It occured to me last night that we have celebrating 20 years since Purple Rain, but lets not forget that 1984 also produced MJ's Thriller LP. It unbeleivable that both these records still hold value & significance today.

I won't even bother asking which album you prefer, its just too hard to choose, but it does illustrate how good music was back then.

What do think? Do these records bring back good memories, do you miss such great music from various artist?

Ok Yes I'm A Youngin!!!! *16* But I Agree Music Is Isn't What It Used 2 Be!!!! All It Is Is Rap,,,,And Britney Spearz Gettin Naked,,,,I Listen 2 Oldiez More Then What'z On The Radio. Yes There Can Be Sum Good Stuff On The Radio But I Mean Not A Lot. I Basicly Just Listen 2 Prince ANd My Mommy Owez Me A CD

Actually, Thriller was released the same year 1999 was: 1982.

Supernova said:

Haha funny thank U 4 sharing the facts ...maybe he'll speak it when he truly knows it next time.....

fuck Thriller

I knew that had me scratching my head for some reason, thanks Supernova for the correction, now I don't feel like I have lost it.

I dont think Thriller is anywhere near as good a PR ,Thriller is overatted IMO,I actually prefer Bad, though I do like Beat It ,Billie Jean and human Nature I always found the rest of the songs average even the title track.

morningsong said:

That was always one of the big differences between M.J. and P ( i know there are many) but even as a kid (I was 14 when Purple Rain came out) I noticed that M.J. milked his albums for years on end while P would crank out one after the other . THINK ABOUT THIS, P could have riddnen Purple Rain until 1986 and just released tracks like 'The Beautiful Ones,' and 'Computer Blue' as singles . but instead, he released ATWIAD not even a year after Purple Rain and by '86 he was getting ready to release SOTT , his fourth album in less than 4 years (5 if you count the fact that SOTT was a double cd. Meanwhile, M.J. road thriller until '86 or '87.

chrisslope9 said:

Thats an interesting point ,MJ has hardly been prolific I only think of him as a 3 album man its suprising he's kept the popularity, I lost interest in him after Bad because I just moved onto other stuff,just shows that leaving too long between releasing aint a good thing although I still love Kate Bush and its been 11 years.

chrisslope9 said:

Good point.

All those records - including all the related artists records released in that period, and all the unreleased material.

All of that material is A+ grade Prince, he was on some sort of musical high.

Not to discredit Michael Jackson, Thriller is a great record.

Those were Good years is Right. Look at 1984's AMAS well that was Michael's year with Awards and Dick Clark actually didn't Do Right with his Awards for Prince in 1985 who DESERVED MORE AWRDS and not SECOND BEST to MICHAEL JACKSON and also THE WE ARE THE WORLD Fiasco...Prince being Treated DISPARENGINGLY by THE PRESS for CELEBRATINg and NOT ATTENDING MICHAEL and LIONEL's GIG! VERY UNFAIR.... Mr.NELSON who was DUBBED his ROYAL BADNESS was Dissed by HOLLYWOOD HONCHOS cause THEY SAID HE DIDN"T FIT iNTO THEIR kinda SCOPE. Masturbation was So Wrong ...This is LUDICRIS..... I will not cease to be PERTURBED at HOLLYWOOD"S REFUSAL to INDUCT PRINCE into that HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME! He MUST GET THAT STAR And it Should be this Year. There should be a 20 anniversary of Purple Rain at Manns again. He should have gis Star right in front and Handprints and footprints. I suppose Prince Never Really Cared,but ya Know what? Caring or Not it's Called his Dues. His Time. What Should Rightfully be his. I wish him this. I wish him Joy and Heaven....

PBS said:

sorry but other than Billie Jean and the Thriller video and the alubm sales figure - what significance does it have today?
also I thought it was released in 1983

mattosgood said:

I think the implications of the Billie Jean video alone carry enormous significance.

mattosgood said:

What significance do you mean? Some Thriller uniform or even a Thriller country?

BlueNote

I noticed that too about MJ, what is it 5, 6 albums in 27 years? It was those mega videos and the dancing that was the catalyst, I think. Wring an album til it's dry. P is just bursting with music, I think he'd explode if he had to wait so long before releasing something. Last count from NPGMC was what 35, 36 albums in 25 years. Yep, he'd explode. Don't get me wrong I like MJ, but the idea I can find a song or 2+ by P to fit any mood that I'm in just is amazing to me.

PR wins hands down.....I prefered Off The Wall to Thriller, far better album.

morningsong said:

Thats what I'm feelin. When I get into a "MJ situation" there is no limit. But you are right, it is like a Prince river or sea you can almost drown in his diversity.

BlueNote

richierich said:

Actually, if I'm remember correctly, Thriller came out in 1983. I disticntly remember cuz my mother, who grew up on the Jackson 5, thought she was doing me a favor by putting jerry curl juice in my hair. Gosh, then there was those hideous red leather pants and matching Thriller jacket. That was a year of torture.

I'll always remember hearing 17 Days for the first time. Everything I was doing, where I was located. Talk about falling in love for the first time. Then When Doves Cry hit radio stations. The xtc. The rapture. I still cry whenever I hear Purple Rain. The album just holds so many memories.

Can't say that about Thriller.

hilton02895 said:

The album was released Dec 1982. The vid was about a year later.

Ye I actually have Thriller and it says 1982 on the back of the sleeve.

drhull said:

just what i was thinkin

andykeen said:

Funny. I hardly ever play Purple Rain anymore. It's a great pop album but oddly not one of P's that I pull off the shelf very often. However, Thriller still gets played by me a hell of a lot.

What's interesting is that MJ is constantly writing and recording music. He probably has as much unreleased stuff as Prince. Yet Prince releases albums more frequently while MJ just sits on all of his unreleased stuff. The only unreleased MJ songs that have come out officially are the "new" songs on Blood On The Dance Floor and the special edition re-releases of Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad. There are actually rumours going around that later this year Sony are going to release a box set of unreleased MJ tracks.

As for MJ albums, I'm a Bad and Dangerous man myself.

Cloudbuster said:

tut tut

Cloudbuster said:

Yes,'Thriller' was released in late December 1982.But it pretty much dominated 1983 and part of 1984.I think at one point,it was selling a million copies a week.

btw,the 'Thriller' and 'Purple Rain' days were an exciting time.These albums came out and stayed Number One for MONTHS.There was a real excitement about music,and people didn't just rush to the next flavor-of-the-week,like they do now.Back then,the public really embraced great albums,and played them for awhile.

Cloudbuster said:

Shoot, I still play PR!! I was tryin' to learn that guitar part to Computer Blue the other day. Beautiful.....

WildStyle said:

Yeah, I've heard that. I reckon that's why the two cd set of the Dangerous reissue was scrapped so those additional tracks could be included on the box set. We'll see.

OdysseyMiles said:

I still play it. Just not as often as Thriller.