1999

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.

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.

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!

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

Vibey, too long but imma ignore that

This album is another masterpiece by Prince. Fantastic synth-pop and funk. It contains the classics "1999" and "Little Red Corvette"

One of the best.

Prince was a true original, one of the greatest musicians to ever walk the Earth. This album ROCKS

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.

It's older Prince

RAAAAHHHHHH

Sexy fr

Very close to giving this my first perfect score but it sags around the middle. But geniuses are allowed to be self indulgent as their figuring out their genius.

so i think i have been waiting to 'get' prince but here's what I didn't understand. He's just good and that's the only thing to get. so now I get it...

brilliant first couple open tracks, also love those really poppy synths throughout, they're so 80s and it's great

Fully great album with some of his best material and a real step forward after Dirty Mind (which I honestly slightly prefer but the ambition and scope is way up here). 'Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)' gets this Prince album's award for "craziest song."

Charlie Murphy may have been reviewing this album when he said "Prince was the only guy who could show up at your party, in frills, and steal your girlfriend. Then steal her clothes, then steal someone else's girl in your girlfriends clothes."

Wow, is this one front loaded! I listened to the original double album release, with the first three tracks that make up Side 1 no nonsense bangers that most of us have heard dozens, if not hundreds, of times and most likely didn't pay enough attention to the lyrics for many of them. Let's Pretend We're Married is enough to give Darling Nikki a run for its money in the "what did he just say" department, DSMR is good but overstays its welcome, and Lady Cab Driver should have led to a lawsuit against Ready for the World for their single "Oh, Sheila," which was a direct ripoff that led them to a #1 single. The single album would no doubt rate higher, as it cuts out the fat of the album, but it's the fat on the double album that keeps it from 5 star status IMO. As such, it rounds up to a 4/5 that I'm willing to skip a couple songs to get to the good stuff on.

127. 1999 - Prince (1982) 6.29.26 Variety: 4 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 4 = 4.4 rounded down to a 4 "Don't cry unless you're happy, don't smile unless you're blue/ Never let that lonely monster take control of you" I love me some Prince but he's maybe the biggest act of his stature I can think of that I still consider to mainly be a compilation guy to me. The reasoning is two fold - he only has one truly all-time perfect record ( Purple Rain) and despite having a shitload of classic songs ( rivalling the Beatles in sheer quantity) it's largely a numbers game. Yes, most of that came out of the first half of his career, but something like around 40 ( I think) released studio albums, and half-baker's dozen of classics he wrote that were made famous by others gives him a distinct advantage in the numbers game. This is an album I've listened to many times of the years, but I know going in that it is so front-loaded and boated that while I'll still enjoy it, it's hot a ceiling with me. A high ceiling to be sure though. Let's all don our headphones and prepare for final boarding on the Seduction 747. THE TRACKS Side one "1999" - I am never not thrown off by the demon voice intro here as I've probably heard this WAY more times on the radio and in the music video. But It's a very momentary confusion, as we get right into that reckless end of the world who cares vibe and get the party started. The electro-funk groove on this is an all-timer in spite of the run time slowing things down just a tad. We got handclaps, backing vocals issuing demands to get out and get down, an almost live in the studio feel to the production ( it most certainly was not) and Prince's blistering delivery which all adds up to maybe the best virtual party you've ever briefly dipped into. ( possibly rivalled only by "Let Me Clear My Throat" by DJ Kool?). This is a song that will forever remain a mainstay of any New Year's party playlist worthy of the name, and it'll always be a 5-star song for me. I will continue to favor the radio edit though. "Little Red Corvette" - Another one that I prefer the 7" radio edit to but which shall forever and always be a stone cold classic. This and the radio edit have a strange production effect that makes it sound a bit distorted, or almost like it is meant to sound like it's being played off of a beat up radio. Have always assumed this was a production choice given Prince's complete control he had over every aspect. This same effect, though not as "hot" in the vocals, permeates "When Doves Cry", and gives it a kind of once-removed, mysterious kind of feel. ( I checked and yes, Prince apparently purposely recorded the vocals in the "red" for effect, hence the slight hiss). We get our first foray into the ins and outs ( wink wink) of relationships with a almost, but not quite humorous tae of a one night stand with a woman who knows her stuff. Our narrator seems possibly a little freaked out ( surely not Prince!) but then has the bright idea that he might be able to tame this free spirit. "Delirious" - I love that sort of hollow, empty sound space on a lot of the Prince stuff from this era. None of the warmth is lost, but it's sparse and makes it feel almost like you are listening to a band perform in a cavernous, empty warehouse. This could be a side effect of multitracked recording with Prince himself playing all these elements himself ( and even providing his own backing vocals?). It's so distinctive and cool, and I'm not sure anyone else was able to replicate it at the time, so much so that it feels like he's trademarked it. As much as I don't really mind the song lengths, I think this is the big hit of the three that suffers the most from the extra length. The song in ingle format feels much more propulsive and manic, which I much prefer. That manic feel saturates the lyrics as well with the focus on infatuation and the dizzy, bewildered feeling of lust at first site given full form here. Awesome. On a side note, the sampled baby cooing at the end here which was used to great effect on Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?” is the subject of a fascinating bit of musical archeology that is worth checking out here: https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/07/who-was-the-baby-on-aaliyah-s-are-you-that-somebody Side two "Let's Pretend We're Married" - And now we've wondered from the familiar beach and are knee deep in the bracing waters of the lesser known tracks. I think was still released as a single? It must have been as there's a music video, in which Prince and his band ( who all look like they are cosplaying as the man himself) perform in a fog and spotlight factory. As I'm way less familiar with the single version of this one ( not sure I gave ever once heard this on the radio), the stuffed length does not bother me as much. The synth drives us along the winding path towards another one night stand, this tie with our narrator as the instigator. This guy's a little but more scatter brained and impulsive maybe than the subject of "Little Red Corvette" and more than a little unconcerned about coming across as an asshole. He's certainly interested, but you get the feeling he'll move right on down to the next lady at the bar if his schtick fails here. It's a numbers game for this guy I'm thinking. We also get maybe the most notorious of lyrics here. Even for Prince they are pretty spicy. Either way, this is a ton of fun and full of hooks. It's not anywhere close to being the sort of filler one might expect from the lesser material. Prince has a high hit rate with having quality deep cuts, and while this isn't quite that - it's close enough. "D.M.S.R." - Prince's P-Funk influences are in full effect here as we get some MASSIVE fat bass lines over a jaunty guitar, and some good old fashioned dance instructions. Truth in advertising as we get as good a soundtrack as any for some dancing, sexing, and romancing. This is prime roller skate jam material. And yes, I felt compelled to clap on the four as I was asked. We opened with a call top party, and we end with maybe the same party that's been going on this whole time while were away. A wonderful close to side two. Side three "Automatic" - Another tale of romance, this time with a heavy dose of obsession, with our narrator seeming to lack any sort of free will. How much of bad thing this is I guess depends on your point of view. He seems to be having a good time. There's more than a bit of S&M feel here though as we're also given some hints this might not be a two-way street. Instrumentally we get a some funk mixed in with the robotic presentation and chorus that feels a bit colder than everything else on here as well. It's still a damn fine listen though. There's some guitar noodling just before the end that mimics and mixes in with the cries of pleasure ( pain?) that adds a nice effect. Possibly the kinkiest track on an album that already seems unconcerned with how shocking it can get. This one that I also prefer the 7" edit to, even if it loses a lot of the dark, weird atmosphere. "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)" - Holy cow. We're right in it with some almost industrial dance beats, and some maybe too on the nose computer noises. Almost makes me wonder if NIN or anyone similar has tried covering this. This time around our guy just can't quite figure out why he's being rejected and treated so badly. And if those yelps are any indication, Princes DOES NOT understand why anyone would turn away his charms. And how can you blame him. This tracks is drowning in self doubt and a nervous energy that does not suit him very well, and hurts the effectiveness. It doesn't help that this has much more of a gussied up demo track feel than anything else on here. The first miss for me, but not a complete failure by any means. I'm not offended or turned off so much as amused at the slight misstep. "Free" - Opening with a building, pulsing heartbeat and what sounds like someone running through crunching snow ( even though meant to be marching given the lyrics), we go right into a piano and bass drum ballad of the lift your chin up sort, where Prince gets to show off his falsetto. The chorus on this is very uplifting in tone despite the bittersweet lyrics that seem to want to lift you up out of whatever funk or darkness you may gave descended into and lets you know there are good times up ahead through those clouds even if you can't quite see them yet. This is some great shit, and further proof of how great this guy's B-material is. Again though I much prefer the promo edit that loses the sound effects. This one's my dark horse pick for greatest non-hit on the album, and I would compare it favorably to some of the best optimistic anthems like "Lean On Me", "I'll Take You There", "Stand By Me", and "Bridge Over Troubled waters". There's also a very lovely version from 2008 with Prince accompanying himself on acoustic guitar that is well worth your time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgFQO8HZtQE). Side four "Lady Cab Driver" - This one's a more or less straight forward ( at least instrumentally so) jazz-funk number that sails along in a mid-tempo groove that seems a little more subdued than anything else. We get a long shotgun spread diatribe at a lot of random targets over top of some hilarious moaning that brings a what previously felt like a paranoid escape song into a possible bedroom jam? Maybe that cab pulled over into a secluded spot for just long enough to get freaky? The guitar and synth freakout at 5:35 lends itself to this interpretation as maybe things are too crazy for even Prince's lyrics to contain them. This one , more than any other on the album I think benefits most form the shorter run time of the 7" edit. "All the Critics Love U in New York" - We get what seems to be a takedown track focused on superficial and critics who seem to be chasing whatever's hip. The pretty basic funky track is dripping with disdain, but not willing to sacrifice any forward momentum. Instrumentally, the core of this almost plays out like some lost James Brown track sped up to double time and played with a muted bass. Not my favorite but impossible to completely dismiss. "International Lover" - Slow, sultry built for a the kind of slow dance that does not allow room for the Holy Ghost. It has that end of concert, encore number vibe that suits its placement here incredibly well. Can't you picture the arena lit up with swaying cell phones? More great stuff, and with his sense of humor on full display as well. There's a more serious, improv heavy, and intimate piano only version ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6SAhGuDh_0) of this that's also worth checking out, and which oozes a lot more sexuality than the album cut, and which is also a lot shorter, and makes me want to see if I can cobble together a bunch of similar material for an imaginary Prince nightclub album. HIGHLIGHTS - "1999" - "Little Red Corvette" - "Delirious" - "Let's Pretend We're Married" - "D.M.S.R." - "Automatic" - "Free" MIDLIGHTS - "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)" - "Lady Cab Driver" - "All the Critics Love U in New York" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS My biggest criticism of this album is how much fat there is. Even down to the best stuff like "1999" his Purpleness seems to have been taken over my his wildest self indulgent tendencies and blown almost everything up here to the point of popping. That's not to say it's not enjoyable fat though. Even the too-long by almost half title track is a hell of a lot of fun. Even a genius need an editor though. Supposedly this hypergraphic mania is well represented in the vast number of unreleased ( possibly over 100!) completed albums, partial albums, songs ( possibly nearing 8,000!), b-sides, re-mixes, forgotten singles, and song gragments and ideas he left behind for his notoriously litigious and stingy executors. 1999 I think is the first, early appearing symptom of whatever drove him to generate so much, and as such it doesn't look that crazy by comparison to what would come later. Everything on here is of such a high standard of quality, I find it almost impossible to take digs at compositionally or instrumentally. There is plenty of variety, it's all pretty danged listenable ( if too long in spots), and no one sounded like Prince. Even the people who bordered sounding like him only did so because he likely produced, wrote, or even ghost-performed on their albums and songs. A few have tried to ape his essence with moderate success ( Terrence Trent D'Arby, Lenny Kravitz) but they either end up running into a creative wall, or survive by adapting ( ripping off Hendrix instead, let's say). Despite my admittedly nitpicky issues with the song lengths, I think overall this completely deserves inclusion in the list for, if not just that amazing first side then the comprehensive vision and execution of a pretty ballsy undertaking. Who else was releasing double albums of rock tinged electro-funk, and setting MTV on fire with the kind of unassailable sexiness at the time? Madonna maybe was his only competition in the latter I guess. This is not his best album ( Purple Rain) or his tightest ( Dirty Mind) but it ranks up there in his top 5 for sure. Glad I got to get in another full listen, but looking forward to the main event when it pops up. It'll be his last entry, and I think we will have listened to them in ascending order of greatness. As good as it is, there are the bones of an even better album buried in the shallow grave one plot over. So close to the surface that you could almost brush away the dirt with your hand. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Let's put together an all radio/ single edit version of this and see how it compares. This one tops out at 43:17 (43:01 with the Spotify available tracks) compared to the original's 70.29: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2o2zrsmoewqs9duRi0Ucxw?si=1c728ccd4cf14847 1. 1999 (7" Edit) 3:36 2. Little Red Corvette (7" Edit) 3:08 3. Delirious (7" Edit) 2:38 4. Let's Pretend We're Married (Video Edit) 4:18 5. D.M.S.R. ( Risky Business soundtrack edit) 5:05 6. Automatic (7" Edit) 3:40 6. Something in the Water (Does Not Compute) ( album version) 4:02 6. Free (Promo-Only Edit) 4:35 7. Lady Cab Driver (7" Edit) 5:05 8. All the Critics Love U in New York (7" Edit) 3:15 9. International Lover ( radio and microphone edit) 3:48 FURTHER LISTENING - Dirty Mind by Prince - Controversy by Prince - Purple Rain by Prince - What Time Is It? by The Time - Gap Band IV by the Gap Band - Street Songs by Rick James - Control by Janet Jackson

