Hey, I have just recently started collecting vinyl and wanted to know which ones you all would recommend out of Prince's discography. I was gifted Around the World in a Day & Purple Rain from a friend and I LOVE the artwork from ATWAD!

any other vinyl you all would suggest?

[Edited 3/1/25 3:47am]

Hi there. Welcome in the gigantic world of prince's music.

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If you like nice album art, I would say '1999' Album.

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The albums 'Sign 'O' The Times' (1987), 'Parade' (1986) and 'Lovesexy' (1988) are an absolute must listen, and amongst his ultimate best cohesive albums.

Once you get into these, there's no stopping.

You preferably want go back next, to 'Controversy' (1981), 'Dirty Mind' (1980), 'Prince' (1979), and his first album 'For You' (1978), to see where it all comes form and how it started.

From 1989 on ('Batman' soundtrack), all other Prince's albums are also an absolutely worth visit.

Artworks are all very different, as is the music. No album is alike. It's an amazing journey.

Enjoy it.

Hope this helps a bit.

shockadelica86 said:

Hey, I have just recently started collecting vinyl and wanted to know which ones you all would recommend out of Prince's discography. I was gifted Around the World in a Day & Purple Rain from a friend and I LOVE the artwork from ATWAD!

any other vinyl you all would suggest?

[Edited 3/1/25 3:47am]

Hey, welcome. I'm a record collector too.

For your next one, how about Parade, or one of the double albums - 1999 or Sign O The Times?

I suggest Parade because it is close chronologically to the two records you've enjoyed so far.

Most new fans would want to eventually seek out all the albums from the "golden era" - the first decade of Prince's career. That's For You, Prince, Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, ATWIAD, Parade, Sign O The Times, and Lovesexy.

There are modern reissues of all those, if you want something in pristine condition, but equally it can be fun to seek out copies from the original runs too.

shockadelica86 said:

Hey, I have just recently started collecting vinyl and wanted to know which ones you all would recommend out of Prince's discography. I was gifted Around the World in a Day & Purple Rain from a friend and I LOVE the artwork from ATWAD!

any other vinyl you all would suggest?

[Edited 3/1/25 3:47am]

Maybe get them in groups:

-Sign O' The Times and 1999.

-Musicology and 3121

-Dirty Mind and Controversy

-Parade and Lovesexy

Don't forget the 12" singles!!!

shockadelica86 said:

Hey, I have just recently started collecting vinyl and wanted to know which ones you all would recommend out of Prince's discography. I was gifted Around the World in a Day & Purple Rain from a friend and I LOVE the artwork from ATWAD!

any other vinyl you all would suggest?

[Edited 3/1/25 3:47am]

Honestly the sound on his last released album ("Hit N Run Phase II") is where I started.

(Listen to a song more than once, on several days over a week. Prince's music awakens in you in layers. You will hear more and more as you listen.)

Then I went to "Art Official Age".

Then I went back to the album "Prince". (The song (When We're Dancing Close and Slow really got mne for the younger, sweeter Prince.)

You're on a lifetime journey... have fun.

nayroo2002 said:

Don't forget the 12" singles!!!

Eaxctly !

All of 'm are a must.

Vannormal said:

Vannormal said:

Hi there. Welcome in the gigantic world of prince's music.

-

If you like nice album art, I would say '1999' Album.

-

The albums 'Sign 'O' The Times' (1987), 'Parade' (1986) and 'Lovesexy' (1988) are an absolute must listen, and amongst his ultimate best cohesive albums.

Once you get into these, there's no stopping.

You preferably want go back next, to 'Controversy' (1981), 'Dirty Mind' (1980), 'Prince' (1979), and his first album 'For You' (1978), to see where it all comes form and how it started.

From 1989 on ('Batman' soundtrack), all other Prince's albums are also an absolutely worth visit.

Artworks are all very different, as is the music. No album is alike. It's an amazing journey.

Enjoy it.

Hope this helps a bit.

Thank you! I appreciate your recommendations, I like how the different art goes with the different music styles. Prince has a lot of cool stuff and his eras are really interesting as his music changed a little throughout each album.

peedub said:

If you're collecting to listen, I feel that lovesexy, sott, come, lotusflower, rainbow children all sound better on vinyl listened to front to back on a decent system that fills the room with sound as you position yourself comfortably between the speakers. Vinyl playback of emancipation takes the razor's edge off the production style of that album, making it more listenable. And, yeah, I don't see them at record stores a lot, but the b sides and extended mixes are essential. And the family and the time albums. Generally, anything that was originally produced and recorded to be released on vinyl. I kinda can't wait for the record collector boom to go away, but good luck. Records are a fun way to listen to music, but I miss not having to pay collector prices. [Edited 3/1/25 20:49pm]

My favorite song is Last December! Prince is a genius! This CD is really hard to find especially at a good dealI saw Rainbow Children at my local wreckastow and it was almost $50! I've listened to most of that album on Spotify and really liked it, I just wish it wasn't so expensive but the artwork and the music is INCREDIBLE

[Edited 3/2/25 21:15pm]

You should absolutely checkout stories of creating the album covers from Purple Rain to Lovesexy and Madhouse. (YouTube link below).

These were created by Laura Lipuma and her team.

She also visited P at Paisley Park and his home for the Sign of the Times artwork and received a gift.

Cool Stories!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/w...FjhHEanuX0

Another vote here for the Sign "o" the times album.The super deluxe version really is an extraordinary collection of music and performances and well worth whatever you might pay for it.

For the later period Indigo nights is another one where you feel like you are getting an awful lot of value in one package.

Bootlegs! Bootlegs! Bootlegs! Because there are so many available! Sure there are some audioquality issues here, but If you haven´t been to concerts or to a few (like me), this is would one approach.

I recommend "The gold experience", Vanity 6 - "Vanity 6".

I have a special 12" NPG single of "Get wild" from Germany were the a-side is played inside out , the b-side is played the usual way outside in.

1. Buy the 12 inch of Let's Go Crazy.

2. Turn up the volume and listen to the A-side Let's Go Crazy, dancing around your living room. Plenty of air guitar required

3. Now, turn your attention to side b - Erotic City. Feel how the groove takes over your body. Let the funk flow through you

Repeat steps 2&3 many time. Voila, your life has just changed, there is no turning back anymore