Purple Rain

How does something sound simultaneously so excessive and so uncluttered all at once? That crisp, clean, joyfully exuberant sound with not a note out of place speaks of an artist working expertly in the easy-to-espouse-difficult-to-achieve mode of Serious Play. And so the entire album is suffused with a sense of delight and playfulness, whilst not-quite holding at bay the melancholic void that sits at the centre of all hedonistic partying. In short: tremendous.

That horny little man wrote some good tunes.

Its a shit film by word what an album (or soundtrack). The cover is horrendous. But the Music is glorious and the album flows between frenzied synth driven Lets go crazy through the eclectic fantasy of Darling Nikki all the way to the greatest closer of all time; the masterful Purple Rain, all which instantly became iconic. To this day the greatest live performer I've ever seen. Unbelievably he actually has a better album then this (Sign O'the Times) but this is a masterpiece in itself from one of the most complex song writing geniuses of his time. 5/5

Taken together, all of the stylistic experiments add up to a stunning statement of purpose that remains one of the most exciting rock & roll albums ever recorded.

prince is a strong contender for greatest musician of all time

I really want to like prince but most of this was samey 80s pop. Couple bangers and Prince is great on guitar but everything else is meh

There are a ton of major singles that came from this album; let alone the fact that it helped his win multiple awards including an Oscar. Prince's powers are firing on all cylinders as he is showing diverse influences in a tightly produced album.

Prince fucks so hard, i want to do cocaine and have SEX

His mission is transcendence, and as a what-you-see-is-what-you-get performance he succeeds. Everything is oversized, virtuoso. No drum beat is permitted unless it's the biggest, baddest motherfucker of them all. No emotion expressed if not in extremis. It coheres too, mostly around the concept of ALBUM AS EVENT. Or maybe ARTIST AS EVENT. And on that level I enjoy the shit out of it in the same way I enjoy a fireworks show. Turn up, happily gawp for however long it lasts, retire home. EVENT over. As for the aftertaste, I'm not so sure.

Brilliant funky pop. Possibly Prince's best and cohesive standard length LP (Sign 'O' the times being a double!). Not too long, superb "backing" band in The Revolution.

One of my favorite albums of all time. I find it thoroughly enjoyable throughout and consider it a perfect album. Prince's absolute zenith with his greatest lineup. Love pretty much everything about this album.

What can possibly be said. It’s Prince. PURPLE FUCKIN RAIN!

I didn't see this one and I don't have to listen to this because I know every word and every guitar riff, Prince will remain a wonder always.

Automatic 5 stars

Pretty good album to juice celery to

another album from the little purple pervert. i wonder if prince writes the music or comes up with his sex words first? i'm pretty sure everything he says is about sex and even when it's not, it is really. it must have made life difficult when normal conversation and making small talk sounds like you're going to mount someone like some sort of sweaty 80s stallion. prince: excuse me, what aisle is the ketchup in? shelf stacker: i'm going to have to ask you to leave the store sir, that is not appropriate way to talk to staff. Prince: but i just need some red sauce. shelf stacker: * crumples to the floor suffering from a monstrous orgasm* to give it some credit its got his big ones on it. they're super 80s cheeseball and i still don't get why he's so famous. is he massive because he was big in the 80s and he somehow didn't get left behind?

Sheesh. The goat

I happen to really like Prince; liked him when I heard him all the time in the 80s, and now as I re-listen to him, I'm blown away by the musicianship. Because there is so much to Prince that his guitar playing (he played more instruments than I can list, and he was a phenomenal guitarist) gets overlooked, but he belongs in the Pantheon of all-time great guitarists. Quite a bit of his music can be too dance-pop for me, but that's just a matter of taste. Prince rocked.

I approached this album with some preconcieved notions, even some trepidation, being an MN native and resident but not a huge Prince fan. I realized very quickly though that I had never listened to this album as a whole, and I really thought it was exceptional. The songs are well written, they hold together well, and his raw talent is showcased throughout, both his musicianship and his vocals. Purple Rain as the album finale is just epic.

