Reviews (page 4 of 14)
for the first and maybe only time i've decided to activate the editing window on this website (something i half-promised myself i wouldn't do on principle) and i've come back to change my rating for this from a 4 to a 5 because honestly, what the actual HELL was i thinking. sometimes you do just need something to sit with you for a couple of listens until it clicks and for some reason, i needed a couple of listens for this but now my ears are open and my eyes are open and obviously, OBVIOUSLY this is one of the best albums of all time.
One of the best pop albums
Of course it’s a 5. One of the great albums.
Not even my favorite Prince album, but still perfect. I’m never mad to see it in the top five of best album lists.
This album is responsible for my favorite joke on a podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9JUAu_v4rA&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
Holy fuck Prince delivers a masterpiece that transcends the dated sounds of the 80s 5/5 https://youtu.be/8y18YVKnKPk?si=YuuitDI4bEuWp3za&t=254
Epic Album. One of the all time greats, both album and artist.
legendary
5/5 banger. Front to back no skips. Beautiful Ones I think is my favorite track. I mentioned in the Mariah Carey album the original version has so much feeling and emotion I didn’t think the cover captured.
Lets fucking go
J'aime mieux Bruce que Prince mais un album de Prince une fois de temps en temps ça fait l'affaire.
Such a visual LP. Both the movie and LP can stand on stand on it's own. Hearing "Purple Rain" brought back memories of his goose bump inducing performance for "Purple Rain" at the Super Bowl in the rain and profound sadness of hearing on the radio that Prince had passed followed by a dedication, "Purple Rain". This was way better than I remember and as a Minnesota native, this hit home as Prince was one of us. Weird, private and misunderstood understood. Purple Pride!
LOL, obvi a classic! But not Prince's best album--that would be Sign O The Times
#27 Purple Rain ~ Prince Prince is influential... in the sense that he is a very model example of a mad genius that one can only dread to aspire. Let's face it, Prince has a few screws loose because what do you mean with Warner Bros' to get himself into a movie starring him, with music by him. Maybe this was genius advertising, or unchecked egomania. A sort of charming rebellion that a younger generation of artists would look towards. Anyway this album builds a bit on the funky dance of 1999 and supplements it with more pop-soul attitude. The production is much MUCH denser: heavy synthesiser usage and a much grander sounding backing band accompaniment from the Revolution. Prince becomes a lot more unrestrained with his vocal performances, his lyrics a lot more self-indulgent, pining and sexually charged. His guitar solos are also a lot more glamourous and frankly more memorable. Purple Rain is an exercise in opulence, attempting to accommodate for the rock, dance and pop-leaning audiences. It is utterly arrogant and vain. And it is very fucking good. Purple Rain is an incredibly consistent record. Surprisingly, no song feels significantly weaker than the other, although the famous tracks tend to have the memorable riffs and melodies. But overall each song is pretty, appealing to a variety of moods as our fictional Prince character from the cheesy film flaunts his charisma and ego. But it never comes off as annoying, rather rapturous. By the way, part of this album was being written mid tour for 1999, something unheard off nowadays actually. Prince was not only an obsessed perfectionist, he was a massive workaholic. Seriously how does he do it?
How it felt revealing this album: https://youtu.be/bJGcASPRu0Q?feature=shared I tried to make it though the extended stuff, but didn’t quite finish. Still, it was such a fun listen.
Perfect. Every song is different, they’re their own unique stories, but still cohesive as a whole album. Prince is so talented as a musician and songwriter. Always so unapologetically himself and you can feel that everything he puts out is all him and his art. There’s a reason this album made its way into a movie, and this doesn’t even capture all of his range. Each album he put out has its own sound while still being completely him. One of my favorite fake quotes is that Eric Clapton was asked “how does it feel to be the best guitar player in the world?” He answered “I don’t know ask Prince.” That never happened but it’s on brand enough that people think it must be true. I watched some videos of him playing live and it’s just beautiful to watch
No words needed for this album.
rad
Prince has never really been my jam and never will be. But the greatness of this album simply cannot be denied.
C'mon. One of the greatest albums of all time by one of the greatest pop songwriters of all time. Five stars or fuck off.
Fantastic opening song, fantastic closing song, fantastic middle parts, and really a fantastic album. Prince reached a pop peak with Purple Rain that, even though it feels very 80s at times, stays an all-time great. While I was already pretty familiar with Prince, I've never listed to this album in full (or seen the movie). I can't say I was surprised that he made something this good, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, and When Doves Cry were the stand-out tracks for me, but I enjoyed the rest too. The only real "low" points on the album were Beautiful Ones and Darling Nikki. Not because they were bad, but just because the rest was better. They were still solid tracks and I wouldn't skip them if I listen again (and I definitely will). Other than that, some of the production felt dated or very 80s. It kind of added to the charm of the album, so it wasn't necessarily bad. I just would've preferred fewer synths. Also, a pet peeve of mine is when artist use letters or numbers in place of words. Prince did that a couple times here. But again, that's more of a nitpick than a real criticism. Even with the 80s-ness, none of the songs really sounded the same or got lost in the mix. Plus, it had a pretty wide range of depth. He was able to show lots of emotion through the pop haze, either by manipulating his voice into a scream (or a whisper) or by whaling some soulful riffs on the guitar. He also extended song lengths to fit the feel rather than just keeping it in the short-and-sweet pop mold. Those paired well with the simpler songs, which still had some great grooves to them even if they weren't as complex. Importantly, at no point did it get boring. I could go on. To put it simply, this is an album of just straight up fun, but also very good, music. Even though it's 80s pop rock, it felt as lively now as it did when it first came out. I struggle to find much negative to say about it. To me, this is a great album. Overall: 4.75/5
It’s Prince. At his finest and most creative. This man could play everything and his mind was a fountainhead of some of the best pop material of all time.
Amazing
Timeless.
Come on, Tipper! Live a little. 4.5.
