I was sitting around tonight looking at the rows and rows of Prince CDs in my collection, and I started to think about the albums in terms of creative efforts rather than musical efforts. The two can be seen as the same, but I'm talking about the effort Prince puts into an album from a visionary standpoint before a note is played (or before previously shelved songs are selected for a new project).

What would you rank as Prince's most creative album, and why?

My vote -- Sign O the Times. A truly creative album. So many diverse songs, but all fitting together so nicely. Quirky, fun, and somber...it's all there.

Off the top of me head I'm thinking Parade... then ATWIAD... then SOTT... but I gotta think some mo...

i have to say Lovesexy

Rain is wet. sugar is sweet.

I would say Parade then Lovesexy.

JonSnow said:

Forgot that one!

Parade... then Lovesexy... then ATWIAD... then SOTT...

1999-----all the rest were variations off that sound. This is the lp that broke him wide open to the public.

Thumparello said:

good point..... that was the big creative leap.

I would definitely have to say SOTT - it's all over the place stylistically, but it almost always sounds focused (I do think there is a touch of excess fat on side two of album one). He never sounded so complete and confident again.

I expect Lovesexy will get a lot of votes here. The devotion of Prince fans to that album completely mystifies me. Barring a couple of exceptions I think the songwriting is extremely flat - it definitely sounds like an album that was knocked off very quickly. Do devotees of this disc really think that Glam Slam, I Wish You Heaven and Positivity are timeless tracks?

Parade

I hate to say it, but Purple Rain, because of the intensity of "The Beautiful Ones", the pop smash "When Doves Cry", not to mention "Purple Rain", which to me is one of the best songs EVER. But that's just my opinion.

the come albun or maybe new power soul

Unlike Prince u all r limiting ur imagination. The best is yet 2 come.

Susej said:

I hope you're right

Toss up between ATWIAD and Lovesexy

1999

flipwilson said:

No. But in context wtih the other songs on the album they aren't throwaways. Are you gonna argue with the absolute intensity of the dueling snyths at the end of Glam Slam, the purity of Eye Wish U Heaven or the drilling message of Positivity? Those aren't weak songs. Timeless? No, not really. But they are far from weak.

Toss-up between "Lovesexy" and "Black Album". That was some off tha wall sh*t.

MOST meaning "In the recording studio">>> it would have to be "Emancipation"

hmmm, i'd day around the world in a day, 1999, and lovesexy

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

What a cool sticker. Wish my vinyl copy had that.

I think it's a toss up (not toss off, LittlePill so get your hand outta your pockets ) between 1999 and sign o' the times.

While it is hip to fall back on Lovesexy or SOTT when this question comes up, you cant deny that - when considered in the proper time context - Purple Rain was a astronomical creative breakthrough. It is the primary reason that we still talk about Prince. It is the priary reason that this site and other like it exist. It was the world wide announcement that Prince was the foremost musical genius in contemporary music and no one could touch him. Nothing had ever sounding like that. When Doves Cry alone is a master stroke that has yet to be equalled.

I think that NEWS, The Rainbow Children, and Xpectation (and maybe even Kamasutra) are among the most significant creative pinnacles in his career. It would be easy to retread SOTT and Purple Rain forever - and many artists do build careers on their one initial breakthrough. Not Prince - his courage to buck trends and push the envelope is what makes him Prince. Prince moved toward a free form jazz inspired direction with these 3 albums which made room for all of his incredible musicianship and composition skills. No other "pop" star has this kind of range and avility to so adeptly move across ALL genres. Listen to his guitar solo on Xogenous - is this the playing of a rock legend or a seasoned jazz man? Take NEWS in its entirety and consider the vocabulary necessary to make it and after making an epic like Emancipation. Creativity is but a word for this man.
[This message was edited Sun Apr 18 8:47:55 2004 by Daddypop7779311]

I am torn

but my vote for most CREATIVE would go to either Parade or The Rainbow Children...

TRC is just a trip! It can be frustrating, but I've NEVER heard a CD like that before...

Parade..
SOTT
1999
Dirty Mind
The Rainbow Children
One Night Alone

I don't get why everyone thinks Lovesexy is so creative. The concept was creative, I'll give you that, but the songs, outside of a couple tracks, are kinda boring imo.

In no PARTiCULaRISH ordah (sorry, I'm feelin stoopid - and I have an unresistable urge to listen to Jughead now, even tho I hATE it.).

- SOTT
- Parade
- Lovesexy
- 1999
- The Rainbow Platypus

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

The leap artistically from Controversy to 1999 was amazing. 1999 is still influencing to this day.

Its gotta be Dirty Mind for me. It was the first record which hinted at the possibilities to come

I still say 1999!!

It was innovative and way ahead of it's time creatively. Sounded like no one else. A spawned a million imitators.

The other lps were great but less ground breaking. Sounding more like Rolling Stones(Dirty Mind), Controversy (Funkadelic) ,For You (Shuggy Otis) , Parade(EWF sounding) on 1999 he was on to some next shit.



Just my thoughts!

Thump

What makes Prince so amazing is...I'm reading this and all of the arguments are worthy ones.

My initial vote would be "Sign O' the Times."

But I've also thought about the postings here and then I was like, "well, damn! What about the Batman soundtrack?" Sure, music purists scoff at the mostly-electronic album, but I just imagine Prince in a room full of computers, keyboards and guitars in a mad, fevered fury, hammering out this album that so cleverly represented the main characters of the film...I've never known another soundtrack to so clearly and thoughtfully and creatively represent the film's characters...usually you're lucky if the soundtrack songs set the proper mood.

I'm still going with "Sign..." but beware...we could be here for days because almost every album has its merits as creative breakthrus!

Keith/Kacey

ATWIAD....I loved the funky psychedelica.

Loxesexy....I can't even describe the sound, but it was cool.