Top 5 Guitar Player EVER. Sorry I never saw him perform live. OUTSTANDING collection of songs on this album!

Dearly beloved. God. Euphoria on this one. I like the little one.

fuck yah

Its Prince. Its spectacular. Obviously.

Real good!

if you have to ask.. GLORIOUS

Classic.

Excellent Album

There was a lad in our class at school who was obsessed with Prince. We always thought that was a bit weird. Even though it was only 10 years prior, it always felt like it had come from a completely different era. A sound so defintitively 80s. A sound that just felt ... old, and not very good. I can't say my opinion has changed very much. There's no denying that some of his music absolutely slaps ... but I just don't think it has aged very well. It's not organic enough to sound cool like 70s funk, and the technology wasn't there to keep up with the sounds that came in the 90s. It all comes with a very plastic, 80's edge. So I've always found it hard to get on the Prince hype train.

Let's Go Crazy The Beautiful Ones Darling Nikki When Doves Cry I Would Die 4 U Purple Rain

Full disclosure: I’m a Minnesota girl and Purple Rain came out when I was a sophomore in high school. My friends and I saw the movie in the theater and shouted every time we saw a MN license plate and sang along to all the songs. First Avenue was my favorite hang in the 90s and I used to see shows at Glam Slam. I’ve been to the place where Apollonia jumped into the water (spoiler alert: it’s not Lake Minnetonka) and I’ve toured Paisley Park. I didn’t really need to listen to this to give it 5 stars, but I did anyway and still love it.

Masterpiece of a pop album from start to finish. His Royal Purpleness crossed genres like no one before him and pushed the envelope at every turn. It’s one of the few albums worthy of listening to front to back without skipping songs, but of course there are standouts like “Take Me With You” and the driving “I Would Die 4 U”. Saying the song Purple Rain is Prince’s greatest is like saying Skynrds best work is Freebird or Zepplins best work is Stairway to Heaven. Prince kept everyone guessing and wanting more. Fun fact: play the end of “Darling Nikki” backwards to hear the message “hello how are you, fine, fine cause the Lord is coming soon, coming, coming soon”.

An amazing iconic album - proud b raking of its time and solidified Prince's place in Rock/pop. A joy.. even if it is heavy 80's beat. You can dance to this, even if you don't - your feet will tap. (Miss you, Jody!)

A certified classic. The movie is bizarre but the songs are all non stop bangers front to back. With maybe the best song being the title track an undeniably rock anthem. Sexy, energetic and a complete beautiful vision of a rocker who was a one of a kind.

Incredible opener and mind blowing closer. Everything in between rocks out too. Not a miss on the whole thing. Everything works hard and works well. Not an ounce of fat. Love this album and love to listen. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. 5/5

I don't think this album is a 10, but 4 stars seemed too low. This album was solid, even great until the last track. If not for the title track, it would definitely be a 4. Purple Rain. What a song. 8 minutes of pure catharsis and beauty. Possibly my favorite album closer OAT. Without it this album would be good, but nothing special, but the title track just brings it that extra mile.

This album was shorter than I remembered. There is little to be said that hasn't been said though. A ton of hits came off this thing, most notably the title track. That song is timeless. At just 44 minutes, the only complaint is that I wish there was more. The movie is a weird one, but the music is pretty much perfect. Prince was stylistic, an influencer, and a true artist.

Let's Go Crazy Darling Nikki When Doves Cry I Would Die 4 U Purple Rain

It’s a classic isn’t it! Funky, funky and funky! Opening three or four tracks are as good as it gets! Hell yes!

Never listened to Prince before as I'd assume it would be cheesy 80s. Despite some outdated production, I was proven wrong. It has 3 great singles on here and the album cuts were good too. It has made me look forward to watch the movie just to see how the songs are featured. Only a 4 because a couple of songs were average.

