It has been over thirty years since the release of Purple Rain and still today it is still considered one of music’s crowning achievements, and the album that put Prince on the map.
The album begins with a 40 second gospel intro unfolding into a hard rock synth infused track, only to end with one of the best guitar solos ever making Let’s Go Crazy arguably one of the best opening tracks in music history. The infamous bass-less track, When Doves Cry, deals with angst and is one of the central themes of Purple Rain. I Would Die for You is a toe-tapping song that represents either the spiritual devotion between two lovers or the connection between God and man, this is completely up to you to decide. The raw playing and jaw dropping song lyrics of Darling Nikki is raunchy and sexy at the same time and of course, the monster title track, Purple Rain, walks a fine line between love song and spiritual sermon.
Purple Rain was comprised of only nine songs but managed to touch a wide variety of subject matters like love, sex, angst & spirituality. These were all combined in a melting pot of musical styles (rock, pop, gospel and avant-garde). Nothing sounded like Purple Rain or Prince for that matter.
Purple Rain will always have a special place in my heart because it opened my eyes and ears to the limitless possibilities of where music can take you and my introduction to the man called Prince.
If you like Purple Rain and are willing to take a musical journey with Prince, then I highly recommend the following albums. Please do send in your Prince list, I would love to see it.
1999 (1982)
Around the World in a DAY (1985)
Parade (1986)
Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
Lovesexy(1988)
Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
The Love Symbol Album (1992)
Emancipation (1996)
Musicology (2004)
3121 (2006)
Planet Earth (2007)
Lotusflow3r MPL Sound (2009)