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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Matthew_S on May 28, 2008, 02:30:29 PM

Title: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Matthew_S on May 28, 2008, 02:30:29 PM
Years back I frequented the ILM (I Love Music) boards.  This was one of the threads I started there and I wonder what the response here will be:

http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=42743

Which is better: Prince's 80s or Neil Young's 70s?
Here are Prince's albums from the 1980s:

1980 Dirty Mind
1981 Controversy
1982 1999
1984 Purple Rain
1985 Around The World In A Day
1986 Parade
1987 Sign O' The Times
1988 Lovesexy
1989 Batman

and I guess the Black Album fits in there retroactively.

Here are Neil Young's 1970s albums (not CSNY or Stills Young).

After The Gold Rush 1970
Harvest 1972
Journey Through The Past 1972
Time Fades Away 1973
On The Beach 1974
Tonight's The Night 1975
Zuma 1975
American Stars & Bars 1977
Decade 1977 (compilation)
Comes A Time 1978
Rust Never Sleeps 1979
Live Rust 1979 (live album)

Many similarities (top 40 hits, critics faves, 'artistic' exploration, unexpected choices (it started here for NY but is more obvious in NY's 80s), killer live shows, interesting but too often disappointing 'other' projects...)

Is it close?

Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Gilly on May 28, 2008, 03:22:22 PM
Prince and it's not even close. After the Gold Rush gives Neil some points, but not many can compare to Prince's 80's output.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Matt on May 28, 2008, 04:07:39 PM
I gotta go with Prince on this one. A remarkable string of albums, and he pretty much played everything on all of them. Neil Young's great, but the company he chose (Ben Keith, Crazy Horse, Rusty Kershaw, Devo) influenced him a lot more; Prince was an entity in himself. Plus, I'll take Prince's worst lyrics over Neil's worst lyrics. Prince also has a lot of great B-sides from this era that push him over the top.

Basically, it comes down to "Ambulance Blues" versus "Let's Pretend We're Married." Whichever one you can fuckdance to is the one you choose, always.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Stupornaut on May 28, 2008, 04:08:19 PM
I'll third that, even though On the Beach is better than all but maybe four Prince albums.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Andy on May 28, 2008, 04:23:40 PM
I go neil, but I've never been a prince fan so it's probably harder for me to appreciate how great some of those albums are.

I wish this was in fotchan so I could tell you why I was really picking neil.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Gilly on May 28, 2008, 04:25:14 PM
How good would Prince in the 90's be if the cheesy rap verses were removed? NPG belongs in the topic "I like some of it but not all of it". My favorite Prince songs are mostly the 80-81 songs and post Sign o the Times. Controversy and Uptown are two of the greatest songs ever!
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Matt on May 28, 2008, 04:35:48 PM
I wish this was in Chinatown so I could tell you why I was really picking neil.

I think I know.

Does Prince have a good all-encompassing book about him like Neil does with Shakey? That would be a pretty interesting read.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on May 28, 2008, 04:41:08 PM
Neil Young. 
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: jed on May 28, 2008, 04:45:33 PM
Neil Young, and the 70s.  (You could have made this a poll.)
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Matt on May 28, 2008, 04:54:50 PM
Maybe we can factor in their movies as well:

Soundtrack:
Where the Buffalo Roam v. Batman - Advantage: PRINCE

Concert films:
Rust Never Sleeps v. Sign O' The Times - DRAW

Narrative films:
Journey Through the Past v. Purple Rain/Under the Cherry Moon - Advantage: PRINCE

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=xyI8y9m_7tA[/youtube]

How about Best Physical Feature - Prince's crazy eyes versus Neil Young's sideburns? That's a Sophie's Choice if ever there was one.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on May 28, 2008, 05:17:59 PM
Human Highway vs. Graffiti Bridge.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Spoony on May 28, 2008, 05:32:13 PM
This sounds like it's more of a personal choice than a matter of where each should lie in the annals of music. Kind of like the "Elvis vs Lennon" debate.

So, if I have to make it personnel, I will.

Prince. With a bullet.

Can't shake your ass to Neil Young. Nothing against the guy.

C
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: emma on May 28, 2008, 06:20:30 PM
Prince!

