Next, we're polling DIRTY MIND.

http://www.housequake.com/discography/dirtymd.jpg

Personally, this isn't among my favourite Prince albums. I like the minimalist synth and bass driven grooves, but all the songs except "Gotta Broken Heart Again" and "Sister" sound pretty much the same, and those two aren't particularly memorable either (except for the lyrics of the latter). I don't think Prince's songwriting skills had gotten into full bloom yet. In my opinion, Controversy was a better attempt to take this sound into different directions, with more varied and better written tunes. Still, "When You Were Mine", "Do It All Night", and "Uptown" are obviously great.

Track 1 vs Track 2 FITE!

When You Were Mine...is this really a contest?

tuomas is RONG this album fucking rules
voted uptown

tuomas is RONG this album fucking rules
have no idea what to vote for

"sound pretty much the same, and those two aren't particularly memorable either".

yet you consider 3 out of 7 of the tracks on the album are "obviously great" (and you are right about that). Well, when half of an album is great (and I would easily add, at leat "party up" to the great tracks), that's pretty good already, huh ?

do it all night

Well yeah, I didn't mean to say the album is bad, just that the material is too samey to consider it a classic Prince album. I never understood why Dirty Mind is considered better than Controversy.

Now, if we take a side-by-side comparison of Dirty Mind and Controversy:

* The title tune on Controversy is more innovative and generally better than on Dirty Mind.
* The compulsory ballad on Controversy ("Do Me, Baby") is much more memorable. I think most people would agree that "Gotta Broken Heart Again" is not that great.
* The bass-driven funk number ("Head" vs. "Let's Work") is funkier on Controversy. Then again, "Let's Work" is sort of a rewrite of "Head", but I think it's better.
* The two tunes with catchy keyboard choruses ("Do It All Night" vs. "Private Joy") are pretty much equally good.
* Twe two short hard-rocking numbers ("Sister" vs. "Ronnie, Talk to Russia") are musically equal, though "Sister" admittedly has much better lyrics.
* The politics on Controversy are more interesting and original, if kinda hard to decipher at points. Dirty Mind is just, "let's accept everyone" and "we don't want to fight in your war" (what war?).
* The closing number on Controversy ("Jack U Off") is funny and different from all the other tunes, whereas the closing number on Dirty Mind ("Partyup") is kinda indistinguishable from the previous tunes, and has few new ideas.
* The only thing where Dirty Mind clearly wins is that Controversy doesn't have such an instantly catchy number as "When You Were Mine".

"The title tune on Controversy is more innovative and generally better than on Dirty Mind."

Better but I'm not sure how "innovative" it is or how important innovation is unto itself. What kind of music did "Controversy" usher in that "Dirty Mind" didn't?

"The compulsory ballad on Controversy ("Do Me, Baby") is much more memorable."

Agreed!

"The bass-driven funk number ("Head" vs. "Let's Work") is funkier on Controversy."

Drugs, drugs, drugs you do. And I bet John Leland (or someone) could scientifically prove that "Head" is funkier. You may think "Let's Work" is the better song. But no way in H. E. Double Toothpicks is it funkier.

"The two tunes with catchy keyboard choruses ("Do It All Night" vs. "Private Joy") are pretty much equally good."

Eh ok.

"Twe two short hard-rocking numbers ("Sister" vs. "Ronnie, Talk to Russia") are musically equal, though "Sister" admittedly has much better lyrics."

"Ronnie" is more the throwaway cut which should settle the question about where Prince's priorities have always been.

"The politics on Controversy are more interesting and original, if kinda hard to decipher at points."

Which IS the point. Again, at this remove, you don't look to Prince for political acuity. Which renders...

"Dirty Mind is just, "let's accept everyone" and "we don't want to fight in your war" (what war?)."

moot.

"The closing number on Controversy ("Jack U Off") is funny and different from all the other tunes, whereas the closing number on Dirty Mind ("Partyup") is kinda indistinguishable from the previous tunes, and has few new ideas."

And thank gawd, esp. on the dancefloor.

