Not listened to the full album in one hit in years & had forgotten how stellar it was! A lovely balance of commercial / modern sounding / radio friendly tunes with big dollops of purple!!

Just wanted to put that out there! debate if you wanna or move along....

Both albums are brilliant

no debate from me.... 3121 is criminally underrated... I like Musicology...but I have 3121 reasons why it's better.

I only have a few gripes w/ 3121, because I do think it's the best of the three during that stretch (with Musicology and Planet Earth). I wish "Love" had a richer production. I love the words. They mean a lot to me, but it's missing a better production. It sounds like a demo. I know it's an unpopular opinion, but "Black Sweat" annoys the shit out of me. It's ear-piercing. I do wish there was more of a "live band" take for "Fury", but the album version is fine.

My farts beat Musicology.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I only have a few gripes w/ 3121, because I do think it's the best of the three during that stretch (with Musicology and Planet Earth). I wish "Love" had a richer production. I love the words. They mean a lot to me, but it's missing a better production. It sounds like a demo. I know it's an unpopular opinion, but "Black Sweat" annoys the shit out of me. It's ear-piercing. I do wish there was more of a "live band" take for "Fury", but the album version is fine.

My farts beat Musicology.

I agree with Love... I think actually it had too much production, the lyrics are great, and the acoustic version is much more beautiful than the over produced vesion on 3121 with that corner beat he chose to use, that electronic sound or whatever it was.

I enjoy it for the most part. One of his more consistent albums, at least, as we got into the second part of his career. I remember first listening to it and, for the first time in a while, not rushing to hit the skip button.

I love "The Word" (even though I'm an atheist), "Love", "Get on the Boat", the title track, BL&B and (at least) the live version of "Fury". Not sure wtf happened in the translation to the studio on that track but the SNL version was blistering.

Musicology < 3121 < The Chocolate Invasion

Don't @ me!

Im a fan of both. The Musicology tour was my favorite Prince tour. Great shows in the round. Great seats for NPGMC fans. That said, 3121 is a superior album and I put it up there with TGE and as my 3 favorite post 80s Prince albums.

u need to combine the best of both and u have a great album

RJOrion said:

Black Sweat is pretty bad... its painful to listen to

Maybe the beat is the problem, the song and composition and lyrics are Prince funk at it's classic. Did you hear the acapella version in his dressing room during the Musicology tour concert in Canada, or the Piano & a mic version... It is truly an old school funk song, but gets swept under the rug due to the beat.

jfenster said:

u need to combine the best of both and u have a great album

There are rare moments in Prince's career where there have been 2 or 3 albums in a row that are sorta okay. But if you take the strongest of the three records, you have one awesome record. I once had a playlist with songs from Musicology, 3121, and Planet Earth that made an hour's worth of the best songs.

I created a playlist configuration (with a couple of edits for the sake of the flow) with songs from Art Official Age, PlectrumElectrum, and I think HITnRUN Phase One. I called it PlectrumAge. I tightened up "Screwdriver", and edited out quiet spaces between some songs for a better and quicker flow in parts. I find myself listening to it more than the albums. We all make playlists of our favorite songs, so I don't think this is much different. (Oh, I also took "affirmation iii" and put it back together with "Way Back Home" where it left off. It sounds so natural and complete.)

I don't mind 3121 as a whole, though. There are nice little moments on there.

MIRvmn said:

I enjoyed it when it came out but nowadays I don't care for it. I think Musicology and Planet Earth are better but none of them are great. [Edited 8/12/19 16:37pm]

They are all very average albums, all three albums have some of the dullest moments in the Prince discogrpahy. 3121 is "good" because the others are simply not...

feeluupp said:

TrivialPursuit said:

jfenster said:

u need to combine the best of both and u have a great album

There are rare moments in Prince's career where there have been 2 or 3 albums in a row that are sorta okay. But if you take the strongest of the three records, you have one awesome record. I once had a playlist with songs from Musicology, 3121, and Planet Earth that made an hour's worth of the best songs.

I created a playlist configuration (with a couple of edits for the sake of the flow) with songs from Art Official Age, PlectrumElectrum, and I think HITnRUN Phase One. I called it PlectrumAge. I tightened up "Screwdriver", and edited out quiet spaces between some songs for a better and quicker flow in parts. I find myself listening to it more than the albums. We all make playlists of our favorite songs, so I don't think this is much different. (Oh, I also took "affirmation iii" and put it back together with "Way Back Home" where it left off. It sounds so natural and complete.)

I don't mind 3121 as a whole, though. There are nice little moments on there.

would love to see those lists. I did someting similar for all the 3rd eye girls tracks / final 3 albums & have to say there's some stellar tracks.

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

There are rare moments in Prince's career where there have been 2 or 3 albums in a row that are sorta okay. But if you take the strongest of the three records, you have one awesome record. I once had a playlist with songs from Musicology, 3121, and Planet Earth that made an hour's worth of the best songs.