Calkiem niedawno przesluchalem purple raina poza listowym chalengem, bo jesli artysta/albumik zawiera w sobie tyle referencji bizarnych, to cos musi byc na rzeczy, i dokladnie tak bylo, dziwne ze opis albumiku nie wspomina, ze nagrany zostal on za banda the revolution, jako ze nie mialem okazji poznac sie wczesniej na poprzednich albumikach princowych i jego karierze, to aspekty autobiograficzne zawarte w tym albumiku dla mnie nie istnieja, ale podobno sa, bo sama plyta jest soundtrackiem do filmu o takim samym tytule, co wyroznia albumik, charyzma i energia princowata ktora sie z niego wrecz wylewa, zwlaszcza na 3 ostatkich trakach, ktore byly nagrywane live, wiec tytulowy purple rain jest to wersja koncertowa, oczywiscie edytowana i overdubowana, ale jednak czuc zycie w tym co slychac, mimo ze to prince byl glowna sila sprawcza za konceptami, to jednak tutaj banda revolutionowa dala mu dobry backup do tych pomyslow zapewniaja silidne gransko, nieprzesadzana ilosc synthow, co tak bardzo boli pop tamtego okresu, co do strony lirycznej, to jest tak szczera, ze w niektorych momentach az obsceniczna, jak na traku darling nikki , wiec nie bez powodu byl demonizowany jako spiewany zbereznik, nie moge sie przyczepic nawet do wycia na the beutiful ones, jak zazwyczaj bym zrobil, bo jest to tak ekspresyjnie wyjcowane, nie wiem gdzie slyszalem take me with u, ale wydaje mi sie ze musiala to byc jakas giera lub hinska bajka, ewentualne kompozycja oparta na tym traku, bo sluchajac tego mam lekkie deja vu, leci na plejke, kolejny trak to when doves cry, no i tytulowy purple rain, ktory jako najdluzszy trak albumiku, 8 minut, jest spokojnym kloserem niespokojnego albumu, jesli jackson byl krolem czarnego popowego granska, tak prince niech bedzie princem w moim rankingu popowych legend

