Here's how I'd rank all the songs from both:

1. Anna Stesia
2. Positivity
3. I Wish U Heaven
4. I No
5. Lovesexy
6. When 2 R in Love
7. Alphabet St.
8. Superfunkycalifragisexy
9. Glam Slam
10. Le Grind
11. Rockhard in a Funky Place
12. Bob George
13. Cindy C
14. Dance On
15. 2 Nights United 4 West Compton
16. Dead on It

Moonbeam said:

i gotta agree with ya. I've cooled to Lovesexy over the years. It used to be my favorite but its faded now, although I still love it, and i definitely think it's a stronger release than the Black Album.

I think the Black Album - while it has some good things - never lived up to the hype. i thinks that's ultimately why prince shelved it; it just wasn't that strong, especially compared w/ all the SOTT-era material.
[Edited 5/5/10 18:25pm]

Top 80s Albums in no particular order:

Prince - Sign o the Times
Prince & the Revolution - Parade
Prince & the Revolution - Purple Rain
Prince - The Black Album
Prince - 1999
Prince - Lovesexy
Prince & the Revolution - ATWIAD
Prince - Controversy
Stone Roses - Debut
U2 - Under a Blood Red Sky
U2 - War
U2 - Joshua Tree
The Clash - Sandanista!
Def Leppard - Hysteria
Yaz - Upstairs at Eric's
Yaz - You and Me Both
Erasure - The Circus
Eurythmics - Savage
The Family
Madhouse 8 & 16
Jill Jones
Sheila E - Glam Life
Sheila E - 3rd album
The Time - What Time is it?
Wendy & Lisa - 1st album
Journey - Escape
Foreigner - 4
Styx - Paradise Theater
Squeeze - Singles
Squeeze - Argybargy
Squeeze - Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti
Aerosmith - Pump
Peter Gabriel - So
Genesis - Abacab
Genesis - Genesis
Phil Collins - Face Value
Grateful Dead - Touch of Gray
GnR - Appetite for Destruction
Madonna - Like a Prayer
Janet Jackson - Control
Michael Jackson - Thriller
The Jacksons - Triumph
The Jacksons - Live
INXS - Kick
Pretty in Pink Sountrack
She's Having a Baby Soundtrack
New Order - Substance
Paul Simon - Graceland
Terence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the Hardline
Tesla - Great Radio Controversy
Travelin Wilburys - vol 1
Van Halen - Women & Children First
Van Halen - 1984
Van Halen - 5150 (yes...I like both Dave AND Sammy)
Van Halen - OU812
AC/DC - Back in Black
REM - Eponymous

Fenwick said:

Let me know when you're list is final!

Poplife88 said:

Thanks!

JoeTyler said:

I Wish U Heaven > Everything Ever

Moonbeam said:

I LOVE The Black Album too. It's a legitimate comparison considering one replaced the other. Lovesexy happens to be the first Prince album I ever owned (I was a late bloomer and didn't become a Prrince fan until 1989) and the first notes of Eye No just hooked me in.

What's funny is When 2 Are In Love is only track I'm not crazy about and it's on BOTH albums. I don't hate the song, I;m just not a big fan of it.

Any way regarding this here are my thoughts:

LeGrind > Eye No (Love Le Grind - but think Eye No kills it)

Cindy C. = Alphabet St. (I actually prefer Cindy C and think it is hilarious)

Dead on It < Glam Slam (Not sure these are really comparable - call it a tie)

Bob George > Anna Stesia (Again - not really comparable - but Anna Stesia is all over this song)

Super... > Dance On (LOVE LOVE LOVE Super but prefer Dance On)

2 Nigs... < Lovesexy (Agree)

Rockhard...> Positivity (Such different vibes and I love both - tie)

