Album: Purple Rain

1982: 1999 ◄

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► 1985: Around The World In A Day

Purple Rain

Album details Released: 25 June 1984 (USA) 13 July 1984 (UK) 20 June 2024 (Dolby Atmos release of the original album remastered) Length: 43:54 Label(s): Warner Bros. Records Studio(s): Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA; The Warehouse, St. Louis Park, MN, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Record Plant Remote - Black Truck (from New York, NY in Minneapolis, MN USA) at First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA Charts, Certifications & Awards Charts America Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart Canada: RPM Top 100 Albums 15 Jul. 1984 1(17) 46 Canada: The Record Top 40 Albums 23 Jul. 1984 (?) 1(13) 41 USA: Billboard Top LP’s & Tapes 14 Jul. 1984 1(12) 50 USA: Billboard Black LPs 14 Jul. 1984 1(19) 47 USA: Billboard Rock Albums Airplay 16 Jun. 1984 20A 12 Canada: RPM Top 100 Albums of 1984 5 Jan. 1985 2 - USA: Billboard Catalog Albums 8 May 2004 32R 8 USA: Billboard 200 12 Jul. 2014 193R 1 USA: Billboard 200 8 Nov. 2014 195R 1 USA: The Billboard 200 7 May 2016 2R 18 USA: Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums 2016 110 n/a R indicates re-entry of an album that had already charted.   Europe Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart Austria: Alben Top 75 1 Jan. 1985 8 22 France: Nielsen & Ipsos TOP 20 3 Feb. 1985 8 9 Germany: Musikmarkt Top 75 Albums 30 Jul. 1984 5 48 The Netherlands: Nationale Hitparade LP Top 50 4 Aug. 1984 1(3) 40 Norway: VG-Lista Top 40 Albums Week 35/1984 4 17 Sweden: Top 60 Albums 3 Aug. 1984 3 14 Switzerland: Schweizer Hitparade 12 Aug. 1984 7 31 UK: UK Albums Chart 21 Jul. 1984 7 91 UK: Gallup Album Charts 13 Sep. 2014 19R 1 R indicates re-entry of an album that had already charted.   Pacific Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart Australia: ARIA Top 50 Albums 29 Jul. 1984 1(?) 27 New Zealand: Top 40 Albums 5 Aug. 1984 2(?) 36 Australia: ARIA Top 50 Albums 26 Jan. 1992 21R 13 R indicates re-entry of an album that had already charted. Certifications Institution, Country Date Certification CRIA, Canada 1 Sep. 1984 Platinum x3 (300,000) CRIA, Canada 1 Nov. 1984 Platinum x5 (500,000) CRIA, Canada 1 Dec. 1984 Platinum x6 (600,000) RIAA, USA 29 Aug. 1984 Platinum (1 million) RIAA, USA 13 Nov. 1984 Platinum x8 (8 millions) RIAA, USA 16 Jan. 1985 Platinum x9 (9 millions) RIAA, USA 22 Feb. 1989 Platinum x10 (10 millions) RIAA, USA 11 Jul. 1994 Platinum x11 (11 millions) RIAA, USA 16 May 1996 Platinum x13 (13 millions) Diamond SNEP, France 1984 Gold (100,000) SNEP, France 1993 Platinum (300,000) BVMI, Germany 1985 Gold (250,000) BVMI, Germany 1993 Platinum (500,000) BPI, UK 30 Aug. 1984 Silver (60,000) BPI, UK 25 Sep. 1984 Gold (100,000) BPI, UK 26 Apr. 1985 Platinum (300,000) BPI, UK 1 May 1990 Platinum x2 (600,000) ARIA, Australia 9 Mar. 1992 Platinum (70,000) ARIA, Australia 8 Dec. 1996 Platinum x2 (140,000) Awards Institution, Country Date Award 12th annual American Music Awards, USA 28 Jan. 1985 Favorite Album (Soul/R&B) 12th annual American Music Awards, USA 28 Jan. 1985 Favorite Album (Pop/Rock) 4th annual BRIT Awards, UK 11 Feb. 1985 Best Film Soundtrack 27th annual Grammy Awards, USA 26 Feb. 1985 Best Rock Performance by a Group 27th annual Grammy Awards, USA 26 Feb. 1985 Best Album of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture 57th annual Academy Awards, USA 25 Mar. 1985 Best Original Score 4th annual World Soundtrack Awards, Belgium 9 Oct. 2004 WSA Special 20th Anniversary Award Singles released When Doves Cry b/w 17 Days N°1 in Billboard Hot 100 Let’s Go Crazy b/w Erotic City N°1 in Billboard Hot 100 Purple Rain b/w God N°2 in Billboard Hot 100 I Would Die 4 U b/w Another Lonely Christmas N°8 in Billboard Hot 100 Take Me With U b/w Baby I’m A Star N°25 in Billboard Hot 100 See also Purple Rain (Film) Purple Rain Deluxe Expanded Edition (2017 re-issue) Alternate Album Configuration 7 November 1983, configuration A1. Let’s Go Crazy A2. The Beautiful Ones A3. Computer Blue A4. Darling Nikki A5. Wednesday B1. Purple Rain B2. I Would Die 4 U B3. Baby I’m A Star B4. Father’s Song 23 March 1984, configuration Unknown sequence, but different from 26 March configuration below When Doves Cry I Would Die 4 U Baby I’m A Star The Beautiful Ones Darling Nikki Purple Rain Let’s Go Crazy Computer Blue 26 March 1984, configuration A1. Let’s Go Crazy A2. The Beautiful Ones A3. Computer Blue A4. Darling Nikki B1. When Doves Cry B2. I Would Die 4 U B3. Baby I’m A Star B4. Purple Rain

