Prince Albums in Order

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Prince, an iconic and influential musician, released numerous albums throughout his career. In order to explore his discography, it’s important to understand essential albums, posthumous releases, and his musical evolution.

Prince, born Prince Rogers Nelson, was an American musician and singer-songwriter. His exceptional talent, innovative style, and captivating stage presence propelled him to worldwide fame, with over 150 million units sold globally.

He released chart-topping albums such as “Purple Rain” and “Sign o’ the Times,” leaving an enduring impact on the music industry. Prince’s flamboyant fashion, dynamic live performances, and fearless approach to challenging societal norms solidified his status as an influential cultural icon.

Prince Albums in Chronological Order

Here are Prince albums in chronological order, along with their release dates and brief descriptions:

  • For You (1978) – Prince’s debut album, showcasing his multi-instrumental talents and blending various genres like R&B, funk, and rock.
  • Prince (1979) – His second self-titled album, featuring the breakthrough single “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and displaying a more polished sound.
  • Dirty Mind (1980) – A provocative and controversial album, blending new wave, funk, and rock, with songs like “When You Were Mine” and the title track.
  • Controversy (1981) – Expanding on his provocative themes, this album explores social and political issues with tracks like “Controversy” and “Sexuality.”
  • 1999 (1982) – A double album and a major breakthrough, featuring the iconic title track, “Little Red Corvette,” and “Delirious,” showcasing his fusion of pop, rock, and funk.
  • Purple Rain (1984) – The soundtrack to the movie of the same name, becoming Prince’s most successful and acclaimed work, including hits like “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain.”
  • Around the World in a Day (1985) – A psychedelic and experimental album, departing from the sound of Purple Rain, with singles like “Raspberry Beret” and “Pop Life.”
  • Parade (1986) – The soundtrack to the film “Under the Cherry Moon,” featuring the hit single “Kiss” and blending pop, funk, and jazz elements.
  • Sign o’ the Times (1987) – A critically acclaimed double album, showcasing Prince’s range of styles and socially conscious lyrics with tracks like the title track and “U Got the Look.”
  • Lovesexy (1988) – A spiritual and experimental album, featuring the single “Alphabet St.” and exploring themes of love, spirituality, and positivity.
  • Batman (1989) – The soundtrack album for the film “Batman,” featuring the hit single “Batdance” and incorporating a darker and more rock-oriented sound.
  • Graffiti Bridge (1990) – Another soundtrack album, this time for the film “Graffiti Bridge,” with a mix of new material and collaborations with other artists.
  • Diamonds and Pearls (1991) – An album that embraced a more accessible pop sound, featuring the title track, “Cream,” and the ballad “Insatiable.”
  • Love Symbol Album (1992) – Released under Prince’s unpronounceable “Love Symbol,” this eclectic album merges various genres and includes the hit “7.”
  • Come (1994) – A dark and introspective album, often associated with Prince’s desire for artistic freedom, including tracks like “Letitgo” and “Space.”
  • The Black Album (1994) – A collection of remastered audio tracks that were intended to attract a wider Black audience. However, it was swiftly withdrawn from release.
  • The Gold Experience (1995) – An album featuring the hit “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” and exploring themes of love, spirituality, and societal issues.
  • Chaos and Disorder (1996) – A rock-oriented album characterized by its raw and edgy sound, reflecting Prince’s dissatisfaction with his record label at the time.
  • Emancipation (1996) – A triple album celebrating his independence from Warner Bros. Records, encompassing various genres and showcasing Prince’s creative freedom.
  • Crystal Ball (1998) – A box set featuring a compilation of unreleased material from Prince’s vault, showcasing his versatility and experimentation.
  • The Truth (1998) – An acoustic album featuring stripped-down arrangements and introspective lyrics, focusing on love, spirituality, and personal growth.
  • Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999) – Collaborative efforts with various artists, including guest appearances by Lenny Kravitz, Gwen Stefani, and Sheryl Crow, blending pop, rock, and R&B.
  • The Rainbow Children (2001) – A concept album exploring themes of spirituality, love, and social issues through a fusion of jazz, funk, and rock elements.
  • One Nite Alone… (2002) – A solo piano and vocal album showcasing Prince’s intimate and raw performances, featuring both original compositions and covers.
  • Xpectation (2003) – An instrumental album mainly composed of jazz fusion tracks, demonstrating Prince’s skills as a musician and producer.
  • N.E.W.S (2003) – A jazz-influenced instrumental album, with each track representing a different compass point (North, East, West, and South).
  • Musicology (2004) – A return to a more accessible sound, blending funk, rock, and R&B, featuring the Grammy-winning title track and “Call My Name.”
  • The Chocolate Invasion (2004) – Part of a planned series of albums titled “The Chocolate Invasion” and “The Slaughterhouse,” released online, showcasing Prince’s experimentation with various genres.
  • The Slaughterhouse (2004) – Another online release in the planned series, exploring edgier rock and funk sounds.
  • 3121 (2006) – An album that blends pop, funk, and R&B, featuring the single “Black Sweat.”
  • Planet Earth (2007) – An album that includes the tracks “Guitar,” “Future Baby Mama,” and “Planet Earth.”
  • Lotusflow3r (2009) – A triple album featuring a fusion of rock, funk, and pop sounds, accompanied by the albums “MPLSound” and “Elixer.”
  • 20Ten (2010) – Released as a free cover-mount with several European publications, featuring a mix of pop, rock, and funk tracks.
  • Plectrumelectrum (2014) – A collaborative album with the all-female band 3rdEyeGirl, combining rock, funk, and blues influences.
  • Art Official Age (2014) – A solo album released on the same day as “Plectrumelectrum,” featuring electronic and R&B elements.
  • Hit n Run Phase One (2015) – An exclusive album that was released first in the streaming service Tidal.
  • Hit n Run Phase Two (2015) – A continuation album of Hit n Run Phase One, contains songs such as “Baltimore,” “Stare,” and “Big City.”

