1999

did i just have sex with prince?

Prince 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

💜

Once again, I accidentally deleted a long, well thought out review. 😕 Doesn’t matter. Giving Prince 5 stars.

Amazing funky perfection. Who else can sing "I honestly want to fuck the taste out of mouth" and still sound credible.

The man is indefatigable. My penis was sore just from listening.

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/

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.

Some tracks a bit too long but great overall. Gonna party like it is 1999.

Banger central, but like, why are all these songs nine minutes long, what the fuck. What was Prince smoking?

I love him but some of these songs are way too long.

Classic Prince. A couple hits, some good grooves, and a ton of random crap.

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.

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 “1999” and “Little Red Corvette”, the album propels you into his world of funk and sexuality. “Let’s pretend we’re married” is one of my favorite tracks with its driving synth and descending vocal line melody. “Automatic” feels like an instrumental even with the repeating vocal line. It also has a great guitar solo around the 8-minute mark. “Lady Cab Driver” 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. It’s also an album that totally rewards multiple listens. There is a lot going on here to listen out for.

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

Dear Prince, The first sign that the woman in “Little Red Corvette” was trouble is that she had a pocket full of Trojans, *some of them used* (emphasis mine). What kind of maniac does *that*? Probably should’ve just called the song “Giant Red Flag” instead.

Nice beginning but kind of descends into a sex mad frenzy lol

I just don't get Prince, there I said it.

Exactly what the future sounded like from the perspective of 1982. Technically impressive and ridiculously sexy.

It’s good

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

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.

do you ooh-we-sha-coo-coo-yeah?

So good and fun to dance to i bet, but very repetitive just listening to it by itself

1999 This is when he took his funk and disco into the computer age. I love the combination of the synth heavy and robotic computer sound with his soul, funk and pop approach - kind of Kraftwerk + Early Hip Hop + Funkadelic + catchy pop. And what an opening 3 songs on the first side of the original album. 1999 - banger, Little Red Corvette - classic, Delirious - super Let’s Pretend We’re Married has more than a hint of The Visitors by ABBA, and is a great up tempo bit of disco inflected pop. DMSR is very Afrika Bambataa in its drum sound and I love the two synth lines settling into a great hypnotic groove. Automatic has another great groove in a similar vein to what’s gone before. I love the rhythm pattern and descending synth motif on Something in the Water (Does Not Compute), it’s a nice change of pace and style and has a pleasing oddness to it. After this fantastic set of 7 electronic funk party songs though, the album does start to run into trouble. It really doesn’t need to be a double and while the following songs aren’t particularly bad they do drag the album out of focus. Free’s more soulful vibe feels a bit strained, and Lady Cab Driver, while having a great guitar groove feels like a not so successful version of the first 4 or 5 songs. All the Critics Love U in New York is good and has a nice Kraftwerk-esque detachedness, but International Lover isn’t great and feels a step too far. If this was a single album ending at Something in the Water, with perhaps the addition of All the Critics it would easily be a 5. The opening 4 songs in particular are superb, a fantastic run of tracks - funky, catchy and with enough oddness and quirkiness to keep you coming back. As a double though it is too long, with the last 4 songs or so noticeably of a lower quality than the first 7. That makes it a 4 🚗🚗🚗🚗 Playlist submission: 1999

Really impressive opening set of tracks. Unfortunately, the rest of it can't quite keep up. Best track: Little Red Corvette

eh, this is the second Prince album I'm listening to (only listened to Purple Rain before) and they're not even comparable, all he talks about here is sex and sex and sex and sex. Funky grooves all throught but they just got boring to me after a while - 1999 and Little Red Corvette are really good though. I don't think I get Prince tbh. 2.5/5

This sounds like Zumba music for sexually repressed homosexuals of color. It would be perfect background music for a 1980s porno.

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.

Great album. Funk. Synths, drum machines. Sample please

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.

It's Prince

grooooooooves. i was surprised at how much i liked even the slower songs.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: 1999, Little red corvette, Automatic, Free, Lady cab driver, All the critics love you

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 perfect mix of rock, funk, and Prince-ness.

Oh man, I really, _really_ miss Prince. This album is amazing.

I lived this as well as Purple Rain. Fantastic album!

This is basically pure 80s and I kinda love it.

A masterpiece in every way

incredible

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 I’m excited to dig into his discography more

An all timer when it comes to the album-quality vs album art ratio.

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.

Near perfect pop album. Bold, sexual, life and love affirming

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.

It’s Prince

Excellent listen

.Great Album. Strong 80's zeitgeist.

Ugh, just so good!

Interesting. Strange. Very sexual.

