Prince - 1999

Prince's fifth album came right before the lascivious multi-instrumentalist became a huge star with his 1984 film and soundtrack, Purple Rain. But Prince had already proved himself to be the most audacious talent to emerge in the 1980s, and 1999, the bulk of which features Prince on all the instruments, reflects the dance-rock styles that he also brought to the acts he produced, particularly the Time. Prince knows how to run a one-man-band individual instruments don't blend together as much as they compete in a funky showdown which allows tracks like "Automatic," "D.M.S.R.," and "Delirious" to sustain their long playing times. But the album's two enduring hits, "1999" and "Little Red Corvette," outshine the rest, and define the essential roles that rock and funk play in Prince's music. "Little Red Corvette" is a sexy song about a car, which would have been enough to make it a terrific rock song even if it didn't also boast an infectious chorus and a great guitar part. As for "1999," count on it being the dance song of the millennial year. --John Milward Amazon.com essential recording

The Place Where Your Horses Run Free

For some reason when I woke this morning I had this tune in my head and couldn't rest till I traipsed down to the basement and found the old LP. What a difference from today when you can play all 10 tracks on the CD without switching or changing the record, but back then I never heard the songs on side 2--and never played the second disc on the double-LP, not ever, didn't see any point to changing up from the first 2 tracks. Why did artists make such long LPs, why not just collect a few perfect tracks? And thus it wasn't until today that I would up hearing "International Lover" and "Free" and the other songs (some of them not so great) on the "second disc" of the double LP--well, that dates me, but I expect at this time in Prince's career most of his fans are those who, like me, remember the 1980s as if they were yesterday and a time when 1999 seemed a zillion light years away, and when Wendy and Lisa puzzled us with their odd, superior androgyny like a pair of aloof Claude Cahuns, always nodding to the same beat, thrusting out their chins in unison, ten tons of hairspray making them look sort of feminine.

That's not to say that today's Prince fans love what used to be sides one and two, tbree and four with equal fervor, how could they? They won't even remember the exquisitely perverse take on "Little Red Corvette" that Sandra Bernhard gave in her concert film "Without You I'm Nothing," her unsuccessful attempt to divert 80s energy into 90s irony.

Vanity's on this CD too, which I did not realize in the 1980s, but that's because I never heard "Free," in which her vocals ring out loud and clear. That's not such a good thing. September 23, 2008

Prince's Best Early Album

There's not much that hasn't already been said about Prince's "1999" - It's some of his best work, from the era when he wasn't so deep into his religion and wasn't afraid to offend someone. It's raw, real funk-rock that knows no bounds. I would call "1999" Prince's best album, except that I'm also partial to the collaboration with Wendy & Lisa in his later Paisley Park releases.

This is an album that is meant to be played straight through. No shuffling. No listening to individual tracks. Start at the beginning and play it through to the end. It's a brilliant work of art that everyone should check out if they like rock or funk. September 18, 2008

Poor service

never received product. I contacted the seller 2 times and no response. I have filed a claim with Amazon to see about getting my money back. Seller had no problem charging my card asap. September 6, 2008

The beginning of his reign...

At the beginning of Prince's reign as Prince of Pop, we have albums such as this. It was here that he first insisted on breaking ground on every album, and every track. He was one of the pioneers in the 80's, of music as art, and through him and other such artists, the standards were raised.

As with many of Prince's albums, you cannot simply listen to them as good music, but must appreciate the artistry that goes into them. This man is obscenely talented, and this album has some of the most important songs of the 20th Century. August 29, 2008

Prince at his absolute best

Wh many people will point at either Purple Rain or Sign 'o' The Times as his best albu, that title goes to Prince's 5th album, 1999. This album is not only His Royal Badness at his best, but in my opinion, is the greatest album ever made. 1999 put Prince on map and made him a crossover star, with the 3 hit singles "1999", "Little Red Corvette", and "Delirious". But its not just those songs. Others include "Let's Pretend We're Married", "DMSR", "Automatic", and so on. Honestly, this album is perfect from start to finish. I recommend this for any R&B fan or Prince fan or music fan in genertal. Funk at its absolute best. July 9, 2008

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