Purple Rain

Arguably the greatest movie soundtrack ever made, maybe the best Prince album, one of the all-time greats. Prince is great. I wish he had put some of the Morris Day songs from the movie on it. No Apollonia either. Darling Nikki....shocking! Prince is the herald of Neo-Soul. When Doves Cry is a great song, great music (all Prince), great lyrics (ask the Milhouses). From When Doves Cry to the end of the album is one of the great four song runs of all time. I normally hate really long songs, particularly to end an album. Purple Rain is the exception that proves the rule. Purple Rain is my favorite Prince song.

As someone who isn't a huge fan of Prince (nothing against him, just not artist I'm super familiar with beyond radio hits) and someone who definitely does NOT love the 80s, it's no surprise that I've never listened Purple Rain despite it being considered an all-time classic. It's quite hard to argue this album doesn't live up to the hype. It opens with a certified banger in "Let's Go Crazy" and then I might expect it to lose some momentum with four unknown songs before the timeless "When Doves Cry" but three of them were really good, if not a little bit weird. Then it's just another string of great tunes, most I was already familiar with. I imagine there not being much of a debate when this released as to whether side 1 or 2 was better. This album just goes so hard in the second half. Am I now a Prince fan and going to listen to Purple Rain on the regular? Doubtful, but I can definitely appreciate this album now, and I can see why it's considered an all-time great.

😮‍💨

Incredible. Reminded me a lot of Bowie’s ‘Young Americans’ but with a 80s twist. Loved the instrumentation, synth used very well and the guitar solos were simply epic. Not a bad track and every track had its own different sub-style.

The first mildly astonishing fact about Prince is that he was actually called Prince. Not a stage name like Elvis Costello (born Declan MacManus) or Chuck D. (Carlton Ridenhour), but Prince Rogers Nelson, born in 1958 in Minneapolis. Sometimes reality shows an unexpected flair for branding. Asked two simple questions—what’s his most rock-oriented album, and what’s his best?—the algorithm answered twice: Purple Rain. For once, the machine wasn’t bluffing. This is rock. Not in the denim-and-beer sense, but as a genuine fusion: the album achieves what One Nation Under a Groove by Funkadelic flirted with but never quite consummated—a convincing symbiosis of rock and funk. Or, less delicately, a seamless conversation between Black and white musical traditions. Prince had already mastered the funk template; here he injects stadium-sized guitar heroics without sacrificing groove. He is routinely described as one of the greatest guitarists ever. The more ardent members of the congregation will happily promote him to greatest drummer, keyboardist, producer, shoelace-tier and possibly municipal planner as well. Let’s remain calm. He was a very good guitarist—just not obviously superior to Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck or John McLaughlin. That said: the opening note(s) of the solo in “Purple Rain”—a simple D–F dyad, two-thirds of a D minor chord—remain one of the most recognisable gestures in pop history. Not complex. Just perfect. A masterclass in restraint before lift-off. Elsewhere, the album repeatedly wrong-foots me. “The Beautiful Ones” begins in precisely the falsetto-funk register I tend to endure rather than enjoy, only to pivot into a cathartic rock outro where the scream replaces the squeal and the guitar finally earns its keep. “When Doves Cry” drives like a rock anthem despite being almost entirely synthetic. “Let’s Go Crazy” is practically orthodox rock, albeit filtered through purple neon. And yet this is not a guitar album. It is a monument to machines: Yamaha electric pianos, Oberheim and DX7 synths, Memorymoog, Linn drum machines. So much of it comes out of a box, and somehow it breathes. That may be Prince’s quietest triumph as producer: the electronic drums often sound startlingly alive. (We will draw a discreet veil over the percussive hiccuping of “Take Me with U.”) Even the backing vocals—usually my personal kryptonite—behave themselves. Occasionally they even contribute something approaching charm. Microscopic charm, but still. Is it flawless? No. “Baby, I’m a Star” is all calories and no nutrition; “Darling Nikki” is more notorious than necessary; “Computer Blue” slightly overreaches. A straight musical 9 might be generous. But as a statement—proof that funk and rock can co-exist without either losing its accent—it earns the upward rounding. Of the Prince albums I know, this is the one. The purple summit. And if that conclusion happens to align with artificial intelligence, I choose to interpret that not as surrender, but as corroboration.

This fucking rules. "Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry" are probably my faves on here but "Take Me With U" "Darling Nikki" and obviously "Purple Rain" are great as well. Also hadn't realized that "Darling Nikki" is the song that made Tipper Gore absolutely lose her shit.

Another artist gone too soon. His music grabs you.

Brilliant start, consistent album, great album tracks, and a memorable performance of the title track to finish. When Doves Cry is perhaps the most important song to come out of the 80s.

I mean, I do hesitate to disrespect the Man from Minnesota. There are some legendary tracks on this album and you have to respect that it was all cut for a movie and "Darling Nikki" is a WILD thing to be singing about at the time. But there are skips and there are tracks that overstay their welcome. I'm giving 5 stars for "Let's Go Crazy" on its own.

Purple Rain is an album that never gets old no matter how many times I listen to it. The songs are groovy and psychedelic and the title track is a great end to album.

Perfect

If you have ears, you know this is a 5/5 album. I've been waiting on this one to show up.

Contiene praticamente tutte le canzoni che conoscevo già

best album oat still

can't hit the five stars fast enough. holy moly is the second side of this album amazing

Couldn't smash the 5 stars fast enough for this one. Prince is one of the few people on a relatively short list that I'd truly call a musical genius, and it's on full display here. Although perhaps not his most sonically adventurous work, the songs are just SO GOOD. It's futuristic, it's funky, it's epic, nearly a perfect package. Kicks off with a bang and barely lets up. Side 2 is just an impeccable run of songs - When Doves Cry and I Would Die 4 U are all time greats, and the transition from the latter into Baby I'm a Star is perfection. The title track is one of my favorite songs of all time, made even more impressive that it was a LIVE RECORDING from First Avenue in Minneapolis. Stunning stuff all around.

Great album, well produced without going over the top. Enjoyed all the songs.

Well shit. Don't threaten me with a good time! I've wanted this album on vinyl for a while, but just never got around to acquiring it until I was inspired to pick it up when I went with my sister and her family to see the Stranger Things finale at the movie theater. I was very fortunate to pick up a US first pressing that was complete and almost flawless except for a deliberate cut-out that, of course, damaged the jacket and the original record sleeve but left the poster and the vinyl in immaculate condition. The record didn't even seem to have been stored very well, but the colors on the jacket are still vibrant. It looks fantastic. Even my 15-year-old son was impressed. This LP was the last record I listened to the night before I learned that it would be my OAD; in fact, it was still on the platter. Serendipity! I used these events as an excuse to bring my copy into work to show my boss, who is also a big music fan and only four or five years older than me. She was jealous of how great my copy looks. I was jealous that she still has her original copy from 1984. As for the album itself, what more can be said? It's a masterpiece from start to finish, blending genres and themes together to create something that feels unique and fresh 40 years after its release. With no skips on the album, each song stands on its own and is even better when heard in context. And the transitions! I don't know why I get so excited as "Let's Go Crazy" swerves into "Take Me With U," but it gets me every time. The album is so easy to listen to that it's easy to forget it also contains some challenging, groundbreaking music. Much of "Computer Blue" substitutes electronic grinding for some instruments, yet I never noticed the effect of that dissonance until recently. "I Would Die 4 U" ticks along to jagged rhythms and distinctive vocal phrasing. Do we need to discuss "Darling Nikki"? I was too young and my family too steeped in fundamentalist Christianity for me to hear Purple Rain when it came out. I only got into the record as an adult, but I was aware of "Darling Nikki's" broader impact due to its inclusion on the PMRC's "filthy fifteen" list. And ok, it's probably not a song for kids. I even skipped it when my son's friend was in the car yesterday. But its reputation, really built around one line at the very beginning of the song, belies how strong a number it is, especially in its musical outro that ends side one. My two favorite songs on the album are "When Doves Cry" and, of course, the majestic title track. We've all heard most of those songs numerous times, but I still don't feel like I've been able to wrap my head around all of the drama they present. Purple Rain stands as a triumph of late-20th-century American pop music that parallels or rises above everything else our culture produced in that period. Five stars.