Man, this was so good. The sexual energy, the guitars - DAT BASS. And of course, his amazing lyrics and vocals. Super good listen.

Prince does his thangg. Fun 80s pop album and has my fav song on this album hehe.

Meget længere og mere jammy end jeg forventede. Lille 4

Har ikke hørt den her før, var overrasket over at det var et dobbelt-album! Virkelig fed, sexet, jammy

Bless Prince's dedication to the synth. While a talented man, the synth nuttiness here is what really sets him apart. Without it, he'd just be a horny multi-instrumentalist. Instead, we get some very forward looking tunes with sounds that were either absorbed so completely that they seem like they were always there, so horrible they disappear, or so malign that they live on as villain themes in '80s cartoons. But enough about that: like just about everything Prince puts together, this is too long, both in song and album length. Tough to listen to in one sitting unless you're stuck in the car, and it does go a little downhill after the first two tracks. But of course, it's a lot of fun, very horny (did I mention that yet?) and is packed with interesting if not always welcome sounds. Prince seems to find a hook and then extend it way past its use-by date, with mixed success. I think Purple Rain is a MUCH better package, but that doesn't mean I hate this.

Not really my style and i think its the first prince album that i have listened. So far its good but not too remarkable

Pretty great, not a bad song on it, never heard a full prince album before. Funky and horny

I always feel like I got fucked after listening to a Prince Album

- Some bangers on here (obviously) - little red corvette is a bop (duh)

This album is seemingly Prince shagging everything that moves, from a taxi driver to all the passengers on his airline. Not an album I would put on in the car whilst taking my mum to the shops or the kids to school. I quite liked it though. I especially liked the longer jam tracks. Prince is so much better without his clunky drum sound. Early days for him I suppose, before he went a bit nuts. (Listens.:.2)

Loved the first half. Didn't love the second half. A genius, but he could have done with a wank.

this man did a lot of sex I think

How the fuck is this guy a homophobe

ja leuk! vond Sign denk ik net lekkerder maar dit is natuurlijk topfunk en ZO 80s

BANGERS !!!!!

4.5

Of course I know of this album but I'd never heard it, other than 1999 and Little Red Corvette. This man is an incredible artist and I enjoyed this lots. The only reason it can't be 5 stars is I really do not like when songs are more than 6 minutes MAX. It just loses impact for me to have songs that long. There are quite a few here and it just starts to make me zone out, even if I like the song at first!

Although I still feel like I have a hard time connecting with Prince's music, I definitely liked this album better than Purple Rain. The title track and Little Red Corvette were the two songs already familiar to me, and are definitely the strongest tracks on the album. Delirious and International Lover were close behind. Most of the rest of the album seemed like experimentation with synths, most of which I appreciated.

Prince has typically not been my favorite, but this project has me kind of coming around on him. A lot of the videos I've seen of his live performances are on a completely different tier too.

More experimental than I thought it would be. The title song and Little Red Corvette are all-time classics and some of the other tracks are pretty good. Not quite enough to be a five though.

Talented mofo

Oh hell yeah!!

1999 by prince actually wasn’t bad but some of the songs were so long and I was just questioning when they’d end but they kept dragging along but oh well. Top songs: 1999, Little Red Corvette, Delirious, Let’s Pretend We’re Married, Free, All the Critics Love U in New York

1999 is actually my first full Prince album and it was fun.

I love how fitting the instrumentals can be in some of these tracks... The instrumentation in 'Delirious' is a clear highlight of this, with the strange, almost funny synth sound throughout, setting the mood for the song completely. The majority of these tracks are above 5 minutes, with a few being around 9 minutes each. This does make the album quite long, but depending on how into the album you are, it is still a good one to listen to top to bottom. With some of the songs being this long, however, it obviously means that there are very repetitive parts... that's okay when the hook is catchy, but even then, there can be such a thing as too much of a good thing. Lyrically, this album is quite raunchy, with a lot of the songs being about sex, with some tracks even becoming quite explicit, but that is just the vibe of Prince. However, I do find the contrast of some of Prince's work quite funny. For example, in 'Purple Rain', there are very thoughtful, loving lyrics such as, 'I never wanted to be your weekend lover, I just wanted to be some kind of friend.' ... This is then contrasted quite heavily by 'Let's Pretend We're Married' with the lyrics: 'I sincerely wanna f*** the taste outta your mouth.' I guess that's the beauty of music in some kind of funny way. But this album as a whole does seem a lot edgier and 'sex-crazed' compared to some other songs of his that I have heard. Favourite lyric: 'So if I gotta die, I'm gonna listen to my body tonight.' ('1999') Favourites: Delirious 1999 Let's Pretend We're Married Free International Lover

I’m torn between a 3 and a 4. I’ll give Prince the benefit of the doubt and assume this album will catch on with a few more listens. Take my 4 stars Prince.

