God this is so hard it seems im changing all the time...SOTT, COME, TRC, THE VAULT for example...for me the album i never tire of playing:CONTROVERSY

Parade for me.

The Gold experience baby!!!

1999

Sign "O" the Times

-simply because it's diversity and variety

true...1999 was a classic just love 'free' wow the vocals just captured me when i was (cough) sweet 13

For me, 'The Rainbow Children', or, as I call it -

The God Experience!!!

1999..that album never ages!

emancipation hands down.so so many flavors as he said he unloaded the gun on this one

SOTT

It has it all -- funk, rock, R&B, ballads, jazz, and underlying messages that are meaningful and quirky that any average Joe can get to. It was commercial enough and non-commercial enough all at once. A pefect balance that is hard for Prince to find quite often.

Also notice how SOTT contains one of his most blantantly Christian "Jesus Freak" songs -- The Cross -- and it has its share of preaching in it, but no one is bothered by it the way some are bothered by TRC songs. If P hadn't included "The Cross" on SOTT and it had popped up on TRC (probably as "The Christ") people would dog the heck out of it.

Sign O The Times because it captured all of His Past,Present&everything else in between the best overall IMHO.and it works on so many levels.it's Productive&It Hit.the Balance of Being Prolific&Productive went Hand&hand here IMHO.

PURPLE MOTHERF***IN' RAIN, PEOPLE!!!. He'll never be as big as was with that one. I'm just telling it like it is. That album is just too perfect. While "Sign" is great yet messy and "Dirty" was bold but brief and "Rainbow" had great music but tainted with personal politics, you really can't complain about his one true masterpiece.

I'd have to say the original configuration of CRYSTAL BALL(which later became SOTT).
Parade and Lovesexy are close seconds.

Purple Rain

"Lovesexy"... never tired of it!

Purple Rain

Not a bad song on it.

1999

He spoiled a lot of his albums with showing off, trying too hard to impress, wanting to be liked/loved/worshipped. Not on 1999. He's just jamming by himself and doesn't give a f*** what anyone thinks; DMSR, Something In The Water, All The Critics Love U In New York, Lady Cab Driver...
Oh lawdy

Purple Rain, no question about it. 'Best Album' i wouldn't know, but 'best overall album' must b Purple Rain. Song after Song after Song.

NWF said:

while agreed that Purple Rain has not a bad song on it, it is DEFINITLEY PLAYED OUT AND OVER HEARD. I H8 PURPLE RAIN (SONG) 2 DEATH NEVER WANNA HEAR IT AGAIN.

Now on the other hand, Sign O The Times, while messy, while weird, and raw, demoish nad personal, it is breathtaking, FUNKY, HEADBANGIN, Honest 2 a fault in the same sense of being personal, very very catchy and has a long lasting affect. and contains some of the best tunes the wold can hear: Adore, If I Was Ur Girlfriend, Ballad Of Dorthy Parker, Housequake, Starfish & Coffee, U Got The Look, damn it is just so OOOHHH
[This message was edited Tue Apr 15 15:06:59 PDT 2003 by paisleypark4]

paisleypark4 said:

co-sign--i haven't listened 2 that album in several months.

as 4 my fave overall...aw hell, ain't gotta even say

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

The Rainbow Children???

FirstAvenue said:

u wish!

Doozer said:

But they'll deny it...

Anyone who says TRC is his best album must have a bizarre taste in music.

1999. Don't make me dig up my old threads.

I think The Gold Experience ... I can listen 2 that from thw alpha 2 the omega and I love it !!! 2nd sign of the times 3rd hmm parade or purple rain

Parade and 1999

EvilWhiteMale said:

Well, call me bizarre, but TRC is my favorite overall Prince album. I'm not saying the album contains Prince's best or most innovative songs, but I just love the musicianship, production and flow of the album.

Most other Prince albums have a few outstanding gems on them which prove Prince's genius, but they always contain songs that I really can't stand...

It makes me feel good and reassured that everyone has his/her own favorite album.

For me, it depends:

SOTT, Parade, 1999, TGE and TRC are up there.

Best is still SOTT, but it's not my favorite