- funky, impactful and diverse - but also coherant? - prince blends into the band, strong composing to hide the musicienship

Does Prince need an introduction? He is the King of 80's Pop Rock and Synth Funk and pretty much the King of the 80's in general, at least for me. I'm sorry MJ but you don't stand a chance against Purple Rain. But this isn't Purple Rain, so let's get back to talk about 1999. Prince's first double album and easily his most conceptual work yet. It's full of dancy Pop Rock and groovy Synth Funk with many very forward thinking moments and a few Experimental bits sprinkled throughout. It was at that point in his career his best album only surpassed by a handfull later on. It's just such an incredible album that does not feel like it goes on for 70 minutes with some songs being nearly 10 minutes long. It's just THAT good. The title track '1999' gets the album started with a slightly creepy spoken intro but quickly turns into a mix of Funk, Synthpop and Disco. It's full of incredible production, great vocal performances by both Prince and the background singers and it's just so fun to listen to with so many energetic moments. It's a perfect opening song and a perfect song in general. Hard to get much better than this. This is how you do 80's Dance-Pop! Second song 'Little Red Corvette' goes more R&B and even a little Pop Rock while keeping a lot of the sonic styles the first song introduced. The build up into the chorus is fast and makes the verses absolutely worth it. It's such a beautiful song with so many dynamic changes and energetic moments. His weird and crazy vocals towards the end are incredible and the details are overall done in very thoughtful way. It's another simply perfect song and one of the albums biggest highlights. 'Delirious' sounds pretty silly at the start but the Rockabilly influence in the delivery is just incredible. I am genuinely amazed by how he came up with that, this is literally the 50's but int the most 80's way possible. And the song is just full on amazing and stays as interesting towards the end as it did at the start. The synths are so cute, the vocals amazing and the lyrics are quite fun. This whole song is fun. I absolutely love it... Perfect song again. The much more Electronic 'Let's Pretend We're Married' brings in some moments from the Hi-NRG genre which was popular in the gay bars of San Francisco and New York in the early 80's and even if Prince was strictly heterosexual, the mix works quite well as this song is another incredible song even if it takes a bit to get started but that can be excused when THIS is what it turns into. Full of great moments, production, performances and what else there is to mention. Just a pretty much perfect song, again! It's just so much fun. 'D.M.S.R.' gets really funky with a very thick bass line and a very great vibe to it and it's even groovier than most of the stuff that was featured so far. The vocals are absolutely incredible with how they are layered and echoed. I just absolutely love this song from front to back. The instrumental parts that mainly put the synths in the forefront are just perfect with the few but effective melodic changes. The second half of the album is opened with 'Automatic', the albums longest song running in at nearly 10 minutes. The synths are really carrying this even if Prince is still killing it with his performance and the songwriting. It is a beautiful song through and through and even with the sheer length that this offers, it is really diverse with the sound and structure. I do think that a couple of moments feel a little bit streched but not that it harms the song too much, it is still incredible. The very New Wave sounding 'Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)' is weirly ethereal and even slightly Industrial while keeping the very clear Art Pop tendency throughout very present. The performance is again killer and Prince really perfects himself in some of the weird ways he is using his vocals to shine. I really love this song for the atmosphere but it just doesn't feel like it was completely thought through and perfected. It is a really great song but a couple moments desire for the song to build more into a final climax rather than just ending slowly. Still, a great song. The very strong and present Soul on 'Free' is something sonically completely different but of course Prince also makes an incredible song like this. The quieter backing vocals with his very "aching" voice adds a lot of emotional weight to the track which makes it one of the albums most dense tracks in terms of emotional depth but it also very much stands out with all the dancy and energetic tracks which does harm the song. If it was released as a single but was omitted from the album, the track would flourish in another light but here it just feels a little bit off. Or as a break after all the dancing but still... It is a great song but that's it. Luckily Prince follows it up with the very fitting and dancy 'Lady Cab Driver' which is very funky and I absolutely love the bass on this track. It is a little more Disco and Boogie but groovy. It's a really great song that feels very similar to something you'd maybe find MJ doing on previous records but I don't feel like it needed to be nearly 9 minutes. I know Prince wanted to go all out with this album and it definitely is his best yet but with songs like this I think he should've cut it a little bit. The bridge is nice but goes on for a little too long. 6 to 7 minutes would've done it more justice even if the guitar towards the end really uplifts the song as a whole, it's "just" a great song. 'All the Critics Love U in New York' is another really dancy, Hi-NRG inspired Disco song with some really well made moments especially in the chorus but it feels a little bit bland in comparison with some of the verses and instrumental parts but the strong moments make up for the slightly more average moments to make this at least a really good song but it is one of the albums weakest songs. The Smooth Soul closing track of 'International Lover' is a beautiful end to the album with a lot of R&B sprinkled into the vocals. It's a great closing track and a lot better than the other Soul song here and I do think that it's the second best song on the second side of the album but it doesn't stand a chance when compared to some of Side 1. favourites: 1999, Little Red Corvette, D.M.S.R., Delirious, Let's Pretend We're Married least favourites: All the Critics Love U in New York, Free Rating: decent 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Absolutely amazing. Quintessential album from the 80s

Great album

Smooth like silk

One of the best

Fantastic!!!