Fun

This album works better when you realize it's a dance album with pop and R&B inflection instead of a pop album with R&B and dance inflection. I was really sort of sucked into Prince's worldbuilding here but it did try my patience somewhat.

J'aime beaucoup Prince !

It's Prince. The man didn't know anything bad.

Prince is great but this isn’t his greatest.

I think this guy likes sex Fave track: 1999

This was Prince's first album recorded with his longtime live band the Revolution, and it's apparent immediately. "1999" and "Little Red Corvette" back-to-back serve as a strong opening. The remainder of the album is fun (and horny, of course). Very synth-heavy and computer-sounding for the bulk of it too, especially once you get to "Delirious". This was the era after all, with music looking toward (and sounding like) the future, and Prince himself never shied away from this. Only blemish I can think of here are the unecessary lengths on some of these songs.

Prince is an artist I’ve always respected more than loved. He was an undeniable genius and one of the most innovative guitar players in popular music. Just watch his performance on While My Guitar Gently Weeps from George Harrison’s R&R Hall of Fame induction - he made Clapton look like a kid noodling on a Fender. I definitely found myself dancing and head bobbing throughout my listening to 1999. I always wondered how Prince celebrated the millennium when it finally came. This is certainly one of his better albums, maybe right behind Purple Rain for me. I still prefer watching clips of Prince playing guitar live than any of his studio output, but there’s no doubting how good this is.

Overall Rating - 3.59/5 (7.18/10). This album sounds like the early 80s. Excellent musicianship, recognizable and catchy tunes, everything you would expect out of Prince and The Revolution.

I love prince, his aesthetic, his attitude, his ambition, guy is a legend….. That said, when it comes to listening to full albums of his there will always be a chance of some liberal use of the skip button. In 1999 there are some bangers, the album is front loaded so starts super strong but the 2nd half feels to long and doesn’t appeal as much driving to work on a rainy Monday as it might in an 80’s Minneapolis night club or certain other settings / situations I am unlikely to find myself in anytime soon. The problem with being prolific is editing, Prince released 39 albums from 1978 until his death in 2016, that’s more than one per year….. just because you write a song doesn’t mean you should release it! 3.3

Funky, sexy, endlessly hooky, pop, synth rock…and so dirty. Is there anything prince can’t do. Hooks like they are on a fire sale. If there’s downsides - not every song needs to be 9 mins..and I GET IT - you f*&*( a lot...i know! My word.

Why did this list give me all 3 of Prince's included albums within 50 albums of each other? I just had Sign O' The Times last week! (Purple Rain came a little earlier, in early April). Anyway, this album is Prince doing the thing that Prince does best; make funky 80s pop songs about sex. Musically, the songs are catchy and fun, with strong hooks and excellent rhythms that engage the listener. In terms of lyrics, it's not all that remarkable. All the lyrics deal with partying and, well, having intercourse. Prince knows how to write a good song, but he's clearly thinking with his penis on this album. It's still about as good as any other Prince album, however.

Fun and sexy. Prince is the goat. Some songs drag a bit too much.

Was a fun time, lot's of danceable stuff on here. Even the long songs weren't drags, so overall pretty good. Highlights-Little Red Corvette, Delirious, D.M.S.R., Automatic, and All the Critics Love U in New York.

josie hat gesagt da stöhnen frauen, hab ich aber nicht gehört... :( ja ziemlich sexual, ich mochte es aber echt lieber als ich dachte, 80er und so ist normalerweise nicht sooo meins aber ich liebe lowkey prince

While its long and its self indulgent, its done with a purpose, and doesnt lesson the album. Instead of it being long because of it having 20+ songs, instead each song gets its chance to jam out at the end. First half are super famous great songs, second half good album tracks Not as good as the other two prince albums but still a high 4

This is my 2nd Prince album this month, and I think I like his music more than I'd previously thought. It helps to hear his music in the context of an album because I think some of my previous complaints about his samey sound is because his singles tend to be cut from the same cloth. For instance, the song 1999 is this album's Let's Go Crazy... while Little Red Corvette is more Raspberry Beret. Further listening reveals a lot of variety. Delirious is an appealing and catchy pop track and Let's Pretend We're Married really draws me in with its driving beat. It's one of several very long songs on this record. I don't mind some of the extended length because it gives interesting instrumental passages the chance to breathe and feature. I do think it goes on a couple minutes too long on DMSR, Automatic, and Lady Cab Driver. I enjoyed Automatic the most of these three... with its crisp synthesizer and punchy bass. I did find my attention drifting slightly as the album went on. At the same time, I don't think 1999's songs would be as effective if they were cut down to 4-minute pop formulas. I suppose there are plenty of 7" versions if I want to compare, but I'm pretty sure I don't need them. I think the length will keep this from being an album I return to often -- or at least as often as Purple Rain -- but I can firmly say Prince is 2 for 2 and I'm happy to be reevaluating his catalogue. Better late than never.

I expected to be a bit ambivalent about this album. I knew the first 2 songs and didn't really know what to expect beyond them. It is a really good, solid album. It's funky and fun and obsessed with sex

Love prince always a good groove but sometimes it can be a bit repetitive? Sorry!

Awesome Album, beatiful mind and authentic

Very strange and overly sexy album

the record i own actually trims this down by 4 tracks (dmsr, automatic, all the critics, international lover) and i much prefer the pared-down version but this is still fantastic. those first 4 tracks are back to back hits, lady cab driver rules. its hard to make a great double album…

Really great. So much R&B vibe with some really excellent guitar and synth work. There's a reason Prince is so revered.

Un enchaînement très efficace de morceaux bien funky. Une régularité impressionnante avec un excellent niveau du début à la fin. Une très bonne expérience globale où j'ai passé un super moment.

This could be an “objective” 5, but for me it’s a 4. There’s some really epic shit on here. And also some shit that’s not really for me. I definitely understand why Prince is heralded as a genius. But I don’t love a lot of the tones and textures on here that aged pretty poorly. That being said there were songs on here I’d never heard that I really loved. While I didn’t connect with the whole album I still consider Prince an indisputable GOAT.

first time listening to this all the way thru. lots of fun across this album, and a lot of unexpected noise and layers that start to pile on top of each other and overwhelm (in a good way). great energy behind it all. "All The Critics Love U In New York" is a treat. the slower tracks didn't do it for me as much, but that first side to the album really crushes. I remember being a kid on New Years Eve in 1998 on Amelia Island, FL, and there was an FM radio station that played the song "1999" on repeat all day and night.

Fun, a bit long, some classics.

8/10 Muy buen album, divertido, movido, no aburre ni es repetitivo

I knew Prince's reputation but was somehow still surprised by how filthy this is. 😂 Unfortunately I had it on in the background, I think I need to come back and listen to it properly some time. Not my usual kind of thing but I think it's good

Upbeat, happy, sexual in a good way. Unique voice lots of range. Makes you move and feel good. Like lyrics of free and favorite songs are automatic, delirious, DMSR. Love artists that play own instruments. Was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

First of all, let me just say, I'm sorry about yesterday. I gave "Back in Black" by AC/DC a 1/10 and even though it deserved it I'm sorry I did that. I feel bad. Anyway this album fucks. Literally. "1999" and "Little Red Corvette" are two songs that any person who's listened to the radio enough will know by heart, and I'm one of those people. At least the choruses. Classic songs, both of them, ESPECIALLY "1999," which is simply one of the best songs of all time. To compare Prince and MJ for a second, "1999" is kind of like Prince's version of "You Wanna Be Starting Something," basically a 6-minute long deep funk song disguised as a dancey synth-funk song. This entire album actually lines up with thriller a bit, what with its resounding classics (Purple Rain more aligns with it there but this album serves something similar imo), the synthy funk, the smooth, soulful comedown closer track... enough comparing these two guys though, this album deserves an individual evaluation. The first disc is one of the best sequences of music ever, opening with two of the best songs of Prince's career, and riding out the B-side with two back-to-back dance-sex-funk jams, those being "Let's Pretend We're Married" (one of the only songs that can say stuff like "I sincerely wanna fuck the taste out your mouth... can you relate?" and get a pass for it.) and "D.M.S.R.," a monolithic 8-minute banger. The second disc takes an obvious dip in quality, but it's still not bad; though "Free" is fretful at best compared to every song that's come before it, it's still a pretty good song on its own. "Something In The Water" is awesome, though much overstated by those who think it's some sort of artsy experimental ahead-of-the-curve masterpiece ("All The Critics Love U In New York" is way more artsy, experimental, and ahead of the curve in my opinion). It's pretty cool and that's it. "Lady Cab Driver" is a fabulous affair, synthy, energetic, and the spoken word section is insane, and almost intimidating. As I mentioned already, "All The Critics Love U In New York" is this album's actual experimental masterpiece, a strange, new wave, noisy track that's easily a highlight on here. And then we have the closer, this album's "The Lady In My Life," if you will. It works. It's nothing super special, and I'm more of a fan of Prince's lower register than his falsetto, but it's still a good closer. Overall this album is incredible, and I'm glad I got it today! 9.1/10

Talk about a Friday vibe. Prince is the man. So fun, such a joy to listen to whatever he makes.

