Songwriter, singer, producer, one-man studio band and artistic chameleon, Prince Rogers Nelson died Thursday at his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota at the age of 57. Battling the flu since April 7th, early reports suspect this may be the cause of death*.

Prince’s Top 10 hits included “Little Red Corvette,” “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Kiss,” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”; albums like “Dirty Mind,” “1999” and “Sign O’ the Times” were full-length statements. His songs also became hits for others, among them “Nothing Compares 2 U” for Sinead O’Connor and “I Feel for You” for Chaka Khan.

With the 1984 film and album “Purple Rain,” Prince told a fictionalized version of his own story: biracial, gifted, spectacularly ambitious. Its music won him an Academy Award and the album sold more than 13 million copies in the United States alone.

Prince recorded the great majority of his music entirely on his own, playing every instrument and singing every vocal line.

Prince, Prince and The Revolution, The Artist Formerly Known As. Soul, Jazz, Rock, Pop. Writing, Playing, Producing. His contributions to music and to fellow artists will remain as a poignant legacy.

Prince Album Covers

Here’s a look at all of his studio recorded album covers. From his first recording at age 19 in 1978 to his last. These do not include compilation albums.

For You (1978)

Prince (1979)

Dirty Mind (1980)

Controversy (1981)

1999 (1982)

Purple Rain (1984)

Around the World in A Day (1985)

Parade (1986)

Sign ‘O’ The Times (1987)

Lovesexy (1988)

Batman (1989)

Graffiti Bridge (1990)

Diamonds And Pearls (1991)

Love Symbol Album (1992)

Come (1994)

The Black Album (1994)

The Gold Experience (1995)

Chaos and Disorder (1996)

Emancipation (1996)

Crystal Ball (1998)

The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (1999)

Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic (2001)

The Rainbow Children (2001)

One Nite Alone (2002)

Xpectation (2003)

N.E.W.S (2003)

Musicology (2004)

The Chocolate Invasion (2004)

The Slaughterhouse (2004)

3121 (2006)

Planet Earth (2007)

Lotusflow3r (2009)

20Ten (2010)

PlectrumElectrum (2014)

Art Official Age (2014)

HITNRUN Phase One

HITNRUN Phase Two

*Sadly the official cause of death turned out to be an accidental drug overdose while taking ‘fake’ Vicodin which was laced with Fentanyl.

Thanks to the NY Times for some of the photos and information