April 21, 2016

20,000 Vinyl LPs 53: Prince ~ Purple Rain












 cover photo by Ed Thrasher     
 photo of album cover by Styrous® 



For the third time this year I am in shock! Prince Rogers Nelson, the artist formerly known as Prince, died today. The first time was the death of David Bowie (see link below). The second time was the death of Vanity (see link below). Needless to say, I was stunned! He was only 57 years old! At this point there is no information about his death.

Two of his albums are my favorites and I couldn't decide which one I would write about so I'm going to write about both of them; Purple Rain first, and then in the next article, Around the World in a Day. Purple Rain is the soundtrack of the 1984 film of the same name.    


back cover 
art director - Laura LiPump
photo by Styrous®


As with every album I like, there are favorite songs of mine. In Purple Rain, there are two; When Doves Cry which is second only to the title song, Purple Rain. What an incredible song it is! It's rock and it's very best! The guitar work is exquisite!  

Purple Rain a combination of rock, pop, gospel, and orchestral music. It reached number 2 in the U.S. for two weeks, behind Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!, and it is widely considered Prince's signature song. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, shipping 1 million units in the United States. 

Rolling Stone ranked it number 143 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (no argument from me on this) while Q magazine placed it at number 40 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks, and Pitchfork Media named it the best song of the 1980s.





side 1 record label detail
art director - Laura LiPump
detail photo by Styrous®


Prince played all the instruments on the song, When Doves Cry. The song's texture is stark. There is no bass line, which is unusual for an 80s dance song; Prince has said that there originally was a bass line but, after a conversation with singer Jill Jones, he decided that the song was too conventional with it. The song ends with a classical music-inspired keyboard piece backed by another synthesizer solo. It's A great dance tune, however.  

According to the Purple Rain DVD, Prince was asked by the director to write a song to match the theme of a particular segment of the film – one which involved intermingled parental difficulties and a love affair. The next morning, Prince had reportedly composed two songs, one of which was "When Doves Cry". According to Per Nilsen, Prince's biographer, the song was inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie.     

When Doves Cry is considered the lead single from the album and was his first number one hit worldwide. The song was #1 in the U.S. for five weeks, from July 7, 1984 to August 4, 1984. According to Billboard magazine, it was the top-selling single of the year. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.        


side 2 record label detail
art director - Laura LiPump
detail photo by Styrous®



Purple Rain is a gatefold album designed by Laura LiPump. Ed Thrasher, who passed away in 2006, was also the photographer for the covers of the Jimi Hendrix album, Are You Experienced?, Song to a Seagull by Joni Mitchell and Anthem of the Sun by the Grateful Dead, among many, many others.   


gatefold interior
art director - Laura LiPump
photo by Styrous®




Prince was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He wrote his first song when he was seven years old. He wrote one of my all-time favorite songs, Nothing Compares To You, which was covered by Sinéad O'Connor. Her version, which O'Connor co-produced with Nellee Hooper, became a worldwide hit in 1990. A music video, which has been described as iconic, was shot and received heavy rotation on MTV. Its lyrics explore feelings of longing from an abandoned lover's point of view.  



Tracklist: 

Side 1:


A1 - Let's Go Crazy
Recorded By – David Leonard, Susan RogersTechnician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Susan RogersWords By, Music By – Prince
 4:39

A2 - Take Me With U
Arranged By [Strings] – Lisa*, PrinceCello – David Coleman (2), Suzie KatayamaConductor [Strings] – Lisa & Wendy*Featuring [Duet With] – ApolloniaRecorded By – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Strings – David Coleman (2), Novi Novog, Suzie KatayamaTechnician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Violin, Viola – Novi NovogWords By, Music By – Prince
 3:54

A3 - The Beautiful Ones
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – PrinceRecorded By – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Technician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Words By, Music By – Prince
 5:15

A4 - Computer Blue
Recorded By – David Leonard, Susan RogersTechnician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Susan RogersWords By, Music By – John L. Nelson, Prince, Lisa, Wendy*
 3:59

A5 - Darling Nikki
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – PrinceWords By, Music By – Prince

Side 2:

4:15

B1 - When Doves Cry
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – PrinceRecorded By – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Technician [All Overdubs As Well] – David Leonard, Peggy Mac*Words By, Music By – Prince
 5:52

B2 - I Would Die 4 U
Recorded By – David Leonard, David RivkinWords By, Music By – Prince
 2:51

B3 - Baby I'm A Star
Arranged By [Strings] – Lisa*, PrinceCello – David Coleman (2), Suzie KatayamaConductor [Strings] – Lisa & Wendy*Recorded By – David Leonard, David RivkinStrings – David Coleman (2), Novi Novog, Suzie KatayamaViolin, Viola – Novi NovogWords By, Music By – Prince
 4:20

B4 - Purple Rain
Arranged By [Strings] – Lisa*, PrinceCello – David Coleman (2), Suzie KatayamaConductor [Strings] – Lisa & Wendy*Recorded By – David Leonard, David RivkinStrings – David Coleman (2), Novi Novog, Suzie KatayamaViolin, Viola – Novi NovogWords By, Music By – Prince
 8:45

Companies, etc.

Credits:

Notes:

1st cat# sleeve; 2nd cat# labels

Track A4 segues into track A5 and B2 into B3

Music From The Motion Picture Purple Rain Starring PRINCE

"Let's Go Crazy" & "Computer Blue" were recorded at The Warehouse in the summer of '83
"Take Me With U," "The Beautiful Ones" & "When Doves Cry" were recorded at Sunset Sound
"I Would Die 4 U," "Baby I'm A Star," "Purple Rain" recorded live at 1st Avenue in the summer of '83 & Record Plant, New York.
"Darling Nikki" was recorded at a place very close 2 where u live.

Includes poster and printed inner sleeve. 

           
        
        
        
           
       
Net links: 
     
Prince Discography             
Prince ~ Around The World In a Day          


YouTube links: 
         
Purple Rain     
When Doves Cry
Prince ~  Nothing Compares To You (original version)           
Sinéad O'Connor ~ Nothing Compares To You    




“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. ”                            ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet



Styrous® ~ Thursday, April 21, 2016










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