Prince is incapable of producing a bad beat, but some of the songs sure do drag on

Nunca alguien hizo tanto y fue tan poco apreciado. Damn.

Nice, like a bit of Prince, was good to cook to.

Prince in all his wild creativity. so many solid bops.

Rv

Great beats. Kinda all sounds the same but still love his music.

A very good album starting off with 4 pop hits then settling in to some find grooves and beats. Not a Prince album fan except for Purple Rain but this one is boppin.

The crazy thing about Prince is that this is one of the most essential pop albums of the ‘80s, but it’s only like the third best Prince album of the ‘80s.

Great. Lots of fun and interesting moments. Something in the Water is so weird I love it.

Strong 3.5. Acho que arrasta um pouco mas tem ideias bem divertidas e não é repetitivo

Princen 1999 on kyllä oikein hyvä levy, mutta mikään täysosuma se ei ole. Monet biiseistä saisivat olla selkeästi lyhyempiä ja itse en satu olemaan tällaisen "superkasarin" soundimaailman suurin fani. Mutta on tämä silti parempi kuin suurin piirtein kaikki kolmen tähden levyt, joten kai tälle uskaltaa nelosen antaa. Ovathan nimikkokappale 1999 ja Little Red Corvette niin hyviä.

This album unveiled a new sound that would become the sound of the entire Minneapolis music scene for roughly the next decade. I remember hearing this for the first time on cassette, with a walkman, during the 1980s and being blown away by the deft mix of funk, r&b, pop, and electronica. It was a little bit of everything while still being singularly Prince. The mystique of Prince was also that here was a guy that could record an entire album by himself in a home studio, which seemed impossibly difficult back in 1982. This many years later I am a bit more circumspect and objective about this album. In my opinion, this and maybe PURPLE RAIN, would be the only 2 Prince albums on the list. I was never a fan of SIGN O' THE TIMES. I felt he had lost some the magic by that point in his career, or perhaps I had just reached a point in my life in which Prince songs no longer had a place. My enjoyment peaks after the first three bangers and rapidly declines thereafter. Tracks overstay their welcome and there is the hint of sexual violence in tracks like "D.M.S.R" that weird me out way more than now than when I first heard them in the 1980s. Favorites: "1999", "Little Red Corvette", and "Delirious"

Not a Prince fan. But respect.

A small step down from Purple Rain: on balance the songs are a little less interesting and they all overstay their welcome a bit. Still, a world-class album just for 1999 and Little Red Corvette (maybe my favorite song ever (but shh, I prefer the single version)).

3rd prince album so far, more bangers. incredible artist

I am a huge Prince fan and though not my favorite album by him, it certainly propelled him to heights I would not have thought possible. A couple of misses on this album but what bangers

Favourite Songs: 1999 D.M.S.R Lady Cab Driver

The man was a genius

Some real bangers and a lot of good sounding background type music

Classic Prince album but not sure I've ever listened to the whole thing. This is a great album but really the first two songs are the best songs on the album. It's all pretty good but front loading the album with the singles doesn't seem like the greatest idea. Great album overall!

Not as good as purple rain but still pretty good.

personal rating: 8/10

💜

Never listened to this album from start to finish, but damn. A masterpiece worth replaying. Ahead of its time and so so so good.

It’s a bop for sure

Okay, mid, it's not the best

1999 - 5/5 Little Red Corvette - 5/5 Delirious - 4/5 Let's Pretend We're Married - 4/5 D.M.S.R. - 4/5 Automatic - 4/5 Something in the Water - 4/5 Free - 3.5/5 Lady Cab Driver - 4/5 All the Critics Love U in New York - 4/5 International Lover - 4/5 Outside of the first two tracks, this album is a lot more synthpop-focused than I would have imagined for a person who I always thought as a rock star. That style doesn't hold it back, as this combination of electronic, rock, and funk really make this work well. My main concern is its length - this feels like a normal-length album that was stretched into a double album for no reason I can think of. If it was shortened this would probably lean more towards a 5* but it still gets 4* because of how overall good the whole thing was. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: 1999, Little Red Corvette

The purple one drops another absolute banger. Favorite track: 1999

Sweet Prince

Bastante rico, muy largo igual. Nota: 3.8

Not surprisingly, I’m a fan

It was interesting to revisit this album after all these years. I’m not sure I ever listened to it all the way through back in the day. I never owned it. Hits like Little Red Corvette. Delirious, and Let’s Pretend We’re Married hold up well but feel very of the moment. Some of the deeper tracks are really interesting D.M.S.R has a great 70’s funk feel and the couple of slow jams at the end are really good. Automatic has a Kraftwork feel and it’s good but not my style, but toward the end of the middle Prince breaks out with a really nice blues guitar riff which was great. The whole thing is a little too electronic for my taste- especially the drums- but this did not affect my enjoyment of it as much as I thought it would.

I have never really listened to Prince seriously. Singles on the radio or as collected on that Singles and B Sides collection ... that's about it. This is a good album. I still don't like his "slow jam" mode, but there are some excellent album tracks here. Automatic is outstanding -- I had never heard it before. Listening to this, I thought about why so many people whose taste I respect love Prince and I do not. Don't know how critical this is, but I was struck in listening to this album by how not-prominent the bass is. (Which is very strange in someone so connected to the funk.) I'm very bass-focused, and this album is heavy on guitar, drums, and synths -- and the drums and synths are on the treble-y side. Anyway. Good album, but -- give me a fatter bass, please!

I mean, it's a Prince album from the 80s. Do I love every song on it? No. Do I love it? Yes.

A couple of bangers, of course. But also the rest of the songs are bops too. Especially enjoyed DMSR - Prince knows what's important.

After an unusually underwhelming turnout with Controversy, Prince decided to focus back on the quality of his music again and turn up a couple notches to a whole new level with 1999. This is really where people started to know Prince's name with the title track and Little Red Corvette being huge radio charters for the time and timeless classics anyone could still get down to. Along with those two iconic tracks, this album is full of really horny music that you definitely cannot play anywhere but in a pair of headphones because of just how graphic some of these songs can get. I'd love to be able to listen to Lady Cab Driver because of its' amazing guitar parts and lyrics, but man does that whole "sex scene" in the middle of the song make that next to impossible to hear in a public setting. While it does slow down a good bit the longer this album goes on, for being 1 hour and 10 minutes of straight Synth Funk I have to say it was quite a stellar time. Definitely not his best work but it is yet another highlight in a career full of timeless albums and undeniably great tracks.

Цікаво) Я раніше Принца тільки по ТВ чув) Стиль не мій, але відчувається по музиці, що Принц майстер)

Great record with some of Prince’s most popular tracks. Haven’t been too hip to Prince until now but willing to change.

Afrofuturism in all its forms is one of my favorite art movements. I feel like I need to listen to more Prince, half of this album I don't know that well. This could be 5 stars with more familiarity. But the Purple One always brings it.

I really enjoyed this, Prince's extreme horniness aside. However; every song could benefit from being a good two minutes shorter, and then maybe another song thrown in there? But yes. Completely danceable

Shout out the revolution. U can see them referenced upside down in the eye

very nice!

This was a fun album. A lotta talk about sex. Like... a lot a lot. Guys, I think Prince liked sex.

Enjoyed this a heap. Maybe im a prince fan

Such a good album. Really strong start. Just... Sexy. And in a world of electronics and synths you can tell it's Prince in just a few seconds. There was just something elevated somehow.

While not my personal favorite Prince album (not trying to say I don't like it - just that I'm more into Purple Rain and/or Sign of the Times), it is a mighty fine album, and it can't be overstated how influential it was at the time on R&B, and popular music in general. So many acts were trying to include at least a little bit of that Minneapolis funk after this album hit.

Mommy, why does everybody have a bomb?

Good one but not my style

Free está muy bien

Amazing and I love the drums

I would kill to party like it's 1999. Please!

