1979

I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER - The opening track to Prince's second album was his first big hit in the USA reaching number 11 in the Billboard Hot 100 and also was his first single in the UK chart although only reaching number 41. It is a falsetto vocal all through backed by a funky almost Disco sound.  At about 2 minutes 40 the Synth Pop Disco style takes us to the end of the 5 minutes plus tune.  The first big notice that Prince was coming.

WHY YOU WANNA TREAT ME SO BAD? - A New Wave Funk Rock track, with hints of Rock N' Roll with the guitars and bass and easy drumbeat.  Sung in high pitch once again but well worth a listen for the awesome guitar solo for the last minute or so, introducing us to the sublime talent.

SEXY DANCER - A genre popping track, not so complicated lyric wise, with lots of grunts, sighs and soft vocals with an occasional scream.  Funky as hell, and because of the "orgasmic" breathy sighs was treated as risque here in the UK, clearly not ready for the upcoming Prince phenomenon just yet.  It is New Wave, Synth Rock, Disco and Funk all rolled into one.  Simple but engaging.

WHEN WE'RE DANCING CLOSE AND SLOW - The first real emotive ballad on the album.  The line "I want to come inside of you" may be risque but that's Prince.  Sex is love and faith in equal measures.  Still it is a lovely, light, gentle and sweet Song.

WITH YOU - Another emotional ballad with Motown Soul leanings, I hear its not a favourite with some Prince listeners but I like it.  It has emotion and feeling and Prince's falsetto vocals give it a great emphasis.  The final "...with you" at the end is heart wrenching.

BAMBI - A big Rock workout with a little Funk.  Heavy on the guitars with some Glam Rock hints to the likes of Marc Bolan and T-Rex in the middle of the song.   Awesome guitar riffs abound.  Class.

STILL WAITING - A Jazzy, Rhythm and Blues track with some soulful vocals.  It is bright and breezy but in a quirky soft tone.  It is a nice, laid back tune although not one of Prince's best.

I FEEL FOR YOU - The original version of the classic Chaka Khan hit that everyone knows.  This is a funky Disco version with hints to R n' B and of course does not feature Melle Mel's rap.  Its still a cool track but most people heard Chaka's version first so feel fit to compare both with this a less flattering rating.  The synths and guitars blended together makes this a great track either way.

IT'S GONNA BE LONELY - The best ballad on the album comes to end the set.  It has a little of everything, synths, deep bass and guitars and a repetitive drumbeat.  The falsetto vocals work best on the big Gospel-like chorus.  Great end to the album, one of my favourite early Prince tracks.

1980

DIRTY MIND - The title track of this majorly creative and most controversial of his three albums so far says it all.  This Synth driven New Wave track led by the masterful keyboards of Dr Fink has a pumping drumbeat, crossing Disco and Funk.  Prince explains he has a "dirty mind" which is pretty much what this album is about, albeit brilliantly crafted.

WHEN YOU WERE MINE - I heard the Cyndi Lauper cover version on her debut album before I heard this.  I must say she did a great job.  This is the original with Prince giving us a straight out 80s Pop Rock track with the sleek guitars prominent.  Less falsetto than previous albums but this reminds of the New Wave sound of The Cars and early Blondie, showing Prince listened to what was going on around him.

DO IT ALL NIGHT - This funky slice of Pop Rock was the lead single in the UK for the album but still didn't get him noticed as yet. Its repetitive chorus over a simple keyboard arrangement and funky bass make it engaging but not the best Prince track lyrically.  Still gets the foot tapping though!

GOTTA BROKEN HEART AGAIN - The first ballad on the album, softly sung and emotive, a big soulful Gospel type song.  Its nice but doesn't have enough to compare with other great Prince slow love songs.

UPTOWN - A great mix of Funk, Pop, Rock and Disco.  The song tackles prejudices and racism and the place in the title is somewhere where no boundaries exist.  This is something Prince was an advocate of, whether it be genders, genres or music expression.