1 - Prince - Parade
2 - Prince - Lovesexy
3 - Pete Townshend - White City
4 - Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues
5 - Paul Simon - Graceland
6 - The Pretenders I
7 - Michael Jackson - Thriller
8 - Robbie Robertson - Self Titled
9 - Joni Mitchell - Shadows in Light
10 - Elton John - Too Low For Zero
11 - Peter Gabriel - 4 Security
12 - Steve Wonder - Hotter Than July
13 - Terence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the Hardline
14 - Prince SOTT
15 - Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
16 - Elvis Costello - Get Happy
17 - Prince - Dirty Mind
18 - Marvin Gaye - In Our Lifetime
19 - Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
20 - Prince - Purple Rain
21 - The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues
22 - Peter Gabriel - 3 Meltface
23 - John Mellencamp - Paper in Fire
24 - David Bowie - Scary Monsters
25 - Tears for Fears - Sowing the Seeds of Love
26 - Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman
27 - Dexy's Midnight Runners - Too Rye Ay
28 - Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones
29 - Smokey Robinson - Warm Thoughts
30 - Dire Straits = Love Over Gold
31 - The Pretenders II
32 - Midnight Oil - Diesel and Dust
33 - Terence Trent D'Arby - Neither Fish nor Flesh
34 - Pete Townshend - Empty Glass
35 - Elvis Costello - Trust
36 - Elvis Costello - Spike
37 - Prince - Controversy
38 - Prince - 1999
39 - Pat Metheny - First Circle
40 - Talking Heads - Remain in Light
41 - Queen - The Game
42 - Stevie Wonder - Musiquarium (Compilation but it has 4 new songs)
43 - John Mellencamp - Scarecrow
44 - Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
45 - Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
46 - Elton John - Live in Australia
47 - Billy Joel - The Nylon Curtain
48 - Michael Jackson - Bad
49 - The Pretenders Learning to Crawl
50 - The Family - Self Titled
51 - Roxy Music - Avalon
52 - Dire Straits - Making Movies
53 - The Cars - Panorama
54 - Paul Simon - One Trick Pony
55 - Supertramp - Live in Paris
56 - Queen - The Works
57 - Peter Gabriel - So
58 - Jill Jones - Self Titled
59 - Prince - Around the World In A Day
60 - The Smiths - The Queen is Dead


Let me know when you're list is final![/quote]

Here you go!!!

1. Purple Rain - Prince - 1984
2. Sign O' The Times - Prince - 1987
3. Appetite For Destruction - Guns 'N Roses - 1987
4. Bad - Michael Jackson - 1987
5. Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen - 1984
6. Lovesexy - Prince - 1988
7. Thriller - Michael Jackson - 1982
8. Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits - 1985
9. The Joshua Tree - U2 - 1987
10. Let Love Rule - Lenny Kravitz - 1989
11. Like A Prayer - Madonna - 1989
12. Parade - Prince - 1986
13. Graceland - Paul Simon - 1986
14. 1999 - Prince - 1982
15. Making Movies - Dire Straits - 1980
16. Dirty Mind - Prince - 1980
17. No Jacket Required - Phil Collins - 1985
18. Introducing The Hardline ... - Terence Trent D'Arby - 1987
19. Batman - Prince - 1989
20. Let's Dance - David Bowie - 1983
21. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 - Traveling Wilburys - 1988
22. Infidels - Bob Dylan - 1983
23. An Innocent Man - Billy Joel - 1983
24. Controversy - Prince - 1981
25. Kick - INXS - 1987
26. Mystery Girl - Roy Orbison - 1989
27. Full Moon Fever - Tom Petty - 1989
28. Around The World In A Day - Prince - 1985
29. Look Sharp! - Roxette - 1988
30. Toto IV - Toto - 1982
31. The River - Bruce Springsteen - 1980
32. Journeyman - Eric Clapton - 1989
33. ... But Seriously - Phil Collins - 1989
34. Back In Black - AC/DC - 1980
35. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman - 1988

Fenwick said:

Thanks!

december said:

Awesome! And this brings us to 34 albums lists.

december said:[quote]1.

21. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 - Traveling Wilburys - 1988

You see, that's the problem with making lists like these in a vacuum.

You completely forget about great albums like this one!

Moonbeam said:

OK so I know this gif has been here for a little while.

But it is proving to be borderline hypnotically hilarious to me.

NoVideo said:

that's because Prince is always in a hurry; if he thought that the Black Album was just ok (for me, as it stands, is a near-masterpiece), he could have waited until early 1988, return to the studio again, and just mix the best Black Album's tracks with new strong songs like Alphabet St or Glam Slam with a funkier, edgier sound...

but the whole concept of the Lovesexy era is what irritates me; he was a dirty gigolo in 1986, a mad funkster by the end of 1987, but suddenly by 1988 he became a bland (and God-fearing) priest playing overproduced pop songs??, c'mon...

Moonbeam said:

there's no way Eye No is better than LeGrind, no way

Poplife88 said:

JoeTyler said:

I'm not sure i'd say they were bland - overproduced, I can definitely see. But it works on those songs. They are colorful, larger than life, bombastic - nothing else sounds like Lovesexy, it's almost a genre to itself in some ways. There are so many things going on that sometimes its maddening, but it's uniquely... Prince. I do prefer the stripped down dirty funk of things like Superfunky but ultimately I just don't think the material was there for the Black Album. It sounds more like a collection of outtakes and throwaways to me. I like the idea of the Black Album better than the end result, if that makes sense.

If he had worked to combine some of those tracks w/ a few of the newer songs, I'm not sure it would have worked - they are so stylistically different, and Lovesexy has such a unique vibe. I dunno. Maybe a double album, the "Good" side and the "Bad" side, heh. That might've worked.

Lovesexy was my favorite for a long time, but it just sounds sooooo dated now. I also think that I just overplayed it for a long time. I rarely have the urge to listen to it anymore, but I do put it on from time to time, and still enjoy it. I think Anna Stesia is one of the best tracks of his career.
[Edited 5/6/10 7:55am]

NoVideo said:

That would have been a good idea ; at least he would have gotten positive reviews and +1.000.000 copies sold...I'm sure...

NoVideo said:

Interesting take. I think they both work tremendously for the very reasons you just stated when talking about Lovesexy. Only I'd take it a step further and say the songs were there for the Black Album too.

Joe - I guess you re comparing some of the tracks because of album placement. I'm not so sure that works in some instances. (At least not for me).

Le Grind has the simple programmed drum track and is produced in a dark/murky way. Eye No is WIDE open. Great full drums from Sheila and really lively horn blasts. They are saying two different things in two different ways.

I actually think Prince's "confusion" as it were actually helped him in this time. Unlike now when he's confused and more or less chasing trends, back then he was confused because he was setting them and didn't know which step he wanted to take next.

Obviously to each their own. I revere both albums and think they're master class material for different reasons.

And Novideo, unlike you I still consider Lovesexy to be absolutely brilliant and not dated at all. If anything, perhaps due to some very poor production choices with his newer material, I think this album has dated even better.

Perhaps the only song I would caveat that with would be the keyboard effects on Glam Slam. That's probably the only thing I would knock down a little bit.

Fenwick said:

It's been a while since I've played it... think i might get out the ol' vinyl tonight and give it a spin.

I remember clearly the day it came out. My best friend and I were both obsessive Prince fans - both in 9th grade. We went to the local record store in my small town on the release date, but the UPS delivery truck hadn't arrived yet with the new releases. So after browsing the shop for like 2 hours, we finally just sat down in the corner waiting for the shipment to arrive, LOL.

ahhh those were the days. Now everything is instantaneous - click, click, and you've got it.

I also remember getting a badly recorded cassette of the Black Album and hearing it for the first time. I thought it was the holy grail, lol. I had read so much about it and was aching to hear it. The poor quality of the cassette almost added to the mystique, if that made sense. Dirty, funky, underground, raw...

