For You

by

Prince

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The picture of an Afro-ed Prince, then 20, with a blurry light-motion effect on the right side of his head, is his introduction to the world. His opening album is a mixture of disco, funk, and romantic soul.

The title track opens with a capella dreamy falsetto and backing vocals by Prince himself. It might as well symbolize the dawn of Prince.

The use of the Poly-moog synthesizer and funky beats of the pleasant skip of "In Love" gives credence to Prince as being touted by his then-manager, Owen Husney, as the next Stevie Wonder.

The danceable "Soft And Wet" became Prince's first single, and it's easy to see why. There's even a good Arp solo here. It also has the sexual suggestiveness that would later explode with his Dirty Mind album.

The relaxing "Crazy You" has the feeling of watching a quiet tropical evening sunset. It also features water drums. Listen to this track and it won't be hard to pick them up.

The longest song here (6:24), "Just As Long As We're Together" is his shot at classic disco with a funky instrumental in the latter half of the song. This races even quicker than "Soft And Wet", which may explain why it also became a single. It's as engaging as the Bee-Gee's "You Should Be Dancing". He's credited with a lot of instruments, but clearly not the mirror ball, which he should have been on this song.

"Baby" is a lovey-dovey slow-dance number with shots of quick disco at the chorus. However, the subject matter is about a man discussing "Baby, what are we gonna do?" because his girl is pregnant. He promises to love and adore her and wishes that the baby's eyes are just like hers.

"My Love Is Forever" also belongs in the disco camp, and while not as floor-burning as "Just As Long As We're Together", might as well be comparable to the Bee-Gees' "More Than A Woman". Nice guitar solo near minute three of the song.

According to lore, Prince began as such a perfectionist that he waited to catch a cold before recording "So Blue", which kind of aims at being a hybrid of soul and bossa nova. He misses his girl so much that "even though the sun is shining, I spend my days crying over you."

The closing number "I'm Yours" has a fiery REO Speedwagon type guitar solo, and becomes more rock as a result. Kind of a foreshadowing of what he would use in Purple Rain, yes? He laces his funky rhythms with the guitar throughout the song.

Prince uses his falsetto voice here prominently, the sole exception being "Just As Long As We're Together" something he would do for his next two albums.

So, who does the guitars here? Prince. The piano? Prince. Backing vocals? Prince. The moogs, bongos, Orr bass, synthesizer bass? Prince, Prince, Prince, and, uh... oh yeah, Prince! This album and not his second album should've been titled Prince, because of the many instruments he plays. It's all a one-man affair on For You. An impressive debut album, although it pales when put next to his subsequent output.

Not bad debut album by the one and only Prince Rogers Nelson, it seems he was searching for his own voice in this Stevie Wonder/ Smokey Robinson inspired songfest but there a couple of classics in "Soft and Wet" and "Crazy You" the latter which has been covered by many artists and to think this guy was 18 years old and Warners let him produce and arrange this album. (that does not happen anymore.)He would go on to produce more classic and fuller albums but this is the start of the artist i call the most influential singer-songwriter of the last 25 years.