"The only thing where Dirty Mind clearly wins is that Controversy doesn't have such an instantly catchy number as "When You Were Mine"."

True.

Verdict: Dirty Mind, while not perfect, is the better album. But not oodles better.

My vote: the quintessentially funky "Head."

All these polls remind me that I really, really need to get myself some more Prince. I've got Purple Rain and Sign, but no clue where to go next. Doesn't help that the stores around here never carry more than his most recent two or three.

It depends on which sort of Prince tunes you dig. If you like the fuller sounding "band" tunes (even when the band consists of Prince only) on Purple Rain, I'd suggest Lovesexy, the Love Symbol album, and Paisley Park. PP has a some weak tunes on the b side though, but the the good parts are very good. If you, on the other hand, prefer the more minimal synth funk tunes, you can't go wrong with 1999. Controversy and Dirty Mind are good buys too in that vein, if not as good as 1999.

Basically, you can't go wrong with any of Prince's 80s albums (except maybe the Batman ost, I haven't really listened to that). Personally though, I find Parade to be a collection of some very good tunes mixed with several mediocre ones, but many people seem to disagree on that.

Thanks. I haven't decided which of those sides I like best, I kind of switch between them depending on my mood. Which is why I think I'm starting to like Prince more than I ever cared to admit before.

And if you don't mind hearing Prince do more 90's-sounding rnb, Emancipation is a ridiculously good buy for the cheap price you can usually get it with. The only downside with that album is that sound is kinda more mainstream and less original than on Prince's 80's albums, but the song material is just strong as on Sign O' the Times.

(x-post)

I agree with Tuomas, Dirty Mind is his most overrated album (in relation to its quality, anyway), and Controversy is at least slightly better. Voting for "Do It All Night."

wywm cause it's easily one of the purple one's top five ever

Praising Prince's geopolitics = KRAZAY

all he knows about is fucking and dancing.

I've been listening to this record a lot lately, and for me it's way better than Controversy. Controversy's got some highlights for sure (title track, Do Me Baby), but for the most part it's less memorable and fun than Dirty Mind (also Annie Christian, WTF?).

I'm way into every track here, except for maybe Gotta Broken Heart Again. Do It All Night may get the vote.

I still can't quite believe he got away with "Sister".

Praising Prince's geopolitics = KRAZAY

Who said anything about geopolitics? I agree that "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" is silly, but the other songs on Controversy where he talks about sexual politics and other societal stuff that doesn't have to with the Cold War are at least interesting, to me.

I think the way sexual and political quite literally mix in Prince's lyrics (like in "Sexuality") and the way he's always escaping categories (on "Controversy", for example) would make for an interesting, say, queer reading of his music. I'd say Controversy is really the starting point of all this, Dirty Mind is still a bit too straightforward.

This Tuomas/KJB back-and-forth is making me momentarily imagine that Dirty Mind/Controversy together in one package woulda made for a better, more fully rounded double LP than 1999. Which I ultimately don't really believe, but still...Anyways, my vote goes to "Head". It's funkiness is just so...deadpan or something.

this record rules so much.

^^^that

I think it may be my favorite Prince.

when you were mine, def def def

going to see this band tomorrow:

The Truth consists of St. Paul Peterson (The Time, The Family) on bass, vocals, guitar and keyboards, Jellybean Johnson (The Time, The Family) on guitar, Odell (Mint Condition) on guitar and vocals, Jerry Hubbard (The Time, Jesse Johnson) on bass, keyboards, guitar and vocals, Chance Howard (Prince, The Time) on bass guitar, bass synth and vocals, Kirk Johnson (Prince) on drums and vocals, Eric Leeds (Prince) on saxophones, keyboards and vocals and Donnie La Marca (Jonny Lang, Bobby Caldwell) on keyboards.

yeah this is like my favorite prince record, best songwriting

"When You Were Mine". I'll take Controversy over this one, side 1 of that album is unbeatable, but they're both hit/miss, both ruled by 1999.

'uptown' and while this isn't album isn't a favorite, it's definite prime rib.