This is the greatest album of all time. Objectively. Go read Prince's wikipedia page, he was an influence on music as a concept. This is him grasping the everybody's attention in 1984. First artist with the number 1 album, movie, and single at once. Prince is near worshipped in Minnesota. The people talk about encounters with him as if it was Jesus Christ. Nobody ever forgets seeing Prince. I remember the day he died, it was like the entire world had just stopped. There was nothing else anybody cared to talk about. The album starts with 2 bangers, one a party starter amd the other a beautifully done pop song. Speaking of beautiful, the next track has one of the strongest forced attention getters in all of music. The powerful vocal performance really lets me sink all my emotions into the song, and the scene in the movie (which you should go watch) makes it even more emotional, 2 shots, Prince, and the girl he's singing it to. "Computer Blue" follows with more Prince guitar mastery, and a cool instrumental part. I'm still dying to hear the alleged 20+ minute version that exists where Prince played a bunch of distortion, which you can hear snippets of at the end of this track and into "Darling Nikki". And "Darling Nikki" continues the fun with a song about a woman freakier than Prince, and ending that with some badass double bass drumming. This is just the first half, and we haven't even gotten to the number 1 single yet. "When Doves Cry" is incredible. The emptiness of the lyrics matching the bass not being present made this click with everybody, genius move. The next 3 songs were all recorded live at legendary venue First Avenue. It is unbelievable how good they sound, 2 pumped up fun songs, and the most beautiful guitar playing you've ever heard in the title track. Purple Rain I love Prince. Purple Rain is top to bottom, filled with nothing but bangers. Go watch the movie as well, a musical that has the greatest songs ever as it's soundtrack

Legion!! Love Love love ❤️ Prince RIP

The GOAT by the GOAT

An absolute staple of course, this album perfectly encapsulates the sound of the 80s. Every track has something new and unique, combining to make a masterpiece, showing off Prince's absurd musical talent.

Uncomparable

Шик

Yeah it’s a vibe. Simpsons: Yes

Ei mitään turhaa levyllä, pelkkää nautintoa! 5/5

My first experience with this album was a dub that my aunt made for me. It wasn't even a line-to-line dub, she literally played it out of a stereo and recorded it over the air in a separate tape player. I remember the label, with "Purple Rain" scribbled on it in purple sharpie marker. Not sure if it was done to imitate the logo or not but there it was. The quality was of course terrible, but I really enjoyed the album and was happy to have it. I didn't really appreciate it as much then as I do/can now. I was also too young to understand some of the references. I had a very different understanding/interpretation of some of the lyrics for "Darling Nikki", that's for sure. Absolutely a classic -- and the fact that the titular track is an engineered recording of a live performance (look it up)? So good. Stellar.

I never got around to truly enjoying Prince. But he is a hell of an artist and this album is a masterpiece. 10/10 [KEEP]

So literally four days ago we crowned a new champion on my list and I said, word for word, "Seriously this might sit at the top for a while." because Darkness on the Edge of Town is one of my top 25 favourite albums of all time and I figured the chance we get another from that list soon was very unlikely. Unfortunately, Purple Rain is also one of my top 25. I've mentioned him already in a few prior reviews but I can now very bluntly say I love Prince. Insanely egotistical for sure but he was in some fashion a musician genius. Purple Rain... Purple Rain has previously received and will continue to receive incredible amounts of love and it's undoubtably very deserved. Prince was a man that would not stop making music and as such the quality of the music he spat out was varied. While I think a tiny TINY part of Prince's whole discography is "bad" a far greater portion is good and that's an impressive feat for 37 fucking albums in the space of 40 years. Purple Rain however is special. This is easily, and I do mean easily, the most consistent of any Prince album while having some insanely high highs song-writing wise. So much so I would say this is not my favourite Prince album (definitely top 3) but it is almost definitely his best. I once almost fist fought my sister in law after she said there are 4 unnecessary minutes on the song Purple Rain, that is how much I like this album. Let's Go Crazy is an incredible album opener, The Beautiful Ones is a fantastic truly 80s ballad that shows that Prince can SING man. But I will say, even with this being the most consistently "good" Prince album, the second half of this album is fucking loaded. When Doves Cry to Purple Rain is one of the best 4 song runs from the 80s and is an incredible showcase of what Prince can do. When Doves Cry is an insanely tightly written song and it touches on interesting subjects like how our parents affect us, directly or otherwise, I Would Die For You is both a fantastic vocal performance paired with a real showing as a great electronic track. Baby I'm a Star makes me wanna send up and dance literally every time and the title track... Purple Rain is an experience. I genuinely just fade in to the song and once I fade back out there's only 40 seconds left. This song is deeply special and incredibly beautiful, and is one of Prince's highest peaks if not his absolute. I am genuinely internally struggling to decide where I place this, because I think Darkness by Springsteen is a better album overall but... it doesn't have the song Purple Rain on it. I think I'm placing this at second but good lord. Again, top 25 albums of all time for me. You've probably heard it yourself but if you haven't somehow, change that. Best songs: Let's Go Crazy, The Beautiful Ones, When Doves Cry, Baby I'm a Star and above them all, Purple Rain. Worst Songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 2/66 (above Band On The Run, below Darkness On The Edge of Town)

CLASSIC

One of my all time favs

Хочется уже засрать какой-нибудь альбом, но, к сожалению, рандом не дает такой возможности. Красиво сделанный, красиво придуманный. The Beautiful Ones самая нежнячая песня тут.

Почти дотягивает по уровню до творчества темного принца, то есть автоматически один из лучших альбомов всех времен.

Лучшая песня: When the doves cry Худшая: ? На удивление отличный альбом, ждал худшего после прослушивания раннего творчества Принца.

4.5 очень хорошо и ровно

В этом челендже музыка 80-90-х нравится гораздо больше 00-х. Еще одно доказательство моей нелюбви к 00-м. Интересно, как такие альбомы как этот становились хитами в свое время, для меня достаточно нестандартное звучание для того, как я представляла музыку 80-х

Deserved it's classic status!

Well isn't this record just fantastic. I love the synth, rock, pop, funky, blues, and psych elements all kinda mashed together to create a well layered soundscape. There's a lot going on in a lot of these songs and it all works well. Also 5 stars just because of that amazing title track.

I freaking love this album. Is it a little cheesy? Yes. So what? Its kind of the perfect mesh of r&b, pop, soul and rock. I kind of wish that all pop music was like this. Its campy and melodramatic, but its also soulful and sad. While also being peppy and vibrant. I listen to this album every now and again. Last week, we were jamming it while making dinner and had a blast. Prince is king. This album rocks.

One of the best albums I have listened to. I have it on vinyl and no regrets Computer Blue is my favorite song

When to listen: Feeling 80s. So quintessentially 80s I love this album so much.

no comment. perfection.

5 is not enough stars for this absolute masterpiece. When I listened to this in 1984 (cassette tape) I knew it was something special. It still brings me so much joy and now I have a deeper understanding of it's social, cultural and artistic impact

10/10

*listened before the project* One of the Best of 80s, An absolutely outstanding pop album. He’s always so creative, captivatingly unrestrained and wildly eccentric

5/5

Finally some good goddamn music

good

Purple RAINNN

Prince wrote the book on dynamics.

So many good memories. I could still feel the emotions of the movie and how I used to listen to this album on cassette over and over on my boombox. Prince's piece de resistance, for sure. He had such amazing range, vocally and instrumentally. He was cut from a different cloth.

