Released: 1984
#72 on Rolling Stone Top Albums List
Purple Rain, Prince's 6th album, was an album made for the purpose of making Prince into a superstar, and that is exactly what it did (the album hit #1 on the Billboard 200, and #1 on the top R&B/Hip Hop albums in 1984). On this album, Prince blends his R&B and Funk roots with Pop and Rock. He also at times ventures into Psychedelia. The presence of the Revolution as his backing bands gives the songs a sharper, more aggressive feel. This album was very experimental for 1984, and it is still one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded.
Let's Go Crazy
This song starts off with a droning organ, and Prince "preaching". It is him telling us about the afterlife. Finally drums come in, and the song gets a bit funky. There are some electric guitars, a cool keyboard riff, and the vocals are R&B style. The chorus is the best part of the song, when the background vocals come in to join Prince and sing "I 'aint gonna let the elevator bring us down, let's go crazy". At the 4:00 mark there is a pretty sweet guitar solo. This is a really good upbeat song, with lots of soul in the vocals.
5/5
Take Me With U
This song has a bit of a spooky feel to it with the strings at the beginning. Then the drums come in and the song goes to a major key. The vocals are ok, nothing too special. This song is really poppy, and is a love type of song with the lyrics "I don't care what we do, I don't care pretty baby, just take me with you". I think it is a pretty good song, but not great.
3.5/5
The Beautiful Ones
This song starts of with some electro pop dark noises, then it is joined by a pulsing keyboard riff, and falsetto dreamy vocals. The vocals are very nicely sung, and the song has a sort of magical feel. It is another poppy type of love song. Instrumentally this is about as minimalistic as the album gets as it has very little percussion, and just the keyboard riff and synth strings as accompaniment. I think this is a pretty good song.
4/5
Computer Blue
This song has a very different feel from the previous songs. It has a screaming guitar at the beginning which intros to a funky rock n roll style riff. What is really odd about this song is the vocals, and the effects put on the vocals. They are really strange. There are some strings to accompany a long guitar solo near the middle of the song, until about 30 seconds left when there is one last scream. The guitar solo is really the highlight of the song. This is another good one.
4.5/5
Darling Nikki
This song is about sexual escapades with a girl named Nikki. The mood is dark, and the lyrics of the song really stand out. The instruments are a simple guitar riff, and somewhat obnoxious percussion. This is the funkiest song to this point at least, and seems to build up for the first half of the song. Then the last 45 seconds or so is all messing around with the vocals. Background vocals come in, and it sounds like they are playing in reverse. If not then they are just singing in jiberish. Yes, they are in reverse. That really doesn't fit with the rest of the song, but the first part of the song was really great.
4.5/5
When Doves Cry
There is a electric guitar riff intro to the song, and then some drums come in playing at a different tempo. The guitar quits, and gives way to a keyboard riff. When Princes vocals come in, it is just him singing with the percussion. The high melody part that comes in during the chorus is nice, but the best part of the song is the vocals right around the chorus. This is in fact my favorite vocal part on the album. Musically, the song is rather repetitive for the first half, but it is so catchy and good that that is ok. Then around the halfway point of the song, there are different vocals, and an electric guitar comes in to add to the percussion. It is clear that the guitar is the focus of this section. Then right before the end, it goes back to what made the first half so great, only he plays around with the vocals, changing them up a bit for the ending. This is probably the best song on the album, and is my favorite.
5/5
I Would Die 4 U
This song is mostly percussion driven. There song is really echoey, and really typical of a pop song from this time period. Most of the music is synthesized. It is not bad for a pop song, but the song isn't one of the stronger on this particular album. What does save it is the attitude in the vocals.
3/5
Baby, I'm A Star
This song starts off with a big drum beat, and some piano/keyboards. Prince gives some Michael Jackson type yells. When the main vocals for the song acutally come in, they are really soulful. This is another of those songs that sounds dated in the 80s. For what it is, it is good, but this is another of the weaker songs on the album. There is one highlight near the end when a nice guitar solo comes in and they are singing "baby, baby, baby".
3/5
Purple Rain
This is the title song on the album, and the longest song. It is a true classic. This is a slower more downbeat song. There is a beautiful blend of strings and percussion. The vocals are beautiful especially on the chorus where Prince sings about "purple rain, purple rain, only want to see you underneath the purple rain". This song has the best atmosphere on the album, and the most raw emotion in the vocals I think. The album really climaxes on an incredible highlight, as I think this song is one of the best pop songs of all time. It has everything. Beautiful strings, great lyrics, raw emotion, great atmosphere, great guitar solo. This is just a great song to end an album on.
5/5
Even if you don't like pop music,
Purple Rain is a combination of so many styles that there is probably something you will like on it. It is really accessible to almost everyone, and I would reccommend it to anyone. I can see why so many people think that this was one of the greatest albums of all time.