But as I've gotten older, and it was officially released, its just kinda... meh. I think it worked better as a bootleg, heh.

Sorry to ramble on

JoeTyler said:

I think heads would have exploded at WB if he suggested another double album, LOL. But I agree it would have sold much better than Lovesexy did when it came out.

NoVideo said:

You kidding? Not rambling at all. Those kind of stories are great.

I'm a "few years" older and had just graduated high school when Lovesexy came out. The brother of the woman I was dating at the time and I shared a ton of the same musical tastes. I knew about Prince through his hits only.

He handed me the Lovesexy album and told me I didn't know what I was missing.

Man was he ever right.

For me, other than ONA Piano, Lovesexy is his last pure master class album. Everything about it, (especailly the tour) was/is magic.

Break out that vinyl!!!!

Fenwick said:

I will

And I agree that Lovesexy is better than anything that came after it. I'd put TGE close... and I love ONA Piano as well. I enjoy the more recent stuff, but it's just not the same magic.

Those albums... from Dirty Mind thru Lovesexy.... the man was just killer. I want the keys to the vault, dammit!! Everything from that era should be released. Maybe one day

Albums in no particular order:

Prince - Purple Rain
Prince - Sign O' The Times
Prince - Around The World In A Day
Prince - Parade
Prince - 1999
Prince - Controversy
Prince - Dirty Mind
Prince - Batman
Prince - Lovesexy
Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper - True Colors
Janet Jackson - Control
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Madonna - Madonna
Madonna - Like A Virgin
Bobby Brown- Don't Be Cruel
New Edition- Heartbreak
The Cure - The Head On The Door
The Cure - Disintegration
The Cure - Seventeen Seconds
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Freaky Styley
Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother's Milk
Heart - Heart
Heart - Passionworks
Jody Watley - Jody Watley
Jody Watley - Larger Than Life
Sade - Promise
Sade - Diamond Life
Sade - Stronger Than Pride
Guns 'n Roses - GNR Lies
Guns 'n Roses - Appetite For Destruction
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Metallica - ...And Justice for All
The Bangles - Different Light
Weird Al Yankovic - Dare To Be Stupid
The Police - Synchronicity
Toto - Toto IV
Beastie Boys - License To Ill
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Run DMC - Raising Hell
[Edited 5/6/10 11:17am]
[Edited 5/6/10 11:20am]

I Received your orgnote i'm going to post some songs in a few.

babybugz said:

Great!

automatic said:

Awesome list! Thanks!

beastie boys: licensed to ill
beastie boys: paul's boutique
bobby brown: don't be cruel
bruce springstein: born in the usa
culture club: colour by numbers
cyndi lauper: she's so unusual
cyndi lauper: true colors
danny elfman: pee wee's big adventure score
david bowie: let's dance
duran duran: rio
eurythmics: be yourself tonight
george clinton: computer games
george michael: faith
guns n' roses: appetite for destruction
inxs: kick
janet jackson: rhythym nation
joan jett: bad reputation
madonna: like a prayer
madonna: like a virgin
madonna: madonna
paula abdul: forever your girl
paul simon: graceland
peter gabriel: so
prince: parade
prince: purple rain
prince: sign o' the times
the pointer sisters: break out
tina turner: private dancer
tom petty: full moon fever
whitney houston: whitney

Just some songs i'm throwing out there , most of my fave old school music is from the 80's and all of a sudden I can't think . Not in order.