★★★★★★
Had to change my trousers twice during the playthrough
Timeless. Purple Rain & When the doves cry
💜💜💜💜💜
hard to argue against 5 stars
El gran éxito de Prince llega con “Purple Rain”, este álbum no es tan solo una banda sonora ganadora de un Oscar y Grammy; es mucho más, es un estándar del pop rock de los 80 y uno de los álbumes más influyentes de la historia de la música pop. “Purple Rain” es un viaje sonoro de guitarras eléctricas, sintetizadores, baterías, teclados y la desgarradora voz de Prince. El álbum comienza con un grito a la felicidad, a la locura. “Let's Go Crazy” es un canto a levantarse y no rendirse cuando la vida se vuelve difícil, “Are we gonna let the elevator bring us down? Oh no, Let’s go”. Acompañada musicalmente de un ritmo rock bailable y de un solo de guitarra impecable, este tema es una magnífica apertura de álbum. “The Beautiful Ones” es uno de los puntos más fuertes del álbum, una balada de amor, desamor e incertidumbre que va “in crescendo” sonoramente hasta llegar al clímax en el puente de la canción, donde interpreta desgarradamente. Uno de los momentos más memorables y poderosos del álbum, que me hace conectar con este tema por encima del resto. Todas las canciones del álbum son dignas de ser destacadas. El amor desde diferentes puntos de vista, la necesidad de estar junto a una persona en “Take Me with U”, la demostración de ser diferente a los demás, de ofrecer algo nuevo en el amor en “I Would Die For U”, la pasión y atracción en la bailable “When Doves Cry” o el sexo y erotismo en “Darling Nikki”. Todas ellas con brillantes instrumentales y la personal voz de Prince. En “Computer Blue” encontramos una canción instrumental en su gran mayoría, y que cuenta con un magistral cambio de sonido a mitad de canción. Hacia el final del álbum encontramos “Baby I'm a Star” donde Prince se muestra repleto de personalidad, de identidad y de ambición por llegar al top. Sin duda un tema muy motivador. Pero si hay algo que destaca por encima de todo en este álbum, es la canción que le da título al proyecto. La legendaria “Purple Rain” desde su inconfundible inicio suena a hit atemporal y calidad. En la letra, Prince se muestra vulnerable y melancólico, es hora de despedirse, de cambios y de introducirse a la lluvia púrpura a encontrar el amor. El tema finaliza con cinco minutos de instrumental, de nuevo, sintetizadores, guitarras y batería hacen de los últimos minutos del álbum una delicia musical. Este álbum es un viaje por la música de la década de los ochenta. Baladas, temas rock, canciones dance, sintetizadores, guitarras eléctricas… Un auténtico imprescindible y clásico de la historia de la música.
Amazing album with such a variety of sounds and hits. Always nice to listen to this album again.
Super Dope
Prince is a blind spot for me so this is my first time with this album. It’s like the first time I saw the Grand Canyon - lives up to the hype and then some. Phenomenal.
Purple rain is quintessential 1980s, and this album is like the epitome of who Prince was. Alwasy a good time listening to it. Made a great addition to my workout.
I’d never been able to turn the corner on Prince until this listen. Glad I kept trying though - this rips!
Yes, Lisa.
I mean common, it's Purple Rain. I almost listened to this yesterday, but even if I did I would be fine listening to it again today. I think Prince's guitar playing is massively underrated on this album Let's Go Crazy, Computer Blue, and Purple Rain all have masterful guitar solos. High 5.
Despite loving a few songs I’ve managed to go way too long without listening to an entire prince album
perfect, obviously
Prince – Purple Rain (1984) Score: 9/10 Favorite Track: “Purple Rain” This album is incredible from start to finish. Prince just oozes charisma here. Even when he is pushing boundaries with something like “Darling Nikki,” it never feels forced or edgy for the sake of it. He sounds completely in control, joyful one second, soulful the next. It is so hard not to fall in love with what he is doing on this record. “Purple Rain” is an obvious standout, but honestly, everything hits. I still need more time to really lock in with some of the deeper cuts like “The Beautiful Ones,” but even those already show signs of greatness. This could easily end up being a perfect score for me down the line. For now, it is just short of that, but still one of the most vibrant, passionate albums I have heard in a long time.
## In-Depth Review of *Purple Rain* by Prince Prince’s *Purple Rain* (1984) stands as a towering achievement in popular music, blending genres, pushing lyrical boundaries, and redefining the sound and image of mainstream pop and rock. Below is a comprehensive review of the album, focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. ## **Lyrics** **Emotional Range and Storytelling** *Purple Rain*’s lyrics traverse a spectrum of emotions—ecstasy, longing, pain, and hope. Prince’s songwriting is marked by its duality: deeply personal yet universally resonant. He explores themes of love, sexuality, faith, and self-acceptance. Tracks like “The Beautiful Ones” and “When Doves Cry” articulate vulnerability and heartbreak, while “I Would Die 4 U” and “Baby I’m a Star” are affirmations of identity and self-worth[1][2]. **Symbolism and Imagery** The album’s titular track, “Purple Rain,” is rich in metaphor. The color purple, blending the calm of blue and the passion of red, becomes a symbol for transformation, spirituality, and renewal. Rain, often a metaphor for cleansing or sorrow, here suggests both grief and catharsis. The lyrics, “I never meant to cause you any sorrow / I never meant to cause you any pain,” are a plea for reconciliation and peace, both personal and societal[3][4]. **Provocation and Gender Fluidity** Prince’s lyrics are notable for their sexual frankness and gender ambiguity, especially in “Darling Nikki,” which was controversial for its explicit content. His androgynous persona and refusal to conform to gender norms are woven throughout the album, sending a message of self-acceptance and challenging mainstream ideas about sexuality and identity[5][1]. ## **Music** **Genre Fusion and Innovation** Musically, *Purple Rain* is a genre-bending masterpiece. Prince fuses rock, pop, R&B, funk, gospel, and even orchestral elements, creating a sound that is both eclectic and cohesive. “Let’s Go Crazy” opens with a gospel-inspired sermon and explodes into a rock anthem, while “When Doves Cry” famously omits a bass line, relying on synths and drum machines to create its stark, urgent sound[3][2][4]. **Instrumentation and Arrangements** Prince’s musicianship is on full display: he handles most instruments himself, with The Revolution providing crucial support. The guitar work, especially on “Purple Rain,” is virtuosic, blending bluesy bends with soaring solos. Synths and drum machines are used not just as rhythm tools but as textural elements that define the album’s sonic palette. The arrangements are tight yet adventurous, with dynamic shifts and unexpected turns—“Computer Blue” morphs from a funk workout into a psychedelic jam, while “The Beautiful Ones” builds from a fragile ballad to a cathartic climax[1][2][4]. **Vocals** Prince’s vocal performances are as varied as the music itself. He moves from falsetto croons to raw screams, often within the same song, imbuing each track with emotional immediacy. The harmonies and layered backing vocals, especially on “When Doves Cry” and “I Would Die 4 U,” add depth and complexity[2]. ## **Production** **Live Energy