Masterpiece

opening with let's go crazy and closing with purple rain, holy shit. also, this is pretty obviously a 5-star album from the jump despite never having heard it in its entirety.

Amazing.

Okay I’ve obviously listened to Prince before but this project has brought him to a new light for me. Love the music and every album I’ve had has been a banger.

So many great songs.

Another top to bottom banger. I consider this to be Prince’s best total album.

The thing about growing up in the 80s was that you only heard what was on radio, or on whatever cassettes you had chosen to buy at the record store, or maybe you saw some videos on MuchMusic (I'm Canadian). So the albums you knew, you knew WELL, because you wore out those cassettes, and when you hear them again, you remember EVERYTHING. This is one of those albums for me.

This album/soundtrack is still wonderful. A exhilarating mix of love, yearning, sex, pop, end of the world, death, beauty, lust, and ego swirled into a rambunctious tour-de-force. Alas, the movie itself didn't quite provide the same impact, but it was so cool that the soundtrack was released before the movie so I could just watch the movie almost like a concert. I think this was his best album.

no notes

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Incredible start to a new week. I am very vocal about Purple Rain being my absolute favorite song of all time, but honestly the whole album is incredible. Prince is a genius and I love him.

Despite obsessively loving all of his progeny (one of Frank Ocean’s favorite songs is “When Doves Cry”), I’ve always had trouble getting into Prince. This is one of his albums that I’ve never struggled to throw on, though, and can get lost in easily. I think “I Would Die 4 U” is a masterpiece, and “The Beautiful Ones” might be the best song on this album. Watch the film if you have a chance!

Listened to this before I started this challenge. My favorite album of all time ❤️

This album is great, I really love When Doves Cry.

awesome. i think maybe the first album i ever bought, probably the most easy and comfortable 5 star rating ive thrown up so far. the density of bangers is just crazy. the variety of sounds and vibes that get knocked out of the park is crazy. the title track and closer is crazy (one of those songs that can squeeze a tear outta me with some reliability). I Would Die 4 U is crazy, the Computer Blue breakdown-into-guitar-solo is crazy, When Doves Cry being a number 1 hit single for 5 weeks without a bassline is crazy. Purple Rain though, that's gotta be my favorite

Ориджинал лин

-Beautiful Album!!! Rating: 8/10

It’s perfect.

"Purple Rain" is tight, expertly paced, and contains absolutely no "filler." Having owned this album since its original release during my "Hard Rock and Metal" phase, its tracks are deeply etched in my memory. To find a fresh perspective, I revisited the "deep cuts" first to see if the record still holds up. - "The Beautiful Ones": A moody, wonderful ballad featuring a brilliant vocal performance. - "Computer Blue": Funky and driven by a catchy keyboard riff. The exceptional guitar work is exactly why I, a 1984 metalhead, first gravitated toward Prince. - "Darling Nikki": Infamous and masterly; the vocal delivery remains top-tier. The remainder of the album consists of what are now familiar Prince standards. "Purple Rain" succeeded in making Prince a global superstar because it refused to stay in one lane. It effortlessly traversed multiple genres, from Pop, Funk, R&B, Electronic, and Rock. The album's brevity is also one of its greatest strengths; with only nine tracks, there is no room for error. Prince’s arrangements feel timeless due to the sheer quality of the song writing and the raw, live energy of The Revolution. Brilliant. Stunning. Perfect. Five stars. I miss Prince and his music. Side one 1 "Let's Go Crazy" (5/5) 2 "Take Me with U" (5/5) 3 "The Beautiful Ones" (5/5) 4 "Computer Blue" (5/5) 5 "Darling Nikki" (5/5) Side two 1 "When Doves Cry" (5/5) 2 "I Would Die 4 U" (5/5) 3 "Baby I'm a Star" (5/5) 4 "Purple Rain" (5/5) Total - 45 Average - 5.00 213/1001 119/213 albums reviewed were new to me.

Masterpiece

Una de las canciones más icónicas. El tipo rebalsa de flow.

An all time classic. Its impact on music surpasses genres and is still felt today.

There's a rare genius in writing music like this. Underneath all of the catchy hooks, vibe-worthy rhythms and energetic arrangements lies a precision and intentionality that pervades every note. This is lovingly, painstakingly hand-crafted pop music with not a beat out of place - everything is where it is supposed to be exactly by design. It doesn't show in a bad way though. For all of the exactitude on this record, the music doesn't feel manufactured or forced. This is one of the greatest albums ever made, by a true musical savant. He knows what he wants to create and creates it exactly how he wants it.

Class

an out and out classic

Great and overall round album. Doesn't overstay its welcome and is fun to listen to.

Best soundtrack ever. Prince proving he can do anything. Maybe the best pop album of the eighties. I had like eight copies of this across all formats. Will probably buy more just because. The fucking coolest.

𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯 is one of those albums where the ambition and execution line up so perfectly that it feels untouchable. Prince blends rock, pop, funk and drama with complete confidence, shaping a record that’s both wildly accessible and unmistakably his own. The title track alone is a 5/5 — a towering ballad that builds from gentle longing to stadium-sized catharsis without ever losing its emotional clarity. The rest of the album supports it with sharp songwriting, bold production and performances that make the whole thing feel iconic from start to finish. It’s Prince at his peak.

Need to see the film!

Had no idea how good this album is

This album was amazing. Fit such a wide emotional array in a short run time. Many classics on this album that I had heard on the radio before, but first time listening through, and I was impressed Favorite song: Let’s Go Crazy Ideal listening situation: late night fall/winter drive through a large city Would i Relisten?: absolutely yes

Considered Princes best. I liked it.

Opus magnus of a generational talent

loved it

what a beautiful album

Solid all rounder with great standout tracks

I am a huge Prince fan, and I wish more people knew that he was much more than this album.

4.5/5

awesomesauce (fave: take me with u!!!!)

8.5/10 Top songs: let’s go crazy, take me with you, purple rain

juste après avoir vu la fin de stranger things. terrible mais incroyable

Masterpiece!

Perfect Timing after the Stranger things finale When doves cry, purple Rain & lets Go Crazy

One of my favorite albums ever and listening to it on vinyl is even better. Prince’s footwork in them heels is too smooth, what a performer and musician !!!

Amazing! The storyline is good and every single song in this album is coherent with each other.

Has to be in the top 10 of all time.

Every song is intriguing and pure sex. 5/5

Prince knew that he was him. This is an album communicating that fact. It's dense and wild and he really just threw everything and the kitchen sink into this record. Definitely one of the most impressive albums that has ever been made - Prince is such an underrated guitar player too, he can shred with the best of them but his musicality is so far beyond that that the guitar playing almost goes to the background.

First rate. No sleeper songs. Good variety

One of the best albums of all time. I can argue why and I can pit myself against the naysayers but the truth is it IS one of the best albums of all time and I don't have the status to touch that as a fact. Just listen to it and realize how ahead of it's time it was and even still is. Dazzling is what it is to listen to.

Funky, sweet, beautiful masterpiece. Really great album, probably 5 stars, up 1 star just because of the title track. On RYM I have rated this one 4.5, but will probably go to the max here, why not. I think I should REVISIT some of the songs I am not as much familiar with later on!

One of my favorite albums, top to bottom great tracks, so confident and cool. The sound is amazing, to hear this at the time must have been like watching the moon landing. Love the movie as well 10 stars

A classic that speaks for itself. Prince was enlightened when he did this one. So timeless!

You know it is him immediately.

This transformation of 1999 self Deprecating street hustler Prince in the sexual messiah shouldn’t work, but it does. I saw Prince on this tour and he was at a height of musicianship and showmanship. He backs up the soaring ego with a mastery of Funk Rock and a build A new form of genre bridging Anthemic music that feels entirely new yet familiar. While I do love the grittiness of earlier Prince this is also wonderful to witness.

Now you're talking!

the best to ever do it.

OH yeah

Disco Primoroso! Prince em um momento mágico! QoA Adonis New.

