Purple Rain (album)

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Purple Rain
Soundtrack album by Prince and The Revolution
Released June 25, 1984
Recorded August 1983 – March 1984
First Avenue
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
The Warehouse
(St. Louis Park, Minnesota)
Record Plant
(Los Angeles, California)
Sunset Sound
(Hollywood, California)
Genre R&B, pop, rock, New Wave
Length 43:51
Label Warner Bros.
25110
Producer Prince and The Revolution
Prince chronology
1999
(1982)		 Purple Rain
(1984)		 Around the World in a Day
(1985)
Singles from Purple Rain
  1. "When Doves Cry"
    Released: May 9, 1984
  2. "Let's Go Crazy"
    Released: August 11, 1984
  3. "Purple Rain"
    Released: September 26, 1984
  4. "I Would Die 4 U"
    Released: November 28, 1984
  5. "Take Me with U"
    Released: January 25, 1985
"When Doves Cry"
Prince's "When Doves Cry" from Purple Rain
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Prince and The Revolution and is the soundtrack album to the 1984 film Purple Rain. It was released on June 25, 1984 by Warner Bros. Records.

Purple Rain is regularly ranked among the best albums in music history. Time magazine ranked it the 15th greatest album of all time in 1993, and it placed 18th on VH1's Greatest Rock and Roll Albums of All Time countdown. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it the second-best album of the 1980s and 76th on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Zounds magazine ranked it the 18th greatest album of all time. Furthermore, the album placed 4th in Plásticos y Decibelios' list of The Greatest Albums of All Time. Finally, in 2007, the editors of Vanity Fair labeled it the best soundtrack of all time and Tempo magazine named it the greatest album of the 1980s.[1] In 2012, Slant Magazine listed the album at #2 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s" behind only Michael Jackson's Thriller.[2] That same year the album was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States."[3]

The two main songs from Purple Rain, "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy", would top the U.S. singles charts and were hits around the world, while the title track would go to number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

The 1000th issue of Entertainment Weekly dated July 4, 2008 listed Purple Rain at number one on their list of the top 100 best albums of the past 25 years.[4] The RIAA lists it as having gone platinum 13 times over.[5] To date, it has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, becoming the sixth best-selling soundtrack album of all time and one of List of best-selling albums.[6]

Contents

Background [edit]

Purple Rain was released by Warner Bros. Records on June 25, 1984, and was Prince's sixth album. Prince wrote all of the songs on the album, some with the input of fellow band members. Some of the tracks had portions recorded live when Prince performed on August 3, 1983, at the First Avenue club in Minneapolis. This show was a benefit concert for the Minnesota Dance Theater. It was also the first appearance in Prince's band, The Revolution, by Wendy Melvoin, his guitarist in the Purple Rain film and for a few years afterwards.

Music [edit]

 This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. (October 2011)
"The Beautiful Ones"
A sample of Prince and The Revolution's "The Beautiful Ones" from Purple Rain
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Purple Rain was the first Prince album recorded with and officially credited to his backing group The Revolution. The resulting album was musically denser than Prince's previous one-man albums, emphasizing full band performances, and multiple layers of guitars, keyboards, icy electronic synthesizer effects, drum machines, and other instruments. Musically, Purple Rain remained grounded in the Minneapolis sound and R&B elements of Prince's previous work while demonstrating a more pronounced rock feel in its grooves and emphasis on guitar showmanship. As a soundtrack record, much of the music had a grandiose, synthesized, and even—by some evaluations—a vaguely psychedelic sheen to the production and performances. The music on Purple Rain is generally regarded as the most pop-oriented of Prince's career, though a number of elements point towards the more experimental pop/psychedelic records Prince would record after Purple Rain. As with many massive crossover albums, Purple Rain's consolidation of a myriad of styles, from pop rock to R&B to dance, is generally acknowledged to account in part for its enormous popularity.