Ik ga even serieus huiswerk maken, want tot nu toe snap ik Prince niet (Sign 'O' The Times gaf ik een 2) en dit album scoort gemiddeld bizar hoog. Track 1: Lelijke 80's winkelcentrum popmuziek, maar het einde (de laatste 50 seconden ofzo) is wel gaaf. Bij dit soort tracks vraag ik me altijd af wat mensen zo geweldig vinden aan de muziek van Prince, maar bij die laatste 50 seconden wordt een tipje van de sluier opgelicht van wat Prince stiekem in z'n mars heeft. Waarom die eerste 4 minuten die goedkope 80's sound met die neppe drums en vieze synthjes? Track 2: Ook wat 80's, wel een stuk minder pijnlijke 80's. Dit nummer vind ik catchy en hoewel het op mij ook weer wat kitscherig overkomt vind ik deze wel tof. Ik weet alleen niet of ik heel blij ben met die vrouw die ook vrij veel meezingt. Prima nummer. Track 3: De verplichte ballad. Beginnen met een kopstem, daarna even een soort praat-/fluisterstukje om de vrouwtjes net dat beetje extra nat te krijgen, stukje instrumentaal, daarna nog iets gevoeliger en nog hoger zingen. Ik vind hier de synths wel leuk gedaan moet ik zeggen, al is dit niet helemaal mijn nummer verder. Bij dit nummer krijg je ook voor de eerste keer zo'n pig squeal waaraan ik letterlijk* kapot kan gaan (einde track 1 zat ie ook maar daar heb ik hem kunnen parkeren, ik wilde het rant-monster niet bij track 1 al van de ketting halen). Ik trek dat zo slecht. Ik zie nu al op tegen Purple Rain want ik weet dat ik daar nog een enorme hengst ga krijgen. Track 4: Ik denk het meest generieke nummer van het album. Ik heb hier weinig mee of tegen, behalve dat dit ook weer erg 80's is. De hairmetal-achtige schreeuw op het einde had voor mij niet gehoeven. Dat is een thema voor me. Track 5: Het gitaarwerk is heerlijk, de dubbele bassdrum is dik, maar het zit verstopt achter een laag drek. Ik voel me inmiddels al flink vies en vettig. Weer dat geschreeuw wat ik bij Prince slecht trek. Op het einde ontdekt Prince dat je dingen ook achteruit kan afspelen. Ja oke, mag. Track 6: When Doves Cry, één van de bekendere. Begint met een gitaarinleiding waardoor je even rechtop schiet. Gaan we daadwerkelijk echt genieten? Het enthousiasme wordt echter vrijwel meteen weer de kop ingedrukt met die Cyndi Lauper kutsynth en die neppe kutdrums met reverb. Voelt met vlagen als een George Michael track en dat bedoel ik zeker niet als compliment. Er gebeuren (zoals bij eigenlijk vrijwel alle tracks op dit album) op de achtergrond wel echt leuke dingen. Ook die gitaarsolo: dikke prima. De gelaagdheid is geniaal, maar ik vind het zo jammer dat ik door een laag drek heen moet om erbij te komen. Ik snap wel waarom dit één van de hits is. Track 7: Begint als een Mario Kart of F-Zero (SNES) nummer. Eigenlijk jammer dat er gezongen wordt. Relatief eenvoudig nummer, wel aardig. Duurt ook niet te lang. Voelt een heel klein beetje als filler maar dat is geen probleem, het is een redelijk compact album verder. Dat compact houden kan ook makkelijk als je 39 studioalbums uitpoept. Ik heb gegoogled. Track 8: We are family, I got all my sisters with me. Ik heb je wel door, Prince. Deze track wordt iets te schreeuwerig, een voorbode voor wat komen gaat. Fuck ik haat Purple Rain en ik hoor dat die inmiddels uit het magazijn wordt doorgeladen. Klik klak. Track 9: En daar is ie. Purple Rain. Voor 80% de reden waarom ik eigenlijk een hekel heb aan Prince. Het begint prachtig, misschien wel het beste nummer van heel het album. Het is meer als rock (wel met die vieze 80's snare maar vooruit). Op 2:34 gaat het voor mij mis en begint de haat. Het valt me nu wel op hoe kort dat I KNOW I KNOW momentje eigenlijk duurt, in m'n hoofd zingt dat altijd een paar minuten door en ga ik letterlijk* kapot namelijk. Daarna kan ik er nog maar moeilijk van genieten, ik blijf erin hangen, enigszins boos. Diepe hekel aan dit nummer, ondanks het serieus heerlijke gitaarwerk en verder prachtige outro. Conclusie: Een goed album, maar niet mijn album. Elk nummer heeft fascinerende dingen, maar helaas gebeuren die fascinerende dingen 9 van de 10 keer op de achtergrond, verstopt achter een heel lelijk, kitscherig en vettig gordijn. Prince had 10-15 jaar eerder deze muziek moeten maken, dan waren het stuk voor stuk geniale nummers geweest, niet verpest door jaren 80 techniek en trends. Ik ga wel een 3 geven. Ik heb er weer een keer wat bij gevoeld en dat had ik bij de voorgeschotelde keuzes van de laatste anderhalve week wat minder. * figuurlijk

It's funny for this album to pop up now; I was thinking a couple days ago about how I have literally never listened to Prince and was curious what makes him such a popular artist. I've always assumed it had more to do with his persona and showmanship than his actual music. While I knew he was considered a good guitar player, I was not expecting virtuoso-esque licks in his songs. Regardless, I am definitely still not vibing with it. I have never been a fan of 80's synth/pop, and this is pretty much fits the bill. Weird to me that Foo Fighters covered a prince song. Not really a fan of either, just interesting. I do not understand how Purple Rain is a popular song. I want to give this a 2 star rating because of my own personal tastes, but this leads me to the thought of how my rating system is going to operate across these albums..... I have to also consider cultural significance and , so I'll probably give it a 3 instead.

