1999
Prince
1982
Album Summary
1999 is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Prince, released on October 27, 1982, by Warner Bros. Records. It became his first album to be recorded with his band the Revolution. 1999's critical and commercial success propelled Prince to a place in the public psyche and marked the beginning of two years of heightened fame via his following releases.1999 was Prince's first top 10 album on the Billboard 200, peaking at number nine, and was fifth in the Billboard Year-End Albums of 1983. "1999", a protest against nuclear proliferation, was a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit, peaking at number 12. It has since become one of Prince's most recognizable compositions. "Delirious" reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Little Red Corvette" peaked at number six, becoming Prince's highest charting US single at the time. "International Lover" was also nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 26th Grammy Awards, which was Prince's first Grammy Award nomination. 1999 received widespread acclaim from critics, and was seen as Prince's breakthrough album. On March 24, 1999, 1999 was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Following Prince's death in 2016, the album re-entered the Billboard 200 and peaked at number seven, besting its original performance on the chart thirty-three years earlier. A re-release and remaster of the album, including 35 previously unreleased recordings, was released in November 2019.1999 has been ranked as one of the greatest albums of all time by several publications and organizations. The music videos for both "1999" and "Little Red Corvette" received heavy rotation on MTV, making Prince one of the first black artists to be in heavy rotation on the television channel. According to the Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), "1999 may be Prince's most influential album: Its synth-and-drum machine-heavy arrangements codified the Minneapolis sound that loomed over mid-'80s R&B and pop, not to mention the next two decades' worth of electro, house, and techno." It is also included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2008, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
WikipediaPrince is one of those artist for me that I feel like I'm obliged to like, but I just dont. I feel like I should be walking around jerking all over the place whilst striking various poses. nope, not for me
3/29 I mean... he did that. Standout Tracks: Little Red Corvette, Let's Pretend We're Married, Automatic, Something In The Water (Does Not Compute), Lady Cab Driver, All The Critics Love U In New York
Funky, Danceable, Emotional, Sexual, and Rockin'.... 1999 is a innovatively groundbreaking album that truly enlightened me in 1982 when Little Red Corvette hit the radio waves on my Sony Walkman while at church camp! Whether I spin it on vinyl, cd, or digitally, I always hear something new that I didn't catch in the past - a word, a beat, a sound, a breath... The deep cuts like Free, Lady Cab Driver, and International Lover are probably my favs. **Missing Prince's 24 song live set (14 of which were covers) at Chicago's City Winery and hearing him perform 1999 while I was stuck in the country 4 hours away, is one of my biggest regrets, IN LIFE. I got an email he was doing a surprise show at the venue after he played the George Lucas wedding reception in Hyde Park. I clicked to purchase a ticket and got through but couldn't go...but I could and SHOULD have. Of course the tickets sold out in seconds after that. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/prince-performs-at-chicagos-city-winery/1957730/
Amazing funky perfection. Who else can sing "I honestly want to fuck the taste out of mouth" and still sound credible.
Some tracks a bit too long but great overall. Gonna party like it is 1999.
Might have the best four opening tracks from any album I've listened to so far from this list. Hell, the first two songs alone warrant tagging this thing with a 5. The four opening songs set the mood and flow perfectly into the next one. And then Prince wants to find out who really wants to party. Prince throws the gauntlet down to find out who's down for tantric sex, who's interested in what his idea of an orgy looks like. And even if you come along for the ride only to discover some of it isn't your cup of tea, you'll still end up masturbating in ways you never thought of before. No recording artist understood sex the way Prince did, or at least understood that his audience thought about screwing as much he did. But screwing is the wrong word. It was never just about screwing with Prince. His two previous albums might be better than this one. But Prince understood all that mattered was if the critics loved you in New York.
Prince had some good albums before this one with Dirty mind and Controversy, but this album is the first where his genius as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer is really put on display for the world. Opening with the back-to-back hits â1999â and âLittle Red Corvetteâ, the album propels you into his world of funk and sexuality. âLetâs pretend weâre marriedâ is one of my favorite tracks with its driving synth and descending vocal line melody. âAutomaticâ feels like an instrumental even with the repeating vocal line. It also has a great guitar solo around the 8-minute mark. âLady Cab Driverâ has another great keyboard lead with a driving funky groove and another classic prince guitar solo. For a double album, listening to 1999 never felt like it was taking forever, or I was waiting for it to end. Itâs also an album that totally rewards multiple listens. There is a lot going on here to listen out for.
Once again, I accidentally deleted a long, well thought out review. đ Doesnât matter. Giving Prince 5 stars.
Didn't care much for some of the filler songs in the middle album, but there's still enough good stuff on here to merit at least a low 5, so I'll leave it at that.
Exactly what the future sounded like from the perspective of 1982. Technically impressive and ridiculously sexy.
Dear Prince, The first sign that the woman in âLittle Red Corvetteâ was trouble is that she had a pocket full of Trojans, *some of them used* (emphasis mine). What kind of maniac does *that*? Probably shouldâve just called the song âGiant Red Flagâ instead.