The Essential Prince Albums

As we dive into Prince’s discography, there are a few essential albums that stand out as his most popular and influential works:

  • “Purple Rain” (1984) – Arguably his most famous album, it features hits like “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy,” and serves as a soundtrack to the film of the same name.
  • “Sign o’ the Times” (1987) – Considered by many as Prince’s magnum opus, this double album covers a wide range of genres, with notable songs like “If I Was Your Girlfriend” and “U Got the Look.”
  • “1999” (1982) – A groundbreaking and highly influential project, it explores themes of love, lust, and social issues while incorporating elements of new wave and electro-funk, boasting classics like “Little Red Corvette” and the titular track “1999.”

Posthumous Releases and Collaborations

Even after Prince’s passing in 2016, his music continues to resonate with fans through posthumous releases and prior collaborations:

  • Piano & A Microphone 1983 (2018) – A solo piano recording of Prince’s rehearsal session from 1983, showcasing his raw talent and creativity.
  • Originals ( 2019) – A compilation album featuring Prince’s original versions of songs he wrote and gave to other artists, including hits like “Manic Monday” and “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
  • Sign o’ the Times Super Deluxe Edition (2020) – A comprehensive reissue of Prince’s critically acclaimed album “Sign o’ the Times” featuring previously unreleased songs, live recordings, and remastered tracks.
  • Welcome 2 America (2021) – An album recorded by Prince in 2010 but released posthumously, addressing social and political issues with a mix of funk, soul, and rock.

Prince’s extensive collaborative efforts are another important part of his musical journey. Here are some highlights:

  • Prince formed The New Power Generation in the early 1990s, creating a powerful synergy between the band’s members to produce hits like “Diamonds and Pearls” and “Gett Off.”
  • Prince founded the instrumental jazz-funk group Madhouse and delved into his love for genre fusion using the pseudonym “Jamie Starr.” He contributed to albums such as “8” and “16” as part of this musical venture.
  • The album “Kamasutra,” which is included in Prince’s “Crystal Ball” box set, is attributed to The NPG Orchestra.

Exploring Prince’s Musical Evolution

Prince’s musical journey spanned over four decades, showcasing his versatility and innovation across genres. From his debut album “For You” to his final release “HITnRUN Phase Two,” Prince consistently pushed creative boundaries, blending funk, R&B, rock, pop, and electronic dance music.

His evolution included experimenting with hip-hop influences in albums like “The Gold Experience” and “3121.” “Purple Rain” remains an iconic fusion of rock, pop, and electronic elements. “HITnRUN Phase Two” marked his artistic growth and reflected his ever-changing musical landscape.

Conclusion

Prince’s illustrious career has left a lasting impact on the music world through his essential albums, posthumous releases, and collaborations. By examining his musical evolution over the years, we can truly appreciate the creative genius that he was.

Amidst the plethora of artists existing today, Prince will forever stand as a shining example of individuality, artistry, and the power of music to transcend boundaries.

Prince Featured Image by: penner, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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