Purple perfection

I have never seen the movie, nor am I very curious to watch it either. That being said, these songs are amazing. There's a very 80's sheen on everything that would in theory make it sound dated, but here it just works somehow. Also, very influential substitution of words like 'you' becoming 'U' or 'for' becoming '4'. This type of stuff has become so ubiquitous people forget who pioneered/popularized it. Key tracks: Let's Go Crazy Take Me With U When Doves Cry I Would Die 4 U Purple Rain

Ah Prince, you beautiful weirdo. I remember, when I was a little kid, a family friend who was a few years older had a poster of this album cover in his bedroom. I had no idea who Prince was or what the poster was about. I just knew that guy was cool as fuck.

I had a sexy bath while I listen to this album, it's a sexy bath because I was having a bath before spending the night with my woman. Which is something that Prince would do.

>di mj

Purple rain, purple rain *5 minuti di assolo*

The tracklist, the guitar, the movie, the legend that is Prince. An incredible album that starts so energetically with Let's Go Crazy and finishes so powerfully with Purple Rain. This album certainly not only defined Prince's legacy but clearly helped shaped the 80s and the music industry altogether. Even in songs that don't matchup up to the album's biggest hits, catchy choruses and fierce guitar play makes every song a joy.

Lived in my stereo for months. Perfect.

you gotta be kidding me, after every song I think "there's no way Prince tops this last song, he could not be more funky and somehow simultaneously vulnerable than he just was" and then he DOES IT. and to end the album on Purple Rain!!!!?!! madman

Yoooooooooo

Always loved this album. Great to hear it again.

A simply wonderful album!

Probably Prince's most pivotal album. Got him huge airplay, crossed him over to a wider audience, and made a gigantic movie, all in one move. I won't say if I think that this is his greatest album ever, but I will say that it was his most important album.

Mega Epos masterpiece. I don’t care really about half of songs as long as it ends with one of the greatest song of all time time

💜💜💜💜💜

One of two, I would argue, utterly perfect ‘80s documents highlighting the ideal marriage of rock, pop, and R&B (the other being Thriller), but this one I believe has the higher degree of difficulty. Not only does it include a deeply funky sensibility, but Prince wrote all the songs himself (he had a little help on “Computer Blue”), and the lyrics reflect such an engaging and personal plunging of the intersection of love, sexuality, and madness. A thoroughly fine achievement.

You don’t have enough stars to rate this album accurately. 5 is way too low.

Day360 - his purple greatness. just a great album from top to bottom

goat

One of the greatest albums. Prince is a masterpiece.

mesmerizing, colorful and vivacious, this is the abbey road of the 80s, a truly historical and pivotal sound when it comes to pop and rock music. prince is often erotic with his lyrics, but it's a tasteful and artistic sort of erotic. this album is comparable to a centuries-old marble statue, often nude, but symbolizing human grace, expression and elegance. i opened up the vinyl record and several doves burst from the inside.

Un grand Prince and the Revolution ! Aucun doute que c’est un 5, il y a trop de grandes chansons sur sur disque : « Let’s Go Crazy »; « Take Me With U »; la provocante « Darling Nikki »; le ver d’oreille « When Doves Cry » et la mythique « Purple Rain ». Quelle guitare et quelle voix ! Des arrangements de synthétiseur typiques des années 80 qui traversent le temps en restant pertinents. Et toute une pochette, avec un Prince habillé en veston mauve, sur une moto dans une nuit torride et embrumée, avec un « Purple Rain » écrit en lettres attachées dans un mauve redevenue à la mode ces dernières années, et des bandeaux de tapisserie fleuries de part et d’autre. Une pochette qui revient au goût du jour tout comme le son de ce grand album.

Prince's guitarwork on this album is freaking awesome. I mean, I know he played a lot of instruments on the album and the Revolution also do some good work, but what he does with the guitar parts is masterful. Just look at a few of the songs. Let's Go Crazy - pulsing and fuzzy fun to start (50s in) and then face melting at the bridge solo and the outro. Take Me with U - subtle acoustic, did you catch it? Computer Blue - I love this track, so experimental, so rocking, new age guitar to start and then that mini-solo halfway through (oh yeah), and finishes with more classic lead guitar work. Darling Nikki - sultry to match the lyrics. When Doves Cry - the opening riff (a dead giveaway to the song as much as the bee bop keyboard) and later the bridge. Purple Rain - his most complete performance, what an epic song for all of the instruments and the sound, but also so much deft guitarwork and man at the 4 minute mark he crushes it. And on all these songs blending in just the right amount and right kind of synth. He nails the combination on each and every song. The 80's was full of cheesy synth and music that sounded too fake, but that is not the case here. Or rarely - maybe a little on The Beautiful Ones but he brings it home with some sweet guitar (it's in there for the last 90s). And even when you don't really notice the guitar at all - I Would Die 4 U, Baby I'm a Star - the songs are rocking and so fun. A truly classic album.

