Genesia said:

MoBettaBliss said:

it changed my life

Mine, too - because it was the first Prince album I ever listened to (or owned).

i was a kid (young teen) ... i'd discovered him through controversy so had saved up pocket money to buy 1999 when it came out....we had a record player in our dining room... i used to get home from school and sit in front of the turntable with headphones on and play it over and over until i was made to have dinner etc... i was completely obsessed with it... didn't want to hang out with friends... didn't want to leave the house... just wanted to sit in front of this crappy record player (it was a tiny room... everybody had to squeeze past me to get to other parts of the house) and spin that album

The first appearance of the 'love symbol'?

I'm a New Breeder not an NPGer lol this one is my symbol O+>

1999 is purple canon

Absolutly amazing album. Much more diverse than PR, and no filler. Always been my favorite from P. I was always amazed, and impressed, at the dirty stuff Prince could get away with back then. A penis on the cover of a mainstream album, sold as is, nothing blocked out. And Erotic City was played on the radio. I feel like other mainstream artists couldn't have gotten away with either at the time.

PliablyPurple said:

Absolutly amazing album. Much more diverse than PR, and no filler. Always been my favorite from P. I was always amazed, and impressed, at the dirty stuff Prince could get away with back then. A penis on the cover of a mainstream album, sold as is, nothing blocked out. And Erotic City was played on the radio. I feel like other mainstream artists couldn't have gotten away with either at the time.

I disagree. 1999 is a very (and arguably his most) cohesive album, sonically and thematically.
Purple Rain in comparison sounds like a compilation and has much more diversity in styles and production.

Prince around 1999 was not mainstream yet. The album singles were, which is pretty different. The increase in quality of the live performances paved the way for the Rain, but he wasn't the popular artist you seem to refer to. He was slowly emerging from the underground. And he was mainstream for a very few years in his career, all things considered. Purple Rain, Diamonds and Pearls, Musicology, and that's pretty much it. The rest is surviving from fans and music connoisseurs.

As for "Erotic City", sorry young padawan, wrong album...

[Edited 11/9/18 13:43pm]

Saw it on MTV

bonatoc said:

PliablyPurple said:

Absolutly amazing album. Much more diverse than PR, and no filler. Always been my favorite from P. I was always amazed, and impressed, at the dirty stuff Prince could get away with back then. A penis on the cover of a mainstream album, sold as is, nothing blocked out. And Erotic City was played on the radio. I feel like other mainstream artists couldn't have gotten away with either at the time.

I disagree. 1999 is a very (and arguably his most) cohesive album, sonically and thematically.
Purple Rain in comparison sounds like a compilation and has much more diversity in styles and production.

Prince around 1999 was not mainstream yet. The album singles were, which is pretty different. The increase in quality of the live performances paved the way for the Rain, but he wasn't the popular artist you seem to refer to. He was slowly emerging from the underground. And he was mainstream for a very few years in his career, all things considered. Purple Rain, Diamonds and Pearls, Musicology, and that's pretty much it. The rest is surviving from fans and music connoisseurs.

As for "Erotic City", sorry young padawan, wrong album...

[Edited 11/9/18 13:43pm]

I am of the opinion that both 1999's third and fourth sides disagree with you on diversity. Strictly speaking of the music, not the production, the run of those six songs is more diverse than PR.

Re: Erotic City. I was, perhaps not so clearly, speaking of what P got away with back in the day, not this specific album, though the penis on the cover is most certainly an example. Young padawan? Please, clockwork orange pianist, I lived the dream .

PliablyPurple said:

bonatoc said:

I disagree. 1999 is a very (and arguably his most) cohesive album, sonically and thematically.
Purple Rain in comparison sounds like a compilation and has much more diversity in styles and production.

Prince around 1999 was not mainstream yet. The album singles were, which is pretty different. The increase in quality of the live performances paved the way for the Rain, but he wasn't the popular artist you seem to refer to. He was slowly emerging from the underground. And he was mainstream for a very few years in his career, all things considered. Purple Rain, Diamonds and Pearls, Musicology, and that's pretty much it. The rest is surviving from fans and music connoisseurs.

As for "Erotic City", sorry young padawan, wrong album...

[Edited 11/9/18 13:43pm]

I am of the opinion that both 1999's third and fourth sides disagree with you on diversity. Strictly speaking of the music, not the production, the run of those six songs is more diverse than PR.

Re: Erotic City. I was, perhaps not so clearly, speaking of what P got away with back in the day, not this specific album, though the penis on the cover is most certainly an example. Young padawan? Please, clockwork orange pianist, I lived the dream .

Sorry about the Jedi condescendence, your org's date of birth suggested otherwise.
I see what you mean on disc 2, but again, come on, the sound of the album is all Linn and Oberheims. The reverbs used have all the same color. The compositions may be varied, but this has always been the case since the first album. And I still hear a cohesion in the compositions and arrangements that is much harder to find in the Purple Rain tracklist.

