mediumdry said:

I don't think you can really draw a line with/after WB. I mean... 1999, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds & Pearls, Symbol, Gold Experience, Chaos & Disorder, The Vault... plenty of spit-ugly covers when he was with WB. I don't think you can say that the quality went down significantly, it was always a bit hit and miss before that. After Laura LiPuma left, that's a better demarcation point.

EXACTLY

It's not about him leaving WB, it's the accesibility of digital cameras and Photoshop plugins. Most of the Prince aesthetic got corny and amateurish with what looks like free shareware fonts. Same problem you see with the bad hip hop covers of that time.

A lot of that New Power Generation aesthetic is embarrassing. I mean there are big guys in blouses that still dress like PM Dawn to this day who are mourning the alloy text effect on their Homestead pages, so maybe it will age better than I think, but those covers didn't do Prince's music any favors.

[Edited 9/5/20 22:05pm]

Exactly. it had to do with digitial taking over and trends changing.

lavendardrummachine said:

It's not about him leaving WB, it's the accesibility of digital cameras and Photoshop plugins. Most of the Prince aesthetic got corny and amateurish with wat looks like free shareware fonts. Same problem you see with the bad hip hop covers of that time.

A lot of that New Power Generation aesthetic is embarrassing. I mean there are big guys in blouses that still dress like PM Dawn to this day who are morning the alloy text effect on their Homestead pages, so maybe it will age better than I think, but those covers didn't do Prince's music any favors.

lustmealways said:

LoveGalore said:

What is masterful about the 3121 cover lol? It's just some random near-candid. Like that one and Musicology, it just has zero connection to that music. Like eating soup with cereal in it instead.

it's a stark and bare picture but still manages to sound like the warmth i associate with the album, maybe it's the orangeish colors in the background

Think of the song 3121 when he is inviting you to come to a place you can never leave. It sounds foreboding but really its probably heaven literally. That is what the cover reminds me of. Prince's back is turned to us and in shadow but he is half turned like he knows you are behind him following him. The front of him however is a warm sunlight glow--like he is leading you to the light or to a brightly colored joyful party off to the side. Plus, the title luminating off the back of the shirt looks cool.. The contrast of light and dark is kind of typical of Prince himself. It probably is just a photo of Afshin's that he liked so he included it on the cover, but it's a great choice in my opinion.

LoveGalore said:

lustmealways said:

almost all his cover art, the first time i see it i'm like "wow this is sort of dumb looking" but as you become more and more familiar with the music, you start to see the covers as being part of that glorious album soup and it warms up on you, much like a bowl of soup.

covers that i thought were genuinely masterful from the moment they first met my gaze? dirty mind, 1999, purple rain, atwiad, parade, sott, lovesexy, symbol, 3121...

maybe i take my comment back, it might not be "almost all" his art. the worst of it was from 90s onward and even then i have a soft spot for most of em

[Edited 9/5/20 12:29pm]

What is masterful about the 3121 cover lol? It's just some random near-candid. Like that one and Musicology, it just has zero connection to that music. Like eating soup with cereal in it instead.

[Edited 9/5/20 19:53pm]

-

Every artwork, style and looks before 1990, created some iconic imagery everyone remebers and recognises as such.

He was huge back then, was a rising star, inventive, young and daring plus taking the lead on most levels, musicaly and style wise on basically a yearly basis. Every new album, a complete new Prince !

For that I believe it's possible to state that largely the first decade we all know so well is what made him most remembered and even resulted in a caricature look on Prince in a positive way.

The Purple Rain era for sure ! Up till this day it's how Prince often/mostly is portrayed.

I agree with most poeple here that lateron (after 1989) his art and changes didn't always match the ongoing aesthetics, looks and tastes of that time. All is personal of course.

My rate on the albums from the beginning;

-

FOR YOU -

• Prince only worked once with Jeff Farmakes (art direction, The Ad Company) and Joe Gianetti (photography) only once. It was his first album, it is what it is
• 7/10

PRINCE -

• More people got involved : Lynn Barron &George Chacon - album design, RIA Images, Jurgen Reisch & Chris Callis - Photography, and Terry Taylor - calligraphy. WB invested somehow well in this project

• I'd give it a 8 to 9 out of 10. Even up to this day, this cover pic is 'well known' and often used

DIRTY MIND -

• I only know that ALlen Beaulieu was the photographer, and Prince himself sprayed the graffiti text in Lisa'a appartment on the wall. Absolutely great. It has his signature all over it.
• This is a 9 or better 10 out of 10. The fond is well known, and the images are timeless.