This is not my favorite genre of music at all but this is a classic. You can't listen to this album without seeing where some of the greatest music to follow really came from. Even now, in the mid 2020's Princes influence can be seen everywhere. Sexually charged and unapologetic. If you've got a craving for a whole lotta synth and some really punchy bass, this is it. If this isn't your kind of music, you still have to appreciate the importance of this person and their talent, and their art. 'Something in the Water' is an incredible song and definitely my favorite in the list. To hear his screams and the eerie, deep techy, and aptly - 'watery' tones in the track feels so raw to me.

Not my favorite Prince album but Prince has no bad albums. The title track is probably my favorite, working great on its own and as an opener.

The opening four tracks were a strong start and really pulled me in. After that, though, the album started to feel a bit slow and drawn out for my taste. Some of the songs lingered longer than they needed to, which made the listening experience feel stretched. That said, the final few tracks brought back a really funky, sensual vibe that stood out. The lyrics and rhythms were catchy, but at times they became a bit too repetitive. Overall, it’s a solid album with great moments, but it could have benefited from being tighter and more concise.

The first half of this album is incredible, then it slumps into seven minute bores before finishing strong.

Highlights: 1999, Delirious, Let's Pretend We're Married, D.M.S.R, Lady Cab Driver, All the Critics Love U in New York

amazing work

Day 15 1999 by Prince Alright, this weird, fun, nostalgic gem was such a vibe. I found myself singing along in the car with Prince even though I don’t really know the songs that well. There are some heavy synths here, sometimes almost weird, but it somehow just works. The songs are long, but it feels more like being in a jam session with Prince than listening to a structured pop album. I enjoyed this a lot. At times it almost feels more like an experience or a mood than just an album. It’s steamy, bubbly, groovy, full of funk. I can definitely see myself coming back to this when I want something fun and nostalgic. Wine pairing? A nice orange, natural funky wine fits perfectly. Something a bit wild, full of character, slightly unpredictable. Food pairing? Spicy late-night chipotle Shrimp tacos. Favourite song? “D.M.S.R.” Vinyl? Yeah, I’d want this on vinyl. First listen? Yes. Overall 4 out of 5.

very groovy, straight out of the early 80s late 90s. prince is a great vocalist and for my second album of his im happy.

One of my favourites from his.

Maximalist pop by the freakiest man at the party.

This is another one that I own, but probably didn't play a lot for you (sorry?). I guess by the time y'all came along, I'd kind of lost interest -- or, more accurately, there were too many other things to listen to, including new stuff. The first two songs, in particular, I've heard so many times that they've lost some of their luster and charm (for me); not really possible for me, now, to hear them "fresh.". Even though I know they're very good songs. The other thing is that, I guess, for me, I think Prince will always be a 4 (at best), rather than a 5, at least in terms of how much I like it, and probably also in terms of how I'd rate it. I recognize that his songs are clever and catchy and fun, but there's something about his music that I don't love, or that I think (some) other people love more than I do. He has certain stylistic (musical) tics, in terms of his vocals, in particular, which I don't love. Also, maybe his music is a bit too (and this feels weird to say) stiff? Sort of mechanical? I don't know, maybe that's dumb. Ok, sorry to be long-winded, as usual. I'll leave you with a Dad story: Freshman year at FSU, Fred and I were roommates in a dorm. In the room to 1 side of us (closer to my bed) were 2 black guys - forget their names (maybe 1 of them was Larry?), but I remember that 1 (or both) of them loved Prince's song "Head," which was from an album or two before this, and they played it all the time. All we could hear, coming through the wall, was the simple thumping bass line. Oh, wait, I have another story: "1999," the song, which came out in 1982, was about a year that seemed way in the future (lol). Now, of course, it's a) way in the past, and b) it's Sam's birth year! (Love you, Sam!) Ok, back to grading: despite all the pseudo-complaints, I recognize that this is a great album, so I'm pretty sure it's at least a 4, with a slight chance for a 5. First 2 songs: not their fault I've heard them so often - they're still good songs. Third song (Delirious), too, for a great first album side. And DMSR is maybe even better -- the funkiest one of all - except, wait, it goes on way too long. Automatic is too long, too (although some nice bass toward the end). Lady Cab and All the Critics also kinda long, even a little boring (maybe intended more for dance club?). So, for me, now, I'd have to say it's definitely not a 5, and I'm a little less sure about the 4. This might be another double album that might have been stronger if it's been a single album (either pick the best songs, or cut the long songs in half). But, in the end, I'll still go with 4, for all the creativity. I wonder, sometimes, how ALL of this music will sound in 20 years, or 50, or 100 - what will hold up, what won't? I guess I'm wondering that now because I have a slight sense that possibly Prince is starting to sound dated, even though, when it came out, he seemed, if anything, ahead of his time.

Taint tickling delights from the main man from the land of the 10k lakes. I dig it

Just takes me back. Synth masterpiece.

My stepmom loves Prince so I've heard a lot of his stuff over the years and always thought it was decent enough. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did though! Funky and fun, technically impressive, and overall a very good time listening to this.

Muy buena vibra, lo es y he mientras caminaba y me subió el humor para bien

I typically do some pre-reading when diving into an established book, album, game, etc. to get necessary context and set my expectations. Somehow, all of my reading failed to bring up that Prince would climb out of my speakers and fuck me, but I don’t think it would’ve helped me even IF I had known that. I had to stop and stand with my jaw agape multiple times because this album is just absolutely nuts man… just so blatantly horny that when it was over I couldn’t help but laugh… Favorite Song: Something in the Water (Does Not Compute) Least Favorite Song: Free

couple songs keep it from a 5

Not Purple Rain, but still one of his best

I’ve always had somewhat mixed feelings about Prince: on the one hand, I admire his skill on various instruments and his arranging ideas; on the other hand, for my taste, he’s written very few truly good songs. “1999” is no exception here; after the title track and “Little Red Corvette,” there isn’t much else that’s catchy. The best parts here are the numerous instrumental interludes. Perhaps it would have been more convincing as a purely instrumental album? As I write this, “International Lover” is playing, which I actually find quite good. For me, that’s what tips the scales for 4 stars right now.

Buenisima. Me tuvo moviendo los pies todo el rato. Increíble que con 24 años ya llevaba su cuarto álbum Prince eres una estrella más del cielo

1999 and Little Red Corvette are classics. I really liked the bass work in Automatic and Lady Cab Driver. Just short of a 5 for me as things were a little played out by the end and I probably wouldn't buy and listen to the whole album again, but I really enjoyed it.

4.5 Like a direct transmission from a funkier, hornier, alien planet. I adore it.

Album # 62, Prince, 1999, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I was excited to see this come up. I gave Sign o’ the Times five stars. it’s one of the best albums I’ve ever heard and the best new discovery I’ve had on the list. This isn’t on that level, but I still enjoyed it. It’s less inventive and a bit more straightforward pop, and he doesn’t cover as many genres, so it’s not as impressive overall. That said, it’s still a very, very good pop album. It’s fun, it’s danceable, and even though each song is very long, the grooves and repetition actually work in its favour. That feels like the whole point of the record. He keeps things interesting too, throwing in guitar solos and strange production choices, and oddball tracks like Automatic and Something in the Water (Does Not Compute), which are just really interesting. It’s kind of a weird protest album that’s also massively about sex. When he’s not singing about saving the world, he’s singing about sex, and sometimes it’s a bit much. International Lover is basically him narrating his orgasm, step by step. And in Lady Cab Driver he lets out all his frustration through the act of sex on a cab driver. He just loves sex. He’s mad for the ride. It can be a bit much sometimes. But the musicianship is undeniable. His singing, his playing, his overall ability, he’s just phenomenal. One of the most impressive musicians I’ve ever listened to. His band are great too. I don’t think I’ll come back to this as much as Sign o’ the Times, but if anything this whole exercise has made me a big Prince fan.

This came up pretty early in my time working at this set of albums, and at the time was comfortably the most famous album to rear its head. It was the only album I knew of before the project i’ve encountered so far. As such, it had a level of hype to it the other albums simply didn’t. I found those expectations met perfectly adequately. Prince is an incredibly popular artist, one of the greats in the public subconscious. I do not dislike his work, neither am I a fan. I listen to some of his stuff passively, never really seek it out. I found the album to be, what I would consider with my limited knowledge of the former artist, a perfectly standard Prince affair. Possibly because it was the benchmark of what that means. Ran a bit too long for my tastes, and I was more drawn to the sideshows (Delirious, Let’s Pretend We’re Married, Something In The Water) Rhan the main attractions (Little Red Corvette, title track). Hasn’t converted me to the disciples of Prince, hasn’t given me a reason to dislike him, solid artistry throughout. Perhaps I would have given it a 4 without the fame that surrounds that name, maybe it would be the 3 I’m hesitating on. We may never know.

I really like this album but the song were very long

The second double album by Prince we've gotten in this challenge, and just as smooth, soulful, and sexed-up as the first. This ain't just music for making love. This is music for FUCKING.