An album that defines the 80s sound with guitar solos spread throughout amazing synth work and melodramatic lyrics. This was the album that put Prince on the map. His vocal range goes from soothing harmonies to guttural screeching which makes every song an adventure.

Prince is a little purple god

Always thought as a kid it was overrated but now as an adult I can see how great this is. This is a top album for the 80s. I stand corrected

Love this album, a true classic

DU MIEL Paroles excellentes, basses et musique on adore Un classique qui ne vieillit pas

Album lavet til en motion picture om han selv også. Det er funk rock og den første LP jeg fik af mine forældre da de havde en gammel kopi hver. Han er meget inspireret af kirken osv og det kan man godt høre igennem gospel agtige nuancer vokalmæssigg også. Det er også et stort gennembrud racemæssigt da man stadig kæmpede med at sorte havde svært ved at blive store succesrige popstjerner/rockstjerner. Det har også bare en virkelig god 80’er lyd. Synes teknisk set ikke der er et eneste skip på albummet.

One of the most amazing albums I've heard in a very long time.

5!

Damn, when doves cry -> i would die 4 u -> (baby i'm a star) -> purple rain is maybe the strongest album ending of all time.

All the stars. Duh.

Aleen maar bangers. Met name het einde (met purple rain natuurlijk) vind ik heel sterk.

Loved it. Great album

Fire

Maybe THE definitive 80s pop album. Top tier song writing, production, and vocal performances. Prince rules. *Heard before

BANGERSSSS Would listen again Faves: - take me with u - When doves cry - I would die 4 u - baby I’m a star - Purple rain

Clear 5

Does it even need to be said?

Great album, forgot how good it is from start to finish. Prince was the defining solo artist from the 80s for me. Michael Jackson might have had some bigger hits but as far as I know he couldn't lift a finger to play an instrument. Quincy Jones produced and arranged it all. They grabbed Eddie Van Halen to rip a guitar solo which was a really cool move...but if Prince wanted to do something, he'd just do it himself. Prince damn near released an album every year throughout the 1980s. I'd say Michael Jackson's stuff might be slightly more accessible and appeal to a wider audience....but I'd put this album up against Thriller and Bad.

https://1001albumsgenerator.com/as

This was great! I havent heard more than the radio hits from this album before. This was really good. The only thing that bother me about it is the mid-80s "lets get crazy" kind of sound that permeates through a lot of the album. And even then I didnt hate it. The other stuff, especially the songs I had never heard were crazy good!

10/10

I was thinking four, but Purple Rain (song) is very very good.

I was going to give it a 4 until the title track.

I still have a lot of Prince albums to listen to, but I don't see how he will top this one. 4.5/5

10/10 I remember hearing Prince for the first time on the radio when I was in the car with my friend kim. We were 11 years old. I swore that day I would follow that man till the ends of the earth.

Can’t not get into this one. It’s not as chock full as you might think construe acclaim, but everything is at least good and the highs are so high. When Doves Cry is close to the Plato if ideal of this genre.

Prince's masterpiece. Strong all the way through with major high points -- When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy and of course Purple Rain.

Deserves a 5 for the final track alone, but there are so many more bangers here. There's a huge number of hits for a 9 track album and with good reason. The songs are catchy and musically impressive. Prince absolutely rips on guitar but doesn't need to rely on it to make the songs exciting. There will never be another like him.

It’s Purple Rain. The perfect album that goes beyond perfection.

🥞

Gotdam this is a fucking brilliant album! I think it's fair to say that Purple Rain is Prince's most popular album if not his most well known. It's the culmination of all his previous albums and the benchmark for all that followed. Every song slaps but When Doves Cry will never not fascinate me. It's 99% percussion and vocals! A few well placed keyboards and a bitchin' guitar solo and you have the most unlikely classic. Prince always held a unique position in popular music. The guy dressed like Liberace, played guitar like Eddie Van Halen, had the energy and soul of James Brown, had the songwriting talent of Berlin or Bacharach or Dylan or Quincy Jones or any of the greats and, according to Charlie Murphy, a crazy good jump shot. We had seen nothing like him before and I don't know if we'll see that kind of talent again. Purple Rain had it all. Rock, soul, pop, R & B. Definitely a 5 star album.

Album itself is rufffly a 4 but Purple Rain lifts it up

Day 112 On a serious hot streak at the moment, some of the best pop songs of the 80’s on this album, the last minute or so of The Beautiful Ones is immense. Has to be top marks. Highlights Beautiful Ones When Doves Cry Purple Rain

This is the kind of album that will make you stop what you are doing and groove to the music. Every song highlights the musical genius of the artist whether it is on a guitar, piano, poet or vocals. It is the quintessential soundtrack to a movie. Or was the movie perfect for the album? 4.9. Can’t get closer to a more complete album.

An amazing funky sexy album.

Ok this was the prince I was promised, an immaculate songwriter with a keen sense of musicianship. This album is immaculate in its production and song selection being a tight 40 minutes and every song fits the theme and does not feel out of place with a perfect song to close out the album. No dragging at all in the album and not a challenge to listen to at all.

Estoy empezando a escribir la review con 4 canciones del álbum escuchadas porque ya tengo muchísimo que decir. COMO PUEDE SER QUE NO HAYA ESCUCHADO ESTE ÁLBUM ANTES, tiene que ser de las cosas más únicas, innovadoras y atemporales que escuché en mi vida. QUE PEDAZO DE INTRO Y QUE TEMAZO ES COMPUTER BLUE, me enojó que sea la que menos reproducciones tiene porque fue de mis favoritas. Siempre supe que Prince era de los mejores guitarristas ever y este set de canciones no hace más que confirmarlo. Que buenas son las transiciones entre canciones también. Sabes que es un buen álbum cuando te inspira a crear una playlist basada puramente en su estilo. Como dije antes, este tipo de pop lo siento totalmente atemporal, me veo volviendo muchísimo a este álbum (guarde casi todo lol). Me guardo más para escucharlos más adelante. Favs (siempre me olvido de ponerlas): Let's Go Crazy, Computer Blue, I Would Die 4 U, Baby I'm a Star (Purple Rain no es de mis favoritas pero que conste que estoy sola en mi casa y cuando sonó la cante a los gritos usando el inhalador del asma como micrófono)

👑

Fam he ended his classic album with one of the greatest songs of all time. There will never be another Prince, iconic doesn’t even begin to describe it. As far as the album goes it was an incredible journey. The vocals, the arrangement of the instruments, the rock elements fused with R&B & pop, man I could write a book about how good this album is. 10/5 stars

classic. So good.

What is there to be said about this. Its a masterpiece, with every song hitting at some level. Would be impossible for me to pick a favourite track, but The Beautiful Ones hit hardest on this listen.

PERFECT ALBUM. NOTHING WRONG.

191/1001. What a classic album, has been on my shelf for decades. Still there are songs which I don't remember. That is the curse of Prince - he has songs which renewed the whole industry, and then songs with sounds like nothing you ever heard before (doves cry?), but which are utterly boring in the end. Nevertheless, amazing stuff even in these forgettable bits. It is the eternal battle between form and the function. At best there are both, at worst the form. Stevie Vai, I believe back in the late 80s in Guitar Player magazine discussed how one can express emotions and feeling with guitar playing (solos and more), and he said something like "Prince's solos all are about an orgasm". He was wrong. It is every instrument, the whole song, the whole album, the whole catalog. And my guess is that he also met people who faked their orgasms and he put that superficiality (form) in to some of his songs. And the function is the Grind, grind, grind, grind - at best they meet unlike any artist I know of. !gnimoc m'I ,ecnirP

Prince was such an icon. Just, ridiculously good at what he did. The album is definitely 80s, but it manages to sound timeless in a way a lot of pop albums from this era don't. I think its a lot of live instrumentals. For example, Take Me with U has these gorgeous violins which really elevate it (think how dated it would sound if it went too hard on the synth sounds). I really enjoyed Computer Blue, Baby I'm a Star, and Darling Nikki, which I'd never heard before. The Beautiful Ones is a bit much for me though. 5 Stars Just for Purple Rain.