and Studio Precision** *Purple Rain*’s production is a blend of live spontaneity and meticulous studio craft. The title track was recorded live at Minneapolis’ First Avenue, capturing the energy of a real audience, then enhanced with studio overdubs and orchestration. This hybrid approach gives the album both immediacy and polish[3][4]. **Innovative Techniques** Prince’s use of drum machines (notably the Linn LM-1), synthesizers, and unconventional song structures set new standards for pop production. “When Doves Cry,” for instance, is striking for its lack of bass, a bold move that heightens the song’s tension. The mix is crisp, with each instrument occupying its own space, allowing the complexity of the arrangements to shine through[3][2]. **Timeless Yet Dated** While the album’s production is undeniably of its time—synths, gated drums, and digital reverb abound—it remains fresh due to Prince’s inventiveness and the strength of the songwriting. Some elements may sound “dated” to modern ears, but the overall impact is undiminished[5][1]. ## **Themes** **Love, Loss, and Redemption** At its core, *Purple Rain* is about the search for love and meaning in a chaotic world. The album moves from the ecstasy of new love (“Take Me With U”) through the agony of heartbreak (“The Beautiful Ones,” “When Doves Cry”) to the hope of spiritual renewal (“Purple Rain”)[3][4]. **Identity and Self-Acceptance** Prince’s embrace of androgyny, sexual fluidity, and racial ambiguity is woven into the album’s fabric. Songs like “I Would Die 4 U” and “Baby I’m a Star” are anthems of self-affirmation, encouraging listeners to embrace their uniqueness and defy societal expectations[5][1]. **Spirituality and Transcendence** Religious imagery recurs throughout the album. “Let’s Go Crazy” opens with a sermon about the afterlife, while “Purple Rain” has been interpreted as an apocalyptic vision or a plea for salvation. The blending of sacred and profane themes is quintessential Prince, reflecting his lifelong struggle to reconcile sexuality and spirituality[3][4]. **Social and Cultural Context** Released during a period of social and political tension in the U.S., the album’s themes of hope, faith, and resilience resonated widely. Prince’s challenge to gender and racial norms made the album especially significant for marginalized communities, including Black and LGBTQ+ listeners[5][1]. ## **Influence** **Impact on Music and Culture** *Purple Rain* is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, influencing countless artists across genres. Its success broke down barriers for Black artists in rock and pop, and its fusion of styles paved the way for genre fluidity in mainstream music[6][4]. **Visual and Cinematic Legacy** The album’s release alongside the *Purple Rain* film amplified its impact, creating an iconic audiovisual experience. Prince’s flamboyant style, fashion, and stagecraft became templates for future generations of performers[6]. **Enduring Relevance** Decades later, *Purple Rain* continues to inspire. Its songs are frequently covered, sampled, and referenced, and its themes of love, identity, and resilience remain as relevant as ever[5][1][4]. ## **Track-by-Track Highlights** | Track | Key Features & Themes | |----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Let’s Go Crazy | Gospel intro, rock anthem, message of transcendence over adversity | | Take Me With U | Upbeat duet, escapist romance | | The Beautiful Ones | Vulnerability, emotional crescendo, heartbreak | | Computer Blue | Funk/rock fusion, existential confusion | | Darling Nikki | Sexual liberation, controversy, explicit content | | When Doves Cry | Stark arrangement, familial and romantic strife, no bass line, iconic synth riff | | I Would Die 4 U | Self-sacrifice, spiritual undertones, affirmation of identity | | Baby I’m a Star | Upbeat, self-confidence, celebration of uniqueness | | Purple Rain | Epic ballad, spiritual longing, reconciliation, iconic guitar solo | ## **Pros and Cons** **Pros** - **Genre Innovation:** Seamlessly blends rock, pop, funk, R&B, and gospel, breaking genre boundaries[3][2][4]. - **Lyrical Depth:** Explores complex themes—love, loss, faith, sexuality, and identity—with poetic nuance[3][1][4]. - **Musicianship:** Virtuosic performances, especially Prince’s guitar work and vocals[2][4]. - **Production:** Innovative use of technology and live recording, creating a dynamic and immersive sound[3][4]. - **Cultural Impact:** Broke racial and gender barriers, influenced fashion, film, and future generations of artists[5][6][1]. - **Timelessness:** Despite some dated sounds, the songwriting and emotional power remain undiminished[5][1]. **Cons** - **Dated Production Elements:** Some synths and drum sounds are unmistakably 1980s, which may not appeal to all listeners[5][1]. - **Uneven Track Flow:** The album’s eclecticism, while a strength, can also make for a jarring listening experience for some[6]. - **Self-Indulgence:** Certain tracks, especially “Purple Rain,” are long and may be perceived as overblown or excessive by some listeners[6]. - **Explicit Content:** Lyrics in songs like “Darling Nikki” led to controversy and may alienate more conservative audiences[1]. ## **Conclusion** *Purple Rain* is a landmark album that captures Prince at the height of his creative powers. Its fusion of genres, emotional depth, and fearless exploration of identity and spirituality make it a timeless work. While some production choices root it firmly in the 1980s, its influence and resonance are undiminished. The album’s only real flaws—occasional excess and dated sounds—are far outweighed by its innovation, artistry, and cultural significance. *Purple Rain* is not just an album; it is a statement of individuality, a celebration of difference, and a blueprint for artistic freedom.
A masterpiece.
I now know why people live Prince so much, great album fp.
Another excellent Prince album that cross genres from song to song. Just about everything on here is fantastic but the opening and closing tracks Let's Go Crazy and Purple Rain are my favourites. The album does sound a bit dated due to the amount of reverb and very 80s synth sounds, and for that reason I think I still like Sign 'O' The Times a bit better. But it's close!
One of the best film soundtracks of all time. Hell, one of the best albums of all time!
My mom loved Prince. And I respected his talent, but i didn't realize how great he was. As I have gotten older, I am starting to realize how many songs he performed that I didn't realize were his. All of that demonstrates how much talent he had, and how wide of a musical net he cast. Let's Go Crazy- how many other albums are bookended by tracks this good? Off the top of my head- Born to Run and What's Going On. Take Me With U- a Ballad that is not power at all The Beautiful Ones- electric power Ballad, with a good dose of funk in it Computer Blue Darling Nikki- I don't go to strip clubs, but this feels like it could be a strip club classic When Doves Cry I Would Die For Baby I'm a Star Purple Rain - to my earlier point- isnt this right there with the operatic glory of Inner City Blues and Jungleland?
Literally one of my favorites of all time that has stood the test of time.
Peak Prince and one of his best albums - showcasing his talent as a songwriter, guitarist, and arranger across a blistering fusion of styles including funk, R&D, hard rock, and pop. This record made Prince a tier one star, and deservedly so.
We are gathered here today to get through this thing called “life.”
