What do you think?

umm...we'd only have two choices then.

Chaos & Disorder or the Gold Experience.

Actually Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic was him still using the symbol, although the album was credited as being produced by Prince.

Also, don't forget Emancipation, and technically New Power Soul was during the symbol phase, even though the album is credited to New Power Generation.

That would be five choices.

Yeah, I thought about that afterwards.

OR...[s]he could've meant the time period from when it was announced he was changing his name, until he changed it back..

If that's the case, we'd have to include Come, Crystal Ball & the Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale.

I don't remember all the details about Come, but Crystal Ball and The Vault contain a lot of material recorded when he was actually "Prince", so I don't really regard those as being from his "symbol" period.

I guess we just need the OP to clarify, huh?

BTW...can we include 1-800-NEW-FUNK, even though it's a compilation album?

or we could speculate all nite...

And, if you wanted to include 1-800-NEW-FUNK, we'd have to include Crystal Ball & the Vault since there was also "P" recorded material..

As a huge Prince fan, I can honestly say, they all rather suck...if I had to choose, I'd go with THE GOLD EXPERIENCE, but the last true quality album was the one by Prince and the New Power Generation titled
"O-(-->"; the real Prince magic didn't return again until the slightly overrated, but still solid, MUSICOLOGY. Come to think of it, THE RAINBOW CHILDREN wasn't too bad, but I can't honestly remember if that was made under the moniker Prince or O-(-->...

Well, The Gold Experience gets bonus points for having the ultimate strip club song on it: "P Control."

The Rainbow Children was Prince.

I guess I mean anything between 1994 and 2000

I have been trying to pick up the CDs I still do not have, and most of those being while he was a symbol. A lot of People say "The Gold Experience" which I don't have yet. Lots Say "Chaos and Disorder" was horrible, but I actually like it a lot. "Rave" is starting to grow on me, and Emancipation is good, but 3 cds is a lot to take in.

You're serious?

Yes, but which part in particular do you take issue with?

Of course these are all opinions and I realize that [just like MY opinion about your opinions ]. However, saying they all rather suck, is too inclusive. Each album has its share of gems.

• Come - Space, Dark, Pheromone
• the Gold Experience - P Control, Endorphinmachine, Shh, the Most Beautiful Girl In the World, Dolphin, Billy Jack Bitch, I Hate U
• Chaos & Disorder - Chaos And Disorder, I Like It There, Dinner With Delores, the Same December, Zannalee
• Emancipation - Way too many to list. Popular opinion is that, had this been "edited", this would be a GREAT Prince album. But who makes the decision what stays and what goes? I'm satisfied with the three, even if there are songs that I might skip occasionally.

Etc, Etc..

So, if your comments were regarding "they all rather suck" complete [as far as there isn't one that's great from beginning to end], well, there you'd be correct. Also, I agree that Musicology was overrated, but it really didn't bring back the "Prince magic". It's been there all along.

Just in occasional doses..

Sorry to not be clear, but that's exactly how I intended it to read. Each album from '94-'00 does have one or two gems, but prior to that, each album was a collective gem...you didn't have to hunt for rare gold like you do with the Artist Formerly Known as Prince albums.

I think Prince's best stuff has always been work released aside from his regular albums, like Crystal Ball, The Vault, Chaos & Disorder. Also, website albums The Chocolate Invasion, The Slaughterhouse Album, Xpectation. And further still, I think some of his best single songs have been B-sides.

I kind of wish they'd do another "vault" record, or at least remaster all his regular albums, and maybe put two or three unreleased songs from each particular era on each disc.

Not a fan of the symbol period except for one song "The most beautiful girl in the world" a truly amazing "PRINCE" song.

You're right. That is a great song. Problem is, I don't like the way they remixed it for the album. I like the single version on the Beautiful Experience disc.

Emancipation

I'm curious about all the hate Emancipation receives in some of the P places I visit. While there are hits 'n misses, disc 2 is pretty strong and has some of the best ballads he's ever done..

toss up between Emancipation and The Gold Experience....probably leaning toward Gold.

The Gold Experience

other favorites:

Purple Rain (of course!)
Sign Of The Times
Diamonds and Pearls