Great album. I do have a slight quibble with how it drags at the end but the first 2/3 are perfect to me. Cannot deny the stranglehold Prince had on pop culture and this is the rare album over an hour that I feel is not too long.

was cool

Prince is one kinky bastard, I enjoyed it.

I don't understand the complaints about some of the songs being too long, grow up y'all.

So good!!! Such an interesting album to listen to, and stands the test of time.

These songs are really long, I wish 1999 was tomorrow. Wow Prince was very ahead of his time very sexy 🤭

So deliciously dirty. My only complaint is a lot of the songs could have been trimmed down a bit. No denying the man was a musical genius.

Great album by a great artist. I wasn't a fan in the 80s, but didn't actively dislike Prince. Now, holy hell. The 180s synth sounds and drum tracks on so many albums of the time didnt sit with me. Im more tolerant of them now.

Great Prince album. The only thing keeping it from being 5 stars is the length of the songs. It really interrupted the flow. It would feel like the song was winding down, and I’d be thinking “Awesome song. Can’t wait for the next one.” Then I’d look and there were still 4 minute left of the song. The extended music wasn’t bad necessarily, you can hear the band rocking out while Prince says strange things over the music. It just seemed unnecessary. But awesome album nonetheless.

Maybe Prince's funkiest album, and also maybe his best. Most of these songs are quite long, luxuriating in their rhythms and melodies without changing all that much. The funk is light and bouncy but still quite quite hard-hitting on songs like "Delirious." And it has "Little Red Corvette," which may be Prince's best song, the perfect combination of a catchy song with dirty funk guitar. Not all of the songs work; "Something in the Water" and "Free" are a bit too limp and make the long running time drag a bit. But the majority of this is quite strong and an interesting exercise in grooves over songwriting. While only a few of these songs are truly amazing, most have something that makes them interesting.

Very good album. Only Prince can do what Prince does. Always take his competence as a musician and guitarist for granted. Highlight is the final track. Adore the riff on the airline stuff. Not as good as his peak records, but very solid. 4/5

This is the first Prince album I've ever listened to. I can't believe I didn't give him a chance. "1999" is a great album that deserves its spot on the list. A lot of musicians and groups from the early 80s were bland, and Prince wasn't one of them. Let's see if I get "Purple Rain" soon. 4 stars for "1999".

it’s a 4/5 it’s a lovely album!!

Damn I wanna fuck this album (In parts eerily reminded me of Jack Stauber, just listen to Let's pretend we're married)

So much going on in his songs. So good

Poppy, danceable, nice

With track after track of infectious hits, it's apparent why Prince garnered so much fame and acclaim as a musical auteur

Really liked it, but didn't love it. The obvious hits are incredible and fun to hear again despite having heard them roughly 1,000 times. The others are fun - much more 80's-ish than I was expecting, though I'm not sure why I wouldn't have been expecting that.

Prince is so incredibly talented, but I would love for his albums to be a little more condensed.

I spent 3/4 of this one dancing my ass off.

44# UUUH first prince appearance cul cul cul Esse prince deixa sempre um gajo desconfortavel

Van het eerste helft van dit album krijg ik echt zin om op een keyboard te rammen

Starting off with one of his most famous songs, Prince starts "1999" on an upbeat and doesnt let up. This album, Prince's fifth, helped codify the Minneapolis sound - heavy in the drums and synths. This album also helped Prince break into the TV rounds, with two videos here being featured on MTV.

If you enjoy the pop aesthetic of the '80s, you're gonna love this. I'm not really a fan, but Prince is so unbelievable at what he does that I can't help joining in on the fun. Favourite track: Automatic

Favorites: 1999, little red corvette, dmsr, free, international lover

The phrase “This one’s for Yosemite Sam” sung over the sounds of a woman orgasming? This is the work of a true artist and visionary.

Груви фанки дэнс щит

Этот альбом понравился больше Purple Rain в музыкальном плане, зашел танцевальный и фанковый вайб. Из минусов просто невозможные завывания, даже забавно, что за International Lover была получена номинация Грэмми, слушать вокал сложновато. Была удивлена дикой секси-атмосфере, немножко неловко слушать даже. Не ожидала, что Prince был такой машиной любви, но, видимо, при Рейгане все средства хороши

Sex synths and nihilism

Vad bra han var, Prince. Denna kom 1982, otroligt. Favoriter: Free, Little Red Corvette och 1999. Några låtar är väldigt mycket 80-tal men helheten är bra.

Simplesmente Prince, um dos meus artistas favoritos e o disco que em "Little Red Corvette", eu não poderia ter escolhido melhor, uma das melhores obras dele com The Revolution e um disco imperecível

Disc 1: 5 star Disc 2: 2 star. Rounding up as im feeling generous

I’m not a huge Prince fan but think that was my favorite of his. I need to revisit his others to see how my opinion has shifted. It went on a tad too long but still flowed pretty quickly through most of it. Rating: 4.2

I really liked this. One of my favorite prince albums!

Freaky freaky, i liked it Wanna listen to Purple rain

7.1

Banger

kinky - pleasant surprise. going to give it a 4 but needs a second listen. consider me intrigued

Groovy

Funk from the future. Liquid, funky, aggressively digital with a human touch (even if the human touch is mostly sex-crazed)

4.5

1999 - 5 Little red corvette - 4 Delirious - 3 Ler's pretend we're married - 4 D.m.s.r. - 4 Automatic - 3 Something in the water (does not compute) - 3 Free - 3 Lady cab driver - 3 All the critics love u in new york - 3 International lover - 3

The whole albums is great, really liek this more than I thought. It’s almost a 5 star, made me appreciate prince more that I thought I would.

Prince is an absolute legend and this album is one of his great ones. His vibe, grooves and eccentricity are all here in abundance and it's makes for a fun & dynamic listen throughout. The first two tracks of the album are killer, and the rest of it is strong too. I definitely feel it doesn't quite hit the 5/5 mark, but it's still an amazing album and one I'll be coming back to regularly.

The beginning of Prince’s purple patch, when not only was he wonderful, but he was also extremely successful commercially. It’s fair to say, all the cool kids loved Prince, and obviously that included me. So, apart from the brilliant title track, 1999 delivers on multiple fronts. “Little Red Corvette” is perfect dance pop, “Delirious” is pure ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll brought thrusting into the ‘80s and “Let's Pretend We're Married” is Prince at his most sexually blatant – very blatant. To be honest, all the album’s big tunes are on the first half, so a little work is needed to fully appreciate the later tracks. Still, there is the extended orgasm of “Lady Cab Driver” to look forward to, so no major chore. 9/10

Prince , of course, was a phenomenal musician and songwriter, taking elements of rock, funk and disco and blending them together into his own thing. I love to watch him play guitar, because when he wanted to rock out he pulls all the stops. This is one of his best known albums and it still stands up well over 40 years later. Sadly Prince was one of the 2016 gang, passing over too soon.

I mean, it’s Prince He’s my favorite artist and this is his weirdest album Songs go long but the grooves are excellent and his musicianship is excellent Not my favorite album by him but a brilliant work nonetheless

Not my personal pick for Prince's best work, but still some very good tracks here. Side A/B are outstanding, with 1999, LRC and LPWM all being 5s for me. Delirious is a bit too squeaky and bubblegum pop for my taste. The rest of the songs are all solid 3s imo except for International Lover which I'd round up to a 4. Totalling the scores and averaging is a 3.6/5 -> 4/5.

banger after banger and it improved my mood! i will always understand prince hype

One of the greats

Too sexy

i have one sided beef with prince but some songs are a vibe

Great album. My only critique is that it’s a bit long in the tooth. However, every song has some great grooves.

Its brilliance is only matched by its weirdness.

Prince fan. Best concert memory (1998), ended up at Paisley Park for an impromptu show. Maybe 300 people there for this show that was word of mouth. He was such a special talent, and I'm so glad I got to grow up with him. Gone too soon.

Førsteskiva er for alltid min favoritt, men dette er en god andreplass (kanskje?).

Prince kennt man. Das Album und die Lieder darauf kannte ich bisher noch nicht. Einiges dabei, was es in meine Playlisten schaffen wird. Die anderen Sachen sind auch gut hörbar. Lieder, die mir am besten gefallen: - Little Red Corvette - D.M.S.R. - Free - International Lover Insgesamt eher positiv.

fav songs: 1999 delirious d.m.s.r. lady cab driver funky, dance, horny prince 70/100

Волшебный альбом. Что-то в нём цепляет и его тоже хочется переслушать, ощущается как сказка на ночь. Сам же Принц в некоторых песнях очень напоминает манерой речи Майкла Джексона, что несомненный плюс.