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
When doves cry - Prince
That girl-stevie wonder
Miss you much – Janet Jackson
Rock steady – the whispers
You should be mine (the woo woo song)- Jeffrey Osborne
A night to remember – shalamar
Get down on it – kool & the gang
Careless whisper – George Michael/wham
I like it – debarge
If it isn’t love – new edition
Nite and day – al b sure
Somebody’s watching me – Rockwell
You got it (the right stuff) new kids on the block
Don’t be cruel – bobby brown
Secret lovers – Atlantic Starr
Can you feel it – the Jackson’s
All night long – the Mary Jane girls
Give me the reason – Luther vandross
Like a Prayer"-Madonna

Time after time Cyndi Lauper
The Glamorous Life Sheila E.
'Total eclipse of the heart' Bonnie Tyler



Hall & Oates I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)"
Duran Duran –Hungry like the wolf
Back to life(however do you want it -soul ll soul
Culture Club Miss Me Blind"

Let It Whip....Dazz Band
Let's Groove....Earth, Wind & Fire
Don't Disturb This Groove- The System
"Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)- Loose Ends
Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent- Gwen Guthrie
Saturday Love- Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal;
Fire and Desire- Rick James and Teena Marie,
Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
[Edited 5/6/10 18:33pm]

I'm pretty sure that this is my song list. I may tweak it a bit, but this is where it stands.

