My Name Is Prince

Dirty Mind (1980)

by Prince

format: vinyl
Warner Brothers (BSK 3478)

Mastered by Bernie Grundman (more about Bernie later on...basically this means great sound!)

I defy you to put this on your turntable and not move some part of your body. This is Prince's second album and is a non-stop dance party from beginning to end. I know, the synthesizer sounds do make it sound very 80's at times but don't let that stop you from enjoying this great album. Unlike the Prince DVD I reviewed in my Private Screenings blog, this is NOT music for the whole family (especially side two). This is an adults only party. Realizing that anyone of any age could read this blog I will try to keep this as family friendly as possible but consider this a PG-13 column this time.

The album starts off with the title cut and Prince proves that what he is saying is true later on in the album. There is no doubt this album is primarily about S-E-X. There is no getting around this so if you are uncomfortable with explicit talk about that topic, then pretty much avoid Prince altogether until around 2000. I can remember cranking "Head" and "Sister" with my friend while cruising Old Orchard Beach with my friend Wayne Proctor and getting looks of shock from the pedestrians.  Wayne seemed to be the only other person in Windham, Maine who liked Prince other than me. In those days (high school days, that is) everyone in my school loved Southern Rock and OZZZZZZY. Anything else was "gay." Even Bob Dylan...no kidding! (Keep in mind, I didn't discover Prince until around 1984.) I couldn't believe that Prince dared to sing about the things he did. It was really shocking back then. He seemed like a complete freak. This was music I couldn't play at home or my dad would freak out. Compared to Prince, all those Metal bands like Judas Priest and AC/DC seemed like posers. Prince was the real thing and not just a product of the music business.

Prince could  certainly write great pop tunes as well. "When You Were Mine" kills Cyndi Lauper's version several years later. With Prince, the lyrics seem a lot more disturbing. The song is about a guy who spends his time following his ex-girlfriend (and her new guy!) around. He admits that, "I love you more than I did when you were mine." He sings it like he's proud of that.

You want great dance tunes? At your next party cue up "Uptown," "Party Up" and "Dirty Mind." I guarantee the dance floor will be packed. Maybe after midnight just play all of Side 2 and see what happens. I'm not going to describe the lyrics on Side 2. I am a family guy. But the music itself is awesome and there are no breaks between the songs so it's one big party. Proceed directly to Side 2 of 1984 and keep the party going. (More on 1984 in two columns from now.)

Even better, put on some candles, send the kids to the babysitters and enjoy an evening enjoying your spouse...if you know what I mean...this is the perfect soundtrack for this type of thing. Have a private two person party....Ahem...Just make sure you get that a babysitter to the kids. I remember me and Shelli (my beautiful, sexy, Prince-loving wife) were having one of those private Prince parties verrry late at night when suddenly we heard my 7-year old daughter asking, "What are you guys up to?!!" Buzz kill! Take my advice: get the babysitter.

Finally if you are reading this and thinking, "That guy used to be my worship leader! Shame!" well, let me just say that God invented this thing we call sex. I refer you to the country singer Don Williams' immortal line, "Ain't it good that making love is fun."

...and there is also the matter of the Song of Songs as well...

I should also mention the sound quality on this is great. It may be little bass shy at times but just crank it up loud and it sounds great. The sound is very basic and direct. Sounds like Prince in your...um...bedroom. This album doesn't have that processed 80's sound. It's perfect for dance music and the louder you play it, the warmer it gets. I can't vouch for the CD version but I would guess it's not as good. Get the vinyl if you can find it.

By the way tomorrow night I'll be going to a jam session/party/audition for a band that does a lot rhythm and blues and funk. (We're talking Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye...) I really hope we will be doing some Prince as well.

NEXT: Prince's Controversy (on CD...talk about buzz kill!)