Dirty Mind by Prince - 32 year anniversary of release date

Today, the 8^th of October is the 32^nd anniversary of the release of 'Dirty Mind' by Prince. This was Prince's third studio album and was recorded between May and June of the same year. I was just six years old in 1980, but got my hands on a copy some eight years later. As a Prince fan and a former music junkie, Dirty Mind is one of my hot favourites. Sex, politics, war and partying are heavy themes on this eight track album.

Looking at the album cover, Prince in his open trench coat with only his underwear underneath and a loosely tied neckerchief, you know your in for a mighty ride: 

Dirty Mind the opening track, refers to lusting after a lover and wanting to lay her down “in my Daddy's car”, When You Were Mine, a heavy guitar track which Prince sings of his love for a former lover who cheated on him with his best friend. Do It All Night, a funky disco(ish) track about lust again, Gotta Broken Heart Again, a beautiful ballad of a lost love.  Uptown is the ultimate party anthem and a song I always play whenever I need a spiritual uplifting. Head is about an affair with a bride-to-be. Back in the 80's, I could only listen to this song if my grandparents were out of the house or via headphones. On Sister, Prince sings about incest and abuse, a real mind opener, graphic, yet guilt-ridden funkiness. The last track, Partyup, is anti-war funk, “fighting war is such a fucking bore”. Give up the fighting and lets all party...and have some damned good sex too.

Prince on Dirty Mind:

“When I first played the Dirty Mind album for him (my father), he said 'You're swearing on the record. Why do you have to do that?' And I said “Because I swear'. The point for me is that you can do anything you want. My goal is to excite and provoke on every level. I like danger. That's what's missing from pop music today.”

The boundaries Prince pushed 32 years ago, some of the biggest selling artists of current times wouldn't have the balls to do. Art of a living genius. If you don't have a copy, go visit Amazon and enjoy the ride.

RELATED ARTICLES

Guilty Pleasures-'Sister' by Prince

If I Was Your Girlfriend, Live Performance

Marvin Gaye! 28 years gone but never forgotten

Today marks 28 years since the passing of Motown legend, Marvin Gaye. I was just nine years old back in 1984 when news broke that the 44 year old singer had been shot by his father. I remember elder family members shocked reaction vividly, just as my daughter will remember my shocked reaction at the news of Michael Jackson passing, Amy Winehouse and even the recent death of Whitney Houston.
  Cheap Marvin Gaye CD's at Amazon



Watch Mr Gaye perform "Let's Get It On" for Soul Train in 1974, the year I was born.

Although I was familiar with the constantly played 1982 Award winning “Sexual Healing” back then as a child. It was in my late teens, early twenties when I became a fan of his earlier stuff. Soul, gospel, blues and that three octave range he had made his music timeless and forever sexy. “Let's Get It On” ? Even young bloods who probably don't know who Marvin Gaye is are making out to that record.

My personal favourites are as follows:

ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN

LET'S GET IT ON

YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY (WITH TAMMI TERREL)

GOT TO GIVE IT UP (PART 1)

HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPVINE

THE ONION SONG (WITH TAMMI TERREL)

SEXUAL HEALING