Prince Best Ever Albums May 2026

“It’s a double album!” Leo said, gaining confidence. “It’s schizophrenia on vinyl. One track is a funky jam about a girl named Starfish and Coffee, the next is a whispered newscast about AIDS and crack. He plays every instrument on half the songs. He broke up the Revolution just to prove he didn’t need them. It’s not an album—it’s a weather report from the end of the 80s.”

Leo erased Purple Rain from the top spot. Typed Sign o’ the Times . Then, just for himself, he slid Dirty Mind onto the counter and paid with crumpled bills. prince best ever albums

“ Dirty Mind , 1980. He’s 22 years old, wearing a trench coat and bikini briefs on the cover. It’s only 30 minutes long. It’s about incest, oral sex, and killing your rival. Recorded on a four-track in his basement. No Dirty Mind , no Sign o’ the Times . That’s the real best ever. Because it’s the one where he had nothing to lose.” “It’s a double album

Marta nodded slowly. “The bridge. The bridge from ‘I wanna be your lover’ to ‘I wanna be your dictator.’ Dirty synth bass, apocalyptic lyrics about nuclear war, and yet you cannot stop dancing. A valid choice. But you put it at three because it’s still Prince figuring out how to be a band. He hasn’t killed the Revolution yet. Go on.” He plays every instrument on half the songs

“It’s for your ego,” she replied. She set down her coffee. “Fine. Let’s settle this like Minneapolis does. You pick the top three. I’ll tell you why you’re wrong.”

Marta, the store’s 50-something owner, didn’t look up from her magazine. “You’re making a ‘Best Ever’ list. First mistake.”

Leo hesitated.