Purple Rain The Movie made me want to be a member of either Prince's band or Morris Day and the Time just so I could do all those fancy coordinated dance moves. FANCY DANCING! Do I need to give any more reasons? No!
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Oogie on May 28, 2008, 07:03:25 PM
this is an impossible comparison.

i don't put on the prince records to chase away the razor blades, and i don't put on the neil records to hump my wife.

and never the twain shall meet.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: John Junk 2.0 on May 28, 2008, 07:07:38 PM
this is an impossible comparison.

i don't put on the prince records to chase away the razor blades, and i don't put on the neil records to hump my wife.

and never the twain shall meet.

I'm with you, buddy. 

But having said that, the Prince-beats-Neil sentiment on this thread is blowing my fucking mind.  Look, I know Neil probably can't pull off a bang up Halftime Show, but I've seen that guy play live twice and I've wept both times.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: masterofsparks on May 28, 2008, 08:03:06 PM
I like Prince, but this one isn't even close - it's Neil by a fucking mile.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Andy on May 28, 2008, 08:12:00 PM
Neil never stole my car.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Pat K on May 28, 2008, 09:47:28 PM
Years back I frequented the ILM (I Love Music) boards. 

Ha. I saw this thread title, and right away thought "Hey, what is this, ILM?"

On topic, I'm torn. My heart wants to say Neil knocks this one out of the park, but my head agrees with Grimlock - they're each amazing in their own amazing way, but they don't speak the same language.

Then again, Prince gets points off for that filth parade of a halftime show with that dick-guitar.





(Then again, Neil gets points off for performing in The Last Waltz with that huge bit of cocaine hanging in his nose that they had to rotoscope out in post. Damn, this IS a draw...)
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Andy on May 28, 2008, 09:56:28 PM
you seriously like Neil Young but don't like the Band at least a little?  This seems to be a popular opinion on the board, but I've always wondered about this.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: yesno on May 28, 2008, 10:31:05 PM
I kind of like the Band.  At least, I don't hate them. 

I used to think that I hated a bunch of classic rock bands that it turns out aren't bad.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Andy on May 28, 2008, 10:46:43 PM
I kind of like the Band.  At least, I don't hate them. 

I used to think that I hated a bunch of classic rock bands that it turns out aren't bad.
me too.  I think it's because we saw older incarnations and didn't give it a chance.  Two really obvious examples of me doing this: The Rolling Stones and Iggy Pop.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Emerson on May 28, 2008, 11:06:17 PM
Prince's music had more of a personal effect on me. I'd also say his '80s output was more "important" - he was a narcissistic, self-reliant leader, and Neil was always more of a collaborator and a weatherman - but, like all music nerd debates, it has to hinge on subjective criteria.

I'm also old enough for my parents to have loathed Prince, but young enough to have known Neil only as the embarassing dinosaur who convinced St. Kurt to blow his skull open.

Does Prince have a good all-encompassing book about him like Neil does with Shakey? That would be a pretty interesting read.

Prince is shy about interviews, which is explained in this book-length hit piece, by a guy who represented one of the many people he's sued:

http://www.amazon.com/Possessed-Rise-Prince-Alex-Hahn/dp/0823077497/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212029528&sr=8-1

It's slanted to make Prince look like a selfish FWD, but it's still informative and riveting, particularly when it describes the psychedelic freakout that spawned LoveSexy. I'd certainly rather hang out with Neil.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Pat K on May 28, 2008, 11:21:39 PM
you seriously like Neil Young but don't like the Band at least a little?  This seems to be a popular opinion on the board, but I've always wondered about this.

I've got a lot fewer problems with The Band than Tom does, I'll say that. I was more just referring to the bad form of performing in a huge concert/film with drugs hanging off your face.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Stan on May 29, 2008, 12:49:53 AM
 I dare anyone to come up with a Prince story involving trespassing as good as this (http://wfmu.org/listen.ram?show=18521&archive&starttime=2:27:25).

Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: bruce on May 29, 2008, 08:33:30 AM
I dare anyone to come up with a Prince story involving trespassing as good as this (http://wfmu.org/listen.ram?show=18521&archive&starttime=2:27:25).