I created a playlist configuration (with a couple of edits for the sake of the flow) with songs from Art Official Age, PlectrumElectrum, and I think HITnRUN Phase One. I called it PlectrumAge. I tightened up "Screwdriver", and edited out quiet spaces between some songs for a better and quicker flow in parts. I find myself listening to it more than the albums. We all make playlists of our favorite songs, so I don't think this is much different. (Oh, I also took "affirmation iii" and put it back together with "Way Back Home" where it left off. It sounds so natural and complete.)

I don't mind 3121 as a whole, though. There are nice little moments on there.

would love to see those lists. I did someting similar for all the 3rd eye girls tracks / final 3 albums & have to say there's some stellar tracks.

I love the word, 'Bloody'!

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

would love to see those lists. I did someting similar for all the 3rd eye girls tracks / final 3 albums & have to say there's some stellar tracks.

1. WOW
2. Rock and Roll Love Affair (Original Radio Edit) +
3. MARZ
4. Screwdriver (Intro’d Edit) *
5. WAY BACK HOME (The Affirmation Blend) *
6. FIXURLIFEUP
7. CLOUDS (Speechless Mix) *
8. FUNKNROLL (PLECTRUM version)
9. BREAKDOWN
10. ANOTHERLOVE
11. THIS COULD BE US
12. Same Page Different Book
13. TIME
14. PLECTRUMELECTRUM

* my edits. I sequenced "Marz" and "Screwdriver" so right when "Marz" ended, the next beat is the intro to "Screwdriver"; an intro I created from the break in the song. I also shortened up the longer segments between versus so the singing just continues on as a regular song would do. "Clouds" takes out the talking nonsense. "Way Back Home" has some obvious sections that are in "affirmation", so reblended them together. (I did the same for "S.T.T." and "Brand New Orleans" as one longer song.) I removed as much of the ridiculous talking from the female voice as I could without sacrificing the integrity of the song's arrangement and flow.

+ I've since changed out track 2 with the HnR version since it has more production on it and sounds fuller.

[Edited 8/13/19 15:36pm]

DarkKnight1 said:

feeluupp said:

They are all very average albums, all three albums have some of the dullest moments in the Prince discogrpahy. 3121 is "good" because the others are simply not...

No

YES!

Musicology, 3121 AVERAGE.

Planet Earth DULL.

Sign O The Times BRILLIANT

.

TrivialPursuit said:

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

would love to see those lists. I did someting similar for all the 3rd eye girls tracks / final 3 albums & have to say there's some stellar tracks.

1. WOW
2. Rock and Roll Love Affair (Original Radio Edit) +
3. MARZ
4. Screwdriver (Intro’d Edit) *
5. WAY BACK HOME (The Affirmation Blend) *
6. FIXURLIFEUP
7. CLOUDS (Speechless Mix) *
8. FUNKNROLL (PLECTRUM version)
9. BREAKDOWN
10. ANOTHERLOVE
11. THIS COULD BE US
12. Same Page Different Book
13. TIME
14. PLECTRUMELECTRUM

* my edits. I sequenced "Marz" and "Screwdriver" so right when "Marz" ended, the next beat is the intro to "Screwdriver"; an intro I created from the break in the song. I also shortened up the longer segments between versus so the singing just continues on as a regular song would do. "Clouds" takes out the talking nonsense. "Way Back Home" has some obvious sections that are in "affirmation", so reblended them together. (I did the same for "S.T.T." and "Brand New Orleans" as one longer song.) I removed as much of the ridiculous talking from the female voice as I could without sacrificing the integrity of the song's arrangement and flow.

+ I've since changed out track 2 with the HnR version since it has more production on it and sounds fuller.

[Edited 8/13/19 15:36pm]

Love it! One of the best things about being a Prince fan [especially we older ones!] is having to continually chnage / create new play lists! My TDK cassetts were plentiful!

TrivialPursuit said:

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

would love to see those lists. I did someting similar for all the 3rd eye girls tracks / final 3 albums & have to say there's some stellar tracks.

1. WOW
2. Rock and Roll Love Affair (Original Radio Edit) +
3. MARZ
4. Screwdriver (Intro’d Edit) *
5. WAY BACK HOME (The Affirmation Blend) *
6. FIXURLIFEUP
7. CLOUDS (Speechless Mix) *
8. FUNKNROLL (PLECTRUM version)
9. BREAKDOWN
10. ANOTHERLOVE
11. THIS COULD BE US
12. Same Page Different Book
13. TIME
14. PLECTRUMELECTRUM

* my edits. I sequenced "Marz" and "Screwdriver" so right when "Marz" ended, the next beat is the intro to "Screwdriver"; an intro I created from the break in the song. I also shortened up the longer segments between versus so the singing just continues on as a regular song would do. "Clouds" takes out the talking nonsense. "Way Back Home" has some obvious sections that are in "affirmation", so reblended them together. (I did the same for "S.T.T." and "Brand New Orleans" as one longer song.) I removed as much of the ridiculous talking from the female voice as I could without sacrificing the integrity of the song's arrangement and flow.