In addition to the record's breakthrough sales, music critics noted the innovative and experimental aspects of the soundtrack's music, most famously on the spare, bass-less "When Doves Cry".[citation needed] Other aspects of the music, especially its synthesis of electronic elements with organic instrumentation and full-band performances (some, as noted above, recorded live) along with its landmark consolidation of rock and R&B, were identified by critics as distinguishing, even experimental factors. Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic writes that Purple Rain finds Prince "consolidating his funk and R&B roots while moving boldly into pop, rock, and heavy metal" and identifies the record's nine songs as "uncompromising...forays into pop" and "stylistic experiments", echoing general sentiment that Purple Rain's music represented Prince at his most popular without forsaking his experimental bent.[7]

"Take Me with U" was originally written for the Apollonia 6 album, but was later pulled for Purple Rain. The inclusion of this song necessitated cuts to the suite-like "Computer Blue". The full version of this song was not subsequently given an official release, although a portion of the second section can be heard in the film Purple Rain, in a sequence where Prince walks in on the men of The Revolution rehearsing. The risqué lyrics of "Darling Nikki" contributed to the use of Parental Advisory stickers and imprints on album covers that were the record labels answer to complaints from Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center.[citation needed]

Reception [edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 5/5 stars[7]
BBC Music (favorable)[8]
Blender 4/5 stars[9]
Robert Christgau A−[10]
Entertainment Weekly B[11]
IGN (10/10)[12]
Rolling Stone (2000) 4/5 stars[13]
Rolling Stone (2004) 5/5 stars[14]
Spin (9/10)[15]
Yahoo! Music (favorable)[16]

Prince won two Grammy Awards in 1985 for Purple Rain, for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or TV Special, and the album was nominated for Album of the Year. Prince won a third Grammy that year for Best R&B Song (songwriter) for Chaka Khan's cover of "I Feel for You". Purple Rain also won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score in 1985.

Purple Rain sold 13 million units in the United States, including 1.5 million in its debut week,[17] earning a Diamond Award from the Recording Industry Association of America. According to Billboard magazine, the album spent 24 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard album charts (August 4, 1984 to January 18, 1985) becoming one of the top soundtracks ever. Purple Rain traded the #1 album chart position with Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. twice, during 1984 and 1985. The album has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.[6]

Singles from the album became pop hits worldwide, with Prince scoring four US Top 10 singles from the album. Of them, "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy" reached #1, "Purple Rain" reached #2, and "I Would Die 4 U" reached #8. The fifth and final single "Take Me with U" reached #25.

The album is credited to raising Prince to iconic status.

Track listing [edit]

All songs written and composed by Prince except "Computer Blue" by Prince, John L. Nelson, Wendy & Lisa and Dr. Fink. 

No. Title Length
1. "Let's Go Crazy"   4:39
2. "Take Me with U" (with Apollonia Kotero) 3:54
3. "The Beautiful Ones"   5:13
4. "Computer Blue"   3:59
5. "Darling Nikki"   4:14
6. "When Doves Cry"   5:54
7. "I Would Die 4 U"   2:49
8. "Baby I'm a Star"   4:24
9. "Purple Rain"   8:41

Early configurations [edit]

7 November 1983 configuration [edit]

[18]

Side one

  1. "Let's Go Crazy" (7:37 minutes version)
  2. "The Beautiful Ones"
  3. "Computer Blue" (7:23 minutes version)
  4. "Darling Nikki"
  5. "When Doves Cry"

Side two

  1. "Purple Rain"
  2. "I Would Die 4 U"
  3. "Baby I'm a Star"
  4. "Father's Song"

12 March 1984 configuration [edit]

Side one

  1. "Let's Go Crazy" (Longer version) – 7:37
  2. "The Beautiful Ones" – 5:15
  3. "Computer Blue" (Longer version) – 7:23
  4. "Darling Nikki" – 4:15

Side two

  1. "When Doves Cry" – 5:52
  2. "I Would Die 4 U" – 2:51
  3. "Baby I'm a Star" – 4:20
  4. "Purple Rain" – 8:45

Personnel [edit]

  • Prince – lead and rhythm guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, piano, drums, drum programming, lead and background vocals, arranger, art direction
  • Brown Mark – bass guitar, vocals
  • Lisa Coleman – keyboards, piano, sitar, vocals
  • Wendy Melvoin – rhythm guitars, vocals
  • Dr. Fink – keyboards, organ, vocals
  • Bobby Z. – drums, percussion
  • Apollonia Kotero – vocals on "Take Me with U"
  • David Coleman – cello on "Take Me with U", "Baby I'm a Star" and "Purple Rain"
  • Suzie Katayama – cello on "Take Me with U", "Baby I'm a Star" and "Purple Rain"
  • Novi Novog – violin, viola on "Take Me with U", "Baby I'm a Star" and "Purple Rain"
  • David Leonard – engineer (First Avenue and Record Plant)
  • Susan Rogers – engineer (The Warehouse)
  • Peggy McCreary – engineer (Sunset Sound)
  • David Z. – engineer (First Avenue and Record Plant)
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Laura LiPuma – design
  • Ed Thrasher and Associates – photography (front cover)
  • Ron Slenzak – photography (front cover)
  • Larry Williams – additional photography
  • Doug Henders – painting