Prince has made a myriad of bad albums. This is not one of them.

One of the easiest 5-star ratings I’ve given in this whole project. A masterpiece.

Prince’s magnum opus and one of my favourite soundtracks. favs: Purple Rain, The Beautiful Ones, Let’s Go Crazy, Darling Nikki, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U least fav if I had to pick one: Computer Blue

All fire, pretty damn close to a perfect album.

Honestly? This is the first time I’ve ever listened to a Prince album. It was great!!! Big fan!! Will absolutely re-listen!

Holy hell this is a good album. The production value is insane and would have been amazing in any style he wanted to make. but with these songs its just about the most perfect album I think I've heard on this list yet. I found myself constantly grooving along to this. Man. I know I've heard every one of these songs individually, but to be on one album is incredible. 10/5

I have nothing really clever to say about Purple Rain. It’s Prince’s best sounding album, and possibly his most sincere. He was a fascinating artist for his ability to mix the romantic sincerity of songs like I Would Die 4 U or When You Were Mine with the unrelenting horniness of Head or Darling Nikki. And Purple Rain itself is just an annoyingly perfect piece of art. That’s true for a lot of the album really, I love the opening to Baby I’m A Star for it’s effortless transition from I Would Die 4 U. But Purple Rain specifically, god man, how do you write something like that?

An absolute classic. Always fun to listen to.

This album is solid, beginning to end. So much energy and emotion contained in 44 minutes of music. Prince was amazing, made the music he wanted to make, didn't back down from the industry bullies and died way too soon.

Oh, it’s Purple Rain, for pity sake.

When almost any song from this album comes on, you can’t help but tap your fingers or bop up and down to the rhythm.

FANTASTIC ! 5*

Something is wrong with Billboard if Purple Rain only comes out at number 2

I love this one, such a vibe.

Prince is one of the GOATs and this album is definitely his defining statement. Simply iconic.

Fantastic album

A lot of Prince's stuff is too sexy for me. This album is where it connects best though; there's a darkness that makes it more intriguing. Proper classic.

A classic album with great songs and fun

Very good album. Only one, maybe two tracks less strong than other but overall 4/5 - going with a 5

No. Words. This is literally one of the greatest albums ever written, performed and recorded.

One of my favorites of all time

Best album I've gotten on here yet.

An absolutely brilliant album. Surely one of the greatest of all time.

Banger, start to finish. I see why this album is such a big deal.

Prince is properly rated as one of the greatest of all time, but I would argue he’s under appreciated. He’s a musical genius whose work is overshadowed by his raw sexual charisma which makes people not take him seriously. Those who know, know. Prince is him.

Prince at his most confident, with his songwriting skills, his band, and his eccentricities all working together. Classic album from start to finish.

Just so enjoyable. I'll definitely listen to this again even if I haven't for many years.

Wow. Still so good. I think "Let's Go Crazy" was played at every one of our parties in college.

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the album lets go crazy by purple rain sounds like the Ghost busters theme but the lyrics were changed this album is pretty good in like the idea of the instruments because they kinda sound like the ghost busters theme which is kinda nostalgic because I haven't watched it for a long I also like how the singer can sound good along the instruments i think this song is good and I would recommend listening to this album

Prince was a genius, gone too soon.

Phenomenal.

I need help, I can’t seem to find the 6-star button.

A pretty undeniable collection of songs, the end of the title track is so excellent… damn! So THIS is what it feels like when doves cry?

Truly one of the goat-iest albums