CONTROVERSY -

• Again Allen Beaulieu did the photography and I presume the artwork as all (not sure about that though). Stunning pose, here he's about to become the 'icon Prince' we all know. 100% Prince.
• Again a 9 or 10 out of 10. Timeless image and album cover. All of it. The famous image of the poster with the album.

1999 -

• Iconic in every way! (both album covers) In comes the hair and the purple trench coat and the neon ! Pre-Purple Rain style is nearly finished. and the album cover became iconic as well. Up till this day. His images from the video's created that well known Prince style. He had a hand in all of it, although I believe that Roy Bennett is important too. He designed the first 'known stage images' Prince used in his video's. It created that particular style and image we all know.
• 10 out of 10 on all levels.

PURPLE RAIN -

• ln comes Laura Lipuma and team (forgot the name of the photographer though...) The purple motorcycle is here and a glimpse of the symbol ! Most stunning cover art and fond up to this day. Everything about that album, style, image, movie and concept. The colour 'purple' and the word 'rain' became solely and rightfully Prince's trademark so became the image of his famous guitar and not to forget the band, The Revolution. It's an image that stands with Prince in this whole period as well. That poster !
• 11 out of 10 !

AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY -

• The team of Laura Lipuma and WB again I believe. But most important a drawing Prince commanded for the album. Although the fond and artwork are not all that well remembered today, or used in popular media to connect with Prince, it is the Raspberry Beret video that connected a bit of his style with this album and period/year.
• I'd still give it a 9 out of 10.

PARADE -

• Again the team of Laura Lipuma, Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff - art direction, (and Ann Field who did the collage) are present. Huge change ! All of it. The style the black and white, the fond, the short hair everyhting. Great iconic shot of the album cover ! Well used and remembered up to this day. Again, I believe the video of KISS created that popular image of him, ànd Wendy ! And 'Wreckastow!' The Girls and Boys video helped to remember the image of the movie well I believe.
• 10 out of 10. The art is so beautiful and contemporary. You instantly forgot about his Purple Rain image (for a while).

SIGN 'O' THE TIMES -

• In comes Jeff Katz (photography), and the WB team of Laura Lipuma is on it again. But once more the input of Roy Bennett is imporatant for the image of this album art. New clours peach and black, the glases, the jeans, the very famous fond and peace symbol. And the title of the album as a fond became most famous next to Purple Rain and 1999.

• 10 if not 11 out of 10. For me, Prince became an adult in his style and contemporary approach. Stunning and timeless.

LOVESEXY -

• Jean Baptiste Mondino was the one who did the famous cover photo. I believe Laura Lipuma was also still round. Style and imagery is sort of a Prince trademark too, certainly here in Europe. ALthough not often used as a reference, it was a perfect transition at the time. It still looks pretty contemporary to me. I believe his image survived well. Sheila E was more up front, and let's not forget theat crazy great kitchy video for Alphabet St that is well remembered and connected with this album. Although I believe that his concerts here in Europe pushed his style for that period a lot. We did not care for that naked Prince on the cover, whtich was received with mixed feeling in the USA. Poster time again, for the last time even I believe.

• My personal 10 out of 10. Although it isn't used thatoften or much anymore.

BATMAN -

• Anton Furst - First time Prince's image, style, art and looks is heavily connected with a blockbuster which wasn't his. Batman logo was done by Anton Furst, Jeff Katz did some photography we mostly forgot as an image, and Tom Recchion did the album design. Again the video's helped a lot. Partyman for sure. Batdance somehow too, and the Scandalous image a bit.

• I'd give it a 7 out of 10 the most. We barely can imagine Pirnce form this period. Just the Partyman looks and the logo. The rest not survived that well imho.

GRAFFITI BRIDGE -

• In comes Steve Park (cover illustration) and once more Tom Recchion did the art direction. It's very personal but I never liked any of it. Nor the imagery, the style the reuse of a motorcycle, the black leather jacket, the chite shirt, the lion hair... He lost it for me there. I believe the overall image isn't all that well known or used up to this day. Who still remembers the movie (image, style and art) besides we Prince fans ? Most people don't even connect this with George Clinton or Mavis Staples who were brought in.

• 5 out of 10.