1 Prince - Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)
2 Prince - 1999
3 Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
4 The Cure - Lovesong
5 Prince - Crystal Ball
6 Prince - The Cross
7 Madonna - Burning Up
8 Prince - Anna Stesia
9 Blondie - War Child
10 The Cure - A Forest
11 Prince - Moonbeam Levels
12 Prince - Controversy
13 Eurythmics - Julia
14 Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
15 Madonna - Oh Father
16 Prince - Positivity
17 Prince - Computer Blue
18 The Cure - Fascination Street
19 Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
20 Stevie Wonder - My Eyes Don't Cry
21 Prince - Sign o' the Times
22 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Israel
23 Prince - Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
24 Prince - All the Critics Love U in New York
25 Prince - Let's Go Crazy
26 The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That ...y Loved Me
27 Blondie - Rapture
28 Eurythmics - Adrian
29 Prince - Chocolate
30 Eurythmics - I Could Give You (A Mirror)
31 Aerosmith - Janie's Got a Gun
32 Eurythmics - Paint a Rumour
33 Kraftwerk - Computer Love
34 Eurythmics - This City Never Sleeps
35 Prince - Mountains
36 Mötley Crüe - Kickstart My Heart
37 The Cure - Primary
38 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Dazzle
39 Prince - Lisa
40 Prince - Neon Telephone
41 Janet Jackson - State of the World
42 Mtume - Juicy Fruit
43 Blondie - Call Me
44 Eurythmics - Don't Ask Me Why
45 The Cure - The Caterpillar
46 Prince - Girls and Boys
47 Prince - Uptown
48 Madonna - Gambler
49 Prince - I Wish U Heaven
50 The Cure - Let's Go to Bed
51 Eurythmics - Jennifer
52 Prince - Starfish and Coffee
53 New Order - Vanishing Point
54 Prince - Delirious
55 Talking Heads - Naïve Melody (This Must Be the Place)
56 Janet Jackson - Black Cat
57 Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone
58 Human League - Human
59 Echo and the Bunnymen - Never Stop (Discotheque)
60 David Bowie - Fashion
61 Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
62 Prince - Automatic
63 Eurythmics - Take Me to Your Heart
64 Robert Görl featuring Annie Lennox - Charlie Cat
65 Depeche Mode - A Question of Trust
66 New Order - Blue Monday
67 Eurythmics - Step on the Beast
68 The Smiths - I Know It's Over
69 Prince - I No
70 Eurythmics - Belinda
71 Kim Wilde - Water on Glass
72 Prince - Private Joy
73 The Cure - Kyoto Song
74 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Melt!
75 Prince - Strange Relationship
76 New Order - Temptation
77 The Cure - Plainsong
78 Indeep - Last Night a DJ Saved My Life
79 Eurythmics - You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart
80 Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
81 Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
82 Prince - Hello
83 Madonna - Dear Jessie
84 Prince - Erotic City
85 Roxette - Paint
86 Erasure - Oh L'Amour
87 Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
88 Eurythmics - I Did It Just the Same
89 The Cure - A Night Like This
90 New Order - Ceremony
91 The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
92 Grace Jones - Living My Life
93 Gap Band - Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
94 Michael Jackson - Beat It
95 Prince - Old Friends 4 Sale
96 Prince - When Doves Cry
97 The Cure - Fear of Ghosts
98 Donna Summer - Woman
99 George Michael - Father Figure
100 Eurythmics - Shame
101 The Time - Cool
102 Prince - 4 the Tears in Your Eyes
103 Prince - Lovesexy
104 Eurythmics - I Remember You
105 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Cascade
106 David Bowie - Because You're Young
107 Madonna - Crazy for You
108 Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again
109 Prince - DMSR
110 Roxette - Silver Blue
111 Eurythmics - Cool Blue
112 Prince - Head
113 Pretenders - Middle of the Road
114 Prince - 17 Days
115 Grace Jones - I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)
116 Prince - Let's Work
117 Eurythmics - Missionary Man
118 Madonna - Promise to Try
119 Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
120 Berlin - The Metro
121 Prince - Extraloveable
122 Pretenders - Mystery Achievement
123 Madonna - Lucky Star
124 Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper
125 Eurythmics - Savage
126 Prince - America
127 TOTO - Africa
128 New Order - Dreams Never End
129 Prince - She's Always in My Hair
130 David Bowie - China Girl
131 New Order - Age of Consent
132 The Cure - Lullaby
133 Prince - Anotherloverholenyohead
134 Prince - Trust
135 Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator
136 Prince - Do Me, Baby
137 Prince - Dirty Mind
138 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Red Light
139 Cyndi Lauper - She Bop
140 Human League - Don't You Want Me
141 Eurythmics - Who's That Girl?
142 Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
143 Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
144 The Smiths - A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours
145 Depeche Mode - New Life
146 The Smiths - Death of a Disco Dancer
147 The Cure - Cold
148 Depeche Mode - Love, in Itself
149 Erasure - A Little Respect
150 Bagarre - For Your Pleasure
151 Gap Band - Early in the Morning
152 Madonna - Everybody
153 The Cure - Sinking
154 Eurythmics - Here Comes the Rain Again
155 Madonna - Cherish
156 Kim Wilde - Child Come Away
157 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Cities in Dust
158 Eurythmics - Beethoven (I Love to Listen to)
159 Joan Jett - Do You Wanna Touch Me
160 Prince - The Future
161 Prince - Raspberry Beret
162 Stevie Wonder - Free
163 Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
164 Yaz - Situation
165 Roxette - Dangerous
166 Prince - The Beautiful Ones
167 David Bowie - Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
168 Prince - Power Fantastic
169 The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?
170 Riz Ortolani - Much More
171 David Bowie - Teenage Wildlife
172 Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
173 Prince - Let's Pretend We're Married
174 Soft Cell - Tainted Love
175 Kim Wilde - Cambodia
176 Eurythmics - Thorn in My Side
177 Kim Wilde - Watching for Shapes
178 Rick James - Give It to Me Baby
179 Berlin - Take My Breath Away
180 Grace Jones - Use Me
181 Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
182 a-ha - Take on Me
183 Mtume - Hips
184 A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
185 OMD - Enola Gay
186 Sinead O'Connor - Troy
187 Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
188 Eurythmics - The Walk
189 Salt 'n Pepa - Push It
190 Human League - Seconds
191 Joan Jett - Bad Reputation
192 Heaven 17 - Penthouse and Pavement
193 Kano - It's a War
194 Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
195 Technotronic - Tough
196 Dharma - Plastic Doll
197 The Associates - The Affectionate Punch
198 Duran Duran - Save a Prayer
199 Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
200 B-52's - Roam
[Edited 5/6/10 22:02pm]