Truly pop royalty 👑
Banger
While no doubt Purple Rain was produced in the 1980s and as such would keep lesser albums from getting a perfect score the music is so gorgeous, so perfect that it not only overcomes the nightmare that is often 1980s production values, but Prince (with his cracker jack band, The Revolution) works it to his/their full advantage making Purple Rain a definitive work of sonic art & then some. The music is everywhere from pop to heavy metal to psychedelia to funk to rock to just "Prince Music" which at one time meant some of the most innovative sounds to ever land at the very top of the Billboard's charts. Purple Rain is a panty dropper, a religious experience, a journey into the heart & soul of a man at his creative & spiritual peak. It's church music if your body was the religion & Prince, was its God. Purple Rain is without a single misstep with some of the absolute greatest songs of the 20th century. You need it. Come my fanatics.
Man who the fuck is gonna give the title track anything under a 9/10!? Favourite Songs: Let's Go Crazy, The Beautiful Ones, Darling Nikki, When Doves Cry, Purple Rain. Least Favourite Songs: I Would Die 4 U.
Classic - interesting tidbit, i got this recommended on the 41st anniversary of the album. Favorite track: when doves cry other picks: lets go crazy, take me with u, the beautiful ones, purple rain
One of my favorite albums from Prince.
banger after banger 5/5
LOVE
ended up adding 4 (!) songs to my monthly list
'Are we gonna let de-elevator bring us down?' The greatest musician in popular music, at least post-1970, is at his obvious peak on Purple Rain, a nine-track record that feels more like a greatest hits compilation than a soundtrack. Prince's vocals and guitar playing are more rock-centric than on either 1999 or Sign o' the Times, but it's no less locatable in the 1980s. He's still sex-before-all-else, but he's not cumbersomely horny: 'I met her in a hotel lobby / Masturbating with a magazine.' It'd be inaccurate to say that this record achieves its grandeur in the mode of vulnerability, Prince being too aloof to achieve genius thru confession. It's therapy as climax: we all know how it's gonna end, but it hits w/ the same power every time.
Prince's first masterpiece was Purple Rain, which was his sixth studio album and the soundtrack to the biographical motion picture. Prince was known for his funk/soul/R&B/rock fusion and his incredible presence. Purple Rain made him into a superstar. The title track, "When Doves Cry," and "Let's Go Crazy" all became hits as iconic 80s anthems. Prince's range is always evident, with his soulful funk in "The Beautiful Ones" and "Take Me With You"
Funky and cool
Classic album.
Another favorite album and probably the best Prince album. Amazing song writing playing and singing
***** A classic one, love it
I mean, come on, it's Prince! You've got awesome vocals, some fantastic guitar, and lyrics that, while controversial at the time, are still great to this day. I've heard Purple Rain and When Doves Cry before, and it was such a joy to relive them after not hearing them in so long. I felt like I'd been missing out on the others as well! Prince has legend status for a reason, and this album proves exactly why.
It's Purple Rain. Kinda impossible not to love. Don't even need to expect anything else. There's a reason for why it's as acclaimed as it is. Let's Go Crazy Amazing iconic intro. Fast and fun with lovely synths, a blazing guitar solo and a catchy chorus. Great vocal performance with a lot of style and feeling. Great. 4.5/5 Take Me with You Love the group vocals. Has some cinematic qualities (in a cheesy 80's way). Love the drama and the exaggartion. Great strings. Good. 4/5 The Beautiful Ones Great production. Love the subtle piano. Very of the time, but still quite charming. Impressive vocals. Powerful ascension to the climax. Great. 4.5/5 Computer Blue Interesting structure. Love the guitar solo. Very interesting instrumentation overall. Really like the bounciness of the drum beat. Prince delivers his usual strange but impressive performance. Good. 4/5 Darling Nikki Weird lyrics. I like the more rock oriented instrumentation. The keys almost have an orchestral quality to them, due to their loudness and intensity. Good. 4/5 When Doves Cry Classic. Love the synths. Iconic vocal melody. Extremely catchy chorus. Overall just an inescapable song with a lot of energy abd charisma. One of those songs that get stuck in you head for hours after. Fantastic. 5/5 I Would Die 4 U Great atmospheric instrumental. Love the electronics. The almost rap like vocal sections are quite different from anything else on this album. Varied vocal performance showing a lot of control and creativity. Great. 4.5/5 Baby I'm A Star Danceable and fast. Fantastic energy. Feels sort of triumphant, especially with the indescribably fun vocal performance. Great. 4.5/5 Purple Rain Opus. There's very little to say about this that hasn't been said. One of the most iconic songs of the era, yet still timeless. Magnificent. 5/5 It's rare for an album to live up to its reputation. Purple Rain is one of them, providing great entertainment from start to finish. While the title track is the definite highlight, each track comes with its own style and personality. It's produced and performed immaculately without a single hiccup. Its consistency and flow is almost unmatched. There's very little to say about it as it is almost flawless. 5/5
By June 25, 1984, Prince was no longer with Denise Matthews, a woman whose history and eyes would seemingly aid in shaping all of his creative output until his untimely passing. Before its release he had already moved on from Purple Rain by January of that very year, beginning Around the World In A Day long before his most mainstream work went platinum. It almost seems like everything to Prince-- the music, the fashion, the people-- was a project he needed to expunge from his system the moment it stuck around too long. If you couldn't tell it almost feels impossible at times for me to listen to Purple Rain (or any Prince album for the matter) without thinking of the context within which it was fashioned, but I figured today was a good opportunity to take Purple Rain for what it was; no film plot, no drama, nothing but the music. It is far from my favorite Prince album. There are many songs (and iterations of those placed on this final track listing) created during this stretch of time that I would have preferred to see the (official) light of day while he was still with us. It makes me terribly sad that this album, reflective of such a singular and easily consumable period in Prince's life, is what most people think of when they hear his name. For this reason Purple Rain is most often reserved for putting on the CD during a long car ride. This time around I put on my nice headphones, set the EQ to something neutral, closed my eyes, and rode the purple wave for its entire duration. Nothing exciting revealed itself in this ~100th listen, beyond some sneaky little giggles and finger snaps that give the impression that Prince indeed was a human being. But what it did impart upon me was this infectious positivity. You cannot listen to any song off of Purple Rain without feeling some level of whimsy tickling your soul, even if you don't particularly like this brand of cheesy pop music. Thank u P for all the love you poured into these perfectly imperfect albums
Maybe the best opening/closing track combo of any album ever.