HEAD - The first of two supposedly outrageous songs on the album and in Prince's whole repertoire.  This song celebrates fellatio, yes oral sex.  The fact is, this is a superb Funk track regardless of the lyrical content.  It is sexy and danceable and includes an awesome synths solo, add some breathy vocals from Lisa Coleman and this was a major punch in the eye for the prudish media.

SISTER - A frenetic, guitar driven non stop New Wave Punk Rock track.  Similar in tempo to other Prince tracks like Horny Toad and Jack U Off.  The outrage continued as this outlined some brother-sister incest, allegedly stories abound led to the truth it was actually his stepsister.  

PARTYUP - Similar in vein to "1999", Prince doesn't wanna die in battle he wants to party.  Seemingly about President Jimmy Carter thinking about a possible military draft for the army.  Funk, Dance, Disco, Pop, Rock and Synth Pop all rolled into one.  "You're gonna have to fight your own damn war, 'cos we don't wanna fight no more" Prince sings to the end.

1981

CONTROVERSY - Prince's 4th album is said to have bridged the gap from the sexual energy of "Dirty Mind" to the Funk Rock Dance phenomenon created on "1999".  The album opens with the epic 7 minute Dance title track.  Its pumping funky beat along with delightful keyboard harmonising keeps the energy flowing throughout.  Prince acknowledges the so called "controversies" and pretty much blatantly spells it all out about the pre-conceptions about him "am I black or white, straight or gay?" and also culture in general.  It didn't chart in the UK on release but made number 5 a mere 12 years later!

SEXUALITY - Another funky Dance number with Prince declaring that "sexuality is all we ever need".  Of course everybody must dance as well! A great track and glides along nicely with Prince's trademark sexually charged spueals adding cheekiness, eroticism, or whatever the listener takes from it.

DO ME, BABY - This track has no such innendos, it is what it says on the tin! Prince desperately asking a lover to "do me, baby" is exactly what you think.  Its a slow, sexy, piano led love ballad as is synonymous with Prince's catalogue.  There are no hidden overtures at the end where Prince literally takes matters into his own hands, if you know what I mean?.  Yes its filthy but its Prince, and its great.

PRIVATE JOY - A jaunty, bright and breezy song in a Motown/Blues hybrid ending with some nice screeching guitars which could have come earlier (no pun intended) in the song. Some real funky bass as well.  Cheeky and playful but cool.

RONNIE, TALK TO RUSSIA - A two minute anti-nuclear/war message to President Reagan.  Its hard hitting, no nosnense machine gun style tempo tells it like it is.  Prince has many times took a Political stance but usually veiled with clever lyrical connotations, this is straight to the point.

LET'S WORK - One of my favourite tracks in prince's catalogue.  A great Funk workout, similar to D.M.S.R. from the follow-up album, "1999".  Prince delivers a falsetto vocal over a pumping beat while the synths and keyboards give a kind of melody.  Way ahead of its time once again.

ANNIE CHRISTIAN - An unusual overdubbed track filled with techno synths, electronic whirss and faint guitar solos.  The subject matter deals with obsessive fans and their weird desires to assassinate celebrities in the "name of God".  Another hard hitter but Prince was never afraid to voice his opinions on anything.  

JACK U OFF - In the vein of other songs of this style like "Horny Toad" for instance.  Its theme is plainly obvious and about masturbation with a lover in some way or form! Its fast tempo Rock 'N Roll Blues is incredibly energetic and engaging.  I remember happily singing this in my room as a boy not really understanding the lyrics but living the sound of it.  Years later I wondered what my parents thought!

1982

1999 - Prince's iconic fifth album was years ahead of its time, apart from the obvious title, this set paved the way for what was to come, the genre experimentations corssing boundaries. This opening title track was immense, it was a fun, funky, disco dancing tune.  The fact that the lyrics were incredibly dark and concerning the end of the world didn't matter.  Prince just told us to party while the workd was burning! It was Funk Synth Pop, Disco and a little New Wave.  A classic.  Everybody's got a bomb but dance!

