Hello, I tried making a basic version of this thread here, but I wanted to make a more fleshed out version because the more I look into this guy the more fascinating I find him. This thread should give you a rough guide to his work as well as a short synopsis on why I think you should listen to him. At some time in the future, I will probably also make a follow-up to this thread detailing all of the myriad groups and musicians that he helped mentor and lead from the shadows, which will probably be just as long as this.
I got into Prince right after he died. I saw Minneapolis light up purple for like a week straight, and knew that I had missed out on something special. For reference, one of the busiest streets in the city was shut down for nearly three days so that they could throw a block party, which was further surpassed by the venue (First Avenue) having a week long dance party without closing. People were lined up for three blocks straight to get into the place that Purple Rain was recorded at.
This is a guy who could play nearly any instrument at a professional level and frequently did when recording albums. He worked with and mentored countless artists. His influence can be felt in nearly every funk, soul, and rock artist alive today. He also ghost wrote or produced far more 80s hits than most people will give him credit for.
You should really check him out if you get a chance, which is why I typed this up. I’ve spent the last two and a half years marathoning everything this man ever put out from start to finish. 35 years includes some garbage, but the whole catalog is worth a listen (for the most part). I am biased against his pop albums (except 1999), so take that into consideration if you decide to give him a spin.
Great
Prince, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain, Love Symbol, Crystal Ball
Good:
For You, Dirty Mind, Parade, Sign O’ the Times, Come, The Black Album, The Gold Experience, The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, The Rainbow Children, 3121, Art Official Age
OK:
Around the World in a Day, LoveSexy, Batman, Emancipation, Chaos and Disorder, One Nite Alone…, Musicology, HITnRUN Phase One, HITnRun Phase Two
Bad:
Graffiti Bridge, Xpectation, The Chocolate Invasion, The Slaughterhouse, 20ten
Terrible:
Planet Earth, Lotusflow3r, MPLSoUND
Forgettable:
Diamonds and Pearls, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, N·E·W·S, Plectrumelectrum
Prince (1979)
This is the album that spawned his famous sound. One of the funkier records that he put out during this period. Probably his second best next to Purple Rain. Best song: Bambi
Controversy (1981)
Likely the most sexually explicit album he put out in the 80s. Has the heaviest use of synths of all his work at this point in his career. Urges peace with the USSR. Best song: Controversy
1999 (1982)
The crown jewel of his pop albums. If you hear a Prince song on the radio, it probably came from here. Best song: 1999
Purple Rain (1984)
Self explanatory. Bliss. Best song: Darling Nikki
Love Symbol (1992)
Comeback album after nearly 6 years of mediocre pop releases. Sounds like a fresher version of his mid 80s stuff. Best song: Sexy M.F.
Crystal Ball (1998)
Triple album of outtakes. Somehow almost no bad songs. This is what’s hidden in that damn vault. Huge hip hop influence is present throughout. Best song: What’s my Name
For You (1978)
The very first album. Closer to traditional funk than his later releases. Almost no rock influence present except on the last track. Best track: In Love
Dirty Mind (1980)
Fastest paced album from this time period. Best song: Sister
Parade (1986)
Probably the best of his soundtracks. There’s a few experimental tracks in there to fit the mood, but it flows like one of his pop albums. Best song: Kiss
Sign O’ the Times (1987)
Decent pop album. Many people who aren’t me swear this is his best. Best song: Strange Relationship
Come (1994)
Concept album about cumming. Largely a continuation of the sound on Love Symbol. Includes a strangely decent Breakbeat song for whatever reason. Best song: Loose!
The Black Album (1994)
Recorded in the late 80s and ditched until the mid 90s because Prince became convinced that it was evil. Best song: The seventh track
The Gold Experience (1995)
The only Prince album to have a JoJo part named after it. Largely New Jack Swing in sound. Contains the one song he regretted releasing. Best Song: Endorphinmachine
The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)
Probably the best Jazz record he put out. Best song: It’s about that walk
The Rainbow Children (2001)
Easy listening + Jazz + Funk. Most mellow of the traditional Prince sound. Best song: 1+1=3
3121 (2006)
The album released directly after headlining the Superbowl. Traditional Prince sound with some hip hop influence. Some songs could be mistaken as 80s releases. Was supposed to be his "comeback album". Best song: Fury
Art Official Age (2014)
The last “good” album he put out before he died. Janelle Monae had her hands all over this. Best song: Clouds
Around the World in a Day (1985)
Typical Prince pop. Best song: Raspberry Beret
LoveSexy (1988)
The weakest of his 80s pop albums. Heavy religious themes. Released instead of the Black Album because he was in a cult at the time. Best song: Alphabet St.
Batman (1989)
An attempt to make his early 80s style of music that feels more strained than what you would hear on those releases. Best song: The Future
Emancipation (1996)
Way too long triple album so that he could get out of his record deal with Warner Brothers. 90s hit or miss sound throughout. Best song: Slave
Chaos and Disorder (1996)
90s Prince pop. Best song: Right the Wrong
One Nite Alone… (2002)
Solo piano+vocal recording. Your parents probably had sex to this. Best song: N/A
Musicology (2004)
Late 80s sound with a bit more Jazz thrown in. Little Hip hop influence. Released directly before his superbowl performance. Best song: What do u want me 2 do?
HITnRUN Phase One (2015)
Sounds like he just stopped short of making a house album at certain parts. Decent listen with some leftover Janelle Monae influence. You can hear an uncredited Boys Noize snippet on one of the tracks. Best song: Mr. Nelson
HITnRun Phase Two (2015)
Includes terrible, tone-deaf song about Freddie Gray. Less experimental than the previous two albums, but a smooth listen from front to back. More radio friendly than the first half. Best song: Groovy Potential
Welcome 2 America (2021)
The first posthumous album.The first half is pretty good, kind of reminds me of his early 00s sound. The politics on this album are a bit better than previous releases as well (EG: Calls for open borders). Best song: Welcome 2 America.
Graffiti Bridge (1990)
Transition between his 80s and 90s sound. Movie soundtrack again.
Xpectation (2003)
Jazz fusion album for superfans only. Any other artist would probably have done this better.
The Chocolate Invasion (2004)
Fan club exclusive on release. Largely forgettable. Only left it on here because he was giving his biggest fans huge disappointments.
The Slaughterhouse (2004)
Fan club exclusive on release. Largely forgettable. Only left it on here because he was giving his biggest fans huge disappointments.
20ten (2010)
An attempt at a jam band sound. Has somewhat ditched the god awful autotune present in the last three albums he put out.
Planet Earth (2007)
Do not listen to this trainwreck for any reason.
Lotusflow3r (2009)
Do not listen to this trainwreck for any reason.
MPLSoUND (2009)
Do not listen to this trainwreck for any reason.
Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
Another transition album between the 80s and 90s sound.
The Truth (1998)
Largely an acoustic guitar+vocals album.
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
Largely overshadowed by its remix album (Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic)
N·E·W·S (2003)
Unnecessarily long smooth Jazz album.
Plectrumelectrum (2014)
Largely a rock album with the band that he shortly ditched after this was released. Has Lizzo on a song before she got famous.