Lately, I was loading some new music on my Phone to listen to while doing whatever. I decided to grab Parade and load it.

I realized it's been aa hot minute since I've spun this album. Listening on headphones - I'm purposely listening to other sounds and elements in the songs. There is so much going on.

It's been a really nice refresher. And I'm not even skipping past "Life Can Be So Nice," which I typically cannot deal with. Too noisy. But I'm just letting it all play.

Ever circled back to an album like that, sorta said "Oh hey, long time, no hear?"

It's always a treat to re-discover a jewel, but I have never been able to sleep on Parade.

That is one album I listen to in it's entirety (regularly) because it is just so stylistically different and I don't think there is anything like it. I feel it has an openness and authenticity to it. It's not pretentious, just unbound and quirky.

It feels like an album where Prince just said, "I'm doing this, and I don't care who doesn't get it".

It feels like on Parade Prince just leaned into "everything aint for everybody, but I like it so deal with it".

And I like it. All of it.

Now about The Black Album... (I think I need to throw on some headphones and circle back to that one...)

I've not had that experience exactly. Once I decide an ablum is a gem, it usually stays in my rotation, and I'm not surprised how great it is when I do relisten.

However, there are times I'll revisit an album I'd previously disliked and discover that it's actually pretty good and my opinion has changed. I'd put MPLSound in this category.

EDIT: After further thought, I was able to think of one ablum that meets the criteria in the orginal post: The Gold Experience. When it was first released I absolutely loved it, but over the years I'd kind of forgotten about it. I also convinced myself its production was dated and cheesy. But when I revisted it a couple years ago, I was susprised by how much I enjoyed it.

After hearing every Prince produced album constantly over decades, i have found that the best way to revisit the music with fresh(er) ears is to put it all into one playlist and play it back on random.

...and i don't mean whole albums at once.
just all the songs (including side project) in a massive "Surprise Mix"

I did this ecactly one week ago (...mentioned it here in another thread).

Like i said, I'm dying for an Atmos Dolby version.

Damn, the whole era and whatever unheard and beyond in superb quality please!

Venus De Milo? Ah man......

Best ever Prince music with The Revolution, Eric Leeds and others.

Totally underrated by the masses imho.

Can't but state that this is right now my favorite Prince album.

I had the same last year with Lovesexy.

I've never slept on this album since its release in 86, and its best when listened to as a whole. It doesn't age. The variety of styles is still amazing after all these years. I usually listen to it a lot in the Spring, as with ATWIAD.

I slept on For You for years, but recently dusted it off, and now its become on of my go-to's.