All the other albums that came after this did not do much to the remembrance of his style and art.

Yes there are images here and there that stayed somehow. Certainly the 2004 era, and for sure his later afro style with the third eye glasses.

Sometimes he did a good album cover art, like Art Official Age and Plectrum Electrum, which are stand outs for me somehow ! Great art and imagery. But unfortunately not often used or recognised as such.

All the rest looks out of style for it's period to me. He changed a lot, but never got to iconic imagery again. Except maybe for the afro ! He somehow was a step ahead with that again.

• ART OFFICIAL AGE : 9 out of 10
• PLECTRUM ELECTRUM = 8 out of 10.

Albums art and style like THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE, MPLS, ONE NIGHT ALONE..., THE VAULT, 3121 are personaly the worst; zero out of 10.

Bash me.

-

NouveauDance said:

Tacky would be the common theme that comes to mind - but that's late 90s/00s computer graphic design in general.

I agree, picking album covers was not Prince's best developed skill.

I quite like Art Official Age. But your obeservation is of course true.

Vannormal said:

Vannormal said:

-

Every artwork, style and looks before 1990, created some iconic imagery everyone remebers and recognises as such.

He was huge back then, was a rising star, inventive, young and daring plus taking the lead on most levels, musicaly and style wise on basically a yearly basis. Every new album, a complete new Prince !

For that I believe it's possible to state that largely the first decade we all know so well is what made him most remembered and even resulted in a caricature look on Prince in a positive way.

The Purple Rain era for sure ! Up till this day it's how Prince often/mostly is portrayed.

I agree with most poeple here that lateron (after 1989) his art and changes didn't always match the ongoing aesthetics, looks and tastes of that time. All is personal of course.

My rate on the albums from the beginning;

-

FOR YOU -

• Prince only worked once with Jeff Farmakes (art direction, The Ad Company) and Joe Gianetti (photography) only once. It was his first album, it is what it is
• 7/10

PRINCE -

• More people got involved : Lynn Barron &George Chacon - album design, RIA Images, Jurgen Reisch & Chris Callis - Photography, and Terry Taylor - calligraphy. WB invested somehow well in this project

• I'd give it a 8 to 9 out of 10. Even up to this day, this cover pic is 'well known' and often used

DIRTY MIND -

• I only know that ALlen Beaulieu was the photographer, and Prince himself sprayed the graffiti text in Lisa'a appartment on the wall. Absolutely great. It has his signature all over it.
• This is a 9 or better 10 out of 10. The fond is well known, and the images are timeless.

CONTROVERSY -

• Again Allen Beaulieu did the photography and I presume the artwork as all (not sure about that though). Stunning pose, here he's about to become the 'icon Prince' we all know. 100% Prince.
• Again a 9 or 10 out of 10. Timeless image and album cover. All of it. The famous image of the poster with the album.

1999 -

• Iconic in every way! (both album covers) In comes the hair and the purple trench coat and the neon ! Pre-Purple Rain style is nearly finished. and the album cover became iconic as well. Up till this day. His images from the video's created that well known Prince style. He had a hand in all of it, although I believe that Roy Bennett is important too. He designed the first 'known stage images' Prince used in his video's. It created that particular style and image we all know.
• 10 out of 10 on all levels.

PURPLE RAIN -

• ln comes Laura Lipuma and team (forgot the name of the photographer though...) The purple motorcycle is here and a glimpse of the symbol ! Most stunning cover art and fond up to this day. Everything about that album, style, image, movie and concept. The colour 'purple' and the word 'rain' became solely and rightfully Prince's trademark so became the image of his famous guitar and not to forget the band, The Revolution. It's an image that stands with Prince in this whole period as well. That poster !
• 11 out of 10 !

AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY -

• The team of Laura Lipuma and WB again I believe. But most important a drawing Prince commanded for the album. Although the fond and artwork are not all that well remembered today, or used in popular media to connect with Prince, it is the Raspberry Beret video that connected a bit of his style with this album and period/year.
• I'd still give it a 9 out of 10.

PARADE -

• Again the team of Laura Lipuma, Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff - art direction, (and Ann Field who did the collage) are present. Huge change ! All of it. The style the black and white, the fond, the short hair everyhting. Great iconic shot of the album cover ! Well used and remembered up to this day. Again, I believe the video of KISS created that popular image of him, ànd Wendy ! And 'Wreckastow!' The Girls and Boys video helped to remember the image of the movie well I believe.
• 10 out of 10. The art is so beautiful and contemporary. You instantly forgot about his Purple Rain image (for a while).