Really impressive opening set of tracks. Unfortunately, the rest of it can't quite keep up. Best track: Little Red Corvette
Banger central, but like, why are all these songs nine minutes long, what the fuck. What was Prince smoking?
Classic Prince. A couple hits, some good grooves, and a ton of random crap.
Un album trÚs correct de la part d'un des ambassadeurs de l'androgyne-pop. On n'est néanmoins loin des références du genre que sont David Bowie et les New York Dolls. Prince ne fait pourtant pas le travail à moitié avec 1999 en présentant trÚs clairement certains caractÚres sexuels du sexe opposé. Assez pour mettre en péril la carriÚre des cadors précités ? Sûrement pas.
Prince has always been a complete bildspot for me. I know barely any of his songs, despite him being this pint-size, purple, megastar. So, being forced to listen to this album, what have I discovered? Well...it's just a load of generic, cheesy 80s nonsense and has filled my heart with nothing. I'm sure at the time it was this exciting, innovative, sexy behemoth, but I couldn't give a fuck about it. And all of the songs are too long. Hit the editing suite, Prince, you little purple nonce.
i don't quite understand why prince is held in such high regard. the two singles are massive and probably his two biggest, but the rest of this album is like a knock of version of the sonic the hedgehog game soundtrack. i couldn't handle listening to it.
This sounds like Zumba music for sexually repressed homosexuals of color. It would be perfect background music for a 1980s porno.
Sushi, jogging, Beat poetry and the music of Prince - all things I'm told are great but I just can't get into. Was hoping once getting past the title track my eyes would be opened to a side of him I'd been missing, but it didn't happen. I'm sure I'm wrong and will one day see the light. Best Track: Let's Pretend We're Married
So far ahead of its time. The first musical masterpiece of the digital age? Everything seems to come so naturally to him. Just IMAGINE having this much talent. Scary.
I was lucky enough to see him live in 2016, only a few weeks before he died. One of the best concerts of my life.
grooooooooves. i was surprised at how much i liked even the slower songs.
I hadn't listened to the whole album in maybe 30+ years? It's definitely of an era so it's sound feels a bit dated in parts, but it's really a showcase of what Prince could do when he was just approaching the peak of his fame. There wasn't a lot else like it at the time.
This is an amazing album. I had only heard the singles before but it really shows why Prince was just as amazing as he was.
Pretty much every song can be a banger, each exemplifying the funk that is Prince. Electronic elements, guitar, weird studio effects, and of course the lyrics from Prince himself. All of it lends to a great overall album with wonderful singles in it.
- funky, impactful and diverse - but also coherant? - prince blends into the band, strong composing to hide the musicienship
I have never listened to a Prince album, just isolated tracks. This album has a bit of everything from funk, jazz, rock, blues, and electronic influences. Prince is a phenomenal musician and guitar player and Iâm excited to dig into his discography more
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: 1999, Little red corvette, Automatic, Free, Lady cab driver, All the critics love you
Wow, Iâd forgotten just how good this album is, with the exception of the last few tracks everyone is a total banger. 5/5
I 100% know about Prince because of the Authier family. I credit this to Annie, who introduced me, but I understand the credit should actually go the Kris. Good for her. Bringing hyper-sexualized content like this to her youngest sibling at what was almost certainly not an appropriate age. When Annie and I were listening to this a couple years ago, it dawned on me at that time how filthy Prince's lyrics are. It's wild. I was in my mid-30s and felt it wasn't age appropriate for me...ha. Anyway, it doesn't get better than this, in this genre. For me, it's Prince and Madonna. They are the 80s/early 90s pop music champs.
Prince was a true original, one of the greatest musicians to ever walk the Earth. This album ROCKS
Third times the charm. My favorite Prince album, the one I have on vinyl. I love the energy that carries this project from front to back, so many danceable tunes with pretty long runtimes that fit well with the notion of partying like it's 1999 (the album was released in 1982 so that's 17 years of dancing). He even closes it with a slow song for all the couples in the club tonight. Prince is a hit machine, I forget that sometimes. But listening to this always reminds me. I don't know if this is his "best," that's for a jury to decide. But it's my favorite, and it's my first five-star rating since the last Prince album we reviewed! Favorite tracks: Little Red Corvette, 1999, DMSR, Automatic, International Lover, Delirious. Album art: Truly iconic. Not just my favorite from Prince, but one of my favorites ever. Really love the colors and the Pee Wee Hermanish cartoon font. Just a true classic. 5/5
Alright, I think this is the third Prince album we have had and I can solidly say I am a fan. I liked this better than the last one but I can't decided if I like it more or less than Purple Rain, either way, tons of classics on here like 1999m Little Red Corvette, Delirious and more. Love it!
I hate myself for never listening to this album before today. I've always appreciated Prince's greatest hits with the intention of listening to full albums at some point. This was his breakthrough album, and the first one with his band the Revolution, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to get into his music. (Fun fact, "and the revolution" is written backwards in the eye of the I in Prince in the album artwork.) Anyway, what have I been doing with my life before this. This album is SUCH a vibe.
