When Prince released his self-titled second album in October 1979, he was only 21 years old, yet the record made it clear he was no ordinary young artist. Where his debut For You had hinted at promise but suffered from overproduction, Prince stripped things down, sharpened the hooks, and gave the world its first true taste of his genius.

The most striking fact is that Prince played and sang everything himself—every guitar lick, every drumbeat, every layer of vocals. That alone made him a rarity, but the music proved he wasn’t just a studio trick. With this album, he delivered funk grooves, tender ballads, and even hints of rock, all while showing the confidence of someone destined for superstardom.