SIGN 'O' THE TIMES -

• In comes Jeff Katz (photography), and the WB team of Laura Lipuma is on it again. But once more the input of Roy Bennett is imporatant for the image of this album art. New clours peach and black, the glases, the jeans, the very famous fond and peace symbol. And the title of the album as a fond became most famous next to Purple Rain and 1999.

• 10 if not 11 out of 10. For me, Prince became an adult in his style and contemporary approach. Stunning and timeless.

LOVESEXY -

• Jean Baptiste Mondino was the one who did the famous cover photo. I believe Laura Lipuma was also still round. Style and imagery is sort of a Prince trademark too, certainly here in Europe. ALthough not often used as a reference, it was a perfect transition at the time. It still looks pretty contemporary to me. I believe his image survived well. Sheila E was more up front, and let's not forget theat crazy great kitchy video for Alphabet St that is well remembered and connected with this album. Although I believe that his concerts here in Europe pushed his style for that period a lot. We did not care for that naked Prince on the cover, whtich was received with mixed feeling in the USA. Poster time again, for the last time even I believe.

• My personal 10 out of 10. Although it isn't used thatoften or much anymore.

BATMAN -

• Anton Furst - First time Prince's image, style, art and looks is heavily connected with a blockbuster which wasn't his. Batman logo was done by Anton Furst, Jeff Katz did some photography we mostly forgot as an image, and Tom Recchion did the album design. Again the video's helped a lot. Partyman for sure. Batdance somehow too, and the Scandalous image a bit.

• I'd give it a 7 out of 10 the most. We barely can imagine Pirnce form this period. Just the Partyman looks and the logo. The rest not survived that well imho.

GRAFFITI BRIDGE -

• In comes Steve Park (cover illustration) and once more Tom Recchion did the art direction. It's very personal but I never liked any of it. Nor the imagery, the style the reuse of a motorcycle, the black leather jacket, the chite shirt, the lion hair... He lost it for me there. I believe the overall image isn't all that well known or used up to this day. Who still remembers the movie (image, style and art) besides we Prince fans ? Most people don't even connect this with George Clinton or Mavis Staples who were brought in.

• 5 out of 10.

All the other albums that came after this did not do much to the remembrance of his style and art.

Yes there are images here and there that stayed somehow. Certainly the 2004 era, and for sure his later afro style with the third eye glasses.

Sometimes he did a good album cover art, like Art Official Age and Plectrum Electrum, which are stand outs for me somehow ! Great art and imagery. But unfortunately not often used or recognised as such.

All the rest looks out of style for it's period to me. He changed a lot, but never got to iconic imagery again. Except maybe for the afro ! He somehow was a step ahead with that again.

• ART OFFICIAL AGE : 9 out of 10
• PLECTRUM ELECTRUM = 8 out of 10.

Albums art and style like THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE, MPLS, ONE NIGHT ALONE..., THE VAULT, 3121 are personaly the worst; zero out of 10.

Bash me.

-

Left off The Black Album... which going the opposite way, and not even having the name Prince on it, or even an album name... was genius (to me). Just the functional peach info and catalog numbers on the labels. Were the sleeves clear or black?

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Black album design is just modeled on the Beatles white album....

.

Nope, the Beatles album has embossed "The Beatles" on it, it has information about the tracks and the artist on it and the label is the standard Apple Records label. The Black album, in contrast, has no information about the album on the cover at all and has a bespoke label on the record with only the song titles on it. The Black album cover takes the minimalism to a very different level from the selftitled album by the Beatles with the white cover.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Black album design is just modeled on the Beatles white album....

-

Good Lawd !

How could I miss out on that one.

I think it was just plain ''genius''.

Black was the perfect choice for him being black and all...

Yes there's a link to The Beatles for sure.

But that's just the point.

White musicians - white album, black musician - black album...

His funk needed that.

As if it was somehow his answer to critics that thought he lost his funky, right? That was the story i believe...

So black funk it was, nearly anonymous, well planned, and damn does it funk - sure he knew some leak would push the album even more. He played the market (still) at this point.

The whole idea was a splendid fuck you (if it had been released), and a damn good one considdered the situation in his carreer, that in your face black uncomparable funk.

Just a fantastic idea and the deliberate lack of imagery and fonds.