LITTLE RED CORVETTE - This was the track that got me hooked completely on the great man.   The epitomy of Prince, this was another storming track.  The fusion of Rock, Funk and Dance were to be his trademark.  Throw in the obligatory seductive lines and sexual innuendos, this was just a masterpiece.  An MTV classic and rightly so.

DELIRIOUS - A quirky, quick fire, Jazzy styled squeaky keyboards and dance beat track.  It is bright, breezy and fun, it sounds like prince was having fun.  Its Bluesy and has elements of Electronic Pop.  

LET'S PRETEND WE'RE MARRIED - An incessant synthesized keyboard and chopping drumbeat keep this track moving.  Its New Wave in style, with hints of Kraftwerk in there too.  The first overtly sexual lyrical content on the album.  No innuendos here, and no repeating of the words here for minors reading this review!  Love this track though.

D.M.S.R - An absolute gem and one of my favourites from Prince.  Dance, Music, Sex, Romance, the four cornerstones of Prince's songwriting techniques.  This is Funk, Disco, New Wave and Synth Pop at its best. Over 8 minutes of class, it will have you singing the the four words constantly throughout and playing your imaginary funky bass.  Simply class.

AUTOMATIC - An all out seduction song, one of Prince's many in his catalogue.  New Wave Funk Pop over 9 and a half minutes.  Its repetition does not derive from a great song.  Maybe one for the Prince officianados like me who love the elongated epic tracks.  

SOMETHING IN THE WATER (DOES NOT COMPUTE) - Not one of my alltime favourites as its quite experimental.  Its sparse Electro Synth Pop backing with Prince singing softly only to scream at any point and violently at the end, wondering why all girls are the same and things don't make sense.  As with most of Prince's below par songs, they are still miles ahead of most artists.

FREE - A pure Prince Soul ballad led by strong piano and guitars.  Its a political statement in an emotional cloud with some Gospel choir-like vocals for good measure.  Its powerful and the message is " b glad that u r free, free 2 change ur mind".  Things could be worse...

LADY CAB DRIVER - Full on glimpse into Prince's "dirty mind" as we hear him taking a cab "ride" with a lady cab driver and having some good, "clean" fun with her.  This is before the keyboards let rip and bring him back to reality with street noises aplenty merging with the backing.  Its naughty, its fun and its funky!

ALL THE CRITICS LOVE U IN NEW YORK - One of those strange Prince tracks that just don't hit the mark with its experimentation.  Its repetitive title lines and its sarcastic lyrical content at the fake inhabitants of New York may be lost on anyone outside the city or who hasn't visited there.  It has a lot of up and down beats, various whirrs and vocal snippets and effects.  Not a favourite.

INTERNATIONAL LOVER - The song that awarded Prince his first Grammy nomination.  Its another seduction song just under 6 and a half minutes.  Prince is the captain and in this aeroplane one special lady is going to have fun.  Prince shows off his amazing vocal range in this big Soul driven number.  Hi soon to be trademark screaming falsetto can be heard in full effect. 

1985

AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY - The title track opens up this 7th album by Prince and the second official set with The Revolution.  It is a Psychedelic Pop track with various distorted backing vocals and effects that give the scene as being 60s hippie time. It's a great easy going opener that is both spiritual and experimental.  

PAISLEY PARK - The second single to be lifted from the set and reaching number 18 in the UK chart.  It is more like late 60s Progressive Rock than the previous uptempo "Raspberry Beret" and surprisingly went higher.  I always liked this song, its a little off key, its sound is like nothing I heard before and the chorus is strangely catchy.

CONDITION OF THE HEART - An anthemic epic Prince ballad, coming in at almost 7 minutes.  Mostly piano backing with various choral vocals.  Prince uses his full range here and for me its a little long and not up there with the best ballads by him but its a nice track and a grower.

