This is almost impossible. In the end I've gone for what means the most to me, and how many times I think I've played them.

1.

No, I still can't do it.

All I know is that Purple Rain and 1999 aren't near the top and I can't decide on the other 4. Truth is, all 6 of these albums score a maximum 10/10 for me. They are all utterly brilliant.

Sod it. Absolutely not in order of how good they are musically, but what they are to me personally.

1. Parade

2. Lovesexy

3. Sign

4. Around the World

5. 1999

6. Purple Rain

Aerogram said:

Power 6? You should get your Prince card revoked, no way Dirty Mind and Controversy can be excluded.

Prince card revoked?! Sheesh, it's not like I put "Very Best of Prince" on the list. This could have been very easily the Power 8, Power 12, Power 30. The 6 albums here to me represent the critical and commercial peak of Prince's powers whereas I look at For You through Controversy as the ascension to the throne. As my wife will attest though, I am wrong about many things.

The personal way is the only way to judge them, I think..

1-Around the World In A Day: Not just because of the songs (raspberry beret is too ordinary and America has laughable lyrics, for instance), but the whole of it.. the artwork, the songs, how different it is, even compared to Prince's other music. And the B sides... It just all came together and blew my mind when I first heard, just as it does today.

2-Parade: Clare Fischer made this album better than it already was. This was when Prince was the king of the world, much more so than with Purple Rain, he was the one everyone looked to for guidance and the charts and fashion were filled with obvious copies and things influenced by him. That wasn't the case yet with PR.

3-Sign Of The Times: in my mind the unfortunate version of the whole Dream Factory/Crystal Ball era. It's the weakest of the three, but still a wonderful album. It also has the seed of the end of the era of inspired greatness.

4-The Black Album: It came before Lovesexy and is simply much better to me. Lovesexy is where he lost it (and never fully recovered). The black album, on the other hand, is a fun album. Sure, 2 Nigs doesn't make sense, but it's hard hitting fun(k).

5- Purple Rain: I never dug the song and have tired of the constant repeat, although it did always give a good amount of time for a toilet break in concerts. The album hasn't aged as well as I thought it would, but it's still a great album. I just skip side 2.

6- 1999: This always felt like his graduation album. Showing he mastered all concepts, but still not completely free. The B sides show more freedom. Has some great moments and some utterly forgettable parts, but most of those are still fun. (although I don't understand why free or horny toad were ever committed to tape..)

7- Lovesexy: lower if more albums were admitted to the list. Preachy, overproduced... a bit of a mess. In spite of that it contains some great songs. As an album though, I simply can't listen to it.

luvsexy4all said:

1980-1988 1st golden age

1992-1996 2nd golden age

One Golden Age, 1979-1990. Two weakish songs on AWIAD and two on Graffiti Bridge, everything else golden. Even Dylan and Bowie with respect to their best periods don't come close.

First and foremost I must stress that all of these albums are classics and just essential, so the album ranked last of the 6 is still an incredible album. I have also included my score for each one and its overall rank on my list. The fact that 5 of them are my top 5 of all time speaks volumes.

.

1. Sign o the Times - Just sustained brilliance, a mish mash of styles with the Prince midas touch. The music is incredible, developed, funky catchy and laden with anti drug messages, conscience, religion, sex, frustration, joy and emotions. Includes his finest ever song - Adore. 1st out of 40, 98/100

.

2. 1999 - An amazing album, very electronic, very nasty lyrics, but some catchy pop songs and incredibly developed work for the period, established Prince as a major force in music and would have scared the bejesus out of Michael Jackson. Synthesized sex is a way to say it. Not as good as Sign as the songs are not as diverse and the lyrics are not quite as mature and developed. Still he was 5 years younger and this album is a lot of fun. 2nd out of 40, 95/100

.

3. Parade - A funky and yet very lush soundtrack album, seamless funk and perfect ballads with a couple of party jams, a catchy hit single and his finest harmony track ever. Plus it has a Gallic flavour and sums up the cocksure Christopher Tracy Character so well, yet he pulls off his most convincing ballads ever as well. Plus this album is just cool full stop. 3rd out of 40, 93/100

.