Just some orange cat.nr on the side.

Surely a 10 out of 10.

It even had no name ! How about that. It became what we now know it is.

The most bootlegged album in the history of music I believe they say.

-

Shame he had to take that damn XTC he got from Cat who had it from Flea ?

Wasn't that somehow the story ?

And poor young Prince thought he missed out on something, and was tempted to try it, cause and effect; started having a very bad trip.

Just imagine, for a guy who needs to control everything every second of the day, basically trusting no one. Just imagine how bad that trip must've been. Tiny body and all, living a healthy life...

It certainly wasn't a wise thing to do.

The rest we know as history; the withdrawn of this great album back then.

And then again, IF the Black Album was released, we most possibly wouldn't have that marvelous Lovesexy album now, wouldn't we?!

Strange it all was for sure. (It might drove him right into the religeous approach of things... who knows.)

The re-release in 1994 lost it's effect imho.

Still glad it's out there, officialy on CD.

Would be great to have a Record Store Day reprint on vinyl, AND remastered of course.

We/I can dream, can't we/I.

-

[Edited 9/6/20 14:41pm]

mediumdry said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Black album design is just modeled on the Beatles white album....

.

Nope, the Beatles album has embossed "The Beatles" on it, it has information about the tracks and the artist on it and the label is the standard Apple Records label. The Black album, in contrast, has no information about the album on the cover at all and has a bespoke label on the record with only the song titles on it. The Black album cover takes the minimalism to a very different level from the selftitled album by the Beatles with the white cover.

I would agree that most likely somoene brought up the fact that a black album with nothing was kind of like the legendary White Album that had mostly nothing on the front and back. But Prince went further and took his name off of it as well. Seems like Prince intended for the album to be called "Funk Bible" (as early press releases and the slowed vocal intro in Le Grind describe) but the nickname "The Black Album" must have stuck so he switched to that.

The Beatles White Album looks like this (had a poster and little card portraits inside):

i had a good stare at the emancipation cover today and have come to realize that it's actually not that bad looking.

RJOrion said:

i think its the other way around...i think his BEST covers were post WB.

Rainbow Children

Lotusflow3r

Planet Earth

3121

MPLSoUND

Emancipation (one of his greatest covers ever)

imo, it was his WB lp covers that were cheesey.
...i never liked the 1999 cover and its adolescent looking artistry ... i didnt care for Controversy or Dirty Mind, Lovesexy, or Prince covers either...theyre mostly just half naked P with a blank stare ...Batman was the Batman logo... i dont see any amazing WB covers... Purple Rain lp cover is iconic but i dont see any great art in it

Sorry but I think you really have no taste in design, but I'm happy for you that you like all that stuff. And don't get me wrong, I love some on your list, some I like, but you lost all credibility when liking emancipation. Both on a design level as on the technical part, it's really REALLY bad.

lustmealways said:

LoveGalore said:

What is masterful about the 3121 cover lol? It's just some random near-candid. Like that one and Musicology, it just has zero connection to that music. Like eating soup with cereal in it instead.

it's a stark and bare picture but still manages to sound like the warmth i associate with the album, maybe it's the orangeish colors in the background

It's stark and bare but also a bit boring. I would regard it as a good start for the cover (the image isn't that bad). It misses some refinement.

zobilamouche said:

RJOrion said:

i think its the other way around...i think his BEST covers were post WB.

Rainbow Children

Lotusflow3r

Planet Earth

3121

MPLSoUND

Emancipation (one of his greatest covers ever)

imo, it was his WB lp covers that were cheesey.
...i never liked the 1999 cover and its adolescent looking artistry ... i didnt care for Controversy or Dirty Mind, Lovesexy, or Prince covers either...theyre mostly just half naked P with a blank stare ...Batman was the Batman logo... i dont see any amazing WB covers... Purple Rain lp cover is iconic but i dont see any great art in it

Sorry but I think you really have no taste in design, but I'm happy for you that you like all that stuff. And don't get me wrong, I love some on your list, some I like, but you lost all credibility when liking emancipation. Both on a design level as on the technical part, it's really REALLY bad.

i like it on a symbolic level... as for your opinions on credibility and taste, they are irrelevant and/or asinine

[Edited 9/9/20 8:47am]

Vannormal said:

-

Every artwork, style and looks before 1990, created some iconic imagery everyone remebers and recognises as such.

