onscreen. 1. SIGN O' THE TIMES (1987): Having already reached the pinnacle of commercial success, Prince wanted to create something for the ages—something that wouldn't just entertain but also provoke and inspire. With a runtime of 80 minutes, SIGN O' THE TIMES is a musical odyssey that gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at Prince engaging with the world around him—and inside him—like never before. Sound off in the comments below on which Prince albums you believe are his greatest and most important.

Pretty much agree with this one...

4. Dirty Mind: The prototype Prince is formed

3. 1999: Prince is defined

2. Purple Rain: Prince takes over the major public

1. SOTT: Prince is now fully respected among music lovers and music critics.

jdcxc said:

ChrisLacy1990 said:

If you had to choose four of Prince's greatest and most important albums, which would you pick? To help get things started, here's my personal list: 4. DIRTY MIND (1980): DIRTY MIND did for Prince what OFF THE WALL did for Michael Jackson. It was a turning point that perfectly captures the swagger that Prince had as an up-and-coming artist. More than thirty years later since its release, listeners and critics alike are still buzzing about how great this record is. 3. 1999 (1982): The songs work like cinematic dream capsules, taking listeners from an apocalyptic world ("1999") to a BDSM bedroom scene ("Automatic"), from the backseat of a taxi ("Lady Cab Driver") to an erotic airline leaving the runway ("International Lover"). One of the greatest creative breakthroughs by any artist. 2. PURPLE RAIN (1984): This was more than just an album; it was a cultural phenomenon that very few artists have ever experienced. Sonically, it pressed forward as it continued to cross and mix genres (R&B, rock, funk, pop, New Wave, and soul). The semi-biographical film would soon follow and help bring the soundtrack to life onscreen. 1. SIGN O' THE TIMES (1987): Having already reached the pinnacle of commercial success, Prince wanted to create something for the ages—something that wouldn't just entertain but also provoke and inspire. With a runtime of 80 minutes, SIGN O' THE TIMES is a musical odyssey that gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at Prince engaging with the world around him—and inside him—like never before. Sound off in the comments below on which Prince albums you believe are his greatest and most important.

I would replace PR with Parade

How provocative.

ChrisLacy1990 said:

ChrisLacy1990 said:

If you had to choose four of Prince's greatest and most important albums, which would you pick? To help get things started, here's my personal list: 4. DIRTY MIND (1980): DIRTY MIND did for Prince what OFF THE WALL did for Michael Jackson. It was a turning point that perfectly captures the swagger that Prince had as an up-and-coming artist. More than thirty years later since its release, listeners and critics alike are still buzzing about how great this record is. 3. 1999 (1982): The songs work like cinematic dream capsules, taking listeners from an apocalyptic world ("1999") to a BDSM bedroom scene ("Automatic"), from the backseat of a taxi ("Lady Cab Driver") to an erotic airline leaving the runway ("International Lover"). One of the greatest creative breakthroughs by any artist. 2. PURPLE RAIN (1984): This was more than just an album; it was a cultural phenomenon that very few artists have ever experienced. Sonically, it pressed forward as it continued to cross and mix genres (R&B, rock, funk, pop, New Wave, and soul). The semi-biographical film would soon follow and help bring the soundtrack to life onscreen. 1. SIGN O' THE TIMES (1987): Having already reached the pinnacle of commercial success, Prince wanted to create something for the ages—something that wouldn't just entertain but also provoke and inspire. With a runtime of 80 minutes, SIGN O' THE TIMES is a musical odyssey that gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at Prince engaging with the world around him—and inside him—like never before. Sound off in the comments below on which Prince albums you believe are his greatest and most important.

The End. Sorry but there is no way you can exclude any of those albums without sounding completely oblivious, these are indeed the four pillars supporting the whole Purple Edifice.

