RIP. He was definitely one of the musicians of all-time. :[
What album of his should I listen to? I've never heard his stuff before.
Cards on the table, I have enormous respect for him and his music and I love his singles (of which there are many, he was quite prolific), but I was never that into his albums. I've heard them, but it was a long time ago. You probably can't go wrong with
Purple Rain or
1999 (I'd lean toward
Purple Rain if only because both the title track and "When Doves Cry" are sublime) because a lot of his most iconic material is on those two albums. Back in the day I did own a copy of
Diamonds and Pearls; not the best album I've ever owned by a long shot, but there are a lot of good songs on it that I still listen to sometimes.
You could just listen to a greatest hits collection, but I know you won't do that so I won't suggest it.
Game. Blouses.
Yes, there's this. It occurred to me today that both subjects of Charlie Murphy's "True Hollywood Story" are now dead.
Sad.