He was huge back then, was a rising star, inventive, young and daring plus taking the lead on most levels, musicaly and style wise on basically a yearly basis. Every new album, a complete new Prince !

For that I believe it's possible to state that largely the first decade we all know so well is what made him most remembered and even resulted in a caricature look on Prince in a positive way.

The Purple Rain era for sure ! Up till this day it's how Prince often/mostly is portrayed.

I agree with most poeple here that lateron (after 1989) his art and changes didn't always match the ongoing aesthetics, looks and tastes of that time. All is personal of course.

My rate on the albums from the beginning;

-

FOR YOU -

• Prince only worked once with Jeff Farmakes (art direction, The Ad Company) and Joe Gianetti (photography) only once. It was his first album, it is what it is
• 7/10

PRINCE -

• More people got involved : Lynn Barron &George Chacon - album design, RIA Images, Jurgen Reisch & Chris Callis - Photography, and Terry Taylor - calligraphy. WB invested somehow well in this project

• I'd give it a 8 to 9 out of 10. Even up to this day, this cover pic is 'well known' and often used

DIRTY MIND -

• I only know that ALlen Beaulieu was the photographer, and Prince himself sprayed the graffiti text in Lisa'a appartment on the wall. Absolutely great. It has his signature all over it.
• This is a 9 or better 10 out of 10. The fond is well known, and the images are timeless.

CONTROVERSY -

• Again Allen Beaulieu did the photography and I presume the artwork as all (not sure about that though). Stunning pose, here he's about to become the 'icon Prince' we all know. 100% Prince.
• Again a 9 or 10 out of 10. Timeless image and album cover. All of it. The famous image of the poster with the album.

1999 -

• Iconic in every way! (both album covers) In comes the hair and the purple trench coat and the neon ! Pre-Purple Rain style is nearly finished. and the album cover became iconic as well. Up till this day. His images from the video's created that well known Prince style. He had a hand in all of it, although I believe that Roy Bennett is important too. He designed the first 'known stage images' Prince used in his video's. It created that particular style and image we all know.
• 10 out of 10 on all levels.

PURPLE RAIN -

• ln comes Laura Lipuma and team (forgot the name of the photographer though...) The purple motorcycle is here and a glimpse of the symbol ! Most stunning cover art and fond up to this day. Everything about that album, style, image, movie and concept. The colour 'purple' and the word 'rain' became solely and rightfully Prince's trademark so became the image of his famous guitar and not to forget the band, The Revolution. It's an image that stands with Prince in this whole period as well. That poster !
• 11 out of 10 !

AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY -

• The team of Laura Lipuma and WB again I believe. But most important a drawing Prince commanded for the album. Although the fond and artwork are not all that well remembered today, or used in popular media to connect with Prince, it is the Raspberry Beret video that connected a bit of his style with this album and period/year.
• I'd still give it a 9 out of 10.

PARADE -

• Again the team of Laura Lipuma, Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff - art direction, (and Ann Field who did the collage) are present. Huge change ! All of it. The style the black and white, the fond, the short hair everyhting. Great iconic shot of the album cover ! Well used and remembered up to this day. Again, I believe the video of KISS created that popular image of him, ànd Wendy ! And 'Wreckastow!' The Girls and Boys video helped to remember the image of the movie well I believe.
• 10 out of 10. The art is so beautiful and contemporary. You instantly forgot about his Purple Rain image (for a while).

SIGN 'O' THE TIMES -

• In comes Jeff Katz (photography), and the WB team of Laura Lipuma is on it again. But once more the input of Roy Bennett is imporatant for the image of this album art. New clours peach and black, the glases, the jeans, the very famous fond and peace symbol. And the title of the album as a fond became most famous next to Purple Rain and 1999.

• 10 if not 11 out of 10. For me, Prince became an adult in his style and contemporary approach. Stunning and timeless.

LOVESEXY -

• Jean Baptiste Mondino was the one who did the famous cover photo. I believe Laura Lipuma was also still round. Style and imagery is sort of a Prince trademark too, certainly here in Europe. ALthough not often used as a reference, it was a perfect transition at the time. It still looks pretty contemporary to me. I believe his image survived well. Sheila E was more up front, and let's not forget theat crazy great kitchy video for Alphabet St that is well remembered and connected with this album. Although I believe that his concerts here in Europe pushed his style for that period a lot. We did not care for that naked Prince on the cover, whtich was received with mixed feeling in the USA. Poster time again, for the last time even I believe.