As for Prince getting away with stuff, he really didn't: Dirty Mind was banned from radios, He got kicked out of stage opening for The Stones, Tipper Gore sticked her Parental Advisory on his ass. And Prince as a social shocker is part of the mystique: not sayin' it doesn't bear a part of truth, but Donna Summer moaning on "Love To Love You Baby", the whole Punk movement, The Beatles openly talking in interviews about illicit drugs intake, Ziggie Stardust's sexual ambiguity... The eighties were very clean in comparison, almost clinic, especially in the US. It didn't take much to offend/excite your average Joe when the Moral Majority was a thing.

In Europe, less so, especially in France. Serge Gainsbourg had already paved the way back in 1969, and naked tits have been displayed on parisian billboards for ages. The real excitement primarily comes from Prince's music, not his antics.

And I still hear a cohesion in the compositions and arrangements that is much harder to find in the Purple Rain tracklist.

Agree with this, and possibly reconsidering. PR definitely has a greatest hits feel to it because of that.

But the other stuff? Not sure how the Stones incident is even related to this. Bunch of discriminatory rockers who couldn't stand the sight of a man in tights. They are not what I would consider the establishment of which I was referring that P played like a fiddle. A flesh colored fiddle. I am familiar with Serge, and Love to Love You Baby probably gave me my first boner, but P was explicit in a way that probably only came to us through blue comedy. Speaking of the Stones, hell, live, they actually lowered the age of the girl in Stray Cat Blues. But most of their stuff was more nuanced (or indecipherable) than "masturbating with a magazine" and, I have to reiterate - "Fuck so pretty you and me" and "We can fuck until the dawn" were on U.S. national radio. Those words happened. Not live, where only fans who purchased tickets could hear. Or, as Tipper flipped her lid, on albums that only fans who purchased the album could hear. No, on public, national radio that song was played.

And the penis. And how about the '91 MTV Awards? Akin to a Roman orgy onstage. P was a button pusher, no question. But, I would love to see something from a mainstream artist of any generation that put on that performance whose name isn't Madonna. And I'm not saying they aren't out there, I just can't think of any at the moment...

PliablyPurple said:

Absolutly amazing album. Much more diverse than PR, and no filler. Always been my favorite from P. I was always amazed, and impressed, at the dirty stuff Prince could get away with back then. A penis on the cover of a mainstream album, sold as is, nothing blocked out. And Erotic City was played on the radio. I feel like other mainstream artists couldn't have gotten away with either at the time.

I don't compare 1999 vs Purple Rain because the latter was purposefully put together as a movie soundtrack.

Irresistable Bitch was a 1999 B side not Erotic City. Even though IB is a 1999-PR bridged song

smh. Very familiar with the release of how and when Erotic City was given to us. I really need to pay closer attention to my wording.

Strictly speaking of the concept of comparing regular albums with soundtrack albums, if it were a soundtrack culled from various artists, I wouldn't either. But a soundtrack album from a singular source, I don't really see the difference between that, and say, a concept album, which is basically what a soundtrack album like PR is. So, yes, I would compare PR with Tommy, but I wouldn't compare PR with the soundtrack from Performance, where not only did you have various artists, but also songs that had proper releases elsewhere. Or, at least one - been a while. I know the Last Poets released Wake Up, Ni**ers, on their own album a few months prior.

PliablyPurple said:

smh. Very familiar with the release of how and when Erotic City was given to us. I really need to pay closer attention to my wording.

Strictly speaking of the concept of comparing regular albums with soundtrack albums, if it were a soundtrack culled from various artists, I wouldn't either. But a soundtrack album from a singular source, I don't really see the difference between that, and say, a concept album, which is basically what a soundtrack album like PR is. So, yes, I would compare PR with Tommy, but I wouldn't compare PR with the soundtrack from Performance, where not only did you have various artists, but also songs that had proper releases elsewhere. Or, at least one - been a while. I know the Last Poets released Wake Up, Ni**ers, on their own album a few months prior.

There is a big difference, because the songs now have to fit a scene.

But the songs all are 10 pointers and powerful making each scene much more than the acting.

That makes all the difference.

Also Prince initially wanted to do with Purple Rain what he did on Graffiti Bridge, which is include the Time, Mavis Staples, Tevn Campbell etc

Even songs like Computer Blue were asked be cut down. Computer Blue was intended to be longer

I just do not really see how it as a soundtrack can be compared.

The output on both are extemely strong.

I wish God the Love them could have been included on the album though.

There is a big difference, because the songs now have to fit a scene.

And if an artist is writing songs to fit a scene, how is that not a concept album? I think PR fits the bill as a concept album more than most soundtracks that are just a collection of songs that may or may not fit the mood of a scene but are not specifically written for a scene or plot.

