Play in the sunshine (Prince) (LP 3547 - 3550)

Prince and the Revolution  1999 (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 1982) *****  

Prince and the  Revolution  Purple Rain (Vinyl, Warner Bros. Records, 1984) *****  

Prince and the Revolution  Around the World in a Day (Vinyl, Warner Bros. Records, 1985) **** 

Prince  Sign o' the Times (CD, Warner Bros. Records, 1987) *****  

Genre: Pop, rock, funk, RnB

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, Marbecks Records, JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Let's Go Crazy (Purple Rain)

Gear costume: Lady Cab Driver (1999), Sign o' the Times 

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

Active compensatory factors: I have discussed Prince before on this blog - he's a formative influence in my musical education.

I used to own a lot more of his back catalogue but it's now long gone. In fact, I've had to buy back albums like 1999 and Sign o' the Times on CD after realising my stupidity. Still, I only have Prince albums from the eighties in my collection.

1999 gets the party started with lengthy songs that delve deeply into freaky funk (and sex) moves. I appreciate this album more and more with time. The man had music oozing out of every pore. Who else could carry off a song like Lady Cab Driver?

Purple Rain, his sixth studio album, kicks with an almighty 'let's go nuts' adrenalin rush. Prince is at his fiery Hendrix style guitar wig out peak on this track. Indeed, throughout this landmark album, his guitar genius is often on display - take a listen to Computer Blue and marvel again at the ridiculousness of his talent.

The Revolution needs a mention, as they are a force on Purple Rain: Lisa Coleman (vocals, synths); Doctor Fink (vocals, synths); Wendy Melvoin (vocals, guitar; and Bobby Z (vocals, drums).

Fittingly, the album (and film) made Prince a superstar with its combined pop, rock, metal, funk, synth pop sound. 

The follow up - All Around the World in a Day takes the pop rock moves of Purple Rain and puts them in a psychedelic blender. I'm a big fan of this approach. It houses some great Prince and the Revolution moments like Raspberry Beret, Paisley Park, Pop Life and America.

Sign o' the Times was his ninth album and the return to a solo status - The Revolution appear but only on one (live) song. Many critics and fans think this sprawling double album is his best. Tough to choose one. 

The album came from a typically prolific period where Prince was writing and performing whole albums that were discarded for whatever reason. Being a double album (The Beatles, Exile on Main Street, Blonde on Blonde, London Calling etc) it allows for over-reach which fans like me find simply irresistible.

Where do they all belong? A double compilation album Prince Ultimate rounds out my collection. It's a good retrospective and one way into a huge catalogue.