• My personal 10 out of 10. Although it isn't used thatoften or much anymore.

BATMAN -

• Anton Furst - First time Prince's image, style, art and looks is heavily connected with a blockbuster which wasn't his. Batman logo was done by Anton Furst, Jeff Katz did some photography we mostly forgot as an image, and Tom Recchion did the album design. Again the video's helped a lot. Partyman for sure. Batdance somehow too, and the Scandalous image a bit.

• I'd give it a 7 out of 10 the most. We barely can imagine Pirnce form this period. Just the Partyman looks and the logo. The rest not survived that well imho.

GRAFFITI BRIDGE -

• In comes Steve Park (cover illustration) and once more Tom Recchion did the art direction. It's very personal but I never liked any of it. Nor the imagery, the style the reuse of a motorcycle, the black leather jacket, the chite shirt, the lion hair... He lost it for me there. I believe the overall image isn't all that well known or used up to this day. Who still remembers the movie (image, style and art) besides we Prince fans ? Most people don't even connect this with George Clinton or Mavis Staples who were brought in.

• 5 out of 10.

All the other albums that came after this did not do much to the remembrance of his style and art.

Yes there are images here and there that stayed somehow. Certainly the 2004 era, and for sure his later afro style with the third eye glasses.

Sometimes he did a good album cover art, like Art Official Age and Plectrum Electrum, which are stand outs for me somehow ! Great art and imagery. But unfortunately not often used or recognised as such.

All the rest looks out of style for it's period to me. He changed a lot, but never got to iconic imagery again. Except maybe for the afro ! He somehow was a step ahead with that again.

• ART OFFICIAL AGE : 9 out of 10
• PLECTRUM ELECTRUM = 8 out of 10.

Albums art and style like THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE, MPLS, ONE NIGHT ALONE..., THE VAULT, 3121 are personaly the worst; zero out of 10.

Bash me.

-

Largely agree with this list though I thought the cover of Diamonds and Pearls wasn't too bad. Not iconic maybe, but not bad. And sometimes it was a near miss; The booklet of Musicology was still fun but the cover art was terrible photoshop stuff. Same goes for Emancipation. The Rainbow children, ONA live (box) and Lotusflow3r are the ones that jump out in a positive way in the latter years.

RJOrion said:

zobilamouche said:

Sorry but I think you really have no taste in design, but I'm happy for you that you like all that stuff. And don't get me wrong, I love some on your list, some I like, but you lost all credibility when liking emancipation. Both on a design level as on the technical part, it's really REALLY bad.

i like it on a symbolic level... as for your opinions on credibility and taste, they are irrelevant and/or asinine

[Edited 9/9/20 8:47am]

I understand you like it as to what it needs to symbolize but it was such an unprofessional job and that's just a real pity.

I think Dirty Mind, Controversy, What Time Is It? 1999 Vanity 6 Purple Rain, Glamorous Life, ATWIAD, Parade, the Family, Romance 1600, Parade, Mazarati, Madhouse 8/16 SOTT Lovesexy

were really good Prince album covers. I appreciate For You and Prince for the simplicity of the times. They feel like 1970s times

Everything after this period was not working for me. I like the Rave Rainbow Children 3121 Planet Earth AOA covers

Planet Earth could have been something more reflective of the title though

For the most part, kind of boring. I like 3121 and Planet Earth. I love the Rainbow Children cover. They are not as good as earlier covers.

There are no great covers after Lovesexy. As others said it is not a WB related problem.

Some are nice, like Rainbow Children or NEWS, but most of them are graphically poor or amateurish.

[Edited 2/19/22 5:42am]

Kares said:

I really love The Rainbow Children Artwork. I even have a poster framed

Overall I agree the Warner Artwork was better. It does not suck, still some good Artwork, like 3121 and One Nite Alone (live)

[Edited 9/11/20 9:20am]

He had some great designers, photographers and artists working with him post WB (producing some great work), but when it came down to the final choices about the album art and direction, Prince seemed to make the wrong decisions in a lot of instances. I won't go into specific albums but most had something about them that just spoiled them in some way (fonts, photography, his choice of outfit/image etc). I think he was trying to break away from the 'boring' WB format of the simple typography with a nice photo, but didn't always see it through in the best way. I think it got better, maybe the earlier NPG records suffered from this - the one's on major labels tended to be a bit better IMO.