Take it Back–What's Prince's Best Album?

Just to piss Kirk off, I’m writing about Prince today. Hi Kirk.
Anyway, I wasn’t sure what to write about this week for the still-sponsorless Take It Back, so I decided to go with what I know. If you didn’t know, Prince is my favorite artist ever, only rivaled in my one-person universe by OutKast, Stevie, James Brown and a couple of other folks. I’ll spend another day explaining why.
There are four Prince albums that are generally considered to be a cut above the rest–Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain, and Sign O the Times. I’ve always maintained that Sign O The Times was the best of those, the best album of the ’80s, and a few other superlatives.
But while thinking about that Lauryn Hill album, I had to reconsider that. Sign O The Times does have a skipper, “It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night.” It’s a good cut, but not like the others. And I’m not super crazy about “Hot Thing.”
More on that later. But I figured it would be kinda interesting to go through those four records and see how they stack up. And if you want, feel free to apply this to Parade, which barely misses the cut.
Dirty Mind
The story on DM is pretty interesting. The version you hear on the album is the demo version. Being the cantakerous artist he is, Prince decided that there was no way to improve the record from what he did in the basement of his house. For that reason, the record sounds raw and spontaneous at every turn. Oh yeah, and nasty as fuck. Emphasis on fuck. It’s sex pretty much from start to finish, but not too much romance.
(And while I love the record how it is, I’d love to hear what it would sound like remastered and with a piano. More later on that last part.)
Most amazing characteristic–brevity.
This record is eight tracks and 29 minutes long. Even still, you’re left wanting more but not feeling shortchanged. Just concentrated energy a la The Ramones. How often can you say that you blasted the entirety of a classic in half an hour?
Nastiest moment–“Sister.”

And he’s talking about his sister. Much older sister. Like it would be illegal if it wasn’t already illegal.
Best track–“When You Were Mine.”
Absolute genius. And not to sound like a misogynist–which means I will and might be one–but this chick never sounded like she should have been trusted. Step your game up, lil fella.
Worst track–none, really.
This is a really consistent record. Not a lot of variance between the best track and the worst. But if forced to drop one, it would be “Do It All Night.”
What I would change–PIANO
There was no room in Prince’s basement for a piano, so there’s no piano on the record. What a loss, man. I contend that he’s a better piano player than anything, and that’s saying a lot. I’d also like to have heard this record done after his voice matured a bit. Then, he sang because he had to. A few years later, he could sing his ass off.
In the end, this stands up with any album of the early ’80s. It’s energetic, it’s interesting, it’s sexy, and it’s fun And when you consider it’s demos, you can’t help but be amazed (same for Springsteen’s Nebraska, which don’t hold a candle to this).
1999
After Dirty Mind was Controversy, which was an attempt to do a finished version of DM. It’s got moments, but it’s not the heat. That’s what happens when you do albums six months apart. Prince knew that his next record had to be a hit. To get there, he chose a double album titled 1999.
Most amazing characteristic–expanse.
Where DM was quick and to the point, 1999 takes its time. There are no 2 minute joints on here. Most of them are about six minutes long. Some around 9 or 10. It’s also expansive in scope, sound and subject matter. The use of the Linn synthesizer gives a lot of the songs a similar sound, but that’s only if you’re not paying close attention. While having common charactersitics, “1999,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Delirious,” and “Let’s Pretend We’re Married” all sound different and discuss entirely different themes. But somehow, they all work together perfectly in sequence. Very impressive.
Nastiest Moment–“Little Red Corvette”

Uhhhh…let’s just say it took a lot to top, “I’m not saying this to be nasty, but I’d sincerely like to fuck the taste out of your mouth.”
Best track–“Little Red Corvette”
My man Eric Arnold once called this a modernized version of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” He’s right. Absolutely incredible.
Worst track–“Something in the Water (Doesn’t Compute)”
And there’s really nothing wrong with it. Just not really necessary.
What I would change–not a damn thing.
This is what I said about this one years ago…
“His first double album, “1999,” was a smashing success, a cultural landmark that showed how genius could turn vulgarity into erotica, weirdness into eccentricity, and synthesizers into orchestral weapons.”
Purple Rain
After 1999, Prince decided he wanted a movie. He had the juice to make it happen after the success of 1999. So they gave him a movie. He gave them a soundtrack.
Most amazing characterstic–energy.
By the time the first guitar chords on “Let’s Go Crazy” are played, you know you’re in a different world. Even the ballads get your heart rate up. It’s absolutely amazing.
Nastiest moment–“Darling Nikki”
Pick a line. Any line.
Best track–“When Doves Cry”
Goodness gracious. Good lord. I agree with Ahmir Thompson–this is the most audacious #1 single ever.
Worst track–“I Would Die 4 U.”
I can do without it, even though it’s pretty damn good.
What I would change–sequencing.
I prefer the movie sequencing. Put “Purple Rain” at #7 and not the end. Then close with “Baby, I’m a Star,” which sums up the album much better.
Sign O The Times
Just read this.
Best track–“Adore”
(Turn away from the screen, children.)
No record is more conducive to sex than this one. None. I dare you to leave me in the room with your woman and this song in the background. I just hope your woman’s cute, for it would really suck if the music made me have to end the night with the phrase, “for real, I’ll cut you if you tell a soul.”
Nastiest moment–???
Ths record is really tame by comparison. Much more subtle. That’s actually a strike against it.
Worst track–“It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night”
Yanno, I’ve actually only listened to this all the way through like twice. Price you pay for being before “Adore.” My man ben feels the same way about U2’s “WhosGonnaRideYourWildHorses,” which directly precedes “So Cruel.”
What I would change–I would have put “When 2 R In Love” on Disc 1 (instead of Lovesexy or The Black Album) and saved “Slow Love” for later. In other words, I’m just being greedy.
So what’s my final order?
4. Dirty Mind
For everything good I have to say about it, Prince evolved so much after this that it’s hard to not consider what this record could have sounded like. Really, imagine if he’d run with this premise in ’88. Whoooo…
3. Purple Rain
I’m torn here. The energy of this record is irreplaceable, and it’s hard to explain it in a way that matters. But there isn’t a single song on here that doesn’t hit you somewhere when it starts. Not a single one. At the same time, I just feel like it should be here, even though i have no defensible answer for that. Guess that’s the tough part about ranking stratospheric records.
2. 1999
Okay, I got it. This record was farther ahead of its time than Purple Rain That shouldn’t matter too much for the here and now, but it’s something to consider. The killer is how he covered so much ground within a cohesive structure. Amazing.
1. Sign O The Times
It still wins. A year ago, I wondered about this choice because it had two songs I thought were skippers, “Play in the Sunshine” and “It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night.” Then my man Funzo Goodstein mentioned to me that he loved “Play in the Sunshine.” So I went back and gave it another chance. Absolutely loved it. No idea how I was trippin.
If I can go back years later and develop a new appreciation for a song on a record without losing appreciation for another, then we’re onto something.
And that’s all. Argue as you see so fit. And yes, Kirk, I’m waiting on it.