Aerogram said:

ChrisLacy1990 said:

If you had to choose four of Prince's greatest and most important albums, which would you pick? To help get things started, here's my personal list: 4. DIRTY MIND (1980): DIRTY MIND did for Prince what OFF THE WALL did for Michael Jackson. It was a turning point that perfectly captures the swagger that Prince had as an up-and-coming artist. More than thirty years later since its release, listeners and critics alike are still buzzing about how great this record is. 3. 1999 (1982): The songs work like cinematic dream capsules, taking listeners from an apocalyptic world ("1999") to a BDSM bedroom scene ("Automatic"), from the backseat of a taxi ("Lady Cab Driver") to an erotic airline leaving the runway ("International Lover"). One of the greatest creative breakthroughs by any artist. 2. PURPLE RAIN (1984): This was more than just an album; it was a cultural phenomenon that very few artists have ever experienced. Sonically, it pressed forward as it continued to cross and mix genres (R&B, rock, funk, pop, New Wave, and soul). The semi-biographical film would soon follow and help bring the soundtrack to life onscreen. 1. SIGN O' THE TIMES (1987): Having already reached the pinnacle of commercial success, Prince wanted to create something for the ages—something that wouldn't just entertain but also provoke and inspire. With a runtime of 80 minutes, SIGN O' THE TIMES is a musical odyssey that gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at Prince engaging with the world around him—and inside him—like never before. Sound off in the comments below on which Prince albums you believe are his greatest and most important.

The End. Sorry but there is no way you can exclude any of those albums without sounding completely oblivious, these are indeed the four pillars supporting the whole Purple Edifice.

Hahaha! Can't argue with that statement, my friend.

ChrisLacy1990 said:

jdcxc said:

ChrisLacy1990 said:

Sorry about that. That comment was intended for jdcxc - I agree that PARADE is one of the best (it's in my personal Top 5.

I guess I interpreted "important" in relation to his artistry and not the commercial success. Even though, the mega popularity of PR cannot be denied, I bet true fans listen to Parade more. And don't dismiss the cultural monster that is "Kiss."

It's a Mount Rushmore fantasy, you don't want to be the person that can cancelled the equivalent of George Washington on that fantasy Rushmore.

Aerogram said:

To the majority of CRITCS the top 4 PRINCE Albums are always:

1. Purple Rain due to the cultural and iconic impact.

2. Sign O' The Times due the musical genius mastery of the album.

3. 1999

4. Dirty Mind

... I believe Dirty Mind was the turning point album that PRINCE really found his own true sound, mixing spirituality, God, sex with his musicl excellence... However personally, tecnically and musically I would put PARADE over DIRTY MIND... Kiss is one of the most iconic Pop songs of all time, and that's not the reason I choose PARADE over DIRTY MIND... There is an eclectic consistancy throughout the whole album even with the short songs and instrumentals, this album just flows so well, the album is pure Euro Funk with the PRINCE touch... PARADE is genius and doesn't get the credit it deserves because it is always overshadowed by Sign O' The Times and overlooked by Purple Rain.

feeluupp said:

For me its

Diamonds and Pearls

Symbol Album

The Gold Experience

Lotusflower

ChrisLacy1990 said:

If the Tidal, GooglePlay and Amazon release of Paard van Troje is legit, that could be in the list as well

ChrisLacy1990 said:

For You

Goldnigga

NEWS

Musicology

A different spin (my favorite album of each decade)

Sign of the Times

Gold Experience

3121

Art Official Age

Or if we stuck to the best 4 of his career:

Sign of the Times

Parade

Purple Rain

1999

I love the FAMZ... The ones that put crazy albums on the TOP 4 lists... No wait it's opinion, everyone has the right to opinion...

Yes, I agree with the initial post-- as it is talking about the four most important as far as Prince's career, along with being some of the best, those are perfect choices. PARADE is one of my very favorites, but it did not have such an impact (aside from a #1 hit with Kiss) as the others listed. Looking past the '80s, I could see a case being made for Diamonds and Pearls, as it kind of brought him back to a good place as far as sales, and was also a pretty good album. I could also see cases being made for The Rainbow Children, as it marked Prince in the eyes of many as a serious artist. And then Musicology was a solid commercial comeback. And finally, the double-whammy masterpieces Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum are artistic successes bar none. But it all goes back to those four from the '80s, I think.

kapo74 said:

If the Tidal, GooglePlay and Amazon release of Paard van Troje is legit, that could be in the list as well

i highly doubt it is, i'm listening now and it sounds no different to the boot, the incorrect cover is a giveaway. still a fuckin classic tho

just leave it at dirty mind to lovesexy...