Powerful dance tunes, sick guitar. I can't get over how he wrote 1999 in 1982 as a future party, but my entire life I've understood it as a 'travel back in time' to party vibe, lol. a few low points but killer overall. Probably a 4.5, but I've gotta round up for Minnesota love.
Full transparency - I've been a huge Prince fan my whole life, so I'm pretty biased, but this is just another example of how Prince has always been ahead of his time. I believe many of these songs would be hits if they were released today and not in 1980.
In short â1999â rocks, and funks. Itâs Princeâs coming out album to that masses, a big pop cross over hit, but one that still retains his cred (and the funk) as a musician. It sounds of it time, and yet outside of time, the heavy use of synthesizers and the Linn LM-1 drum machine ensuring it always sounds current. Whatâs also interesting is the thread of desperation and loneliness that runs through the albumâs narrative in amongst all the partying, hedonism, sex, and general staring down of the apocalypse. Truly this is the appropriate soundtrack for the end of timesâŠ.you can dance if you want to.
Prince weird androgynous fragile, rage-y sexually charged music is a beautiful combination of perverted and innovative (not to mention disturbing!). Cool mix of drum machine beats and guitars and vocals that are hysteric (Cyndi Lauper maybe learned something from this). Stand out track is 'Little Red Corvette
I enjoy this album quite a lot, although there are definitely some tracks that are too long and more of a filler than anything else. Little Red Corvette is one of my favourite Prince songs in his catalogue, it's so good.
Funky, sexy and hilarious in equal measure. Pop's glittering sex dwarf at his very best.
One of the real good ones - free to change my mind almost anywhere any time though
Didn't grow up with Prince really, glad to listen to a full album to get a broader sense of his music past the hit singles
This album and " Little Red Corvette" were my first introduction to Prince back in 1982. I remember there being a lot of critical praise and publicity which was very well deserved. What a way to start an album: "1999", " Little Red Corvette" and "Delirious." This was his first album with the Revolution. I don't think anyone else is as successful at putting so much "stuff" into each song and making them great. I wouldn't exactly say busy but there is always a lot going on. It's impossible to pinpoint an exact formula to his music but they tend start to with a drum beat/rhythm and then get filled in with vocals, melodies, guitar and everything else. The dominant themes are parties, sex and romance. But, some of the hidden treasure songs are the different ones: "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)" is almost an industrial song and "Free" is a serious song about independence. "D.M.S.R" and " Lady Cab Driver" are two great funky songs. This album shows many different styles, soul, funk, industrial, pop, dance, and you can definitely hear its influence on the future. It also does not sound dated at all. In fact, if it was released today, it would sound fresh. A lot going on and to listen to. It would probably take a week getting into this album to do it justice.
Little Red Corvette is the stand out for me, but this is full to the brim with catchy shit, not a bad song on here.
WOW---was expecting this to be a 2 based on the radio hits I remember from middle school. Prince always made me feel weird and icky back then but I think that was the damn evangelical hometown distain of Prince. Favorite track: Lady Cab Driver.
Classic album in every aspect with singles and non-singles that are equally strong - I would say: Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain and Sign o'the Times are the best four Prince albums.
Great from start to finish. Funky and fun. Love Little Red Corvette and Lady Cab Driver especially. No notes here. Would give a 4.5 if possible.
That was an experience. All over the place lyrically and musically. Feels experimental in some spots and highly polished in others. I'd never been exposed to anything beyond his radio stuff, so this was extremely cool.
Fuck yeah, finally! Finally Iâm graced with an album from The Purple One, Prince! I mean, c'mon people, this album opens with 3 of Prince's best, most danceable and memorable songs. One minute it's defiant "we're here for a good time" philosophizing, the next its manic desperate horniness boiling over. This album was a seismic shift in the rules of male pop superstardom and a glorious precursor of what was still yet to come from this formidably talented man. Prince has a rapidly sliding scale of moods and energies that take the listener on one hell of a ride. From tenderly suggestive to outright sexual vulgarity, Prince does whatever the fuck he wants, says whatever the fuck he wants, and fucks however the fuck he wants. And the music is always superbly fitting his attitude du jour. Nobody flies their freak flag higher than Prince and it is a spectacle to behold. Utterly unforgettable.
Never was a Prince fan. My loss. At its worst this is a fun creative mess. At its best itâs magical. Strange, unique and mostly mesmerizing.
This album is a lot of fun. The super hits are all at the beginning of the album; however that is does not mean that the other songs are pushovers. It is a great album. This is the third Prince album on the list. I would say that it is behind Purple Rain and Sign O the Times. I will listen to the album again.
Itâs Prince. Being iconic af. A GREAT album full of excellent songs. This is just a great albumâŠPERIOD.
great album, very sexy, love the cover art and really want to get more into Prince if you know what i mean.