The first thing that pops into my head when I hear this album is Batman. Tim Burton's Gotham. Jack Nicholson dancing around a museum, spray-painting smiles over priceless art while Prince blares in the background. It was ridiculous and creepy in equal measure. The processed drums and synths on "1999" bring me right back to Gotham City every time. "1999" is soaked in pop culture. Otto's shoes quoting the opening line while he's off his head in The Simpsons. The Joker parading through Gotham to Prince's dance beats. Even if you've never listened to the record, you've absorbed it somewhere. It's also gloriously unhinged. It opens with that distorted voice insisting it doesn't want to hurt us, it just wants to have a good time. Then there are the baby sounds, the moans, the sci-fi sound effects. It's madness bordering on Funkadelic territory, but it never collapses into its own nuttiness. It all comes together and works somehow. Prince is an outstanding guitarist, one of the all-time greats, but it's his voice that's the steals the show here. The falsetto screams feel almost inhuman, a sound that doesn’t seem like it should be physically possible. But I was never entirely convinced that Prince was a regular human being anyways. He's like some alien entity that came to earth to teach us the ways of funk. The songs stretch out into long sessions of just drums and synth. It's music that is clearly intended for dancing. The end of the world might be coming, but Prince's philosophy is to go out dancing, and party like it's 1999.

No one has ever been this horny before.

Great, as always! ★★★★

Cool! This was very much outside my typical listens, I loved the experimental and sexy nature of the album. Some songs vibe stronger than others, it's true that some are a bit lengthy and repetitive - but not any worse than your typical techno tracks nowadays. Good for creative work :) <3 Minneapolis

classic!! i didnt know prince’s music was kind of sexual…. the moaning in lady cab driver?? crazy to me minus some for me because the songs were so long! 8 minutes be fr

Started off strong obvs, but then kind of faded a bit. Not sure if there is more than one Prince album on this list, but I would pick Purple Rain over 1999

This album fucking rocks dude. Gotta hear this one for sure!

Molto figo, avrebbe quasi potuto essere il mio primo 5*

funk babyyy

Never really listened to much Prince (shamefully), so it was crazy listening to this as an Of Montreal fan and realizing they have several albums that are essentially Prince covers

Having never listened to Prince before, I was excited for this one. I immediately recognized the synth keyboards in "1999", an incredibly groovy song, with fun lyrics that hit hard now we are this far past the millennium. "Little Red Corvette" continues 1999's trend of being incredibly catchy in it's chorus, but also demonstrates how controlled and consistent Prince was with his voice. I had several listens of "Delirium" and whilst I can appreciate it's light-hearted and fun sound, it didn't do anything for me unlike the two previous tracks. "Let's Pretend We're Married" put me in the same place. However, "D.M.S.R" with it's super groovy bass and the group vocals had all the fun and sex appeal that I was looking for in a Prince track. I liked "Automatic", but it did feel about 3-4mins too long, it didn't hold that same groove appeal as D.M.S.R to warrant being over 7mins. "Something in the Water" with it's erratic drums, alien synth notes and Prince's ethereal voice made for something unique that I fell in love with. This juxtaposed with "Free", being more traditional and also serious in it's delivery and message, but was beautiful all the same. "Lady Cab Driver" had the same appeal as D.M.S.R did, making it a favourite for me, with a similarly funky bass and synth beats. "All the critics love U in New York" was described by someone in it's comments as 'Electro Funk' and that made so much sense, establishing this as a genre that, for me, has a lot to like. Overall, I did really enjoy this album, but there were places in which it dragged.

First three tracks rank near the top of any opening three track run for an album.

I love prince and this a naughty album with his usual funk

Not a fan but it a good album. Esp the first half.

This was one of the game changers in genre

Great album, probably Prince's best. Truly represents his unique sound and has some fantastic funk grooves. Some of the songs are a little self indulgent and lacking the same quality as the rest of the album, but it still is a good listen. "1999" and "D.M.S.R." are highlights. 4/5 Will listen again

Solid album Standout songs: Little red corvette Lets pretend were married Automatic

Creo que no miento si digo que en España, a Prince lo conocían cuatro puretas antes de “Purple Rain”. En las listas de éxitos no se había colado como sí lo estaba haciendo en las de USA, pero así eran los años 80. Las cosas llegaban cuando y como llegaban. Dicho esto, a partir del bombazo de “Purple Rain”, todo lo que he conocido del artista de Minneapolis han sido sus singles, casi siempre también bombazos, pero nunca me dio por revisar sus comienzos. “1999” me sorprende y me cansa a partes iguales. Sorprende gratamente el uso de los teclados y los sintetizadores (como ya hizo antes Stevie Wonder) y el toque funky/disco de sus temas, pero me cansa la monotonía de alguno de ellos (dos, en concreto, larguísimos). ¿Algo nuevo en el panorama de entonces? Sin duda. Pero no me lo pondría muchas veces seguidas. “Little Red Corvette” es una pequeña joya, eso sí.

A bit too explicit, and i’m into more romantic, nostalgic tunes. But it was really nice

9/10

Yeahhhhhh this an amazing album to come back to after a short break. The way in which Prince evokes the mindset of although the world is crumbling around us let’s dance, is incredible. The blend of R&B, pop, rock and new wave is sensational and the playful sexy energy of the record is so enticing. The instrumentals are so textured and intensify the emotions that Prince is evoking. Although this is a dense album, at no time did I feel the runtime. It should also be said how funny Prince is, and I mean like chuckling during songs. Whether it’s his sharp wit or vocal choices, it has a surprising comedic effect. Looooooved this

I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this one. I’ve heard a few of the singles a fair bit, specifically the title track, but my knowledge of Prince’s music otherwise is extremely limited. I expected the r&b grooves and the funk, but I’m not sure I was expecting just how new-wave this record is. The synths and drum machines really dominate most of the record in a pretty great way. The energy dripping from this album is palpable, it’s almost hard to believe that it was released in 1982. Certainly ahead of its time. I’m not sure if this is something I’ll go back to on my own, but it was definitely a fun listen.

I have always credited Prince both as a musician and as a person. His work is recognizable from the very first note, and that says a lot.

i've only ever heard a track or two off of any of Prince's albums (including this one) so this will be a relatively new listen. 1999 - 5/5 Little Red Corvette - 5/5 Delirious - 4/5 Let's Pretend We're Married - 5/5 D.M.S.R. - 5/5 Automatic - 3/5 Something in the Water (Does Not Compute) - 4/5 Free - 4/5 Lady Cab Driver - 3/5 All the Critics Love U in New York - 3/5 International Lover - 4/5 Average score : 4.1/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ a few tracks go on waaaay too long for my liking. however, i understand that's kind of characteristic of funk and disco tracks from the 70s and 80s (extended plays i think.) it hardly affects my overall enjoyment anyway

Incredible that this album came out in 1982.

Some good jams here. The lyrics are much sometimes, but they sure portray a certain lifestyle. DMSR!

The texture of the 80s beats and the manufactured rhythms are the only thing holding this album back from being a 5. Such a fun time, what a party! And, obviously, Prince brings it with the attitude and charisma.

Pretty good.

You can't go wrong with a classic Prince record. This one came out just before he reached his pinnacle with Purple Rain.

Wonderful! So provocative and groovy

Funky and perky energy.

4.5? A great party album, sometimes the sound was off, other times I thought he was breaking the boundaries of pop music

What an album! Great cure for my hangover, first couple of songs are incredible.

Glad we got a mix up from dad rock. My favorite is lady cab driver which reminds me of a song that boombox would play

track 4 made me horny. then it ended with this line about i'm going to another life when i die how about you? then track 5 made me even hornier.

I don't often listen to Prince, but when I do I never cease to be amazed by how confidently this man was able to sing about his penis. He had a lot of sex.

"1999" and "Little Red Corvette" are among the greatest songs of all time, and "Delirious" is fun, but this album steadily, precipitously drops from there. It drags, but at least it's never boring. It also has enough WTF elements (the sexy moaning in "Lady Cab Driver," the weird police-radio talk of masturbation in "All the Critics Love U in New York") to keep you guessing.

While some of the songs were a bit too long for my liking, I still largely enjoyed this album from this legendary pop artist. It isn't nearly as explosive or immediate as his follow-up, 'Purple Rain', but you can still hear all the seeds being planted here. That typical new-wave sound fused with funk, soul, and various other art-rock adjacent genres is what you're getting here. And the vocal and lyrical oddities are all there (I mean, just listen to 'All the Critics Love U In New York'). The synth work on songs like 'Delirious', 'Something in the Water', and 'Automatic' has this quirky, almost Eno-quality to them, while songs like 'Lady Cab Driver' go in this spacey, almost neo-soul direction. And that's the thing with this album, it feels far more spacey and subdued when compared to 'Purple Rain', something to put on and really just chill out to. Many songs often break into these multi-minute instrumental groove sections that are minimal but cerebral all the same, which is why, again, I feel like there's a sort of neo-soul quality to this album. My favorite extended grooves had to be on 'Lady Cab Driver' and 'Automatic'. The two opening songs, I say, fall into that more classic Prince territory, or the Prince I'm familiar with at least. All the paranoia and pessimism of the title track aside, it really is a bright, fun new-wave track, with these danceable synth hits and an earwormy chorus - a song that really benefits from the dual vocals as well. And something about the opening synth of 'Little Red Corvette' sounds super dreary and crushing, which fits this song well since it has some of Prince's most sentimental lyrics. An emotional banger and the best song on the album for me. Prince is an artist whose visions in his music are sort of hard to see from my perspective. I can still enjoy a lot of it, especially, again, 'Purple Rain', but a good chunk of his music feels ahead of MY time, even. Like, I'm just not ready to fully grasp what's being presented to me. It's weird, but cool.

