IMO, the '86 - '87 period is a pretty good contender. Just looking at the tracks for Parade, Camille, the various versions of Dream Factory, Crystal Ball and Sign O' The Times, and The Black Album, alone or with Wendy and Lisa, it seems like this is a period when Prince was just bursting with musical creativity...
[This message was edited Wed May 12 15:44:47 2004 by paligap]

Lovesexy

Actually I'd say between '80 – '88, he was at his most creative. He had a few stellar moments in the 90's, but he was on top of his creative game in the 80's.

I'd go with the same '86 through '87 period. 2nd runner up: 1982-1983.

I'd have 2 go with the 81-85 era. I mean we had the 1999 double album, purple rain album and movie, not 2 mention some of his best b-sides(17 days, Erotic City, Irresitable Bitch,etc). He also had all those side projects...the 1st 2 Time albums, Vanity 6, Appolonia 6, plus Shelia E.'s first album, and he did Sugar Walls for sheena easton. Then we had the Family and ATWIAD. Pretty impressive if u ask me.

paligap said:

Poor Goo. Poor Goo.

Undertaker/Gold Experience/Come

'95

The Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain period.

He was good before and he was good after, but the rather long period of 1983-1996 (Purple Rain sessions until Emancipation) he was the main man.

When he did ATWIAD. It was such a different album from the previous ones. I thought it was really cool.

'93 til infinity.

Every album was an album until 1999 was released -- Kid had some major creative juices flowing on that one, and the same creativity seemed to flow all the way 'til Lovesexy. Moments of brilliance continued thereon out, but nothing matches his '82 thru '88 creative output. (Actually, I could include his '80-81 output as well -- Dirty Mind, Controversy, The Time, The Rebels, and other unreleased songs/projects -- but 1999 was a huge creative showing even compared to the previous couple years).

paligap said:

BINGO! you got it right!

I'd have to say early 80's! There wasnt anything else at the time that compared! There hasnt been a lot since then either!

1985~1988 Best Prince Albums! (1982 gets an honorable mention)

82-88

....oh yeah, and any period before he moved to Toronto

Octavius said:

1983-1989, Prince was in a zone like Stevie Wonder was in the early to mid 70's.

thepurpleaxxe said:

I agree with purpleaxxe. Prince was cutting songs non-stop during 81-85. And in my opinion, this was his best and most innovative period. Not only the music but his imagery at this time was flawless. It was like P felt he had a certain amount of time to do his thing before superstardom kicked in and he might lose some of his focas and hunger that he so clearly had during this time.

85-87
93-95

1977-1986