Wow, I’d forgotten just how good this album is, with the exception of the last few tracks everyone is a total banger. 5/5

I love Prince

Arrived at this drafting sharp words about the cruise-liner play length, leaving it wondering if Prince listened to much Can and if I prefer "Automatic" to "Sister Ray". I had a lot of fun with this. Opening with two bangers is deceptive, the sleight of hand being that their extended instrumental iterations are representative of the rest, rather than the impeccable tunes themselves. The weakest parts are when drum machine and synth ape rock bands; fortunately, most of the record embraces the beep, the whoosh, the clean flatness of the sounds, and the space in between. The comedy erotic language is delightful, and I've gained a rich insight into the sense of humour of one of our project's voyeurs, as Prince is one of his favourites (Simon, betting you can deduce who).

Un album très 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 très clairement certains caractères sexuels du sexe opposé. Assez pour mettre en péril la carrière des cadors précités ? Sûrement pas.

No. 183/1001 1999 4/5 Little Red Corvette 4/5 Delirious 3/5 Let's Pretend We're Married 3/5 D.M.S.R. 3/5 Automatic 3/5 Something In The Water 2/5 Free 4/5 Lady Cab Driver 3/5 All The Critics Love U in New York 2/5 International Lover 3/5 Average: 3,09 This was good. I'm just not that big a of synth-heavy pop music.

Not as good as I remembered. Purple rain is THE album

Much better when Prince focused on being funky, rather than trying to use every preset on the Revolution's fancy new synthesisers. Listen to the 2019 remasters - improvement on the original CD masters in every respect.

Overall liked it. Didn't know where party like it's 1999 is from. Will I listen to again: 50%

I never knew this was a double album! The first three songs of course are fire! What a way to start (and of course turned out to be the hit singles). From there it seemed like it was extended electronic funk jam filler for me. Had problems listening to the rest of it in one sitting after the first three songs since it seemed to peak too soon and steadily lost interest in the rest of the album. Not horrible but not great either.

I'm a bit of a Prince philistine; strongly on the Greatest Hits side of the equation (the only Prince album I have ever owned is the Batman soundtrack, which I will defend to the death). 1999 is quite fun, and helped define the sound of the era early on, but you likely get everything you need from Little Red Corvette. It's basically too long (started out as a 4* and lost a point on repeated listens)

Listening to Prince's '1999' is like being invited to a wildly eccentric party thrown by a musical mad scientist. Released in 1982, this album showcases Prince's experimental genius, blending synths and drum machines to create a sound that's both a product of its time and a glimpse into the future. The album’s use of synths and drum machines, signature elements of the 80s, give it a slightly dated yet charmingly nostalgic feel. You can't help but wonder how these tracks would sound with the sleek polish of modern technology, but there's an undeniable raw energy in this vintage production that's captivating. True to its era, '1999' is a party album at heart, weaving themes of celebration, hedonism, and a hint of existential dread, particularly in the title track. This blend of carefree revelry with deeper musings reflects the spirit of the early 80s, making the album a vivid snapshot of its time. While '1999' predates my own memories, it doesn’t evoke personal nostalgia but rather a curiosity about the era it encapsulates. I can't help but feel that experiencing these songs live, with The Revolution bringing their palpable energy, would add a new layer of vibrancy to an already dynamic album. Prince's '1999' stands out as a testament to his innovative spirit. While it firmly belongs to the era of shoulder pads and neon, it's a fascinating exploration of a musical genius at play. It's a party in a disc, a funky, quirky journey that leaves you intrigued about the past and excited about the magic of live performances

9 minutes par ci, 8 minutes par là ... eh gros sayer

Prince’s music is so bad. I can’t understand why he’s considered a legend at all. I don’t get it. I hate it. I absolutely hate his music.

Not my cup of te. Every song sounds like ”neutron dance” in my ears

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.

Never was a Prince fan. My loss. At its worst this is a fun creative mess. At its best it’s magical. Strange, unique and mostly mesmerizing.

Amazing album!

sweet prince x

This horned out mf really made some masterful music.

It’s Prince. Being iconic af. A GREAT album full of excellent songs. This is just a great album…PERIOD.

Fuck yeah, finally! Finally I’m 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.

Holy ahh

Good sound

Brilliant

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.

great album, very sexy, love the cover art and really want to get more into Prince if you know what i mean.

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.

Some absolutely stonking tracks on here!

SUPER GOOD

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.

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.

Other than the first song, I was not blown away.

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.

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.

awooooooga, the sexiest male pop artist of all time even if you've never seen him. what a ride, from experimental to masterful, this album hits it all Idk if there was an itch not scratched but I gotta let it sit with me before saying it's perfect definitely a revisiter. 9.9/10

Classic

All around great album

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

It's older Prince

In short ‘1999’ rocks, and funks. It’s Prince’s 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. What’s also interesting is the thread of desperation and loneliness that runs through the album’s 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 times….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