While I think “Lovesexy” is a strong record one of the things that’s always bugged me about the praise it gets is that there aint nothing on “Lovesexy” that Prince did not already do, and do better, on the “Black Album.” Lyrically these two records could not be further apart, but musically the sound of “Lovesexy” can be found in the funkier, more vital, rawer, and more musically interesting “Cindy C,” “Le Grind,” and, among others, “Rock Hard and A Funky Place.”

I’m curious what other people think. But the best opinion, the one that will strike me hardest, will be by the person who takes an hour and half out of their day, like I just did, and plays these two records back to back. So what’s the result? Agree or disagree?

Both are indispensable.

You need both to fully understand either. The Black Album is hard driven funk. Lovesexy is a much more experimental ethereal sounding record, it has depths and layers that Black doesn't have. Also on occasion the horns are in a different key to the vocals and keyboards creating a kind of polyphony.

There are elements of The Black Album in Lovesexy but the latter to me is a much better realised album with a bigger sonic scope. It also strikes me that it's an apology for Black (The way the Bob George voice crops up in Anna Stesia for example) maybe not an apology, a request for redemption? Something like that.

Anyway both great records from one of the most interesting periods in Prince history.