3rd time to listen to PR
Amazing, showstopping, never not been done before…
What can I say? It’s Purple fucking Rain. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Purple Rain is certainly a darn amazing album. This is my third (maybe fourth) time hearing a film soundtrack from this project (after both Air's Virgin Suicides, and Curtis Mayfield's Superfly and kinda Barry Adamson's Moss Side Story) but i can safely say that this is easily the best of the bunch. I also think its Prince's best album due to pretty much combining the best parts of both Sign 'O' The Times and 1999 without any of their issues. Every guitar riff is great, the vocals are something to behold and it is produced beautifully. I don't believe i can think of any issue that this album even has so it is getting a full 5 stars from me. Best Song: Let's Go Crazy Worst Song: Take Me with U Side note: Since this will be my last Prince album, i will rank all of them 1. Purple Rain 2. 1999 3. Sign 'O' The Times
Come on
Wow. This is a better album than I ever remembered, I guess time has worked in its favor. I always liked Prince, but this is the best I have heard overall
Amazing.
With Purple Rain, Prince became a superstar...deservedly so. Here, for the first time, he achieved an almost perfect blend of rock, pop, funk and soul. 1999 already had outstanding songs, but Purple Rain is all of a piece. However, it is not his masterpiece...that came 3 years later.
Album incroyable avec d'énormes morceaux de bravoure, Purple Rain fait le job évidemment mais la vraie pépite selon moi c'est Computer Blue.
Wow, very cool thanks you Mr Prince
It’s impressive how much awesome he packed into just 9 songs. Not a single song needs to be skipped
i mean come on. prince feels on some kind of shortlist for people who just Got Music, more than anyone else has ever gotten it. bringing together gut-level groove and rhythmic ideas with all-timer melodic sensibilities and ideas for production/arrangement/timbre...not to mention SINGING! theres just a richness to his music thats near impossible to find elsewhere...honestly something that kept popping up in my head is stevie wonder , who has similar strengths despite the massive difference in style, and is also clearly on that same shortlist. i suppose if theres a big contrast to be made its that stevie's peak runs on a kind of meticulous perfectionism...prince achieves perfection thru pure freeflowing messy energy. the whole universe is somewhere in each of these songs...pop's most illustrious and transcendental cathedral, an album about love so all-encompassing in the Types of love it depicts to their highest extent that it makes u wonder why we even still try to write about it. so much Pure Feeling that its amazing that i, too, can experience it, in and out of this record...something here thats available to all, out in the world. ive mentioned the concept of the imperial pop record before, and of records in that category, this is likely the very very best. and its not even my favorite prince album....fuckkkkkkk man
Prince is an Artist (hehe sorry) that I’ve always respected more than I’ve loved for his music. I say this in relative terms to the general public… I’m no fool and I think Prince is objectively great, and as a guitarist alone he was a prodigious talent even before accounting for his other musical gifts as a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. It’s just that most of his output is not my cup of tea. This is not true of Purple Rain. This is a masterpiece, an easy 5 star, timeless album. It’s great from beginning to its marvelous end. Can’t add anything else that hasn’t already been written here.
First time listening to Prince and its so good!
His magnum opus.
5 perfect album
No notes
Absolutely iconic in every way imaginable, from creativity to variety to influence to performance to production to melody choice, etc., etc. 5.0/5.0: Iconic
fantastic album. the only song on the album that i dont really care for is i would die 4 u but the rest of the album is so good
Maravilla, maravilla y maravilla. Las 5 estrellas de este sí son reales. Justo lo que necesitaba en este momento.
I mean it’s obviously 5 stars
👍
E;JFAOWEFUEHAHEUAWEH greatest soundtrack ever??????????????? absolute BANGER after BANGER
I mean, it’s Purple Rain. One of the greatest albums of the 80’s and probably of all time. Prince puts everything into this album.
Literally unreal how perfect this album is.
This is a great album. It's unapologetically 80s in its sound, and when it gets a bit dull Prince whacks in a ridiculous guitar riff to bolster its defenses. I'll listen to it again on headphones.
Best to ever do it
5* What am I, fucking stupid?
Listened before
I love this album. I love many of Prince’s albums, and so I always feel like kind of poser to say something like “Purple Rain” is an amazing, five-star album.” It’s kind of like saying that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is 5 stars. Of course it is. Are there more exotic sandwiches? Can we dig deeper into the sandwich discography to find other, more esoteric 5-star sandwiches? Of course we can. Will it take a star away from PB&J though? Thus I give you a totally expected five stars, Prince, for your album Purple Rain.
Purple Rain is arguably the most acclaimed and best albums of all time, and you want to know the secret as to why? Because it is one of the best albums of all time. Yeah, no shockers here. I could straight up end the review at "It's Purple Rain" and everyone would agree. I mean, It's Purple Fucking Rain; Of course it's a damn masterpiece. For an album themed around purple, It's fittingly one of the most colorful albums I've ever heard. It goes from Rock to Pop to Soul and more. Everything here is so vibrant and awe-inspiring. I could keep going, but I truly don't need. It's Purple Rain, and those Three words are already enough. 10/10
The perfect album doesn't exi-
Oh damn.
was für ein album, was für ein künstler. wow! es hat extrem spass gemacht, purple rain wieder einmal/mehrmals zu hören! meilenstein!
Ein Riesenalbum zu einem Kultfilm! Prince auf dem Höhepunkt seines Schaffens.
It was good
“I’m something that you’ll never understand.” So sings the purple maestro on I Would Die 4 U. It’s a pretty good summary of an artist who is notoriously hard to summarise. It’s characteristic of Prince that he defies categorisation. He has an unsettling gift for combining unexpected elements. There’s something musically inventive on every track which go far beyond whatever genre he’s toying with at that particular moment. His vocal delivery is unique, one minute rock screaming then a tightly controlled soul falsettos. Tight disco stylings compete with extended, almost proggy instrumental passages. There’s even a bit of Beatlesque backwards tape fun, though he makes it his own thing. The opening of the title track is justly celebrated. Fun facts: Darling Nikki is the song which Tipper Gore heard her daughter listening to which led ultimately to Parental Advisory stickers. Of course the VPs missus didn’t entirely get this song; it’s about the emptiness of paying for sex, not a celebration of it. The trash can percussion and heavily distorted guitar play well with the vaudeville vocal delivery. I Would Die 4 U, Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain we’re recorded live.