+ I've since changed out track 2 with the HnR version since it has more production on it and sounds fuller.

[Edited 8/13/19 15:36pm]

I did this ALL THE TIME starting sometime around the mid 90's. I'm a graphic designer and illustrator but I never thought to make a cover. Really cool job.

I have "The Chocolate Slaughterhouse", "New Power Come", "Rave Un2 the Vault", "MPLS Flower" and "Hitting & Running". 20Ten I made into an EP. I have segue free versions of Gold, Exodus and TRC. Planet Earth isn't worth messing with and N.E.W.S. is just a dinner party album when your inlaws are visiting.

I like 3121 well enough to play it through. It's consitent but not in a great way. It's good. Better than Musicology which I also never bothered to splice even though I like some of it. Could never think of anything to pair it with.

I left AoA alone (minus the first track) because I love it all the way thru and Plectrum I mixed in with the online stuff he was releasing around then.

herb4 said:

I did this ALL THE TIME starting sometime around the mid 90's. I'm a graphic designer and illustrator but I never thought to make a cover. Really cool job.

I have "The Chocolate Slaughterhouse", "New Power Come", "Rave Un2 the Vault", "MPLS Flower" and "Hitting & Running". 20Ten I made into an EP. I have segue free versions of Gold, Exodus and TRC. Planet Earth isn't worth messing with and N.E.W.S. is just a dinner party album when your inlaws are visiting.

I like 3121 well enough to play it through. It's consitent but not in a great way. It's good. Better than Musicology which I also never bothered to splice even though I like some of it. Could never think of anything to pair it with.

I left AoA alone (minus the first track) because I love it all the way thru and Plectrum I mixed in with the online stuff he was releasing around then.

Yeah, it's just a mixtape for the 21st century.

For my Come Again remix album, it was fun re-seguing the ocean sounds I used to blend the music. The trickiest was mixing different elements of "Loose!". It had such an abrupt ending on Versace, that I mixed in the album ending to have a proper end. Also, it was very tricky to get a section of "Screwdriver" edited to act as an intro. Also, mixing "Marz" and "Screwdriver" so close back to back was essential to the rock flow in the opening parts. "Way Back Home" and "Clouds" were easier songs to mix or edit.

I've also edited some tracks on Emancipation just to shorten them a tad (they feel bloated for the sake of that 60 minute time). I took the rap out of "Da Da Da" and "I Rock, Therefore I Am" to make each more cohesive. Of course, I took time to remove Tony M. from about 95% of Diamonds and Pearls and albums. Those I'm quite proud of, actually. I took Larry Graham's chant out of "Every Day Is A Winding Road", and took "Shy" out of The Gold Experience's list and remixed the segues between.

It's all fun tinkering.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

herb4 said:

I did this ALL THE TIME starting sometime around the mid 90's. I'm a graphic designer and illustrator but I never thought to make a cover. Really cool job.

I have "The Chocolate Slaughterhouse", "New Power Come", "Rave Un2 the Vault", "MPLS Flower" and "Hitting & Running". 20Ten I made into an EP. I have segue free versions of Gold, Exodus and TRC. Planet Earth isn't worth messing with and N.E.W.S. is just a dinner party album when your inlaws are visiting.

I like 3121 well enough to play it through. It's consitent but not in a great way. It's good. Better than Musicology which I also never bothered to splice even though I like some of it. Could never think of anything to pair it with.

I left AoA alone (minus the first track) because I love it all the way thru and Plectrum I mixed in with the online stuff he was releasing around then.

Yeah, it's just a mixtape for the 21st century.

For my Come Again remix album, it was fun re-seguing the ocean sounds I used to blend the music. The trickiest was mixing different elements of "Loose!". It had such an abrupt ending on Versace, that I mixed in the album ending to have a proper end. Also, it was very tricky to get a section of "Screwdriver" edited to act as an intro. Also, mixing "Marz" and "Screwdriver" so close back to back was essential to the rock flow in the opening parts. "Way Back Home" and "Clouds" were easier songs to mix or edit.

I've also edited some tracks on Emancipation just to shorten them a tad (they feel bloated for the sake of that 60 minute time). I took the rap out of "Da Da Da" and "I Rock, Therefore I Am" to make each more cohesive. Of course, I took time to remove Tony M. from about 95% of Diamonds and Pearls and albums. Those I'm quite proud of, actually. I took Larry Graham's chant out of "Every Day Is A Winding Road", and took "Shy" out of The Gold Experience's list and remixed the segues between.

It's all fun tinkering.

I think everyone here has their own single CD version of Emancipation.

People rag on Prince's stuff after D&P or so but I always liked having more music to pick from since usually what I liked was different from what others did and this way I got more songs to pick over.

Lot of folks here would HATE my Chocolate Slaugherhouse and MLPSFlower albums. Huh. I should have called that one LotuSOUND.