RASPBERRY BERET - Classic Prince, a geeat singalong track and as I said earlier, surprisingly only reached number 25 in the UK chart but here Prince songs were still not readily on the radio playlists.  Its got a humorous 60s inspired video with a rainbow of coloured images.  Its glittery, easy going Pop.

TAMBORINE - This is a weirdly engaging track that just mixes a lot of percussion with no guitars and Prince using various vocals over the top.  Seems like a fun song that Prince enjoyed experimenting with.  A marmite song, you either love these experiments or hate them.  

AMERICA - A relentless pumping beat and searing guitars throughout makes this a great Pop Rock/Funk hybrid track that keeps you enthralled.  Check out the 20 minute version its incredible.  Love this track even though its the short 3 and half minutes version.

POP LIFE - Slight Psychedelic feel on this track but radio friendly Psychedelic Pop, amazingly only reached number 60 in the UK, another criminally ignored Prince song.   

THE LADDER - A hugely spiritual and uplifting mega ballad that is one of my favourites.  As I previously said with "Condition of the Heart", this track actually does hit the spot.  For me, this should have ended the album on a high and positive note.

TEMPTATION - An indulgent, obligatory sex-fuelled track on a Prince album.  8 minutes of experimental sounds and vocals all backed up by a sexual/spiritual battle that Prince found so intriguing. Not a big favourite of mine but to love Prince you have to hear "everything" and for every "mediocre" track by his standards there are 10 more genius-like songs.

CHRISTOPHER TRACY'S PARADE - This album is also the soundtrack to Prince's second movie "Under The Cherry Moon".  This opening track is a whimsical almost fairgound sounding intro to his character.  It pretty much carries on the Psychedelic style of the previous album "Around The World In A Day"

NEW POSITION - A mainly percussive track with Prince basically saying his woman needs a "new position", which we can all guess in what manner! As with a few of these tracks this is experimental and would appear fleetingly over scenes in the film.

I WONDER U - A repetitive vocal fronts a strange percussive backing with a little guitar twinkling sporadically.  For some reason this album is a lot of Prince's fans' favourite, but it lacks quality songs in my opinion and is a soundtrack album with a few gems.

UNDER THE CHERRY MOON - The title of the film and actually I quite like this track.  The first track to near 3 minutes and its a lazy, jazzy kind of number that keeps the listener engaged.

GIRLS & BOYS - The first of the "gems" I have previously referred to.  One of my favourite Prince tracks.  A neat slice of Funk with Eric Leeds' starring on saxophone.  Marie France seduces in French while Prince attempts a short rap.  Classy track.  Reached number 11 in the UK chart and was the fourth single to be released.

LIFE CAN BE SO NICE - Another experimental track that is repetitive and serves as a "filler" of sorts.

VENUS DE MILO - A short but beautifully played piano led piece.

MOUNTAINS - One of my favourites and a great track, the10 minute extended version is even better. This second single ridiculously only reached number 45 in the UK chart.  Another criminally ignored Prince track, surprising after the success of "Kiss".  It has Pop and Funk elements as well as some orchestral parts courtesy of Clare Fischer, more sax from Eric Leeds and trumpet from Atlanta Bliss.  Genius.

DO U LIE? - The character Christopher Tracy is a funny guy and this is a humorous, sarcastic song which is funny if you have seen the film. If you haven't this is just more experimental Prince!

KISS - The first single to be released from this album reached number 6 in the UK chart.  Its minimal, brash and sexy Funk charmed listeners who didn't know what to expect after the previous album.  Classic Prince.

ANOTHERLOVERHOLENYOHEAD - The third single released and only reaching number 36 on the UK chart.  Its singalong chorus and lazy Funk style is a hit with Prince fans and is one of my favourite tracks.  

SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL - A beloved ballad and it has become more so since the death of Prince in 2016.  The line "Tracy died..." resonates with fans as they know who Tracy was.  Its a beautiful, soulful and emotional ballad.  Its up there with "Purple Rain" and "Still Would Stand All Time" for me.