Stop disrespecting 1999

rdhull said:

Stop disrespecting 1999

don't be PA refer who you are refering to

I could see them having an appearance in Blade Runner

Bobby Z said that the song 1999 was inspired by Nostradomus prophesy for the year 1999 that they were watching on a tv special back then

OldFriends4Sale said:

Bobby Z said that the song 1999 was inspired by Nostradomus prophesy for the year 1999 that they were watching on a tv special back then

Prince confirmed that when he talked about the song during his interview with Larry King in 1999.

bonatoc said:

PliablyPurple said:

Absolutly amazing album. Much more diverse than PR, and no filler. Always been my favorite from P. I was always amazed, and impressed, at the dirty stuff Prince could get away with back then. A penis on the cover of a mainstream album, sold as is, nothing blocked out. And Erotic City was played on the radio. I feel like other mainstream artists couldn't have gotten away with either at the time.

I disagree. 1999 is a very (and arguably his most) cohesive album, sonically and thematically.
Purple Rain in comparison sounds like a compilation and has much more diversity in styles and production.

Prince around 1999 was not mainstream yet. The album singles were, which is pretty different. The increase in quality of the live performances paved the way for the Rain, but he wasn't the popular artist you seem to refer to. He was slowly emerging from the underground. And he was mainstream for a very few years in his career, all things considered. Purple Rain, Diamonds and Pearls, Musicology, and that's pretty much it. The rest is surviving from fans and music connoisseurs.

As for "Erotic City", sorry young padawan, wrong album...

[Edited 11/9/18 13:43pm]

^^^ Regarding the bolded type - remember also though, the singles were not mainstream right away. It took some time before the "cross over" with the singles. That happened after the videos hit MTV, which was some point in 1983. Someone also mentioned Prince getting booed off the Rolling Stones stage too, but that was more about race and musical style then his raunchy lyrics.

OldFriends4Sale said:

One of his best covers for sure...!!!

violetcrush said:

bonatoc said:

I disagree. 1999 is a very (and arguably his most) cohesive album, sonically and thematically.
Purple Rain in comparison sounds like a compilation and has much more diversity in styles and production.

Prince around 1999 was not mainstream yet. The album singles were, which is pretty different. The increase in quality of the live performances paved the way for the Rain, but he wasn't the popular artist you seem to refer to. He was slowly emerging from the underground. And he was mainstream for a very few years in his career, all things considered. Purple Rain, Diamonds and Pearls, Musicology, and that's pretty much it. The rest is surviving from fans and music connoisseurs.

As for "Erotic City", sorry young padawan, wrong album...

[Edited 11/9/18 13:43pm]

^^^ Regarding the bolded type - remember also though, the singles were not mainstream right away. It took some time before the "cross over" with the singles. That happened after the videos hit MTV, which was some point in 1983. Someone also mentioned Prince getting booed off the Rolling Stones stage too, but that was more about race and musical style then his raunchy lyrics.

Yet, the Stones in 1980 weren't exactly Rocking Off.

[Edited 11/15/18 16:18pm]

bonatoc said:

violetcrush said:

^^^ Regarding the bolded type - remember also though, the singles were not mainstream right away. It took some time before the "cross over" with the singles. That happened after the videos hit MTV, which was some point in 1983. Someone also mentioned Prince getting booed off the Rolling Stones stage too, but that was more about race and musical style then his raunchy lyrics.

Yet, the Stones in 1980 weren't exactly Rocking Off.

[Edited 11/15/18 16:18pm]

Well....ya can't blame them for veering off a bit. I mean, those were the days of Disco... but not for much longer...

*

But....this is why we love them:

*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W37LyeSrFTY Sorry, can't get the friggin' hyperlink to work!

violetcrush said:

bonatoc said:

Yet, the Stones in 1980 weren't exactly Rocking Off.

[Edited 11/15/18 16:18pm]

Well....ya can't blame them for veering off a bit. I mean, those were the days of Disco... but not for much longer...

*

But....this is why we love them:

*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W37LyeSrFTY Sorry, can't get the friggin' hyperlink to work!

And I just have to add....that video makes me really want to have been a teen in the late 60's!!

I love "Emotional Rescue".
The falsetto on "Kiss" makes use of the same wet noises.
They both howl like horny coyotes who can't take it anymore.
It's all in the mouthfuls of frustrations spit. All over the emotional floor.

There are some crazy beatbox bits from Prince all over 1999.
Prince is still way underrated in the beatbox category.
The Coda of LRC Dance Mix alone, these few seconds when he's rolling toms.
And his final tonguepressedonteeth doing a final wet kiss to the song, it's over.

The Led Zep/Stanist in reverse fake moans on "Irresistible Bitch",
doing some pervert electro-shaker slowly dying out of a burned fuse.
And the whip of the snare that cuts through it. Like Severine from Metropolis
waking up the crowd with her metal hat: cutting through the moans
of a sleeping backroom full of endorphins.
The Doomsday church bells ring.
The disco nod at the end: it was just a farce, a dance.
But she sure was Irresisitible.

bonatoc said: