Prince (February 17, 1980) – “Prince: A Regal Pop Mixture” Album Review - The Los Angeles Times (October 19, 1979)

GlamSlamEscape

Feb 17, 1980

3 min read

In this substantial review, Connie Johnson examines Prince's self-titled second album and highlights the remarkable degree of creative control behind the record. Prince is praised as a songwriter, producer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose mixture of funk, rock, pop and balladry makes the album difficult to place within any single musical category.

Publication: The Los Angeles Times

Date: February 17, 1980

Country: United States

Under the headline “Prince: A Regal Pop Mixture”, Connie Johnson reviews Prince's self-titled Warner Bros. album, catalogue number BSK 3366.

The review immediately focuses on Prince's remarkable level of involvement in the recording. Prince is credited with writing, producing and arranging the music, playing the instruments and performing all the vocals. Johnson describes Prince as a do-it-all artist whose unconventional approach is supported by strong musical instincts.

The writer draws a comparison with Stevie Wonder, noting similarities in Prince's independent approach to creating music. The album's combination of funk and rock is described as accessible without sounding overly calculated for commercial purposes.

Prince's songwriting receives particular attention. Johnson praises his ability to build songs around memorable hooks, while noting the high vocal register used across the album. “I Wanna Be Your Lover” is singled out as the record's strongest immediate attention-grabber.

The review also demonstrates that the album is not confined to the upbeat material represented by that single. “When We're Dancing Close And Slow” and “With You” are highlighted as effective ballads, with the writer describing them as possessing a dreamy, almost classical quality. The range of material leads Johnson to conclude that Prince's music cannot easily be confined to one musical category.

Prince's instrumental abilities are another important part of the review. While horns are absent from the album, the extensive combination of drums, guitars, pianos and multitracked synthesisers is described as creating the effect of a much larger musical ensemble.

Johnson closes by acknowledging the temptation to compare Prince with other artists, but ultimately rejects that approach. The review concludes that Prince possesses too much originality to fit comfortably into an established mould.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

The clipping provides a detailed contemporary assessment of Prince's second Warner Bros. album and concentrates strongly on his creative independence.

Unlike the shorter December 1979 review, this piece examines the breadth of Prince's music in greater depth. It recognises both the immediate appeal of “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and the contrasting qualities of the album's quieter material.

The accompanying black-and-white promotional photograph occupies approximately half of the clipping. Its caption reinforces one of the review's central points by noting Prince's responsibility for writing and arranging the music and playing the instruments on the album.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Review of Prince's self-titled album

Era: 1980 Prince album era

Tone: Positive, analytical and appreciative

Photography: Large black-and-white promotional portrait accompanying the album review

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Connie Johnson's review titled “Prince: A Regal Pop Mixture”

• Discussion of Prince as writer, producer, arranger, musician and vocalist

• “I Wanna Be Your Lover” identified as the album's strongest immediate attention-grabber

• Praise for the ballads “When We're Dancing Close And Slow” and “With You”

• Recognition of Prince's ability to combine funk and rock without fitting neatly into a single categor

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