Sofa king great.

A classic.

Fell off this website for a while, and was in the car with naren when i was shuffling through my recently listened and decided to play 'purple rain'. He mentioned it was one of the albums listed, which was convenient! I think other Prince albums speak to me more than this one, but it's definitely his most quintessential. It's wild to hear some of the tones he's using here, and how those same sounds are being lauded even today - looking at you, Mk.Gee. We're still swimming in the wake of this album, and nothing's come close.

I was on the fence about this one and could have gone either way Solid album from start to finish - such great guitar playing, some absolute BANGERS on this one and also some songs that were great but not necessarily what I would call bangers The vibe of the album is truly immaculate and the instrumentation is incredible Standouts: I Would Die 4 U, Purple Rain Man what a classic

Holy fuck- like the first time i saw the sun. Everyone is so derivative lol. MOVIE STAR?? FIVE!!! Charlie murphy!!!!

A complete classic, absolutely no notes, a perfect album

A stunning, beautiful, sexy masterpiece.

One of the greatest albums ever, by a beautiful human and accomplished pickup basketball player. There are a handful of tracks that drag a little and keep it from perfection, but the peaks are as high as any pop music has reached.

One of the greatest albums ever made.

Album was awesome start to finish. All sound like Prince songs in the best way. Purple Rain itself is hard to beat.

Man, Prince was a wild weirdo and this album is solid.

This really blew me away. I've listened to the hits but had never given this album a full listen. After just one listen I feel like this is one of the best pop albums of all time. It's sexy, smart, well-crafted and produced. The songs are varied and interesting. Prince has such passion in his vocals. An absolute classic

hell yeah

THRILLED TO SEE THIS TODAY DROP IN MY INBOX. Great guitar links, subversive lyrics.

I had this album back in my high school days. Loved it at the time, but haven't gone back to it in ages. My memory of it was some excellent tracks, and some songs with "meh" lyrics ("Computer Blue"). Listening to it again - the musicianship is even better than I remembered. Price and the Revolution absolutely slay on every track. The occasional lyric is still a bit bland, but what a fantastic album.

Prince ... you sexy MF!

Growing up in the 80’s, this album was absolutely huge and exciting in a way that was different from other big albums of the time. It was a perfect fusion of rock and funk and leaned more on the rock side than his previous album, “1999,” had. It contains some of his best songs (“Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry,” and, especially “Purple Rain.”). It was also very naughty at times which probably appealed to my horny adolescent mind. And it also contains some of the best guitar riffing of his career. It didn’t matter if you hadn’t seen the movie, this was just a huge album and one of the best of the 80’s.

Yeah it's almost a perfect album. Really tight tracklist, groovy, sensual. Can't believe he gets mentioned alongside MJ.

A transcendent genius at the absolute height of his powers. However, every time I listen to this I wonder was Nikki masturbating "with a magazine" or "WITH a magazine" because the latter sound potentially painful. Or maybe I'm just a bit of a baby about paper cuts.

Jamais écouté, j'ai de grandes attentes. Eh bien j'ai pas été déçu. Les paroles : sydou s'il était bilingue, lyriciste et un tout petit peu plus horny Le physique : sydou s'il avait des origines indiennes plutôt que chinoises La musique : sydou s'il avait continué de jouer sona, un mélange de genres mais entre les solos, les phases electros, les voix quel banger. Définitivement à réécouter

Fuck yes. Prince was cool as hell

Prince has a grand measly total of 3 albums on this list. The exact same as fucking Aerosmith. Ridiculous.

Not a bad song on this.

Prince? More like a king, amirite?

Since I listened to those other two Prince albums on my journey, my feelings toward funk, synthpop, and new wave as genres have significantly improved. Classic records with those styles were brought to my attention, and even some newer artists have embraced those older sounds into new paths. Thus, I return to Prince on more amicable terms, with arguably the best record he ever made. While I have yet to see the film Purple Rain, its soundtrack album has been widely regarded. Four of the singles continue to get rotation on the radio, and what's amazing is that the rest of the tracks are as good, if not better. The interweaving of synthetic and organic instruments throughout this record, bolstered by such glossy production, made for an excellent listening experience. Particular highlights for me were the electric guitar soloing in "Let's Go Crazy" and "Computer Blue", the duet Prince does with Apollina Otero as the acoustic guitar strums with the string arrangement on "Take Me With U", the raw, electronic ballad with Prince's passionate singing on "The Beautiful Ones", the hedonistic sex jam "Darling Nikki", the surprising bass-less groove of "When Doves Cry", the buzzing shuffle beat with the synths on "I Would Die 4 U", and the emotional gut-punch that is the closing title track. Prince delivered with such charisma as he explored his sexual nature through a wide range of emotions, without ever coming off as too self-indulgent. There's not much else that needs to be said for Purple Rain, as it is an excellent record that has withstood the test of time.

peak Prince. banger after banger. Not much else to say, this is one of the reasons he's considered one of the greats! That guitar riff at the beginning of When Doves Cry fucking slams and always reminds me how much of a guitar maestro he really was.

Easy 5. Princes masterpiece. Every song bumps (with the exception of Baby I’m A Star) and Prince just screams like a maniac. Dip yourself in the waters of Lake Manatunka and enjoy

Listened to this album 100 times… I know every word and every note! Had the movie on VHS saw that many many times too! Prince at his peak! 5 stars

Iconic

Multiple layers, best soundtrack album? Let's go crazy When dove's cry

Prince's "Purple Rain" album brought back so many memories. I didn’t realize how much I loved it until I heard it again. Timeless music, powerful emotion—still hits just as hard today.

A great, fun album. Ending the album with Purple Rain was the best decision.

Prince at his best. So many great songs.

yeah this is what I’d tell my kids the 80s sounded like

Yeah turns out I like prince a lot

Classic

So yes, it is that good. Purple Rain is among the likes of those classic albums that you hear about everywhere (ex: Dark Side Of The Moon, Abbey Road, Thriller). Once you take the time to listen, you realize why they’re held up so high. Purple Rain is effectively close to a greatest hits album for Prince. If you’ve got Let’s Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U and Purple Rain on the same album, then you are a genius. There’s no other way of saying it. And even beyond the 4 songs I just mentioned, the rest of the record flourishes with not only great production but plenty of impressive musicality. Every arrangement is done so well that it makes me sit there the whole time thinking WOW. Everything I’ve heard or read on the record is true; this is a sure classic through and through. So the only question left to answer:
This or Thriller? I can’t decide for the life of me right now (10/10, 5/5 on this scale)

Impeccable pop genius with zero misses. Undisputed masterpiece.

One of the greatest ever. Even the “minor”songs are electric.

Never a big fan of Prince, but there’s no denying the talent.

Thought the only song I didn't like on this album was purple rain but after listening again every song is just too good to not give 5 stars

Dynamikk! Verdens kåteste album? Men veldig gøy og kul lyd. Både over og underprodusert, på en eller annen måte.

A classic album. Perfect

Perfect album

I love this. He somehow falls smack dab in the middle of David Bowie and Michael Jackson for me. It’s too short though.

Awesome

There are a billion reasons why this album is on this list

I’m disappointed in myself that it has taken me this long to listen to the whole album. Truly a masterpiece. I have been very familiar with most of these songs, which is why I assumed I’d listened to the whole thing, but I was missing out with a couple of these tracks. Of course When Doves Cry, Let’s go Crazy, Purple Rain, and I Would Die 4 U are phenomenal, but I was blown away by Baby I’m a Star. Easily my favorite of the non-charting tracks; I might even put it over one or two of them. Biggest issue is Darling Nikki. Twenty-one year old me would’ve probably been more keen on it than 51 year old me that cringes at the idea of Lazaro g the whole album with my daughter because of it. Guess we can just skip that track. Only other gripe would be that Purple Rain (the song) probably didn’t need to be 78 minutes long. Maybe that was just the extended edition I listened to though.

