Better album: Purple Rain or Thriller?

[Oliverlogan263]

https://open.spotify.com/album/7nXJ5k4XgRj5OLg9m8V3zc

https://open.spotify.com/album/2ANVost0y2y52ema1E9xAZ

Purple Pain

Thriller

[MrOracle]

For me, it's Purple Rain. That's not taking away from Thriller - it's a very strong album with some amazing songs and incredible production, but there are a couple of filler songs on there that I never much cared for. Purple Rain has no filler, and creates more visceral emotional connections. Plus, it's hard to get better than Prince doing funk.

I still play songs from both albums at nearly every gig, and almost everyone loves them, but if I could only keep one of them, it would be Purple Rain for me, no hesitation. Thankfully, that's not an issue. I have both on vinyl and both on first-pressing CDs, bought when the CDs were first released, and I have the expanded version of Purple Rain as well.

I also believe that Prince is easily in the top 10 of musicians of the Rock Era. He could play almost anything on almost any rock instrument, and countless famous, talented, successful musicians have told stories about Prince taking their instrument and playing it better than they ever did - not to show them up but to teach them and help them play even better. Guitar, drums, bass, keyboards - he played them all at the highest level.

For those who've never seen this, it's worth watching. This was a Prince's Trust concert just after George Harrison's death (he was in the Beatles, if you aren't aware), and this was a line-up of superstars playing George's most famous song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." George's son Dhani Harrison is also on stage, playing acoustic guitar, along with Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne (of ELO), and Steve Winwood. Dhani asked Prince to appear and play the solo, even though this song is definitely not Prince's normal style. During the only rehearsal earlier in the afternoon, the lead guitar player (a top-shelf studio musician) forgot to drop out and played through the solo himself, so Prince got no rehearsal for his part - the performance in the evening is the first time he'd ever played this solo with the band.

It's one of the best guitar solos I've ever seen and heard, with an epic level of musicianship, pushing the skills while staying within the lines of good taste and respect for the original song - an extremely difficult balance to find.

A friend of mine, who is a professional guitar player, has said this is both the most inspirational performance he's ever seen, and the most depressing - because he'll never approach this level of skill and taste and sheer ease.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/dWRCooFKk3c

[abc3643]

Well, let's see...

"Thriller" came out in 1982.
"Purple Rain" came out in 1984.

I think a better 1982 album is "Screaming For Vengeance" by Judas Priest.
I think a better 1984 album is "Defenders Of The Faith" also by Judas Priest.

"You've Got Another Thing Coming" from "Screaming For Vengeance".

https://www.youtube.com/embed/WtuoFv4dcwM

"Freewheel Burning" from "Defenders Of The Faith".

https://www.youtube.com/embed/M_s-49rNCdw

[Anonymous]

It's funny because when I was younger I would have definitely said Thriller but knowing Prince's repertoire as not only an artist but a musician I have changed who I like better.

As much as I love the Thriller album, Prince had the better album imho. Purple Rain, the Beautiful ones, let's go crazy, darling Nikki, I would die for you, when Doves Cry, all amazing songs.

Thriller on the other hand also had great hits but Purple Rain just hits different. It really showcased his artistry moreso than Michael Jackson's artistry.

The only song I really love on MJs album is Human Nature. Don't get me wrong the rest are great songs but nothing like Human Nature. If he made more songs like that on the album I would have definitely went for Thriller.

[sage2021]

Thriller was a fantastic album with great songs.
I never really understood "Billy Jean" though. 🤔

[MrOracle]

"Billie Jean is not my lover,
she's just a girl who
claims that I am the one.
But the kid is not my son."

It's not that hard to figure out.

[Joshydavid25]

Honestly I haven't listened to either albums.. LOL.. But I do like Purple rain as a song better than Thriller.. Not that Thriller isn't good, but it's not my favorite MJ song, and Purple Rain hits a bit different..

[Oliverlogan263]

Those were the links to the album you could listen to I had posted up but I agree

[Joshydavid25]

Aw yeah I would've... But I don't have Spotify.. 😭😭.. LOL..

[82lynx]

Thriller, no contest. Of course I don’t care for the typical 80s sound, and if the other album’s titular track means what I heard it means... well, that’s just disgusting. Finally, MJ in my opinion is the best entertainer there ever was.

[DizzyDesii]

Thriller. I only like about 3 prince songs and about 100 michael songs

[TenderFantasy]

😛👍 MJs gotten me out of depression more times than I can count.

[LiamJHayden]

Thriller because Steve Lukather and Eddie Van Halen are on the album.

[Nikki1989]

At least, Prince was a musician. Jackson was just a puppet who never made any of his own decisions.

[Billlewis]

I respectfully disagree. I won't argue for a moment that Prince is the superior musician; but that doesn't address the question being asked. 'Thriller' is one of the top two or three albums of all time, sales wise. Jackson's a different type of performer than Prince.

[Nikki1989]

@Billlewis Purple Rain is the more accomplished piece of work from a musical standpoint.

[Nikki1989]

And sales doesn't reflect quality.

[Billlewis]

Yes, ma'am, you know I love you like family, but I think we're talking about two different things. The average person sitting in their car doesn't care about what's more musically advanced; they just turn the dial on their radio until they find something they like. But that's a great record as well.

[Nikki1989]

@Billlewis Yeah I know the masses don't like to think.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Thriller

[TenderFantasy]

You know me and my MJ obsession haha.

[FunkyMonkee]

How many instruments did Mike play?

[MrOracle]

One - keyboards.

[FunkyMonkee]

@MrOracle I didn't know he even played that! I've seen video of him in concert and he never played a single thing.

[MrOracle]

I'm not saying he was a stellar player or anything, but he wrote or co-wrote many songs over the years, and the piano or keyboard was the instrument he used. He also played a few keyboard parts on Thriller - playing one layer of some keyboard parts where there were 3 or 4 total keyboard layers. I would say that he was more of a composer than a player, and would write the skeletons of songs or pieces of melody before bringing in the best session musicians to fill in the rest of the song.

I think we all recognize that he was an incredible vocalist and dancer, and his instrumental skills weren't nearly at that level, so I'm sure he had little desire to show that to the world - they'd have expected him to be just as good as he was at singing and dancing.

[12karen]

Thriller 🔥

[Carly2005]

Thriller by far.

[Anonymous]

Thriller.

[DreamLife7]

Thriller