4. Purple Rain - The rock album that turned him from a major star into a global icon, important for the fact it contained his biggest ever hits, spawned a great movie and several satellite acts, but not just that, its near perfect pop and rock music. The power ballad and guitars in Purple Rain, the balladry in Beautiful ones, the screams and lust on most of teh tracks, the cocksure party of Lets Go Crazy and Baby I'm a star and the sparse perfection of When Doves Cry - 4th out of 40, 92/100

.

5. Lovesexy - His last true classic before the Gold Experience, here the perfect marriage of sex and spirituality. He sings with such conviction and precision and yet his danciest and funkiest party album. The whole thing has a extended party suite feel and is very quirky, plus Prince gave us a great tour from it, nearly every song is a highlight. Alphabet street, Anna stesia, when 2 r in love, I mean wow. 5th out of 40, 91/100

.

6. Around the World in a day - Still an incredible album with gems like Paisley Park, The Ladder, the catchy Raspberry Beret and Pop Life. The album had a couple of clunkers (Tambourine/Temptation after 3.30), but the strings and bells and whistles on the title track let you know you are in for an aural experience and the album showcased Prince's ability to do mid career u turns with every album. 8th out of 40, 87/100

Aerogram said:

Power 6? You should get your Prince card revoked, no way Dirty Mind and Controversy can be excluded.

That's the truth right there.

1) Around The World In A Day: since i discovered it, ATWIAD has been a massive favorite of mine

2) Parade: flows so well and has so many emotions

3) 1999: is just hit after hit

4) Sign O The Times: has a tonne of standout songs, but theres a few i struggle with. i can listen to it all the way through though!

5) Lovesexy: an amazing concept/rebirth album, but the real standout song is Anna Stesia. i love every song, but Anna Stesia is more than a song. Lovesexy on the live release kills though!

6) Purple Rain: in my short life (im 16), ive learned all things need love and i really dont like whats mainstream. everyone turns to Purple Rain and while yeah, its full of amazing songs... theres so much better. i love the album, of course i do! but there's better. and, obviously, When Doves Cry, Darling Nikki and Computer Blue are B O M B!!!

1. SOTT

2. Parade

3. 1999

4. PR

5. Lovesexy

6. ATWIAD

I was a teen when first listening to all of these. They are all great, so I was wondering If I've changed my mind about their ranking over the years.

So, as a kid:

1. SOTT

2. Parade

3. Around The World

4. Purple Rain

5. Lovesexy

6. 1999

Now:

1. SOTT (Still no.1 for me)

2. Around The World

3. Parade

4. 1999

5. Purple Rain

6. Lovesexy

So, not much of a shift. I appreciate 1999 a lot more than I did. If you had included Dirty Mind though that would slide in at no.2

Okay, unofficially (I haven't come up with a tabulating system or anything) SOTT tops the most lists, ATWIAD and Lovesexy finishes at the bottom more than the others. I know this was tough for many and the margin between them is narrow for most of us. And yes, if I had to do it over again I should have called it the Power 8 but then I guess I left out The Black Album too so that would be the Power 9. Prince owned the 1980s, case closed.

Adorecream said:

First and foremost I must stress that all of these albums are classics and just essential, so the album ranked last of the 6 is still an incredible album. I have also included my score for each one and its overall rank on my list. The fact that 5 of them are my top 5 of all time speaks volumes.

.

1. Sign o the Times - Just sustained brilliance, a mish mash of styles with the Prince midas touch. The music is incredible, developed, funky catchy and laden with anti drug messages, conscience, religion, sex, frustration, joy and emotions. Includes his finest ever song - Adore. 1st out of 40, 98/100

.

2. 1999 - An amazing album, very electronic, very nasty lyrics, but some catchy pop songs and incredibly developed work for the period, established Prince as a major force in music and would have scared the bejesus out of Michael Jackson. Synthesized sex is a way to say it. Not as good as Sign as the songs are not as diverse and the lyrics are not quite as mature and developed. Still he was 5 years younger and this album is a lot of fun. 2nd out of 40, 95/100

.

3. Parade - A funky and yet very lush soundtrack album, seamless funk and perfect ballads with a couple of party jams, a catchy hit single and his finest harmony track ever. Plus it has a Gallic flavour and sums up the cocksure Christopher Tracy Character so well, yet he pulls off his most convincing ballads ever as well. Plus this album is just cool full stop. 3rd out of 40, 93/100

.