Chart history [edit]

Chart (1984) Peak
position
Australian Kent Music Report 1
UK Albums Chart 2
US Billboard 200 1
US Billboard R&B Albums 1
Certification
Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[19] 6× Platinum 600,000^
France (SNEP)[20] Platinum 338,600[21]
Germany (BVMI)[22] Platinum 500,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[23] Platinum 50,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[25] 13× Platinum 13,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone
Billboard 200 number-one
Preceded by
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen		 Billboard 200 number-one album
August 4, 1984 - January 18, 1985		 Succeeded by
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Singles
  1. "When Doves Cry"
  2. "17 Days"
  1. "Let's Go Crazy"
  2. "Erotic City"
  1. "Purple Rain"
  2. "God" (vocal)
  3. "God" (instrumental) — UK version only
  1. "I Would Die 4 U"
  2. "Another Lonely Christmas"
  1. "Take Me with U"
  2. "Baby I'm a Star"
  • "Let's Go Crazy" and "Take Me with U" were released as a double A-side single in the UK in 1985.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  • Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. 

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ "Prince's Purple Rain reigns over movie soundtrack list". CBC News. 24 October 2007. 
  2. ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/best-albums-of-the-1980s/308/page_10
  3. ^ "The National Recording Registry 2011". National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. Library of Congress. May 24, 2012. 
  4. ^ "The New Classics: Music". Entertainment Weekly (999-1000). 20 June 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  5. ^ "American album certifications – Prince – Purple Rain". Recording Industry Association of America.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  6. ^ a b Taneja, Nikhil (9 December 2008). "Those chart busters". Hindustan Times (Mumbai: HT Media). OCLC 231696742. Retrieved 18 April 2009. 
  7. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the Revolution: Purple Rain > Review" at Allmusic. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  8. ^ Jones, Chris (30 May 2008). "Prince Purple Rain Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  9. ^ Harris, Keith (June/July 2001). "Every Original CD Reviewed - Prince". Blender (Alpha Media Group) (1). 
  10. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Prince and the Revolution". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  11. ^ Browne, David (21 September 1990). "Purple Products". Entertainment Weekly (#32). Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  12. ^ Spence D. (24 August 2004). "Purple Rain: 20 years later it's still Prince's masterpiece.". IGN. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  13. ^ Loder, Kurt (13 April 2000). "Prince: Purple Rain (Soundtrack)". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  14. ^ Hoard (2004), p. 655. Portions posted at "Prince: Album Guide". RollingStone.com. Retrieved 1 August 2012. 
  15. ^ Weisbard, Eric (10 October 1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide (1st ed.). Vintage. ISBN 978-0-679-75574-6. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  16. ^ Clay, Jennifer (1 January 1984). "Purple Rain". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2011. 
  17. ^ Palmer, Robert (22 July 1984). "PRINCE CREATES A WINNER WITH 'PURPLE RAIN'". The New York Times (New York City: The New York Times Company). Retrieved 7 October 2011. 
  18. ^ Nilsen, Per (2003). DanceMusicSexRomance: Prince - The First Decade. Firefly. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-946719-64-8. 
  19. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Prince – Purple Rain". Music Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2012. 
  20. ^ "French album certifications – Prince & Revolution – Purple Rain" (in French). InfoDisc.  Select PRINCE & REVOLUTION and click OK
  21. ^ "Les Albums Platine :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved August 29, 2012. 
  22. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Prince; 'Purple Rain')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 29, 2012. 
  23. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Prince; 'Purple Rain')". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2012. 
  24. ^ "British album certifications – Prince – Purple Rain - OST". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 29, 2012.  Enter Purple Rain - OST in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  25. ^ "American album certifications – Prince – Purple Rain". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 29, 2012.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links [edit]

Preceded by
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen		 Billboard 200 number-one album
August 4, 1984 – January 18, 1985		 Succeeded by
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen
Preceded by
Breaking Hearts by Elton John		 Australian Kent Music Report number-one album
August 13 – 19, 1984		 Succeeded by
Rodney Rude by Rodney Rude
 
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