WhisperingDandelions said:

AaronReturn2005 said:

I'd say Purple Rain. A album of very ordinary 80s music does not say "Prince's best work" to me.

I mean, I'd count myself more or less "over" Purple Rain as much as anybody but it's only "very ordinary 80s music" if you have zero context of the trajectory of 80s music and how and why it evolved throughout the 80s as it did--because there's a marked change in 80s music before vs. after Purple Rain, as a direct result of Purple Rain.

Likewise, I would contest use of the word "ordinary." Few albums have successfully amalgamized the vastly different influences and sounds Prince did in one record throughout the course of an entire record, and definitely in no other Prince record did he manage to hit that perfect "sweet spot" where the music is simultaneously appealing to, say, both the "rock" crowds and the "funk" crowds with equal measure/success/accolade. It's the monolith it exists as precisely because it deserves to be.

[Edited 10/7/19 23:24pm]

You summed up exactly what I was going to say.

Personally, I'm sick of Purple Rain. I've heard it way too many times. And it annoys me that it's pretty much the only thing most of the public knows about Prince. It is definitely not in my rotation.

But with that being said, I recognize that it was an incredibly ground-breaking album that as much an artistic success as a commercial success. And that's because of the very two points you raise:

First, it changed the direction of pop music. I always explain to younger fans that to it may sound like standard 80s music to them now in 2019, but at the time it was released sounded like nothing else on the radio. Other musicians copied off PR, and that's how it came to sound like standard '80s music.

And second, the way it blended rock and funk.

RODSERLING said:

Dirty Mind is overrated.

No,it's not Dirty Mind is Prince's first masterpiece...a bold,groundbreaking album that set the stage for what was to follow.With this album,Prince was saying "This is me....this is who I am.....watch out!"

...

[Edited 10/8/19 14:00pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

I think lyrically The Rainbow Children is overrated. Production fine, lyrics - bye.

I don't think Musicology is great at all. People raved about it, but it was years before I finally bought a copy. I'm still not impressed with it.

Lyrically overrated? I've literally read nobody ever rate the lyrics higher than including the requisite "Despite the questionable lyrics," caveat in their positive or passable assessments of the actual musical content within.

.

But I do think Musicology got melded with their tour in people's minds.

[Edited 10/8/19 13:56pm]

SoulAlive said:

Dirty Mind is Prince's first masterpiece...a bold,groundbreaking album set the stage for what was to follow.

I think this is where the overrating hits. I almost listed this album as such, but I do absolutely agree with the second half of your statement.... as I vehemently disagree with the first part.

TrivialPursuit said:

FunkJam said:

Wolfie87 said:

FunkJam said:

Is For You really considered a fine album? I always got the impression that it was thought to be great for a self-produced debut from a young artist, but nothing particularly special. I’d certainly say it’s pretty pedestrian for the most part, though I can’t say any of the tracks are bad. I have to agree about the later albums, though for me it’s the stuff he released from 2010 onwards that is really objectionable. Art Official Age is the very worst album he made! Yes, even Kamasutra is much better than that!

Did you quote the wrong guy? He said it was Bland, not Fine.

To be overrated means public opinion at large would be best classified with a positive adjective, such as "fine," which his assessment of "bland" assumedly counters.

The only Prince album that i think is overrated is the Black Album.

[Edited 10/10/19 2:56am]

TRC

jdcxc said:

Ppl mentioning AOA are crazy. If Prince was not an industry pariah, this album would’ve been nominated for a boatload of Grammys. It is a BRILLIANT album, that in his later career is the definition of UNDERRATED.

When I heard AOA fully, I cried a little. I said inside. 'Prince is gone'.
Then I read the interview where he was asked why have a producer for this one ie Joshua, and he said "Well when things don't seem to be working..."

But this thread is asking PRINCE fans. Not the general public. So here his is not underrated.

Darshy said:

I have to say, an annoying thread considering Prince is the most underrated artist, period. The most wide ranging and prolific musician, and yet, when was the last time u heard his music on the radio or TV? Ignored in life, and now in death, why are there so many negative threads on this fan website?! And as for dissin' such an electric album as Peurple Rain (Deluxe especially), u ain't gonna hear a better album this year. Well, except for maybe 1999 Deluxe!

AaronReturn2005 said:

Also, people get forgetting to mention that Sign O' The Times is a Prince and the Revolution album (asides from the Camilie songs and U Got The Look), although their names were left off the final album.

.