I have never liked the “80’s” sound, and this album is packed with that 80’s sound. Astonishingly, that didn’t matter as this album is a masterpiece. Prince cleansed my ears with the waters of lake Minnetonka, and transcended what I normally would have considered 80’s trash. It makes me wonder what Prince would have sounded like if he debuted now without having to start in the context of the 80’s.

Quintessential Prince.

Love this! I hadn't listened to the whole album and it was great.

The first masterpiece by him - already such an eclectic mix of music, stunning vocals, great guitar, and amazing songwriting.

5 - mastapiece

Great album, but this dude is too horny sometimes

Super smooth. One of my faves. My 1st or 2nd Fav. Sign O the Times is the nearest competitor. OK, yeah Sign wins, but both are in my personal collection and fantastic.

Meisterwerk

So, I can probably figure we've all got those albums out there that you love that you can just talk about forever. I sure have my share. There's Stevie Wonder's 'Songs In The Key Of Life', and The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds', and Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here', and Weird Al's 'Alpoclaypse'... So on and so on. Apparently Eminem's 'The Marshall Mathers LP' is one of them, given how long I went on about **that one**. And believe you me, I **love** to go on about things. I'm autistic, after all; info-dumping is as much a part of me as breathing or blinking. If I can babble about something... Hoo, boy! Yet, as much as there are albums I can speak at great length about, there also happens to be ones where... And let me be clear, it's not a matter of me feeling like "What do you **want** me to say? It's all been said before!" Of course it has; what matters is it's coming from you. Y'know? No, with some albums there's just this case of... What do I even **wanna** say about it? I mean, right? And it's not that you haven't thought about why an album's good or your favorite. But how good can words by themselves really be? There are just some albums out there where you can talk forever and ever and ever about them, and it'd never stack up to just playing the dang thing. Where do I even **begin** about it? What foot do I lead off on? And Prince's 'Purple Rain', by all accounts, is one of those albums. Simply put, it's the greatest album Prince would ever make. Which, in a catalog like his, which also contains stuff like 'Dirty Mind' and '1999' before it and 'Sign "O" The Times' and the "love symbol" album afterwards, that's saying a **lot**. And given the regard it's held in to this day (last I checked it was top 10, maybe even top 5, on the last Rolling Stone 500), it can feel a little daunting to try and tackle it. But you didn't come here to read me wring my hands about this. So, hey, I may as well give it the best shot I can. If I can write over 1k about albums I'm not even fond of, I can write about this one. So. DEARLY BELOVED. WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS A LITTLE THING CALLED 'PURPLE RAIN'. AN ELECTRIC ALBUM, 'PURPLE RAIN'... Let's start at the beginning. Fittingly enough, my first introduction to 'Purple Rain' was through film — and not even the one it's a soundtrack to. I mean, if you get technical my first encounter with the album was Weird Al's "Let's Go Crazy" soundalike "Traffic Jam", but let's keep on track here. The first time I ever heard anything from this album was in the film 'KIngsmen: The Golden Circle.' It's a fun film, but clearly not as good as its predecessor. I mean, 'The Golden Circle' tried many times to match the last one's "Free Bird" sequence, but I don't think any of the attempts ever **really** quite got there? Except for the first one, scored to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy". Now, to this point, in 2018, I was not exactly a Prince fan. For the longest time, when I was younger and gave more of a shit about this kind of thing, I'd held a grudge against him for how he'd denied Weird Al's parody ideas. "How dare he not wanna hear his song turned into 'When Eggs Fry'!" Even after he'd passed in 2016, it's not like I felt too inclined to get into his music. I thought it was a shame he'd passed, and the same year as Bowie no less (who I also wasn't listening to yet), but... Eh, I had enough on my plate. And, in fact, after I watched 'Kingsmen: The Golden Circle,' I wouldn't **really** get into Prince until Summer 2020 (where I fell in love with the love symbol **hard**, and still remains my most-played Prince album by individual song plays). But back to when I heard it in the film. I just remember being blown away by it. The drive, the energy... The whole performance was absolutely electric. And when it got to that big, unaccompanied guitar solo at the end... It felt like a bomb going off. The part that followed it felt like the cloud rushing in to, indeed, "TAKE YOU AWAAAAY!!!!" It quickly entered my regular song rotation, and I jus'... Damn loved it every time I heard it. Fast forward to September 2020. After two years I'd finally gotten into Prince and was more regularly listening to his stuff, and I really loved it. And, hey, look what just got added to Crave (a Canadian streaming service, for y'all who don't know): the film 'Purple Rain'! Well, hey, I like the album a lot: why not finally give the thing it was made for a shot, huh? It would only be fair — especially given how much I'd read the mini parody in 'MAD'. And let me tell you, the film 'Purple Rain' is... Sure the best film Prince would ever make. I mean, when your competition is 'Graffiti Bridge' and 'Under The Cherry Moon', it's not hard. But seriously, folks, 'Purple Rain' is a good enough, low-budget star vehicle. Prince's character is... Kind of an incredible asshole, but I feel like that's really the worst thing I can say about it. Plus, I mean, I hear it's accurate to how he was in real life towards Wendy and Lisa, so... Bit of a dick move to put it on the big screen, my man. But if there's any reason you watch 'Purple Rain', it's not for the actual plot. Why is this woman stripping naked for Prince? Who knows! What you're here for is the **music**. And... Boy howdy, what sweet music it is. If you think it's good now, watch 'Purple Rain' and get a glimpse at Prince and The Revolution playing it on stage. Goodness me. And, yeah, it's finally time to address the music. This has to be, without a doubt, one of the strongest, most tightest packages of songs of the entire 80's. From the moment it begins to the moment it ends, it never stops hitting you with **hits**. I already talked a little about "Let's Go Crazy", but seriously, I need to bring it up again just to tell you how incredible of an opener it is. That whole "DEARLY BELOVED" sermon with the synth organ backing it — already it makes the whole album feel huge. Like you're not just about to listen to an album, but have a whole damn **religious experience**. And then the rest of the band kicks in and, oh, it just goes **off**. Talk about going crazy! The version heard on the album is actually shorter than the one in the film, and it actually had to be cut down (alongside "Computer Blue") in order to fit "Take Me With U" on the album. But I don't mind: it's perfect like this. An absolute blast of energy to kick the party off. And then I really could talk at length about every other song on this album. I mean... Just take "The Beautiful Ones". This is a song my group's already encountered thanks to the cover Mariah Carrey did on 'Butterfly', and believe me, I still think that cover **pales** in comparison. You ask me, "The Beautiful Ones" just ain't "The Beautiful Ones" unless you're screaming in desperation. That "DO YOU WANT HIM??!!? OR DO YOU WANT MEEEE?!!!!?" And then that pause where I can just feel the following line bubbling up inside him: "'COZ I WANT YOOOOU!!!" It's a great show-off of his vocals. Then we got "Computer Blue", which, 'ey, is sure a weird little number, isn't it? And it was damn 12 minutes before "Take Me With U" got added to the running! And I think it's here, with this song I especially, where I wanna point out how good The Revolution is. Now, Prince is an absolute mother of a multi-instrumentalist. If he'd wanted to play this whole album by himself, I'm sure he would have. But it should not go unappreciated the kind of energy a band like this brought to Prince's work. Here on "Computer Blue", with how wild and all over the place it is; or later on the siamese twin songs "I Would Die 4 U" and "Baby I'm A Star"... And, hell, it extends all the way to 'Sign "O" The Times" with "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" and "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night". I could spend all day gassing up Prince as a musical auteur, but like all those kinda guys, they probably wouldn't be nearly as great without the other people behind the scenes. Especially Wendy and Lisa, goodness. And if I could say a brief word about "Darling Nikki"... Once more, I enjoy his desperate screams... And I very much enjoy its place in music history as "the thing that led to the Parental Advisory sticker." Hi, Mrs. Gore! But anyway, "When Doves Cry". I think most everyone is well aware of this song's trick: that there's no bass. But don't let that little gimmick distract you from the fact that it's still a hell of a song. You'd really never notice there's no bass in the back with the performance Prince is giving. All the various vocal layers, and the guitar solos... I am absolutely not surprised that this became one of the biggest hits off of this album. Like, gawd, it kind of feels like he's showing off here; like "Yeah, I **am** that good, what of it?" In fact, I think it might be the only one on the album where he's the only one playing? So, hey, as I said above... But yeah, it's absolutely my second or third best song on the album, depending on how I'm feeling about "Let's Go Crazy" that thing. Though even as good as those two songs are, neither of them stand a ghost's fart of a chance of dethroning the absolute best song on the album — hell, the absolute best song Prince ever made, as much of a cliché as that is to say. And of course, it's here, with this song, where I return to my problem from the top: what do I even wanna say about "Purple Rain"? What **could** I even say to try and capture such a song? I mean, in mere words? No way. No damn way. If any song on this album truly qualifies as an experience, it's this one. Apocalyptic in its imagery, and absolutely a little melancholic, but soaring nonetheless. The solo on this song... Untouchable. The "HOO-HOOO-HOOO"s at the end... Magical. And, jus'... Jeez, I am actually struggling to think of more I wanna say about this song. But I can't! You just need to hear it, if you somehow haven't already. Bathe yourself in it. Hell, if you've already heard it, do it again. It's never not awe-inspiring, no matter how many times I've heard it. And it's more than enough argument by itself why this album is not only one of Prince's greatest, or one of the 80's, but of all music. You don't make an album with a song like "Purple Rain", and you sure as hell don't **name it** after that song and not make it one of the best to've ever existed. And would you believe I've written this much and haven't **heard** the album yet as I'm typing this sentence? Goodness. What more could you possibly want me to say at this point? I'm sure there's a dozen or so things about this album I'm missing out on, but that doesn't change the fact that, like I said, there's nothing that can really compare to just listening to this album. Even watching the movie isn't the same as putting the album on. If you're looking for any reason why Prince was as beloved a figure as he was, you're bound to find at least several here. Like, just consider this fact: to this day, I'm probably still more a fan of Prince's rival Michael Jackson. Something about MJ's music just appeals to me more. But — save for maybe 'Off The Wall', Michael doesn't have a single album in his discography on the level of 'Purple Rain'. You could debate elsewhere, but here? Even up against 'Thriller', 'Purple Rain' clears. And I love both of those albums dearly. So... Yeah. If 2k words worth of rambling hasn't convinced you to check out this album (if you somehow haven't already)... Just dang do it already. And for real, even if you've already checked this album out, try it again. There's almost nothing quite like it. So, please, close your eyes and let Prince guide you through the purple rain.