My conundrum here is that I want to vote for every song.

"Black,White.Puerto Rican...Everyone a just a freakin"...I'm goin Uptown

"when u were mine" is the instant pop classic, but i think "uptown" encapsulates the album better. there are no bad songs on this, though.

U said - "I'm just a virgin and I'm on my way 2 be wed
But U're such a hunk so full of spunk, I'll give U..."

Title track. This is probably my favorite Prince record.

Bump.

I was going to vote for "Uptown" but since everyone else did I voted for "Head"

i agree with Tuomas that Controversy is better but this album is pretty unfuckwithable. Those two are my fave Prince albums mos def

I guess I could do a Controversy poll after this one is finished.

"Uptown". But this is the first Prince album with several strong tracks to choose from.

I assume you mean the first album of his, rather than the first album we've polled.

Btw, does anyone know if there are any 12" mixes or remixes made of the singles from Dirty Mind? There are some extended remixes of the singles from the previous two albums, and there's obviously the classic 12" mix of "Let's Work" from the next one, but I haven't seen any mention of 12" mixes from this album in any Prince discography.

To be more correct: there were 12" versions of Dirty Mind singles available, but they seem to be the same as the album versions, which is not the case with many other Prince singles.

My only rockist objection with Dirty Mind: The complete absence of wah-wah wankery. (I don't think a token "Bambi" solo per longplayer is too much to ask, especially if it could enable the album to break the 30-minute barrier.)

Uh-uh. This album is PUNK. Wah-wah wankery/being over 30 minutes = not PUNK.

i think its a bit of a shame this phase didnt last longer in princes career.

this album is completely perfect. i barely have an idea what to pick -- leaning slight towards the opener, but i don't know. this is so hard.

yeah, this is one of the greatest albums ever (sorry ian).

tuomas how can you not sing 'uptown'

Uptown is a great beginning-of-the-night song.

Thank god we still keep the 'melody vs. groove' debates alive.

This, Controversy, and the first Zapp define my days in Michigan discovering the skating rink and mixed tapes.

Bump.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

i've had this whole album in my head since this thread was started

voted for the opening track, btw

this album is seriously so perfect

its a bit of a shame this phase didnt last longer in princes career.

kind of o_O to say this considering that Controversy is widely considered a retread

Nah, I totally agree with it (even if you do include Controversy) (hell, even if you include 1999, which doesn't make much sense.) But anyway, whether it's considered a retread now or not, at the time, Controversy seemed more new wave (like, inspire by the Cars or Devo or something), compared to Dirty Mind's punk. And regardless, they're still his two best albums, to my ears. So yeah, it should've lasted longer. (I do agree with Myonga that more "Bambi"'s would've been cool, though. I voted for "Party Up" myself, partly because somebody underrating it up thread, pissed me off. But I could easily have gone with maybe 5 other choices.) (I guess "Do It All Night" is my least favorite, for whatever that's worth.)

1)his ability to experiment within the pop form....DM doesn't really showcase any of these

I don't get this at all. How did Dirty Mind not "experiment within the pop form"?? Before it came out, "Bambi" or no "Bambi", Prince was just this disco kid who had a good Top 40 hit; it was a totally outlandish move, both musically and conceptually. There were probably precedents as far as punk-funk went (in fact, I think Rick James had invented the phrase), but Dirty Mind really didn't sound much like them, or like anybody else. It really seemed like a whole new thing at the time.

(Really, though, probably the only song on it that sounds punk is "Sister." I'm not sure what punk Prince was listening to at the time, though I wouldn't be surprised if he'd heard some Ramones. And he'd probably heard the Stones more than them. But Controversy still seemed closer to 1981 commercial dance-oriented-rock new wave, somehow.)

Alright, decision made. Keyboard solo on "Head" ftw.

I don't get this at all. How did Dirty Mind not "experiment within the pop form"?? Before it came out, "Bambi" or no "Bambi", Prince was just this disco kid who had a good Top 40 hit; it was a totally outlandish move, both musically and conceptually. There were probably precedents as far as punk-funk went (in fact, I think Rick James had invented the phrase), but Dirty Mind really didn't sound much like them, or like anybody else. It really seemed like a whole new thing at the time.

