With all the talk about this fab album on here since the reissue was released made me revisit. I still have my original CDs I bought the day of release...I still listen to tracks from it to this day(including Style which prompted me to publish this post after seeing the recent post), but really havent listended to it as a whole in quite some time.

But thoughts from a re-visit:

Of the three discs, the 3rd one still is my favorite. Beyond the flat title track and Da Da Da, it really holds up. Highlights, Style (of course), Face Down, Sleep Around (which should've been the 1st single), My Computer, One of Us (better than the original), and the brilliant The Love We Make (talk about under-rated).

The 2nd one is next best and also stands up really well. However Curious Child...I used to LOVE this track...the music is nice, but now the lyrics are sorta disturbing. I mean WTF? Anyone agree or am I overreacting? And Email is terrible and dated.

The 1st one is the one I like but, like when it came out, is the weakest. Some of the tracks just seem flat. Get Yo Groove On...his voice and production are just weak can be...like he's bored even signing it. Jam of the Year never did it for me, We Gets Up, Mr Happy (ugh), are also thumbs down. However it does contain two of my faves...White Mansion & In This Bed I Scream. Also I do like his covers on this one...Can't Make U Love Me...and Betcha By Golly (WHY was this the first single...good song, but nowhere near the best of the set). It's this disc that make a great album simply a good one.

The age-old question, is it too long? Probably. Is it a highlight of the 90s? Definitely. Is it worth picking up the vinyl...for me no. But for the most part its a decent Prince album that brings back good memories (Jam of the Year concert...my buds...who I had to drag to come along...and I had an absolute blast at that one).

[Edited 10/11/19 8:20am]

[Edited 10/11/19 8:21am]

SOME SERIOUS CLASSICS IN THIS ALBUM

TOP 5 TRACKS

5 - Right Back Here in My Arms ( that futuristic sound )

4 - Style ( that funky funky )

3 - Somebody Somebody ( late night cruise theme )

2 - Sex In The Summer ( that ultrasound heartbeat sample is incredible )

1 - Sleep Around ( why this never been at top1 on Billboard Charts? )

Yeah! Here's my 1-disc compilation:

start
1- my computer

end

One of the things I loved about Diamonds & Pearls, 0+>, and the Gold Experience was the live drumming, real horns, and overall impression of a live band playing the songs. It really updated Prince's sound and was a great new direction for his music.

Consequently, I was extremely disappointed with Emancipation's return to the old style synthetic music. It sounded thin, flat and dated to me.

That's not to say I'm completely opposed to electronic music. Sign o' the Times is one of my all time favorite albums and that's obviously filled with drum machines. But the patterns / programming / beats / rhythms of the Linn drum machine on SOTT are incredibly unique, original and innovative. When they came out, nothing else on the radio sounded anything like them.

In contrast, the patterns / programming / beats / rhythms on Emancipation are rather ordinary. They sounded like everything else on the radio at that time.

[Edited 10/15/19 7:29am]

lurker316 said:

One of the things I loved about Diamonds & Pearls, 0+>, and the Gold Experience was the live drumming, real horns, and overall impression of a live band playing the songs. It really updated Prince's sound and was a great new direction for his music.

Consequently, I was extremely disappointed with Emancipation's return to the old style synthetic music. It sounded thin, flat and dated to me.

That's not to say I'm completely opposed to electronic music. Sign o' the Times is one of my all time favorite albums and that's obviously filled with drum machines. The patterns / programming / beats / rhythms of the Linn drum machine on SOTT are incredibly unique, original and innovative. When they came out, nothing else on the radio sounded anything like them.

In contrast, the patterns / programming / beats / rhythms on Emancipation are rather ordinary. They sounded like everything else on the radio at that time.

Agree .

For Me various Emancipation tracks sounds good , but the album is much longer..

But that Diamond and Pearls / Love Symbol albums period are pure magic.

Diamond and Pearls and Love Symbol are like wine..better with time .

That Prince 90's sound we loved..

Prince 90-94 and Prince 81-85 it's too hard to decide which is better.