For You

Prince | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: September 30, 1978
• Label: Warner 1061
• Copyright: 1978 Prince's Music Co.
• Genres: Dance & DJ, Pop/Dance Pop, R&B/Funk, R&B/Quiet Storm, R&B/Soul
• ASIN: B00123HJS0
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Here's where it all began, January 30, 2003

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For You (Audio CD)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for a long drive on a sunny day, October 4, 2001

By 

Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For You (Audio CD)

Prince's first album (that is, if you don't count the "94 East" sessions recorded a few years earlier) is not bad at all. Pleasant, upbeat, sorta bouncy stuff that you wanna hear in your car on a long drive on a sunny day. The title cut, with our man Roger Nelson doing a multitrack acapella performance is quite stunning (it's also backtracked in the first few seconds-a trick he'd later repeat on end of the title cut to "Purple Rain."). "Just As Long as We're Together" and My Love Is Forver" are sunny little tunes that will make you smile while "I'm Yours" picks up where James Marshall Hendrix left off (although Prince went to great lengths to deny any Hendrix connection in the mid-80s). But either way, listen and you will enjoy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars stunning, September 26, 2000

By 

luvbritney (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For You (Audio CD)

someone recording a debut like this should be looked at as someone who has a supernatural talent, and it's no surprise that he is and was capable of something like this. but at this age-doing everything himself this good-wow!. from the acapella intricacies of the title track to the stellar arrangements in 'my love is forever' to the fairly sweet sentiments on lyrical display, aforeshadow of what's 2 come. yes, it sounds a bit lukewarm at times (the funk could have been souped up on 'soft and wet'), but it actually sounds a bit more diverse than subsequent releases, if only for the presence of two acoustic-based tracks (crazy you and so blue). he's showing us all his talent and his possibilities here. 'dirty mind' is the one to hear if u need a primer on what makes the prince we know so...dirty, but this is a worthy album nonetheless. and damn is that falsetto high!