Okay, when Dirty Mind came out I was 1 year old, so obviously I can't tell what sort of an impact the album had when it came out, I can only look it in retrospect. But from that that point of view it doesn't feel that different from the sort of bare-bones guitar-and-keyboard-driven funk that was around the time (Rick James, like you mention) or before (Funkadelic, The Meters). Sure, the extreme stripped-down nature of the funk on DM can be seen as sorta innovative, but besides that the songs pretty much follow the basic structures of stereotypical funk/rock/pop tunes, and experiment little within those boundaries. Whereas on his later albums Prince often deconstructs both the sound and form of funk/rock/pop in ways that no other popular artist has done before or since.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Wow, Uptown @ #2! At least there were votes for every song except the one I always skip.

I can say i'm quite surprised by that...

Jordan, U crazy! "Gotta Broken Heart Again" deserved better than this.

I guess "Gotta Broken Heart Again" might gotten some votes in a weighed poll, where you could've voted it for the second or third best, but no one thinks it's the best tune on the album.

had no idea cyndi lauper covered 'when you were mine' !

cristina did too!

tuomas itt o_O

dirty mind sounds like the meters??

I like Controversy more, if only for Do Me Baby. Still his best slow-jam.

that is pretty fantastic! xxp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3pIxfGEhM0

This is the best Prince album.

This is the best Prince album.

This is the best Prince album cover.

That too.

prefer the cover of the self-titled i think

this was one of the first Prince albums I bought. the first three tracks = godly. I like them all really.

http://pitchfork.com/features/from-the-pitchfork-review/9731-do-it-all-night-the-story-of-princes-dirty-mind/

Nice! Great article, great album.

This is the best Prince album.

― The Reverend, Wednesday, September 15, 2010 7:09 PM (5 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is the best Prince album.

― PappaWheelie V, Wednesday, September 15, 2010 7:54 PM (5 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is the best Prince album cover.

― Mormons come out of the sky and they stand there (Abbbottt), Wednesday, September 15, 2010 8:25 PM (5 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

OTMFM

Huh i had never noticed that WYWM's verses all get progressively shorter, that's p clever

And yeah Controversy is better.

It was "Dirty Mind" I had in my head all day when I found out he'd died, for some reason.

That Matos article is very good. Never knew about Mitch Ryder version of "When You Were Mine."

The almost thrash punk lovesexy tour version of sister is one ofhis alltime great rock moments

the title track got jobbed in this poll. that synth riff alone rules.

Y’all are on crack. This album is incredibly disappointing, especially considering how many rave reviews it has on Wikipedia. The rinky-dink ‘80s keyboards are sooooo dated!

and sooooo tite

No votes for "Gotta Broken Heart Again" kinda breaks my heart

Good point.

Nothing wrong with it but competition was too strong. "When You Were Mine" alone is a contender for Prince's greatest track.

grammatical error iirc

bird otm

It's pretty much designed to be the dark horse on the album, I would bet that Prince would be amazed at anyone considering it the best song.

On a practical level, Prince was, literally, invaluable. His huge catalogue of danceable songs helped create a lot of stripper wealth — first as a thrilling new thing that got the boys grooving in their seats, then as a feel-good nostalgia trip. He even offered short cuts: If you wanted to get your stage set over with so you could get back into the audience and make money doing table dances, “Got a Broken Heart Again,” barely over two minutes long, was an exquisite choice.

from https://www.thecut.com/2016/04/why-prince-was-a-hero-to-strippers.html

I gotta broken heart, I just GOTTA

It's pretty much designed to be the dark horse on the album, I would bet that Prince would be amazed at anyone considering it the best song.

nah! he loved it and played it up until the end!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbpE4uP5rr4

Been meaning for months to post how much love I have for ‘Gotta Broken Heart Again’…so easy to overlook but contains his absolute essence…kill me every time

Beautiful guitar sound