Prince - Diamonds and Pearls

Imagine having such impossibly high standards that this album isn’t considered one of your best. Prince’s imperial phase (where he could do no wrong) lasted pretty much the entire 80s.  After a few lean years (he released a couple of substandard soundtrack albums at turn of the decade – Badman and Graffiti Bridge) this was a return to form.  He feels reinvigorated, like he’s got something to prove.  He’s rediscovered his funk. 

 

However, on this album while Prince proves that he can write, sing, dance and play many instruments (guitar, piano) one thing he hasn’t quite worked out is rap.  It feels like Prince felt that he had to put rap on this album to stay contemporary, rather than because he thought the songs needed to have rap on them.  The rapping on this album (admittedly not performed by Prince) doesn’t gel with these songs.   But to say that the rap causes this album to be substandard is a not quite right.  There’s a bit of filler here which is not something you normally associate with Prince. 

 

All is not lost though.  This album houses one of my all-time favourite songs (by any artist).  Cream.  Guaranteed to get even a wooden board dancing.  The title track is also great. Gett Off and Money Don’t Matter 2 Night are both fantastic.  There are so many great songs on this album.  So, by any mortal standard this is a classic.  But by Prince’s high standards, this isn’t indispensable.  It is merely brilliant.