I've been waiting for this one. Easily an elusive 5. I put this as one of my top albums of all time. It's raw, sexual, dirty and just grooves so well. Prince still stands as the best concert I've ever seen. He was added a few days before Coachella '08 and what a treat it was. This album is cooking dinner album, a cleaning the house album, a backround party album and lastly a love making album. Prince is one of the GOATs
Insane
Damn near pop perfection. If anything i think it's a little back-loaded, there's some great tunes at the start but oh man once you hit Doves, it goes off
Som en man som var för cool för o0-talet
Enjoyable, eclectic. Felt like prog rock pop fusion, I liked how songs blended track to track. Loved the guitars when they were emphasised. Not a massive fan of some of the vocals.
I mean, what can you even say. It's 9 perfect songs sequenced perfectly. It's the greatest soundtrack ever recorded. It's the greatest solo album ever recorded (all respect to the Revolution, though). It's the greatest American album of all time. The superlatives are endless. The album is eternal.
i had a prince phase at around this time last year (prompted by this album’s 40th birthday), which means that i watched all of his movies, too. i can’t believe that purple rain was introduced to the world as a fkn montage track. more shitty movies as vehicles for monumental albums PLEASE!!!!
unmatched
Fucking masterpiece. Very strong 5/5
Easy 5/5 Geen slecht nummer in het hele album en verschillende geweldige nummers. Er zijn goede redenen dat dit gezien wordt als een van de beste albums ooit.
Awesome
Miss you dad
Great album, feels like you know every song on it
I miss Prince
There's a 'died too young' veneer attached to the Purple Pixie that gains him many unjustified superlatives; 'top 5 guitar player'? Hardly. Not even close in fact. However, anyone who wasn't around in 1984 will struggle to understand just how huge this album was. Still an enjoyable listen and one of only two Prince albums I regularly choose to listen to. Not a bad song on here and some great ones. It gets a rare 5/5 for me.
Heavy but quality
Absolute banger! Every song a classic.
Baby You’re a (5) Star
Although it's an obvious classic record and artist, I've never actually stopped to listen to Prince. No regrets after I did it for this project. It's brilliant! Very distinctive approach to pop music. I'd classify it as spacial, dancing, high on acid rock and roll. I'm loving it so far and will surely listen to it more.
Just a great listen from front to back. Don't think I've ever skipped a track on this. There's a reason why this album (and so many of its songs) are iconic
This album was a nice discovery, as I only knew the title Purple Rain. It's coherent, the title order is perfect, it is so pleasant to hear, a true gem I know I'll find myself listening again for sure.
Kohéz lemez, fun
I remember seeing a cardboard cutout of prince on his moto outside the record store at my local mall when I was just a kid over 40 years ago. Somehow in the span of time from that day to this day, I had never listed to this start to finish. Man... it's all good.
great album all the way through.
Stone-cold classic from top to bottom.
It’s doesn’t get better
C'mon. You can't even argue this one.
Very good! Timeless. Great vocals. Catchy tunes.
Why had I never heard Darling Nikki before. This whole album is killer.
Legendary. Still amazing all these years later.
Legend. No notes.
I'm a Minnesotan, so Purple Rain is obligatory around here. What a classic and what a way to start off my 1001 Albums journey! Every song on this album is incredible, it's Prince's masterpiece and leaves a legacy.
What can be written that hasn't been already.... music changing masterpiece, still fresh after all these years
An all-time classic and one of my favorite albums of all time!
Legend. One of my faves. So happy I got to see him a couple times. Coachella 2008 was wild, baby.
Honestly one of my top 25 albums of all time
Classic album, full of bangers. Nearly every song is a standout and Prince is really at the height of his powers here. Highlights are "Let's Go Crazy", "Darling Nikki", "When Doves Cry", "I Would Die 4 U", and the amazing title track. 5 stars.
If today’s album was an episode of Friends it would be called “The One Where Prince Becomes Even More Of A Rock God And Records The Greatest Album Of All Time”. Not to overstate the point but this is simply the greatest album of all time. 5 stars plus a billion more stars.
1000/10
Not a bad cut on this album. A perfect encapsulation of an artist truly at the top of their game. Impeccable.
Not much to say that hasn’t been said.
I accidentally deleted my first review. This album blew my head off in 1984 and still does today.
Masterpiece!!!!
This one is top 10 for sure. It's a master class in composing, arranging, producing, mastering and musicianship. Prince is like rock, blues, disco, gospel, and pop all smashed together.
Really nice album can keep listening to it over and over
So so so good. Never listened to the full album, had some metal elements almost on some tracks (like heavy drums) and thematically flowed really well
Prince was een geweldig artiest... Alleen niet mijn smaak, alhoewel in de begin jaren 90 wel Purple Rain gezongen met de band van toen.. Echt lang geleden.
Great.
Amazeballs
I mean, it is Prince! A massive talent - a brilliant musician, lyricist, and workaholic. 'Purple Rain' is definitely one of my all-time favorite songs. The album itself is pure majesty. And how could it not be? It’s wonderfully unique—purple, crazy, and melancholic ☂️💜🎵
# 400 and it's one of my all-timers. What's insane about this album is he just decided one day to make an all-time pop album. Literally was like, "how do I do arena rock ballad? Here." "Oh, a bunch of classic 80s dance grooves? No prob." A no skip, makes me weep like a dove, incredible artist at the peak of their powers album. And then never went back to a pure pop well ever again for a full album. A world beater. Baby, he's a star. I could go on and on. See you all in the purple rain.
Obviously
Five stars, no notes
Always wanted to hear a Prince album, I’m glad I got this one early on I’ve had it rotting in my library on Apple Music for a while now. This right here is something to remember, it has absolutely zero skips, it’s banger after banger, the synths, guitar, and vocals, everything just comes together so, so nicely. I wouldn’t call this a concept album but there is a cohesiveness here between the tracks that could make out to be a narrative which is really nice it makes it feel like an album and not a playlist, I like that a lot. I was so immersed in this album, the Dolby Atmos mix I have on Apple Music is one of the best mixes I’ve heard in a long time and it only made the album so much better. I need to make a section just for Purple Rain, oh my god it’s so amazing, it may go on for 8 minutes but that doesn’t even feel long enough, it is such a beautiful track. Everything comes together perfectly, the introspection, the vocals drowning in the synths and the long guitar solo at the end, I love every second of it, genuinely might be one of the best tracks I think I’ve ever heard. I could go on and on. Amazing album. Rating: Masterpiece (Strong ☆☆☆☆☆) Favorite Tracks: Lets Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, Computer Blues, Would Die 4 You, and obviously PURPLE RAIN. (I can list the entire album)
It’s Prince, it’s and easy 5 as for many of his albums, but yes this one is at the top of the mountain for sure.
Easy 5. Generational talent, one of a kind, and best album by him. All I can say is, "Game, blouses."
I mean, it's Prince. Prahhhnsss. My kids enjoyed hearing his vocal freakouts that came at the end of just about every song on this album.
