I had 'Come' on loop in 2020 for some reason. The title track only, which i would stick on for my walk to the supermarket. Easily one of the best things he did in the 90s and therefore underrated. This live version featuring a croaky Prince falling back so the band can cook is a tasty flip on the original. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzOe4orbuD4
Agree that SOTT was probably the apex and I rarely listen to full albums beyond that, aside from Diamonds (title track and 'Gett Off', yessir) and occasionally Graffiti Bridge. Live, he was peerless in his ability to make a good song great (a quality he never lost), like 'Joy in Repetition' and 'Thieves In The Temple'. On the latter, I lose myself in this at least monthly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1EIUlQtt0M&pp=ygUhdGhlaXZlcyBpbiB0aGUgdGVtcGxlIHByaW5jZSBsaXZl
Through the 90s and into the 2000s, the odd track would make me stand up and take notice. You named a few – 'Black Sweat' slammed in the club and 'Chelsea Rodgers' will forever be a jam. 'Love Sign' is up there with my favourite R&B joints of the era, particularly Shock G's mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vw9GqiAOv8
It was a joy to see him rockin' out hard with 3rd Eye Girl, reviving the likes of 'Bambi' and poppin' up to do guerrilla gigs around London. Prince just letting loose and having fun, free of any baggage.
Diving back into The Rainbow Children again this week. A significant record for him. Appreciate the reminder.
My favorite from the post '87 was the one you arbitrarily skipped. The Gold Experience is one I still play regularly and has some of my all-time favorite Prince songs (Endorphinemachine, Billy Jack Bitch, Eye Hate U, and even The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is a great ballad. His band is killer as well and as tight as any of his others. The many operator skits are a nuisance, but it's easy enough to skip them via streaming. But I can see how they would take this from great to mostly good.
I didn't read your piece on 'the symbol' album but that is another I really love, though, is a bit bloated. I did come to love his '90s catalog later, not necessarily at the time, but that was just because of where I was (mentally, physically) in the '90s. I still return to many of those albums (Come, Diamonds and Pearls) even more than I do, say, Around the World in a Day.
A nice summary, thank you.
I had 'Come' on loop in 2020 for some reason. The title track only, which i would stick on for my walk to the supermarket. Easily one of the best things he did in the 90s and therefore underrated. This live version featuring a croaky Prince falling back so the band can cook is a tasty flip on the original. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzOe4orbuD4
Agree that SOTT was probably the apex and I rarely listen to full albums beyond that, aside from Diamonds (title track and 'Gett Off', yessir) and occasionally Graffiti Bridge. Live, he was peerless in his ability to make a good song great (a quality he never lost), like 'Joy in Repetition' and 'Thieves In The Temple'. On the latter, I lose myself in this at least monthly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1EIUlQtt0M&pp=ygUhdGhlaXZlcyBpbiB0aGUgdGVtcGxlIHByaW5jZSBsaXZl
Through the 90s and into the 2000s, the odd track would make me stand up and take notice. You named a few – 'Black Sweat' slammed in the club and 'Chelsea Rodgers' will forever be a jam. 'Love Sign' is up there with my favourite R&B joints of the era, particularly Shock G's mix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vw9GqiAOv8
It was a joy to see him rockin' out hard with 3rd Eye Girl, reviving the likes of 'Bambi' and poppin' up to do guerrilla gigs around London. Prince just letting loose and having fun, free of any baggage.
Diving back into The Rainbow Children again this week. A significant record for him. Appreciate the reminder.
My favorite from the post '87 was the one you arbitrarily skipped. The Gold Experience is one I still play regularly and has some of my all-time favorite Prince songs (Endorphinemachine, Billy Jack Bitch, Eye Hate U, and even The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is a great ballad. His band is killer as well and as tight as any of his others. The many operator skits are a nuisance, but it's easy enough to skip them via streaming. But I can see how they would take this from great to mostly good.
I didn't read your piece on 'the symbol' album but that is another I really love, though, is a bit bloated. I did come to love his '90s catalog later, not necessarily at the time, but that was just because of where I was (mentally, physically) in the '90s. I still return to many of those albums (Come, Diamonds and Pearls) even more than I do, say, Around the World in a Day.