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Thread started 06/26/19 8:51pm

sro100

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Top 5 Prince Albums You'd Recommend to a Newbie?

I mentioned I was getting into "Originals" and one of my co-workers then told me she was then going to buy the vinyl; this was going to be her introduction to Prince; she doesn't even know Purple Rain; I was going to say something to the extent "it's not his best" but I didn't.

So....to someone who doesn't even know Purple Rain what 5 Prince albums would recommend to start with???

I'll start:

Purple Rain.

The Gold Experience (pure power pop)

1999

Art Offical Age (best of the later period)

Ultimate Prince (for the 12 inchers)

Y'all?

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Reply #1 posted 06/26/19 10:38pm

SPOOKYGAS

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NEWS

The Rainbow Children

Kamasutra

Xpectation

Indigo Nights

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Reply #2 posted 06/26/19 11:44pm

Halen

Purple Rain

Sign 'O' The Times

1999

Parade

Dirty Mind

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Reply #3 posted 06/27/19 1:27am

Mikado

SPOOKYGAS said:

NEWS

The Rainbow Children

Kamasutra

Xpectation

Indigo Nights

Hmm.

A certain kind of mellow.
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Reply #4 posted 06/27/19 2:24am

jaawwnn

SPOOKYGAS said:

NEWS

The Rainbow Children

Kamasutra

Xpectation

Indigo Nights

lol lol

In this order:

Purple Rain (a no-brainer, it's the hinge on his entire career with everything building up to it or reacting against it)
The Very Best of Prince (I honestly think this 1cd release is the best comp for a new fan, it doesn't overwhelm them with b-sides, extended versions or just too many songs to get their head around.)
Controversy (I prefer both Dirty Mind and 1999 but all the parts are in place in Controversy and they get their first taste of extended tracks and general weirdness without it going on too long)
What Time Is It? (giving them the straight up Mineapolis Sound pop-funk album so many people want when they first start getting into Prince, as well as pointing towards his bigger catalogue)
Sign O the Times (at this point it's time to dive in and see the depth and breadth of his work)




[Edited 6/27/19 2:29am]

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Reply #5 posted 06/27/19 2:35am

VaultCurator

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Good question.

Leaving compilations / hit collections aside (that'll make it too easy) I'd choose...
1) Purple Rain
2) Diamonds And Pearls
3) The Gold Experience
4) The Chocolate Invasion
5) 3121

However, if I was including compilations I'd choose...
1) Ultimate Prince (for the 12" tracks ie. Kiss & She's always in my hair)
2) Prince 4ever (for Moonbeam Levels)
3) The Gold Experience
4) The Chocolate Invasion
5) 3121

A few honourable mentions would include...
One Nite Alone...
Xpectation
The Slaughterhouse

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Reply #6 posted 06/27/19 6:59am

DarkKnight1

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Purple Rain

3121

prince

The Gold Experience

The Hits/B-Sides

(Insert something clever here)
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Reply #7 posted 06/27/19 7:05am

TheFman

Depends on newbie's general taste. But if one fits everybody, i'd go for the usual suspects of:

Purple Drain

SOTT

1999

Parade

ATWIAD

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Reply #8 posted 06/27/19 7:27am

Genesia

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Mikado said:

SPOOKYGAS said:

NEWS

The Rainbow Children

Kamasutra

Xpectation

Indigo Nights

Hmm.


Right?! I have to assume this is a joke - because this is not a list for a noob. Well ... unless you want to turn him or her off Prince forever.

I mean ... Kamasutra? Really? Yikes.


For a noob, the key word is "accessible." You don't want anything too far removed from the kinds of music they already like. If they like fusion, N.E.W.S isn't a bad choice. But for most people, safe choices would be:

Purple Rain (because they're probably already heard some of it)

Sign O The Times (because of its enormous breadth and because it is arguably his greatest album)
Prince (because it's the first album to establish him as a potential hit maker)

1999 (because this is his actual breakout album)
Parade (because it's my personal favorite and I want everyone to love it)



[Edited 6/27/19 7:36am]

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #9 posted 06/27/19 7:28am

KiowaTrl

Purple Rain

Sign o' the Times

Lovesexy

Controversy

Dirty Mind

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Reply #10 posted 06/27/19 10:25am

TrivialPursuit

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Everything from 1978-1990.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #11 posted 06/27/19 10:52am

Wolfie87

Genesia said:


Sign O The Times (because of its enormous breadth and because it is arguably his greatest album)



How the hell do you really present SOTT to a newbie!?!?!?

