Six decades, countless musical genres, hundreds of songs published under his name and under various pseudonyms. Prince's discography threatens to overwhelm even the avid fan. Here then are 16 essential albums to begin to orient yourself in his production.
The unmissable
Dirty Mind
(1980)
Prince wants the third album, as well as his first masterpiece, to resemble him in every way. To do this, he reduces the sound to the essentials and places himself half naked on the cover. Recorded at home on Lake Minnetonka outside Minneapolis (where he composed several songs in a single night), Dirty Mind is designed for both new wave lovers and funketarians with its frenetic and airy sound, and songs that reflect their obsession with sex. It's the record where Prince sings with euphoria about various taboos: a ménage a trois in When You Were Mineincest in Sisteran interracial orgy in Uptown And Headwith a title that needs no explanation and in text in which a virgin bride gives him a blowjob while on her way to her wedding. It's a cozy orgiastic utopia: in the end the singer marries the girl. The party has just begun.
The unmissable
1999
(1983)
Credited to Prince & The Revolution, it is actually an album still substantially recorded by one man band. “He didn't want just a band, he wanted a movement,” said guitarist Dez Dickerson. He had it. Prince dances on the brink in 1999transforms vulnerability into sexual pride in Little Red Corvettepays for his choices with tears in Lady Cab Drivermakes rockabilly modern in Delirious. And he perfected a drum machine sound that makes this record one of the most influential of the era.
The unmissable
Purple Rain
(1984)
After having hit two hits taken from 1999Prince wants more and so, for the soundtrack of his first semi-autobiographical film he turns up the volume on his guitar and brings two singles to number one in the American charts: first the mysterious and Freudian dance of When Doves Cry and then the glam garage Let's Go Crazy. Purple Rain it is also his first real album recorded with a group (the title track in particular live at First Avenue in Minneapolis). From the gospel sermon that opens the LP (“We are gathered here today to face this thing called life”) to the baptismal blessings of Purple Rainis the ultimate fusion of spirituality and eroticism.
The unmissable
Sign 'O' the Times
(1987)
A kaleidoscopic double, where almost every song is a shape-shifter, where the provocative Hot Thing opens thanks to psychedelic melodies of horns and synths, while the garage rock declaration of love I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man turns into a mystical guitar journey. The bare title track brings together newspaper headlines (Aids, drugs, gangs) and reaches number three in the charts, while U Got the Look it's pure pop virtuosity. But also little gems like the gospel call-and-response model of Forever in My Life they make his genius seem inexhaustible. One of the best albums of the 80s.
The classics
Parade
(1986)
Prince hires an orchestral arranger with a jazz background to score his second film Under the Cherry Moonbut even in the songs where the strings are not present, the fast pace of new funk has a cinematic feel. Kiss is dry and minimalist, while the final ballad Sometimes It Snows in April it was «written on the spot», as guitarist Wendy Melvoin said.
The classics
The Black Album
(1987)
Prince withdrew this album from the market in 1987 because, in his words, it was “evil”. However, he knew that these funk grooves were (as the title of one piece states) Superfunkycalifragisexy. Removed the dark pimp monologue Bob Georgeremains an album full of movement, music, sex and, in When 2 Rs in Loveeven a touch of romance.
The classics
Love Symbol
(1992)
A sort of rock soap opera, a concept album about a man whose name is Prince and is still funky. Sexy MF begins where it ended Hot Pants by James Brown, The Morning Papers it's baroque pop with a guitar suspended in the clouds, 7 mix The Humpty Dance and biblical mysticism.
The classics
The Gold Experience
(1995)
The sensual ballad The Most Beautiful Girl in the World it is his last great success. These are the years in which he breaks ties with his label and with everything that hinders his vision, but it doesn't matter. P. Control represents his most interesting foray into rap, Shhh it's a slow jam and at the same time an excuse to make the guitar sound like a rocker in an arena, Shy it's a noir fantasy with a Sly Stone riff grafted onto Californian pop.
The classics
3121
(2006)
Proof that even in the 2000s Prince can turn back on whenever he wants and bring out a song like Black Sweat. Although, compared to the past, he recommends keeping your clothes on, three songs like Incense and Candles, Love And Satisfied they are red light classics.
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Controversy
(1981)
Prince said he wasn't sure what direction he wanted to go in when he started working on the follow-up to Dirty Mind. He hasn't abandoned disco yet, but songs like Sexuality And Jack U Off they are essential. Listened to today, the title track (“Am I black or white? Am I straight or gay?”) reminds us of what a provocateur he was. And to think that it would only get better…
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Around the World in a Day
(1985)
A step back after the world triumph of Purple Rain. Despite Raspberry Beret And Pop Lifeis a weak record and the dialogue with God in Temptation it's his first real slip-up.
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Lovesexy
(1988)
The edgy groove of Alphabet St. it never misses a beat even after listening to it several times, but the idea that God-is-love interferes with the sex which, for once, is not entirely satisfying.
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Diamonds and Pearls
(1991)
His first album with New Power Generation contains the lustful Creamnumber one in the charts, and the love ballad that gives the album its title, number three. Result: his most successful album since Purple Rain.
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Musicology
(2004)
He released it immediately after entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with a fresh and dry sound. Among the best moments Musicology (another reinvention of James Brown) e On the Couch (where he refuses to sleep).
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Art Official Age
(2014)
The liquid funk of Breakfast Can Wait it's his funniest piece in many years. No pancakes with honey for breakfast: “I think I want another bite of you.”
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HitnRun Phase Two
(2015)
The Black Lives Matter movement inspires Baltimorehis most hard-hitting political statement, with a horn section that makes it seem like Prince could go on forever. If there's still music like that in his archive, that doesn't mean it can't happen.
From Rolling Stone US.
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