4. Purple Rain - The rock album that turned him from a major star into a global icon, important for the fact it contained his biggest ever hits, spawned a great movie and several satellite acts, but not just that, its near perfect pop and rock music. The power ballad and guitars in Purple Rain, the balladry in Beautiful ones, the screams and lust on most of teh tracks, the cocksure party of Lets Go Crazy and Baby I'm a star and the sparse perfection of When Doves Cry - 4th out of 40, 92/100

.

5. Lovesexy - His last true classic before the Gold Experience, here the perfect marriage of sex and spirituality. He sings with such conviction and precision and yet his danciest and funkiest party album. The whole thing has a extended party suite feel and is very quirky, plus Prince gave us a great tour from it, nearly every song is a highlight. Alphabet street, Anna stesia, when 2 r in love, I mean wow. 5th out of 40, 91/100

.

6. Around the World in a day - Still an incredible album with gems like Paisley Park, The Ladder, the catchy Raspberry Beret and Pop Life. The album had a couple of clunkers (Tambourine/Temptation after 3.30), but the strings and bells and whistles on the title track let you know you are in for an aural experience and the album showcased Prince's ability to do mid career u turns with every album. 8th out of 40, 87/100

Adorecream said:

First and foremost I must stress that all of these albums are classics and just essential, so the album ranked last of the 6 is still an incredible album. I have also included my score for each one and its overall rank on my list. The fact that 5 of them are my top 5 of all time speaks volumes.

.

1. Sign o the Times - Just sustained brilliance, a mish mash of styles with the Prince midas touch. The music is incredible, developed, funky catchy and laden with anti drug messages, conscience, religion, sex, frustration, joy and emotions. Includes his finest ever song - Adore. 1st out of 40, 98/100

.

2. 1999 - An amazing album, very electronic, very nasty lyrics, but some catchy pop songs and incredibly developed work for the period, established Prince as a major force in music and would have scared the bejesus out of Michael Jackson. Synthesized sex is a way to say it. Not as good as Sign as the songs are not as diverse and the lyrics are not quite as mature and developed. Still he was 5 years younger and this album is a lot of fun. 2nd out of 40, 95/100

.

3. Parade - A funky and yet very lush soundtrack album, seamless funk and perfect ballads with a couple of party jams, a catchy hit single and his finest harmony track ever. Plus it has a Gallic flavour and sums up the cocksure Christopher Tracy Character so well, yet he pulls off his most convincing ballads ever as well. Plus this album is just cool full stop. 3rd out of 40, 93/100

.

4. Purple Rain - The rock album that turned him from a major star into a global icon, important for the fact it contained his biggest ever hits, spawned a great movie and several satellite acts, but not just that, its near perfect pop and rock music. The power ballad and guitars in Purple Rain, the balladry in Beautiful ones, the screams and lust on most of teh tracks, the cocksure party of Lets Go Crazy and Baby I'm a star and the sparse perfection of When Doves Cry - 4th out of 40, 92/100

.

5. Lovesexy - His last true classic before the Gold Experience, here the perfect marriage of sex and spirituality. He sings with such conviction and precision and yet his danciest and funkiest party album. The whole thing has a extended party suite feel and is very quirky, plus Prince gave us a great tour from it, nearly every song is a highlight. Alphabet street, Anna stesia, when 2 r in love, I mean wow. 5th out of 40, 91/100

.

6. Around the World in a day - Still an incredible album with gems like Paisley Park, The Ladder, the catchy Raspberry Beret and Pop Life. The album had a couple of clunkers (Tambourine/Temptation after 3.30), but the strings and bells and whistles on the title track let you know you are in for an aural experience and the album showcased Prince's ability to do mid career u turns with every album. 8th out of 40, 87/100

Oh, but what a brilliant and funky 3:15 minutes of Temptation it is (not that I didn't like it all)

those aren't the 6.

1. Around The World In A Day

2. Parade

3. Lovesexy

4. Sign 'O The Times

5. 1999

6. Purple Rain

Great thread-topic! It should be noted that it's really only Prince aficionados (like us) who rate Lovesexy so highly. I think most casual Prince fans, or general music fans, would consider it the start of his gradual decline, not part of his peak.

.

But anyway, my list:

.

1. Purple Rain - I often think this is the absolute perfect pop/rock album. I just don't think it can be any better. I mean, could you add or delete anything to make it better? I don't think so.

.