Personally I would play the newbie Scandalous The Rapture. Pink Cashmere and the end of Time waits for no one. And of course show the video of Prince in that song. That hair, those shades. Oh mama!

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Reply #12 posted 06/27/19 10:58am

Genesia

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Wolfie87 said:

Genesia said:

Sign O The Times (because of its enormous breadth and because it is arguably his greatest album)

How the hell do you really present SOTT to a newbie!?!?!? Personally I would play the newbie Scandalous The Rapture. Pink Cashmere and the end of Time waits for no one. And of course show the video of Prince in that song. That hair, those shades. Oh mama!


As an immersive, mind-blowing whole. That's how.

The fact that someone is a Prince newbie doesn't preclude the fact that they might have a wide musical background. Obviously, it depends on the person. But if Sign O The Times was the first Prince album I ever heard, I'd've gone out and gotten everything else I could get my mitts on right away. (Like I did the first time I heard 1999.)

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #13 posted 06/27/19 11:03am

Wolfie87

Genesia said:



Wolfie87 said:


Genesia said:

Sign O The Times (because of its enormous breadth and because it is arguably his greatest album)



How the hell do you really present SOTT to a newbie!?!?!? Personally I would play the newbie Scandalous The Rapture. Pink Cashmere and the end of Time waits for no one. And of course show the video of Prince in that song. That hair, those shades. Oh mama!




As an immersive, mind-blowing whole. That's how.

The fact that someone is a Prince newbie doesn't preclude the fact that they might have a wide musical background. Obviously, it depends on the person. But if Sign O The Times was the first Prince album I ever heard, I'd've gone out and gotten everything else I could get my mitts on right away. (Like I did the first time I heard 1999.)



Housequake is a make or break for that entire album. To flat of a beat. I got tired of it within two minutes. I knew IIWYGF was on that album that's why I continued.
[Edited 6/27/19 11:05am]
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Reply #14 posted 06/27/19 11:42am

jfenster

hard to recommend SOTT with the quality of the CD version

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Reply #15 posted 06/27/19 11:56am

Genesia

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jfenster said:

hard to recommend SOTT with the quality of the CD version


I still have my original vinyl and it sounds great … shrug

But by all means, let's ignore the artistry of Sign O The Times because you have to turn the volume up on the CD. rolleyes

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #16 posted 06/27/19 11:58am

Wolfie87

Honestly, the best way to introduce Prince to a new audience is a DJ Set with a potpourri of songs. Sexual Suicide is as essential as WDC if you want to understand the brilliance of the man. The hipster ballad of Last Heart grabs hold on the alternative crowd. The rock tune of Zannallee will make the wannabe rockers go down on their knees and play air guitar.
[Edited 6/27/19 12:05pm]
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Reply #17 posted 06/27/19 3:27pm

FrankieCoco1

Purple Rain
The Gold Experience
3121
HITnRUN Phase 2

And finish with

Sign O’ the Times
There may or may not be something coming!
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Reply #18 posted 06/27/19 3:39pm

radicalrojo

1) Dirty Mind — It's his first and shortest masterpiece, so it gives them enough to fall in love with without feeling like it's a giant commitment. It helps frame the rest of the best of his catalogue.

2) Sign O' the Times — Length being a nonissue, this should be the clear first record. It's his most diverse effort and the songwriting is incredible.

3) Parade — A perfect record that's somehow weird, funky, shy and delicate at once. It's got a top three recognizable song by P on it which can act as a good starting point.

4) 1999 — If the newbie wants Prince at his weirdest, horniest, most groundbreaking, this is the album to start with. Frontloaded with singles, the record becomes a warped ode to sex as it goes on.

5) Purple Rain — I mean, yeah.

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Reply #19 posted 06/27/19 5:12pm

TKO

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Purple Rain

Diamonds & Pearls

Dirty Mind

1999

2010

Or just listen to The Hits/The B-Sides, The Very Best, Ultimate or 4ever. lol

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Reply #20 posted 06/27/19 5:53pm

Moonbeam

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This is a tough question, and it depends on the newbie. If the person seemed willing to explore more beyond the 5 and wanted a good starting point, I'd probably go for something like this:

4Ever: The most balanced set covering his Warner period
Anthology: To showcase his later career
Originals: To showcase the breadth of his impact at the height of his fame and reveal interesting corners of his psyche
Art Official Age: It's not covered by any of the above and is the best representation of the last part of his career, IMO
Small Club: To highlight his live prowess and promote the depth of his obsession with performing

I'd then recommend they check out studio albums corresponding to the tracks they liked best from the compilations.