A masterpiece. I remember listening to album in its entirety and being blown away. Every song is memorable. The whole album takes you through a journey. Keep in mind Prince had just turned 25 when this came out Everything on this album just seems to work well. Take Me With You is one of my all time favorite Prince songs. Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard and James Brown all thrown into a stew. A very easy 5 for me.
I don’t know man. It’s purple rain. What do you want me to say? It’s perfect.
Absolutely fantastic. One of the most classic and genre defining rock records of all time.
I feel like many start at Purple Rain, spend some time with the rest of Prince’s dizzying catalog, then come back to this and appreciate it even more. Despite its 80s-ness, it still stands the test of time as one of the greatest.
This singlehandedly just made me a Prince fan. It's bombastic and busy but never overproduced. Pure fun, like an 80s party encapsulated in 50 minutes. 23/03/25
its fucking purple rain
Great!
cool
This one was interesting. The 1999 album grabbed me pretty much straight away, but it was not so with Purple Rain. After the first listen I figured maybe three stars, but I'm using the deluxe expanded edition, and carried on to listen to all 30-plus tracks. I liked all the extra material a lot more than many of the songs on the main album, so I decided to give it another play, and still wasn't keen on several of the songs. However, after a third play they had all mostly grown on me, and I now feel that a full five-stars is justified. It just goes to show how many factors there are in one's appreciation of an album.
All time. 5/5
Perfect album. No notes. Obligated to love as a Minnesotan.
Masterful and excellent from beginning to the end.
It's a classic for a reason!! <3
I mean it's incredible, genius album 5 stars, no notes, a killer start to finish.
Shirking my responsibilities to listen to an album I probably know better than any other album on this list. No regrets.
Wow, incredible listen. Another one that I can't believe I put off for so long. This is definitely one of the most clear 5-star albums I've listened to yet! So many amazing songs. I'm going to listen to this again, a lot. Must-listen #89!
ich lieb lets go crazy. s intro isch soooo geil d gitarre tönt so verdruckt aber aggressiv. booooh isch das guet. isch das riff geg de schluss e hey joe referenz? gitarresolo so cool. und denn schreiter wie am spiess okay. take me with u au seeeehr cool. mega indie rock? mag de song sehr. the beautiful ones baut unendlich uuf biser endlich afoht schreienubd mer im song achunt. suuuper. wendy isch de wasser warm gnueg? jo okay komputer. mega geil rmwieder riese solo am schluss. isch darling nikki de horniest lied ever? jo. isches au extreeem geil? jo. gitarresound so cool, dynamik crazy. gitarrelines wo aschwelled sind sooo geil. when doves cry isch mega hip hop? super coole beat. mega catchy. bin no uf de suechi noch welem song mir nebed lets go crazy am beste gfallt. bis etz when doves cry. AH NAI. i would die 4 u sooo geil. direkte pbergang in beber ich bing ein stern. boooh synthis geil. super guete song null ufem schirm gha. purple rain soo overplayed aber scho usme grund. jede ton sitzt s gitarre intro isch perfekt s klavier (CP 80?) tönt genau dünn gnueg d striicher sind super gschmackvoll de text isch ultra schmalzig aber mer glaubtsem. es isch live??? d gitarre jetz scho am shredde. jop gitarresolo no guet hä. super schön. etz de striicher-run. jep. good shit. FIVE.
Prince outlived Mike Jack 🗣️🗣️
One of the easiest 5’s on this list.
Love Prince. There were some weird moments that weren’t for me, but overall loved it.
Excellent album! Prince had the swagger and the talent to back it up.
This is going into the classic albums that lived up to the hype pile
Iconic ahh album tbh. The more I listen to it the more I like it. Prince ain’t for everyone but when I’m in the mood ts hits
One of the great!
whoppers top to bottom
Awesome album. Standout songs: Computer Blue Darling Nikki When Doves Cry Purple Rain
* Great! 4.5/5 rounded up.
This is a sick album. Loved it. Never saw the movie and don’t ever care to. I wonder if it was supposed to be good. When doves cry is one of my favorite pop songs ever. Price was just good at everything he did although not sure about his acting. He can certainly play guitar, sing, dance and command an audience. Being bold and giving 5. Loved it.
Iconic
delicious, finally some good fucking food
Tip top album
I hadn't actually heard any Prince albums in full before this, 5 stars easy. The second half is so comically good that it makes up for the few songs in the first half I'm not as keen on (Darling Nikki is just too horny for me). Baby I'm a Star goes so fucking hard, I've listened to it ten times this morning
Outstanding
Banger after banger
It's gotta be a 5. Only thing I struggled with was that the well known songs are so well known and iconic it becomes hard to judge the album as a whole.
PRINCE. FOR. LIFE.
HELL YEAH
Just an incredible album, I dont have the words to describe it.
What can I say that hasn’t already been said
6 stars
Haven't found a Prince album I wouldn't give a 5 star
A true and original artist, and a brilliant album. Only song I wasn't a fan of really was "Darling Nikki", because well, it was shite. I was torn between a 4 and a 5 for this album overall.. but then I remembered I gave Tom Waits a 4.. and it was definitely a better album than the beloved "SwordFishTrombone" (although he did write most of that album whilst chained to a radiator). So 5 out of 5, purple rain with all of its crashing symbols and big guitar riffs was a great end to the album.
Class album. Not my favourite but still 5 star. Let's Go Crazy and When Doves Cry are my highlights.
Prince at his best. This whole album is a bop.
Purple Rain is still an exciting listen 40 years after its initial release. Got some drama, got some controversy, got some smash hits, Side B just kills it! His Purpleness is still on the way up with this album. Was a great listen in ‘84, is a great listen today. (4.9*s)
This is not close to my favorite Prince album but it's still fantastic. It's pretty poppy and I can pretty much skip Doves and the title track, but there's just so much great stuff here. Let's Go Crazy is one of my favorite Prince songs too.
Absolutely amazing from start to finish to finish!
Outside of Computer Blue, a pretty close to perfect album. Going with a 5 here because the other 8 tracks are so well done. But more like a 9/10 5 and not a 10/10 5.
Masterpiece! Every song has something great. The title track defines epic. Brilliant.
Purple Rain New Faves - Let's Go Crazy - The Beautiful Ones (that ending goes crazy) - Computer Blue - Darling Nikki - I Would Die 4 U - Baby I'm a Star - Purple Rain obviously I do like Take Me With U and When Doves Cry buy the others hit just for me more I think. I heard Purple Rain before the album and for me Purple Rain does not fit the vibe of the album 😭 but it also does? I don't know. The vibe is really fun and funky with some slower tracks more like sexy ballads but Purple Rain is just... heart wrenching. The main meat of the album was just so so good. This is what the 80s feels like even if I've never lived through it. Honestly I only give 5s if I like every song... and I do. It's a 5.