Sign O' The Times - Confirmed by Wendy as having no known Revolution input

Play In The Sunshine - Recorded after The Revolution split up

Housequake - Recorded after The Revolution split up

The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker - No known Revolution input. Drum machine and Prince doing his own backing vocals implies it's a solo effort. The recording of this song is well documented due to technical problems that happened during the session. No mention of any Revolution members being present.

It - No known Revolution input. Drum machine and Prince doing his own backing vocals implies it's a solo effort.

Starfish And Coffee - No known Revolution input, although the backwards drums implies it was more of a solo experiment than a band effort.

Slow Love - Featured Wendy & Lisa

Hot Thing - No known Revolution input

Forever In My Life - 99% of this track is just Prince's vocal and a drum machine.

U Got The Look - Recorded after The Revolution split up

If I Was Your Girlfriend - Recorded after The Revolution split up

Strange Relationship - Featured Wendy & Lisa although mixed to minimise their input

I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man - No known Revolution input.

The Cross - No known Revolution input

It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night - A live performace by The Revolution

Adore - Recorded after The Revolution split up

.

I think Susannah Melvoin and Eric Leeds had more input on this record than The Revolution.

[Edited 10/9/19 9:15am]

[Edited 10/9/19 9:16am]

feeluupp said:

AaronReturn2005 said:

I'd say Purple Rain. A album of very ordinary 80s music does not say "Prince's best work" to me.

Also, people get forgetting to mention that Sign O' The Times is a Prince and the Revolution album (asides from the Camilie songs and U Got The Look), although their names were left off the final album.

When you have songs like Computer Blue and When Doves Cry on an album, nothing about that album can be ordinary.

The only "ordinary" song on the Purple Rain album is Take Me With U.

In terms of what album is his most over rated, without a question is TGE. I remember back in 2002 when I joined the org how much hype this album had on the org compared to princefams or housequake... Never understood why the orgers liked that album so much. Great moments on that album for sure, but it sounds so dated today and is just an over rated album imo.

.

Agreed, and I've been saying the same thing for years here. Never understood the over-hyping of 'The Gold Experience'. Similar thing happening now with the re-release of 'The Versace Experience'. I have zero interest in that.

Lovesexy - I like it, but never thought it as brilliant as people on here make it out to be. I remember at the time it was a huge letdown after the brilliance of Sign.

Symbol - ...and God Created Woman and 7, are the only two decent songs on there. Another one that was a huge letdown for me. My Name is Prince still makes me cringe.

The preperation and energy of Dream Factory was with Prince and the Revolution. Even if every song was not with The Revolution as a whole.Just like Purple Rain or ATWIAD Parade and other albums. The cuts : SOTT It the Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Forever In My Life, the Cross, ICNTTPOYM etc were prepared in the energy and connection of the other Dream Factory tracks. Yes overall SOTT the album is not a Prince & the Revolution compilation, especially because he mixed Camille in. But the band is connected. Most people don't consider what led up to all of this. Not to mention Prince & the Revolution is IGBABN. Most don't realize the Time's music mostly came from 1982 What Time Is It? and Ice Cream Castles -1983/84 sessions
.
Similar to Graffiti Bridge... the energy of many of the non-Time tracks reaches back to the Controversy session-Lovesexy band.
Tick Tick Bang from the Controversy sessions
We Can Funk actually has the ending part of We Can Fuck on it with Wendy Lisa & Jill Jones -1983

The Question of U? 1985 Joy In Repetition 1986 during Parade tour
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got -Dream Factory sessions

Elephants & Flowers -1987

.

AaronReturn2005 did say (asides from the Camilie songs and U Got The Look), so he was covering Play In the Sunshine Housequake U Got the Look, Hot Thing, IIWYGF

.

The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Prince was having a discussion with a few people in the band before recording this track, talking about Dorothy Parker. This is a little example, like some others from the pre-Revolution line up as well, that expresses the energy in the camp leading to recordings and albums. Like 1999 Bobby Z said they were watching a documentary on Nastradomus and the end of the world. They had talks about it it and then Prince wrote 1999. The same thing was with SOTT.

.

Starfish & Coffee was written as a result of a childhood story by Susannah & Wendy. After Susannah told her of it and the girl involved Prince created the song and Susannah also sang background vocals.

.

Strange Relationship -Wendy & Lisa are on this track but in a more muted way. They were working on this one since the PR era(full band -Billy's Sunglasses) performed during PR tour soundcheck, and talked about in a 1985 Interview where Prince let the person hear Old Friends 4 Sale and Strange Relationship before he handed the tape to his father.
.

