I got 2 wondering last nite (and please 4give me if this has been posted previously) but it seems 2 me that when all is said and done, (and commercial success aside), that there are three albums 2 date that stand out from the rest as radical departures from what we have expected of Prince musically, spiritually, creatively and (insert own adjective here) before:

Around The World In A Day:


LoveseXy:


The Rainbow Children:


Because of the sheer fact these stand out from the pack, surely these are the markers of how Prince evolved throughout his career, therefore making them his most important albums?

Im not talking from a personal perspective here, and Im hoping Im putting this across correctly, but 2 me these albums just stick out like sore thumbs - like glaringly obvious in their import.

These are the albums where Prince really stretched out, and took chances - I was kinda hoping that this was gonna happen with NEWS after seeing the 'EasT' promo ad on NPGMC, as I thought what I heard then sounded exciting. On that note, (personally speaking) I really do think that was pretty much a sadly wasted opportunity 2 do something REALLY wild - I was kinda hoping 4 some kinda really off-the wall, avant-garde ambient type album. Still, it's different, and important in its own little way I suppose.

I digress - I know that Im more than likely going 2 get posts relating how some (or all) of these are not people's fave albums etc - that's not really the point here, but all the same I thought It would be good 2 get da Org's feedback on this, as Im quite intruiged.

Boris Fishpaw - where u at?

This message was brought 2 u by Notarainbowchildrenthread Inc
[This message was edited Mon Nov 3 11:15:03 PST 2003 by bananacologne]

I'm with ya when yer right.

bananacologne said:

I agree . . . these are 3 good examples of some creative experimenting!

I think Parade would also be a good choice . . . the heavy use of strings/horns was still new to Prince at that time. But, the album still rocked too! And the black & white photography and short hair cut added to the overall feel . . .

FunkMistress said:

my thoughts exactly.

I agree with ya on TRC. Lovesexy was just a direction I knew he was gonna go in. He always struck me as a spirutal person so a spiritual album was bound to come. ATWIAD: After the huge commercial success of PR, Prince was going back to where he was comfortable, doing his own thing. I think the three most important were:

TRC
SOTT-The departure of the Revolution.
Emancipation-Prince as a living, breathing human being.

Pay attention at the back there you two!

Good choices Stymie-Stymes, but stick 2 the above please.

Stay behind after class and we'll discuss your punishment

i think the thread title should be revised.

the 3 most fan-alienating albums of prince's career.

but then again, I am a thread killer, so SHINE ON U CRAZY DIAMONDS!

Clubkid said:

What fans are you referring to? The purple-bandwagoneers? Lovesexy is adored by most of his fans, and TRC excited and energized me about Prince's new music for the first time in a long time.

Clubkid said:

Certainly not fans. The general public possibly.

Clubkid said:

I mostly agree Nanners.

How about:

Dirty Mind
1999
Sign O' the Xs

Lovesexy is really the ONLY Prince album where the spiritual urgency of the music was completely in synch with the spiritual urgency of the lyrics...in my opinion, anyway. That album just wraps itself around me and doesn't let go - there's a warmth to it that never existed before and hasn't since. I'm not saying it's necessarily a BETTER album than the rest, but there's a quality to that record that is wonderfully unique.

Anxiety said:

Agree 1000%

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Based purely on aesthetics
attributed to music,I much
prefer this list.

Anxiety said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

for example...

Doubts of our conviction
Follow where we go
And when the world's compassion
Ceases still I know
For your every touch I
Thank you so much
For your every kiss I
I wish you love, I wish you Heaven
I wish you Heaven...





[This message was edited Fri Oct 31 10:44:55 PST 2003 by FunkMistress]

I agree about these being the most radical departures of his career.

But in terms of importance, you can't count out commercial success and influence. If you're going by those standards, it's hard not to recognize Dirty Mind, Purple Rain and Sign "O" The Times as his 3 greats, whether they're your favorites or not.

Clubkid said:

BRAVO!! BRAVO!!

Clubkid said:

You can say that again.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

So u dont agree at all then.

TRON said:

Oh nevermind, I said it for ya.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I dont really think SOTT was a radical departure or leftfield. It was just the album that 2 my mind gave the greatest representation of Prince's capabilities as a songwriter.

OK, since you have changed the title of the thread, I now completely agree!!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

T-Bone, u have such style!

And I also agree with what you said about NEWS. I quite like it but I too was hoping for and expecting a really wild journey and about 78% of it is music you come to expect from Prince.

I hope that before Prince hangs up the hat that we get at least 1 more album that comes from left of left field. Based on the promo clip NPGMC had, NEWS coulda been it...

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Me, too!! We are becoming one like The Borg.

OK this almost delineates the 3 times I lost interest in PRINCE and dumped him.

ATWIAD - "What is this poppy Beatles sounding shit? Where's the funk?"

LOVESEXY "What is this gay-ass nude pose on the cover? WTF? It's all one track!! Where's the funk of the BLACK ALBUM?" (Still it was a very good album)

TRC didn't turn me off from Prince, but I did grow tired of listening to it. It was a non-musical event: the "SLAVE" rebellion and name change to that got me the 3rd time.

BC, great well thought out thread !, i agree bout these 3 being albums where p took a chance ,no doubt about that at all.some folks have thrown in other albums like sott,dirty mind,parade etc i dont agree with them, p didnt take the same gambles with sott and parade they were simply PRINCE albums ! ie; his creative stamp all over them in a funky prince way. but the other 3 u mention atwiad,lovesexy,trc were massive shifts in creativity and style totally different than anything he'd done previously ! therefore i agree with ur analysis. 1 last point i didnt mention dirty mind along with sott and parade because, my opinion there is this, this was a shift in direction alright and also a 1 off like trc ,LS,atwiad but... there were not anything like the amount of fans 2 alienate !!!so wasnt really a gamble as such !!! so i think u were right 2 leave it out.