Don’t love the title track for some reason, but other than that this album fucking rips. I probably listened to it 5-6 times this weekend. At first I was frustrated with the strange arrangements, feeling like a lot of the effects and instrumentation were not additive. Now I’m starting to see more clearly the genius in Prince. I Would Die 4 U into Baby I’m a Star…. Sheesh! An example of the strange arrangements (credit to Frank for pointing out to me) When Doves Cry has no bass, instead the bass notes are played in the drums? I think the drum line also carries the progression. I’m not sure I totally understand why he made these choices but the results are hard to argue with. This album was seen as the most “pop” version of Prince to date, which IMO works well. We get hooks, normal length songs but also the Prince weirdness. I was also happy to hear him sending it on vocals and on guitar. Someday I need to watch the movie to see how this all ties together. I still don’t connect with this music the way I do with my all time favorites, but I have a feeling this album will be one that I listen to many more times over the years. Might be on my way to becoming a full blown Prince guy!
Ok, I get it now. This album fucking rocks. Taking out the bass line of when doves cry and somehow that making the whole thing work is the move of a demented sex genius. Take Me With U and I Would Die 4 U are my two favorites, but Darling Nikki also rocks. Was looking up chords for Darling Nikki yesterday and someone in the comments used a Samuel Johnson quote to describe Prince's sound: "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." Love that. He's a sex beast.
How can you not like an album that single-handedly started a federal war on censorship in music? Prince at his Prince-iest, horny, fun, and funky, this album will forever be one of my favorites. 10/10 baby I’m a STAR, and fuck Tipper Gore.
Incredible. What an album!
8,5/10 Non è ciò che mi ascolterei tutti i giorni, ma è indiscutibilmente un classico Un pazzo, in questo album ha fatto cose con la voce e con la chitarra che sono incredibili Iconico, ad oggi c'è un sacco di gente Prince-wannabe senza avere un briciolo del suo fascino Il voto non troppo alto è perché non è la mia cup of tea
It speaks to Prince's seemingly bottomless genius that something like Purple Rain would be dashed off as a yet another day effort when for many it remains the single most indelible era of his career. Everything that was built up by this point comes to fruition here as the musical polymath dips his toes into the waters of Lake Minnetonka, and world domination, thus not only changing the game but laying down certain restrictions that are both stimulating and taken for granted. Whether or not it needed parental advisories, Purple Rain was yet another crack of the whip that would define most artists' careers but, for Prince, it was just another chapter in a much larger story.
Not every individual song is a banger. But as a whole this entire album rocks. Plus the highs are so astronomically high that I can’t help but give this a 5/5
Iconic album. Prince was a stronger musician than even this album shows. But this one showcases a whole production approach to an album that eclipses his singular musical talent.
Fire album
This is a fantastic album. I've never listened to much Prince before.
01) Let's Go Crazy - 10,0 02) Take Me with U - 9,0 03) The Beautiful Ones - 9,0 04) Computer Blue - 9,0 05) Darling Nikki - 9,0 06) When Doves Cry - 10,0 07) I Would Die 4 U - 10,0 08) Baby I'm a Star - 9,0 09) Purple Rain - 10,0 TOTAL: 9,44 (94/100) Current ranking: 17/442
Now this is one of the top albums of all time.
Very nice
Fav: purple rain
Wendy? Yes, Lisa? Is this a 5 star album? Yes, Lisa.
I’ve got nothing to say today
Listening to the 2015 remaster if that matters. The solo in computer blue mixed with the keyboard matching the same line in the background ALMOST makes it sound like it's being vocoded/talkboxed. Fun effect. Just loved this album. Not much else to say. Not sure why it didn't hit as hard when i listened in the day
As much as I don’t care for Prince’s music, this is one of the all time greats.
LOVE LOVE LOVE! I already know most of these songs but hearing them all compiled was ethereal.
Outstanding. Favourite songs: Computer Blue, Take me with you, Purple Rain
Classic album with excellent jams. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 36/62
Faultless album, with maybe the best titular track ever written
Don't tempt me with a good time
My favorite basketball player makes music too
it really is that good
One of the top 10 examples of a masterpiece. Hard, firm, smooth full-handed five.
powerful, passionate and sensual
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
Putting the title track last is an awesome move. Great album no notes.
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.
Waittttt omg the first song was in the movie Sing 2 Fabulous album, no notes, no critiques! Favs: Take Me with U, The Beautiful Ones, Darling Nikki, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U, and Purple Rain Least Fav: Computer Blues Rating: 9/10
>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.
this mf ripped a leitmotif off of the hit song "The Rain Formerly Known as Purple" from the Risk of Rain 2 ost!!!!! Tremendously good, each song has so much going on, yet it stays crisp and fresh. Great use of the synthesizer, legendary guitar solos, incredible singing (even when he uses his signature Prince wail). I had only heard "When Doves Cry", "Purple Rain", and "Soft and Wet" from Prince before. I assumed that those were some of his biggest hits, and that the rest of his music was lacklustre, although after a full album I understand why he gets the acclaim that he does.
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.
I'm going to use this review as an opportunity to flex...I was at Super Bowl XLI when Prince performed Purple Rain in the pouring rain. It was an amazing experience and absolutely colors how I review this album. Core memory unlocked, so just hearing the title track makes me want to give this album a 5. Trying to look at it objectively, this album is the epitome of 80s production. It would be great to hear these songs re-recorded with more modern production, but the bones of the songs are all outstanding so let's put that aside. Prince's talent shines through on every track, including singing, songwriting, and of course guitar playing. I want to ding the rating slightly for the oh-so-80s sound, but that just feels wrong. 5 it is. Favorite tracks: Let's Go Crazy (great sound, 80s or not), Take Me With U (very 80s, but good driving track), When Doves Cry (classic), I Would Die 4 U, and, of course, Purple Rain, Purple Rain (gotta say it twice). RIP Prince.
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
Genius record. So frickin weird mixed with catchy.
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.
This is #day107 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... yes, this is Prince, and this is Purple Rain. The record speaks for itself. Production-wise, it's next level: everything sounds lush like Hendrix and Chic had a baby. Also, those synths are almost intergalactic... Some of the biggest gems include "Let's Go Crazy," "When Doves Cry," and, of course, the sheer sexiness and grandeur of the title track. Anyway, this is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day108.
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.