Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

2. PrinceDirty Mind

Dirty Mind is the first one where I feel Prince became the Prince we all know and love. There had been somewhat suggestive lyrics with ‘Soft & Wet’, which came out earlier, but this is where he went full force with songs like ‘Sister’ and ‘Head’. The record cover, the whole package, really says something to me. Instead of looking like a black guy from Minneapolis, he looks New Wave and you can’t really tell what he is. He’s got bed springs behind him and the album is called Dirty Mind, the first song is called ‘Dirty Mind’ and it just hits you over the head with this new direction. Maybe my favourite song on the record is ‘Partyup’, the last song on it. I understand there’s rumours that he sort of traded that song with Morris Day. He said if you give me that song I’ll record an album for you or I’ll put together The Time For You. It’s just an amazing song. Spoon covered it a long time ago for this Prince compilation. 

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Lloyd Cole
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