Track Listing

1. 1999
2. Little Red Corvette
3. Delirious
4. Let's Pretend We're Married
5. DMSR
6. Automatic
7. Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)
8. Free
9. Lady Cab Driver
10. All The Critics Love U In New York
11. International Lover

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3950 in Music
• Released on: 1984-12-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
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. Here, individual instruments don't blend together as much as they compete in a funky showdown which allows tracks like "Automatic", "DMSR" 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. --John Milward

CD Description
With the release of this seminal double-album, Prince evolves from the minimalist synth-pop that powered such discs as DIRTY MIND and CONTROVERSY into the pop genius that defined such quirky masterpieces as PURPLE RAIN and SIGN OF THE TIMES. Were it only for the hits--the loopy bounce of "Delirious", the moody slide of "Little Red Corvette", and the irresistible title track (only Prince could have written the ultimate dance song for the turn of the millennium 18 years beforethe fact)--1999 would be essential. These tracks are as perfect as they are familiar from incessant radio play.
The rest of 1999 holds up to the radio hits. Loose, nasty grooves like "D.M.S.R". and "Automatic" are interspersed with the propulsive shuffle of "Let's Pretend We're Married" and the soulful, psychedelic pulse of "Something In The Water". Thisis not average dance music. Prince's hybrid of rich, trippyatmospherics, '80s synth-y keyboard sounds, lush, asymmetrical harmonies, elements of rock guitar, soulful singing, andstrong songwriting--all rolled together with beats--weaves dark, sexual energy into ebullient boogie anthems. 1999 is one of the definitive pop music documents of the '80s.

Customer Reviews

1999, don't u wanna go?...
In my opinion '1999' will always remain Prince's best album.

I mean don't get me wrong, 'Sign 'O' The Times' is a masterpiece, but it can't match '1999' it terms of sheer brilliance, and it is only Prince's 1987 album that contains as many outstanding tracks as this record.

Containing 11 tracks (basically an average albums worth of material) Prince manages to sustain a 70 minute running time by extended the majority of the tracks into impressive funk-jams filled with grinding keyboard-lines and interspersed with some of Prince's blistering rhythm guitar work.

Prince's previous album (Controversy) was the blueprint for the 'Minneapolis sound', here is where you can find the full effect. Deep bass, multi-layered keyboard-lines and synthesisers replacing common horns; this was his royal badness at the top of his game, and it's hard to believe at times that every single instrument you hear on the album comes from him.

It's hard to pick the most impressive tracks when near-every track is a standout, but the the title track still generates the kind of excitement you can only get from listening to a Prince song. Utilising a brilliant rhythm track due to the imaginative drum-programming the title cut is an excellent party anthem that (like most of the album) packs a terrific punch.

The other two singles from the album ('Little Red Corvette' and 'Delirious') are equally as impressive. 'LRC' opens with a simple yet beautfiful synthline and leads into what is still, probably, Prince's greatest pop song. 'Delirious' is a lovely little, rockabilly tinged track with, quite possibly, the catchiest keyboard hook ever.

After the commercial dominance of the opening 3 songs you go into darker territory with 'Let's Pretend We're Married'; a relentless, pumping track with pulsing synthesisers that runs at an incredible pace.
Quite a shocker the song is...particularly the last 3 minutes.

More impressive then any of the previous songs though is 'D.M.S.R', that's Dance,Music,Sex,Romance for the non-Prince fanatics out there, an outstanding track which uses another excellent synth hook and a funky rhythm guitar lick to great effect, u don't so much as hear the funk u FEEL it.
Equally as impressive is 'Automatic' - a phenomenal synth-pop-rock number that contains some wonderful keyboard work throughout its 9 minute+ duration.

The masterpiece of the album though is probably 'Something In The Water (does not compute).
Containing what is still Prince's best drum programming ever, the track is curiously a ballad that is funky, it is an incredibly thoughtful piece and the emotions Prince goes through in the song are fascinating.

I won't dwell on all the songs, (i'd be here all day heaping praise) but it would be a crime not to mention 'Lady Cab Driver'.
The second pure-funk song on the album, the song contains some excellent guitar work towards the end of the track and an incredible chicken-scratch guitar lick.
The song concludes with a quite wonderful synth-versus-guitar battle.

Even the tracks I haven't mentioned are superb, and I urge anyone to buy this album. As a Prince fan it's a absolute neccessity, and still remains one of the greatest albums ever.

A Masterpiece!
With "Sign O' The Times" this is Prince's true masterpiece!

From the apocalyptic disco funk of the title track with its infectious synthline and distinctive three way split vocal you know your in for a special ride!

This segues into one of my favourites of all time "Little Red Corvette". This is a supreme pop song, how infectious is that hook! How haunting are those opening synths! :)

Next up was the catchy Rockabilly of "Delirious" which goes into the X-Rated "Lets Pretend We're Married".

Other highlights on this consistent album include the funk chant of "DMSR", "Free" (The blueprint for "Purple Rain"), Funky guitar led "Lady Cab Driver" and the class ballad "International Lover" (Prince ballads have always been very consistent since "Do Me Baby").

Throughout the album the use of the experimental Linn Drum machine gives it a very unique sound, coupled with his distinctive synthlines, Prince's "Minneapolis Sound" was truly in effect! Sales wise it fared well on the back of success of "Little Red Corvette" (A big part in black artists getting on MTV).

This initial break through allowed the mega-stardom of "Purple Rain" to follow but artistically this album outdoes even that in my opinion.

One of Prince's best
While hits such as the title track and "Little Red Corvette" are what attracts people to buy this album, it has many other great songs as well. The anthemic "Free" builds nicely to a lighter-waving finalle, and the extended funk track "Lady Cab Driver" is excellent. My personal favourite however, is the quirky "Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)", thanks to it's strange atonal backing and impassioned vocals. Throughout the vocals are very powerful, and the music very interesting, even if you're wary of the synthesised 80s sound. An excellent album.