Prince was on one hell of a run in the 80s, which culminated into one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time. Solid 6 Stars, if that were possible.

Holy fucking shit. I said it when we got “Sign ‘O' The Times”; I’ve always been an MJ guy and not a Prince guy, which is to say I’ve always treated Michael’s albums with incredible reverence, and only given the same reverence to Prince’s big singles. Much like back then, this album has made me realize I am a moron for not approaching Prince’s albums in the same way. Somehow, someway, perhaps through either stupidity or some level of buying into the “feud”, I have never heard this specific album in full. Don’t get me wrong; it’s too ubiquitous in pop culture for me to know nothing about this. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life” & the rest of Prince’s opening speech is one of the most famous verses to start an album ever (though I’ve somehow never heard the rest of the brilliant madness that is “Let’s Go Crazy”), and I think everyone is at least aware of “Purple Rain”’s opening chords & the monstrous guitar solo to end it. I think it’s nearly impossible to have avoided “When Doves Cry” if you’ve heard any ‘80s playlist ever, and I’ve somehow managed to hear “I Would Die 4 U” without knowing it ever transitioned into “Baby I’m a Star”, which further cements my utter ignorance about this whole thing as an album experience. I mean, what can you really say after listening to that album? Not one miss, not a single bad chord, not a single bad drum hit, and not a single bad note. You wanna talk about notes? Let’s fucking talk about the fact that Prince screeches out his passion in a way that’s infectious as hell. I knew this album leaned a little more into the glam rock sensibilities of the 80s, but I never realized it was THIS deep. His vocals on this thing are a fucking marvel, and it’s made me realize just how much Michael Jackson suddenly thrust some of Prince’s DNA from this album into his own style for everything after Thriller, and most obviously on Bad. Look, someone else can write paragraphs on paragraphs about this thing; the synth work, the percussion, the guitar (my GOD, the guitar), the near-perfect structure of the album, the overt horniness of “Darling Nikki”, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I can’t do it. I’m just stunned. I’m slapping myself for never giving Prince a fair shake when I was first really trying to get myself into music a decade ago, and I’m slapping myself for never listening to this album in full when I could’ve had the chance all these years later. This is that damn good; I think for my tastes, it’s better than “Sign ‘O’ The Times” on account of the length & energy (though the fact that it’s even in the conversation is a testament to that album), but I’ll let other people say if it’s better than Thriller. That’s a debate I’ve got too much bias on to put my two cents into, but I will at least say this – “Purple Rain” is a far, far, far better closer than “The Lady in My Life” is, and I still love the latter. Hydrogen bomb / coughing baby type shit. This album is a 10, by the way. Maybe higher. I figured that was obvious. Fucking hell.

Top notch music. Prince is not just a prince, he's a King

This is an album that truly deserves its place on the list. You don't need to know about its place in history or even much about Prince. It's just beautifully put together with some very strong songs.

1001 Albums Challenge (16/1001) 1. Let's Go Crazy (5/5) 2. Take Me With U (5/5) 3. The Beautiful Ones (5/5) 4. Computer Blue (5/5) 5. Darling Nikki (5/5) 6. When Doves Cry (5/5) 7. I Would Die 4 U (5/5) 8. Baby I'm A Star (5/5) 9. Purple Rain (5/5) Total (5/5)

…Look, it’s Purple Rain, what more do you want me to say?

I remember when I was a kid and I’d see a Prince video and be so confused as to why a dude would wear fishnets. I swore he was super gay. But I understand that he laid pipe quite often with tasty looking dames. Everyone has heard this album. Even if they haven’t, Purple Rain they have heard. Purple Rain itself makes this album a 5 star. That’s a rare feat. Somewhere after this Prince fell off but his legend is still moving on. Choice cut: Purple Rain

the most fundamentally perfect funk-pop record that has been and will maybe ever be - i see now even more than i did before why this was so immediately vital to the cultural fabric and zeitgeist of both the decade and the artform.

I've heard the hits so many times. Too many times, one could say. But the album tracks are really excellent. There's really no reason to give this less than a 5. The overplaying of radio hits, in this case, doesn't diminish how great those hits are. Prince lets out a piercing scream towards the end of 3 songs in a row (The Beautiful Ones, Computer Blue, and Darling Nikki), there's ripping solos, and then some killer double-bass happening on Darling Nikki that I've never noticed.

Deserves all the recognition it gets as one of the best albums of the 1980s (if not THE best). There isn’t a bad song in the bunch, and most of them are absolutely stellar. It’s a just about perfect combination of rock, pop, punk, R&B, and gospel-tinged funk rolled into 45 minutes of supersonic grooves and two of the best ballads in Prince’s songbook. What else can you say about an album that displays an unwavering faith in God while also provoking the wrath of the PMRC other than it has range?

Great. I think "Computer Blue" is the only weakness, and it's still pretty decent.

