← Back

1999

by Prince and the Revolution

Released: October 27, 1982

Funk, synth-pop, R&B, Minneapolis sound, art pop, dance, new wave

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"1999" is the fifth studio album by Prince and the Revolution, released on October 27, 1982, by Warner Bros. In 2019, a remastered version was released, featuring 35 previously unreleased recordings. The album's themes varied from sexual imagery to reflections on technology and relationships, showcased in tracks like "Automatic" and "International Lover." The music videos for "1999" and "Little Red Corvette" gained heavy rotation on MTV, making Prince one of the first Black artists to achieve significant visibility on the channel.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Prince and the Revolution - 1999

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

This album marked his first collaboration with his band, the Revolution, and it became a pivotal moment in his career, leading to heightened fame and critical acclaim. The album was notable for its blend of funk, rock, and new wave, featuring prominent use of synthesizers and drum machines that helped define the "Minneapolis sound." 1999 reached number nine on the Billboard 200, becoming Prince's first top 10 album. It included hit singles like "1999," which critiques nuclear proliferation, "Delirious," and "Little Red Corvette," the latter peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of his signature songs.

Now

Legacy

The album was notable for its blend of funk, rock, and new wave, featuring prominent use of synthesizers and drum machines that helped define the "Minneapolis sound." 1999 reached number nine on the Billboard 200, becoming Prince's first top 10 album. Overall, 1999 is often regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, noted for its influential sound and enduring impact on pop, rock, and R&B music.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"1999" is the fifth studio album by Prince and the Revolution, released on October 27, 1982, by Warner Bros. Records. This album marked his first collaboration with his band, the Revolution, and it became a pivotal moment in his career, leading to heightened fame and critical acclaim.

The album was notable for its blend of funk, rock, and new wave, featuring prominent use of synthesizers and drum machines that helped define the "Minneapolis sound." 1999 reached number nine on the Billboard 200, becoming Prince's first top 10 album. It included hit singles like "1999," which critiques nuclear proliferation, "Delirious," and "Little Red Corvette," the latter peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of his signature songs.

Critically, 1999 was hailed as a breakthrough, receiving widespread acclaim and eventually achieving quadruple platinum status. Following Prince's death in 2016, the album re-entered the Billboard 200, peaking at number seven. In 2019, a remastered version was released, featuring 35 previously unreleased recordings.

The album's themes varied from sexual imagery to reflections on technology and relationships, showcased in tracks like "Automatic" and "International Lover." The music videos for "1999" and "Little Red Corvette" gained heavy rotation on MTV, making Prince one of the first Black artists to achieve significant visibility on the channel.

Overall, 1999 is often regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, noted for its influential sound and enduring impact on pop, rock, and R&B music.