2. Sign o' the Times - just as impressive as Purple Rain, but (naturally) a bit less focused. The sheer breadth of stuff is stunning, the more so when you consider it's basically one guy who wrote, sang, and played everything on it.

.

3. Around the World in a Day - I love this one more and more all the time. The 'sound' of it is just about the perfect Prince style for my tastes. (I don't like the last song, but you can press 'stop' before that if you want.) Has a very warm and positive sound.

.

4. 1999 - Brainchild of young genius with instruments and the Linn drum-machine. Sprawling and cold-sounding, but enjoyable throughout.

.

5. Lovesexy - I've only recently come around to this album, actually. It is really good. Incredibly dense layers of instruments on most tracks. Solid songs, too.

.

6. Parade - I don't like this one as much as most people. Maybe half the songs are great, and half are sort of forgettable, for me. The 'style' of the album is not nearly to my taste as much as the album before it.

ThePanther said:

Great thread-topic! It should be noted that it's really only Prince aficionados (like us) who rate Lovesexy so highly. I think most casual Prince fans, or general music fans, would consider it the start of his gradual decline, not part of his peak.

.

But anyway, my list:

.

1. Purple Rain - I often think this is the absolute perfect pop/rock album. I just don't think it can be any better. I mean, could you add or delete anything to make it better? I don't think so.

.

2. Sign o' the Times - just as impressive as Purple Rain, but (naturally) a bit less focused. The sheer breadth of stuff is stunning, the more so when you consider it's basically one guy who wrote, sang, and played everything on it.

.

3. Around the World in a Day - I love this one more and more all the time. The 'sound' of it is just about the perfect Prince style for my tastes. (I don't like the last song, but you can press 'stop' before that if you want.) Has a very warm and positive sound.

.

4. 1999 - Brainchild of young genius with instruments and the Linn drum-machine. Sprawling and cold-sounding, but enjoyable throughout.

.

5. Lovesexy - I've only recently come around to this album, actually. It is really good. Incredibly dense layers of instruments on most tracks. Solid songs, too.

.

6. Parade - I don't like this one as much as most people. Maybe half the songs are great, and half are sort of forgettable, for me. The 'style' of the album is not nearly to my taste as much as the album before it.

I would add Erotic City, 17 Days and Irresistible Bitch.

I must say I'm a HUGE fan of Prince's beginnings, so the demos and the 1st 2 album into Dirty Mind are favorite listenings of mine.

1. Around the World in a Day

2. Purple Rain

3. 1999

4. Sign o the Times

5. Lovesexy(but easily replaced by Prince, Dirty Mind or Controversy)

* I'll include my reasonings ina bit

I've made jokes about it but in all seriousness if I had to do this thread over I would't have referred to the six albums as mentioned as "the Power 6". It was not intended to negate the power of the albums before or after, I think for a less serious Prince fan, these would be the most known of Prince's albums. It was certainly an incredible period to be a Prince fan, even if the sales trajectory seemed to go down a bit with each subsequent release (from 1984 and over 10 million sold for PR to just over 500,000 in America for Lovesexy). It was akin to be a Beatles fan in the 1960s, a different album, a different sound, a different look each year. But it is cool to see how diehards rank these and also reading the reasons why by those who have offered.

[Edited 6/3/16 22:12pm]

1) 1999

2) lovesexy

3) purple rain

4) atwiad

5) parade

6) sott

Changes from time to time of course.

"Music mattered and was held in more reverence than it is today"...."For music lovers there was the ceremony in putting on your music".........."Gen X got excited about a new record coming out"...."Prince's 'golden era' happened to coincide with the twilight years of music's 'golden era'..And THAT a extra reason why Prince's passing has actually had a bigger more profound impact".............Bingo!!! Well said and I agree with everything else stated.

At this moment:

1) SOTT

2) Purple Rain

3) Parade

4) Atwiad

5) Lovesexy

6) 1999

Around The World In a Day

1999

Purple Rain

SOTT

LoveSexy

Parade

Would have liked to include his first two as well, he was vocally untouchable on those

[Edited 6/4/16 8:43am]

TrivialPursuit said:

Great topic and agree that all 6 are great so being "last" isn't a bad thing...

1. Parade

2. Purple Rain

3. Sign O the Times

4. Around the world in a day

5. Lovesexy

6. 1999