Prince was a kinda horny guy huh 1/2 of it made me wanna boogy, 1/2 of it was a little too funky/repetitive for me Didn’t love the background sex sounds lol “lady cab driver” worst offender A vibe nonetheless

This is the silliest Sega Genesis coded album I've ever heard. I know a bunch of these songs but never in the context of an album. 1999 is about partying so hard you don't care about the bombs planted everywhere? Baby laugh at the end of Delerious?? Rating: 10/10 Funk. I should play Toejam and Earl.

Prince is on his horny-shit. I’m here for it.

Incredible opening followed by great album with non stop beat and no real skips

Funky synthpop with huge hooks, boundless energy, a super kinetic nervous twitchy feel, and a lot more of a bouncy new wave feel than I expected paired with the eclectic astral jazz style of Parliament. Funny, horny, hugely charismatic, virtuoso, apocalyptic - real party at the end of the world stuff.

Huge fan of the album. Only critique is the heavy use of drum machines, it makes the tracks sound overly synthetic and sometimes steal the show. Maybe it’s just a product of when it was made. Otherwise, love it

a genius figuring out how to make a masterpiece

Repeat

It's Prince doing Prince things and if you don't like it you don't have a soul.

Once you get past the hits, it’s a deeply weird album. The synths and drum machines sounded dated to me at first, but as the album went on it seemed less of its time and more experimental, kind of an electro funk thing. Some songs are probably overly long, but Prince is the genius here, not me. Also very, very horny as an album.

He sure can groove, and he sure can play the fuck out of a guitar, and he sure has a way with simple, catchy lyrics and he made the musical wave that he then surged for 3 decades. A true titan, but not always easy to listen yo

I dyed my hair sorta purple yesterday so prince feels appropriate. I have never really listened to pricne other than Raspberry Beret and Kiss and i think a little bit of purple rain so this should be interesting. I hear, of course, that he was a generational talent. And he was on New girl which Ive been watching so that is pretty lit.

I know this is blasphemous but...this is SO self indulgent. Having said that, great album to put on at a party I imagine.

it’s such a classic but also the songs are too long they’re good but i’ll look up and it’s still going 💔💔 but ofc prince is prince

Really good album with multiple transcendent tracks. I could complain about the song lengths, but that seems to be a deliberate choice that works in the context of the album and the settings it was meant to be played in. Overall, still great but I don't listen to it as much due to a couple sleepers.

QUE TESUDO, MEU DEUS

Really good album but can’t see myself listening to it a lot

Didn’t listen fully but Prince is a classic

Kein krasser banger, aber kann man gut hören

Second Prince album I’ve listened to on this list. Enjoyed this one way more, even coming in at over an hour.

Like listening to someone have sex whilst trapped in the casino level from Sonic The Hedgehog 2. I’m here for it.

Myliu princą, man taip patinko jo tekstai, jo gitara, jo balsas.

Low 4, a bit out there but usually fun and interesting stuff

So glad I have a reason to listen thru this entire album. It’s fucking prince y’all. Perhaps the deepest bag of gold from any artist of his era and realm, and probably since.

kind of less iconic than purple rain but i still enjoyed myself and recognised the richness of sound.... still nothing stuck out to me and i was bummed out about that. rating may change if i revisit

First half was a party - loved it. Second half a bit more mixed, but still enjoyed it overall. Have bounced off some of Prince's stuff in the past, so pleasantly surprised, and thought this was great. Listened to the 1990 CD re-issue version, which has the full original tracklist (including DMSR). Apparently the remastered versions are victims of the loudness wars, so worth finding an original release if possible.

Delirious is a certified banger. Felt a few songs dragged a bit but overall a fun album well ahead of its time

I already know a few songs from Prince, and I’m somewhat familiar with him as an artist ! 1999 - reminds me of the CLIA awards, really catchy and upbeat, the synths in the back are very memorable 😛 #party, it is a smidge repetitive ngl Little red corvette - ok transition, omg so 80s I love it, I actually the weird little yells he does, #borninthewronggeneration Delirious - sounds like a silly video game soundtrack from omori or smth 😛, Let’s pretend we’re married - also very 80s, upbeat and fun, sounds like it could be in a John Hughes movie DMSR - the synths sound very wham! to me, and I looooove wham, a little groovy, also a wee bit long and repetitive Automatic - it wasn’t my fave, but also I wasn’t rlly paying attention heaps to this one 🤷‍♀️ Something in the water - this one is also alright, but the screams are back 😛, dang they’re rlly back, Free - also didn’t rlly like this one as much :( Lady car driver - ok we’re back, reminds me of little red corvette, also why is there a lady moaning in the back calm down, ok drums !!!! All the critics love u in New York - sounded like a rllyyyy long interlude, but still a nice listen International lover - sang bro is having a whole orgasm during this whole song, still pretty good if I do say so meself OVERALL - it started off rlly strong, but somewhere in the middle it lost me a bit, some songs sounded a bit similar to each other, BUT the songs that were good were GOOOD, and I do love 80s music so it kind of balances out ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

Prince is of course great, but I don’t actually listen to him that often. This was enjoyable, although an extremely horny album. Some of it sounded quite dated, but some classic sounds as well.

First album, and what a way to start it off. What hasn’t been said about this. Its funky, freaky, all around fantastic album. The title track and Little Red Corvette are perfect tracks, only complaint is that it’s a bit long, but that’s hardly a problem, its banger after banger, the time would fly by if you were dancing to this!

80/100

Prince made music that was well ahead of its time. Listening to this album that came out in 1982 felt like it could have come out in 2002. And yeah, in several songs there were, what felt like, unnecessary sex noises. But hey, that also worked in 2002.

I think the genre of this album is dance and funk. I do really enjoy it and think it is explicit. If I was born when the album came out, I feel I would hear Prince’s songs everywhere. Especially, in clubs. I would listen again!

8/10

Good album by Prince. Nice to hear such great strong singles as openers for the album. It’s clear Prince was still developing his capabilities as a writer and performer and I do think the album is worthy of more than one listen to really appreciate it

Great album with some great songs

8/10

You can hear the political charge. Enjoy listening to the background.

3.8

Very fun. Does not reach the highs of purple rain by this is a very dance / pop focused record in comparison. I will say, New Year’s resolution is to say/write more critical/analytical sentences/passages. I do think this album has a strong start on the first two tracks (being considered greatest hits and then hits a lull with the next three tracks. However, once “something in the water” kicks off, these songs become long hypnotic dance/funk jams. I legit think prince is now the critical acclaimed version of frankenfurter from rocky horror. so much sexual theatrics and technical prowess but just overall great songs.

Fantastic album. Obviously Little Red Corvette and 1999 are all-time classics, and I also really enjoyed Delirious and Lady Cab Driver.

A damn near perfect post-funk effort. Astoundingly, it nearly achieves the impossible: a double album that leaves the listener not thinking “I could’ve cut half of that”.

++: 1999, Delirious, D.S.M.R., Automatic, Something in the Water (Does Not Compute), Lady Cab Driver, All the Critics Love U in New York, International Lover +: Little Corvette, Let's Pretend We're Married +-: Free 9,4/10

so funky. first two tracks super strong along with let's pretend we're married.

My first Prince album - suggested to me on my birthday. I really had no prior experience with Prince‘s music but now that he has violently made love to me and urged me to dance I must say that was quite the experience. I enjoyed some of the songs, especially the up tempo ones. I don’t like the slower songs that much. But the creativity is still amazing. Dance. Music. Sex. Romance. You bet.

26/1089 3.8859* The A side is one of the best ever produced. The problem is, it's so great, everyone has heard those songs 100s of times. The B side is a bit less known and, though good music and songwriting, drops this from a 4.5332* to a 3.8859*. No doubt the album opens with one of the greatest wedding quotes ever. If I ever get married, the officiant is going to start with "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate this thing we call life...in this life, you're on your own!" Prince is in a class by himself and no one has done what he's done regarding music, film, lifting others in the business, fighting the record industry and his mad bball skillz. RIP. Hits...the a side and LPWM.

Can’t beat a classic.

#218/1001. Yet another Prince album I don't own, and probably should. Some songs were familiar of course, but the whole package is tight as a glove that doesn't quite fit. Fun fact: there are much better party songs here than 1999...

álbum muito fácil e divertido de se escutar. as músicas são pop puro, muito animadas e dão vontade de sair por aí escutando e dançando elas. apesar do álbum ser maior, acho que ele não fica maçante em nenhum momento. gostei muito! vou escutar de novo com certeza