Slow Love co written by Prince with Lisa and Wendy on vocals/instruments.

And yes we don't know much of the recordings of this album.

.

Prince was the mastermind, but most people don't realize the energy and production up to the point.

VaultCurator said:

AaronReturn2005 said:

Also, people get forgetting to mention that Sign O' The Times is a Prince and the Revolution album (asides from the Camilie songs and U Got The Look), although their names were left off the final album.

.

Sign O' The Times - Confirmed by Wendy as having no known Revolution input

Play In The Sunshine - Recorded after The Revolution split up

Housequake - Recorded after The Revolution split up

The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker - No known Revolution input. Drum machine and Prince doing his own backing vocals implies it's a solo effort. The recording of this song is well documented due to technical problems that happened during the session. No mention of any Revolution members being present.

It - No known Revolution input. Drum machine and Prince doing his own backing vocals implies it's a solo effort.

Starfish And Coffee - No known Revolution input, although the backwards drums implies it was more of a solo experiment than a band effort.

Slow Love - Featured Wendy & Lisa

Hot Thing - No known Revolution input

Forever In My Life - 99% of this track is just Prince's vocal and a drum machine.

U Got The Look - Recorded after The Revolution split up

If I Was Your Girlfriend - Recorded after The Revolution split up

Strange Relationship - Featured Wendy & Lisa although mixed to minimise their input

I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man - No known Revolution input.

The Cross - No known Revolution input

It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night - A live performace by The Revolution

Adore - Recorded after The Revolution split up

.

I think Susannah Melvoin and Eric Leeds had more input on this record than The Revolution.

[Edited 10/9/19 9:15am]

[Edited 10/9/19 9:16am]

Poplife88 said:

As a fan, I don't think any albums created by Prince are overrated, and never will.

looby said:

As a fan, I don't think any albums created by Prince are overrated, and never will.

Giovanni777 said:

Agreed, and I've been saying the same thing for years here. Never understood the over-hyping of 'The Gold Experience'.

It's the geetar, y0.

Darshy said:

I have to say, an annoying thread considering Prince is the most underrated artist, period. The most wide ranging and prolific musician, and yet, when was the last time u heard his music on the radio or TV? Ignored in life, and now in death, why are there so many negative threads on this fan website?! And as for dissin' such an electric album as Peurple Rain (Deluxe especially), u ain't gonna hear a better album this year. Well, except for maybe 1999 Deluxe!

I hear his music all the time when I go into places playing 80s stations, particularly when they just hook up their cells to iHeartRadio's 80s station. A lot of his songwriting stuff like "The Glamourous Life" and "Manic Monday' makes it in constant rotation, too. And I think someone just mentioned Purple Rain is playing twice on MTV this weekend..... I mean I think the guy is ultimately super underrated too, but the most underrated artist? Probably not in 2019....

Emancipation

Come

3121

Musicology

Art Official Age

Lotusflower

Lovesexy

Batman

Giovanni777 said:

feeluupp said:

When you have songs like Computer Blue and When Doves Cry on an album, nothing about that album can be ordinary.

The only "ordinary" song on the Purple Rain album is Take Me With U.

In terms of what album is his most over rated, without a question is TGE. I remember back in 2002 when I joined the org how much hype this album had on the org compared to princefams or housequake... Never understood why the orgers liked that album so much. Great moments on that album for sure, but it sounds so dated today and is just an over rated album imo.

.

Agreed, and I've been saying the same thing for years here. Never understood the over-hyping of 'The Gold Experience'. Similar thing happening now with the re-release of 'The Versace Experience'. I have zero interest in that.

Funny when I joined the org back in the day everyone was always raving about this album, used to read posts saying it's the best Prince album since Sign O' The Times.

Never understood the praise for TGE, it's a good album, but extremely over rated among the fans/fams here.

Nasalhair said:

Emancipation

Come

3121

Musicology

Art Official Age

Lotusflower

Lovesexy

Batman

I'm always turn on by what Batman could have been

darkroman said:

The Truth - I suppose it is hard to overrate an album that isn't even on the scale!!!

Batman is totally overrated. Some good tunes but collectively not that great.

In contrast 20Ten is massively underrated!

I'd agree. I think fans rate it high from a production standpoint (esp for him) it was def unique...the sampling...and I think it did its job.

But ultimately I think it was overrated, to me. Though I really enjoy Anil Dash's 100 or so tweets thread about the importance of Batman.

The most overrated album has always been The Gold Experience