If I felt the person didn't seem that likely to explore more, and I wanted to persuade them that it was worth it:

Purple Rain: It's been the gateway for so many for a reason.
1999: My personal favorite, the apex of his hunger and vision, IMO
Dirty Mind: Quick, thrilling, and formative
Sign o' the Times: Comprehensive and sprawling glimpse of all he could do
The Hits/The B-Sides: The value in the B-sides disc makes up for some of the retread with the studio albums, plus they get lots of the big hits missing from the studio albums.

Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you!
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Reply #21 posted 06/27/19 5:56pm

feeluupp

To a "newbie" is an introduction, should be combined with his most iconic albums but also a compilation of hits, so after those they can discover the true gems and albums such as Parade and songs such as Anna Stesia and Joy in Reptition...

- PURPLE RAIN

- 1999

- SIGN O' THE TIMES

- THE VERY BEST OF PRINCE

- DIAMONDS & PEARLS

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Reply #22 posted 06/27/19 6:49pm

Strive

- Dirty Mind

- Parade

- Sign O The Times

- The Rainbow Children

- Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas DVD

That would be my suggestion. Dirty Mind is super accessible. Parade is perfect. Sign is ambitious. Rainbow Children is strange. Live At The Aladdin is the best offical live performance.


If she digs those 5, she'll be hooked.

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Reply #23 posted 06/27/19 8:34pm

Wolfie87

And yet, only one suggestion for Lovesexy. Hmmmm

The title track some would argue is an essential listen and a exploration into the mans psyche and sexual prowess.
[Edited 6/27/19 20:35pm]
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Reply #24 posted 06/27/19 11:06pm

WhisperingDand
elions

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Genesia said:

Wolfie87 said:

Genesia said: How the hell do you really present SOTT to a newbie!?!?!? Personally I would play the newbie Scandalous The Rapture. Pink Cashmere and the end of Time waits for no one. And of course show the video of Prince in that song. That hair, those shades. Oh mama!


As an immersive, mind-blowing whole. That's how.

The fact that someone is a Prince newbie doesn't preclude the fact that they might have a wide musical background. Obviously, it depends on the person. But if Sign O The Times was the first Prince album I ever heard, I'd've gone out and gotten everything else I could get my mitts on right away. (Like I did the first time I heard 1999.)

I would argue 1999 is better for roping in new fans because it has a consistent sound throughout. I heard SOTT as my second album and it didn't even process or make much of an impact, its breadth seemed more potent / understandable / mind-blowing after hearing the rest of his 80s catalogue... hands-down my fav Prince record btw, I just really don't think it's palatable for a "newbie" as the other 80s classics with a more singular (and accessible) sound.

And I do kind of assume new fans lack a "wide musical background" if it's 2019 and they're just hearing a Prince album for the first time, I think that's semi-resonable... "might" maybe but probably not probably.

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Reply #25 posted 06/28/19 2:43am

jaawwnn

My answer is still the best, go with mine.

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Reply #26 posted 06/28/19 3:54am

Madhouse6

Number one used to be SOTT but now I’d say One Night Alone (live) for obvious reasons
2 SOTT
3 Parade
4 1999
5 Gold
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Reply #27 posted 06/28/19 12:33pm

jfenster

Genesia said:

jfenster said:

hard to recommend SOTT with the quality of the CD version


I still have my original vinyl and it sounds great … shrug

But by all means, let's ignore the artistry of Sign O The Times because you have to turn the volume up on the CD. rolleyes

a newbie might neglect the artistry....judging from the sound level

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Reply #28 posted 06/28/19 6:52pm

Dalia11

For You. Purple Rain. Diamonds and Pearls. Controversy. Love Sexy.
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Reply #29 posted 06/28/19 7:29pm

Goddess4Real

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Top 5 Prince Albums I'd Recommend to a Newbie? hmmm

1. 1999

2. SOTT

3. Parade

4. LoveSexy

5. prince

Keep Calm & Listen To Prince
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