1999
Prince's fifth album came right before the lascivious  multi-instrumentalist became a huge star with his 1984 film and soundtrack,Purple  Rain. But Prince had already proved himself to be the most audacious talent  to emerge in the 1980s, and1999, the bulk of which features Prince on  all the instruments, reflects the dance-rock styles that he also brought to the  acts he produced, particularly the Time. Prince knows how to run a one-man-band   individual instruments don't blend together as much as they compete in a funky  showdown  which allows tracks like "Automatic," "D.M.S.R.,"  and "Delirious" to sustain their long playing times.  But the album's  two enduring hits, "1999" and "Little Red Corvette,"  outshine the rest, and define the essential roles that rock and funk play in  Prince's music. "Little Red Corvette" is a sexy song about a car,  which would have been enough to make it a terrific rock song even if it didn't  also boast an infectious chorus and a great guitar part. As for  "1999," count on it being the dance song of the millennial year.--John Milward