5/5 - Dearly Beloved, I am here to tell you that you need to hear this because it’s so damn good. I was too young when this came out to really get it, but even now, this is an exciting album. The funk, the sex, the guitar, the pop vision all in one package here.

Phenomenal. Every song works so well by itself and part of the album. In addition to the iconic two, special shoutout to let's go crazy, computer blue, darling Nikki, and baby I'm a star.

It’s a five even though it reminds me of an ex. That’s how good this album is.

Heard it before. Genuinely one of the best albums ever made and 100% an album everybody should hear before they die. A true masterpiece and if you purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka you will also appreciate the movie 5/5

His best Album, imho. More organic, more rock and really good Songs. Fav: When doves cry

I've already listened to his album (16). Not the biggest Prince fans, but it's impossible to deny this Purple Classic.

Album en tout point exceptionnel. Le goat de la pop des années 80

💜

What can you say? Prince was the best; this is peak Prince throughout, so many timeless tracks, I don't even need to keep dabbling on

actual music god

loved it

One of Prince's seminal albums. Classic in every sense of the word.

One of my 10 favorite albums. Only about half of my top 25 are on this list, so what a joy it has been to spend today with Purple Rain on repeat. I didn't understand or appreciate Prince until I was well into my 20s, but these songs all have a special place for me. The storytelling, craftsmanship, atmosphere, and inventiveness of each track is a wonder. Truly one of the most gifted artists of our lifetime. Not many others can create pop music that moves your butt and your heart, while also being musically complex. I'm of the opinion that this is the greatest pop album ever made. And let me just save a line or two for the title track. That sucker is 9 minutes of perfect notes, guitar tones, vocal flourishes, surprising timing that gives it a "performed live every time" feel, rises and falls, use of silence and volume, emotionally moving singing, wonderfully enigmatic and yet universal lyrics. The way it builds and climaxes never ever fails to not raise the hair on my arms. Is it actually my favorite song ever? It's at least in that kind of conversation. The five-est of five star albums.

Perfect album.

Masterpiece

literal perfection.

Prince is for sure is Goated. His music is always amazing.

Top to bottom it's oozing with energy / power / sex / fun, every note brought something, even as corny and 80's as it sounds, its got funk, soul, great guitar, great album

10/10

This is fantastic. Yes it sounds a bit dated but damn it still works. Such a talented man. This rocks. 5 stars

I like Prince's music, and I have done since I first heard the singles from this album when they came out. One of my first mix tapes had When Doves Cry and then Highway to Hell by AC/DC after it. I think this is the first album after about 70 or so where I just started singing along. 5/5

Classic record from legendary artist!

perfect album

I was just the wrong age for Prince. My formative years were when he was doing his “artist formerly known as” oddness. We all just thought he was a weirdo. How wrong we were. That pint sized purple pervert was a bloody genius.

A classic pop album, rock album, funk album and soundtrack all in one. If those funky, ecstatic and ultra-catchy beats and screams don't get your blood pumping, it might be over for you.

One of the best albums of the 80s.

Easily one of the greatest albums of all time with Prince's genuis behind every single note and lyric. Electrifying, Amazing and so full of talent. A staple in rock music whether people like it or not. AND just as important in 80s music as Thriller is. yes im serious.

A classic. The title track was definitely the best way to close off the album.

Undeniably, a masterpiece.

Omg

Cracking

Mjög góð plata og þar sem hún endar á purple rain sem fær mig til að finna fyrir öllum tilfinningum mínum þá fær hún 5 ⭐️

I guess this is why they say he's the goat.

I mean cmon

scale: 1 - skipping if heard it again/actually skipped it 2- meh can be skipped/reaches point to skip 3 -nothing wrong/easy listen/not seeking out 4 - would listen to again 5 - must listen Let's Go Crazy - 5 Take Me with U - 4.5 The Beautiful Ones - 3.5 Computer Blue - 4 Darling Nikki - 4 When Doves Cry - 5 I Would Die 4 U - 4 Baby I'm a Star - 5 Purple Rain - 6

What hasn't been said about this album? It's Prince at his finest. Can't get much better than this once-in-a-generation album.

Prince is an icon, so is this album. Each track is great and I can re-listen anytime and anywhere. It’s amazing!

I mean, it’s Purple Rain. It’s electric. It’s lush, singular, euphoric, all those kinds of adjectives. Prince’s vocal and instrumental performances burst with passion. It’s also a precise record: there’s not a note out of place and the song transitions are seamless.

In purple rain, Princes skill as an instrumentalist, composer, and producer is on full display. Undeniable talent combines with music that is catchy and socially aware, making the record an obvious standout even on such a list as this

I mean, it’s Prince.

YES.

Yeah - what more can you say!

Its the best its the best its the best fucking yes love

thoughts: i’ve heard almost all of these songs on their own but together? it’s rock, it’s gospel, it’s r&b, it’s funk, it’s jazz, it’s sex, it’s everything. even the dichotomy of “i would die 4 u” and “baby i’m a star” being so alive, then throwing us into the melancholy brilliance of the title track is such a crazy good track layout. it’s a perfect record. songs: “darling nikki”, “i would die 4 u”, “purple rain” rating: 10/10

5 stars, no notes.

This album was one that helped me realize that “genre” is a silly concept… funk, soul, r&b, rock… whatever! If it sounds good and feels good, it is good!

Formative album, formative film, at a formative time. Miss the man and his music.

What can possibly be said. It’s Prince. PURPLE FUCKIN RAIN! (Although that album cover is atrocious) 5⭐️

I think the album is better than the movie that this went with. For me, there really isn’t any misses - the standout is the guitar!

Largely on the basis of the four hits - which are so good. I need to watch the movie. But

I suddenly want to have a toxic af relationship with a talented guitarist from Minnesota

5/5 Easy. Next question

It's been a long time since I've listened to this all the way through. Of course I know the singles, and they're all classics, but the "deep cuts" here are great, too. Not much more to add. All-time great album. Standout Tracks: Baby I'm a Star, Purple Rain (duh), I Would Die 4 U (duh)

Absolute mastery, sexy, fun, engaging.

This album is like the night you lost your virginity. You’ve gone in to the club with a clear and definite focus, you’re wearing your best clothes, using all your smoothest chat, and just throwing it all out there on the dance floor. And it works. This is an explosion of energy and emotion.

Best. Love. So good. Let’s Go Crazy and Purple Rain are the best songs. Great way to open and close the album.

Everyone should hear this album.

One of the best albums of all time!

Prince at the top of his game

Fuck yes

An absolute classic and should be in everyone's collection.

Fantastic album.

Second day in a row with a banger of an album. Purple Rain is a once-in-a-generation statement of style, substance, and sound. It’s a bold, beautiful fusion of genres that showcases Prince at his most inspired—emotional, erotic, spiritual, and electrifying. It’s not just an album; it’s an experience.

banger

One of the greatest of all time

The highs are high and the lows are still pretty high

banger

Heard it before. Love every track!

perfect

Those who know me, know I often lead with my adoration of Prince, so this one is a bit of a lol. But seriously — Purple Rain is perfect. No skips. It’s funky, it’s horny, it’s hip, and it’s still utterly mind-blowing 40 years later. The only artist ever to hold the #1 album, song and movie simultaneously? Prince. And this album is why. Songs! ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ kicks the doors off the hinges, ‘When Doves Cry’ still sounds like nothing else on earth, and the title track? It’s a stadium-sized hymn that will outlive us all. And everything in between, is perfectly placed and flawlessly executed. This isn’t just a record, it’s a cultural phenomenon.

masterpiece

LOVED IT

96/100. His magnum opus. There’s nothing weak here, every track holds its weight, even the so-called “lesser” ones are outstanding. A near flawless album.

This is a 10/10 album. It's perfect. Prince is a genius. He's immortal.

PURPLE. RAIN, PURPLE RAIN

Very punchy, mucho sexy

just fantastic

Great record. Very diverse set from Prince. An all timer

Can’t find a fault here