Ha I knew exactly what link Stan posted.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Laurie on May 29, 2008, 09:20:14 AM
Prince, and it's not even close.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Laurie on May 29, 2008, 09:21:00 AM
I like Neil, but this one isn't even close - it's Prince by a fucking mile.

Fixed!
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Spoony on May 29, 2008, 10:18:47 AM
Prince's music had more of a personal effect on me. I'd also say his '80s output was more "important" - he was a narcissistic, self-reliant leader, and Neil was always more of a collaborator and a weatherman - but, like all music nerd debates, it has to hinge on subjective criteria.


I'm with you. I was alive during Prince's zenith, so if course I'm going to side with The Purple One.

But again, this is pretty evenly matched and it's like comparing fingerprints and trying to say which one is cooler.

C
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: masterofsparks on May 29, 2008, 12:45:48 PM
I was alive during both of their zeniths (well, for part of Neil's). Although, in the interest of full disclosure, I never really got the whole "Prince is a genius" thing. Yeah, I think he's talented and has some amazing singles, but nothing on the level that the press seems to think. To my way of thinking, he's made a bunch of great singles but only one end-to-end great album. Neil Young, on the other hand, has made probably 10 albums that I would consider great.

On the other hand, Neil has CSN&Y to answer for.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: yesno on May 29, 2008, 01:21:52 PM
mos

What do you think the overall good prince album is? I really like Parade.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Gilly on May 29, 2008, 01:26:04 PM
I'd say Dirty Mind, Love Symbol or 1999. Love Symbol is probably my favorite all around.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: masterofsparks on May 29, 2008, 01:27:49 PM
mos

What do you think the overall good prince album is? I really like Parade.

Purple Rain (Baby I'm a Star = best Prince song)

I think Dirty Mind, 1999, Parade, and Sign O' the Times are good but have too many weak tracks to be considered great.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Emerson on May 29, 2008, 03:48:52 PM
mos

What do you think the overall good prince album is? I really like Parade.

Parade is the only one I WISH were a double album. But I've got to say Sign O the Times. I even like the bad stuff.

He also put out some fascinating records after the world stopped caring. Well, really just Emancipation.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Chris L on May 31, 2008, 01:51:08 AM
Neil Young?  That skinny motherfucker with the high voice?
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Matt on May 31, 2008, 02:06:54 AM
Neil Young?  That skinny motherfucker with the high voice?

Well played, sir. Well played indeed.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: masterofsparks on May 31, 2008, 10:34:51 AM
How about 70s Stevie Wonder vs. 80s Prince?

This is probably a more apt comparison since both of these artists are praised for similar things (synthesizing other elements into R&B, multi-instrumental virtuosity).

I pick Stevie Wonder.

Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Spoony on May 31, 2008, 01:33:45 PM
Damn, Sparks!

I think Prince and I would have to side with Mr. Wonder.
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: bruce on May 31, 2008, 04:43:07 PM
How about 70s Stevie Wonder vs. 80s Prince?

But both would lose to late 60's early 70's Miles Davis
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Stupornaut on May 31, 2008, 06:18:11 PM
How about 70s Stevie Wonder vs. 80s Prince?

But both would lose to late 60's early 70's Miles Davis

Who would lose to Parliament-Funkadelic 1970-1981. (Narrowly.)
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: bruce on May 31, 2008, 06:29:05 PM
How about 70s Stevie Wonder vs. 80s Prince?

But both would lose to late 60's early 70's Miles Davis

Who would lose to Parliament-Funkadelic 1970-1981. (Narrowly.)

Go listen to On The Corner and be proven wrong
Title: Re: Neil Young's 70s vs Prince's 80s
Post by: Stupornaut on May 31, 2008, 07:02:05 PM
How about 70s Stevie Wonder vs. 80s Prince?

But both would lose to late 60's early 70's Miles Davis

Who would lose to Parliament-Funkadelic 1970-1981. (Narrowly.)

Go listen to On The Corner and be proven wrong

I've got the Complete On the Corner Sessions. It is goddamned fantastic. But it is maybe 1% less goddamned fantastic than Mothership Connection.