Purple Rain (the motion picture soundtrack to the movie Purple Rain) is the sixth full-length studio album by Prince, and the first to be officially credited to Prince and the Revolution (Albeit the name The Revolution does appear in mirror-writing on the sleeve of the 1999 album). It was released worldwide in June 1984, a month before the movie, Purple Rain opened in theaters. Released a year and eight months after Prince’s previous album 1999, it marked the longest period between albums to date. Sessions and compiling The album was mostly recorded between August 1983, and March 1984, although Baby I’m A Star had first been recorded in 1981. The last three songs on the album, I Would Die 4 U, Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain, were recorded live at the 3 August 1983, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA show, although overdubs and edits took place on all three in September 1983. This marked the first time Prince had included live recordings on an album or on any release. In keeping with previous albums, all tracks were primarily written by Prince. Computer Blue features songwriting input by Dr. Fink, Lisa Coleman, and Wendy Melvoin. Dr. Fink also wrote a keyboard bass line for the track. Prince’s father John L. Nelson was also credited for the Father’s Song component of the track, which had been worked on during rehearsals on the 1983 leg of the 1999 Tour. While Prince’s previous albums were primarily solo recordings by Prince, Purple Rain contained the credits “produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince and the Revolution.” The full band appears on four tracks: Let’s Go Crazy, I Would Die 4 U, Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain. Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman also appear on Computer Blue, while the remainder of the tracks are essentially solo performances. Apollonia sings co-lead on Take Me With U. Three of the tracks include a string section arranged by Lisa Coleman and Prince, conducted by Coleman and Melvoin: Take Me With U, Baby I’m A Star, and Purple Rain. The string players are Novi Novog (violin and viola), David Coleman (cello), and Suzie Katayama (cello). Promotion The album produced five commercially-released singles, When Doves Cry (which preceded the album), Let’s Go Crazy, Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U and Take Me With U. Both When Doves Cry and Let’s Go Crazy reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Prince supported the album with the Purple Rain Tour, his most extensive to date, and the first billed as Prince and the Revolution. Every song on the album was played regularly on the tour, which comprised 100 shows throughout the United States, also including two shows in Canada. Charts On 4 August 1984, after 3 weeks in the chart, Purple Rain reached number 1 on the US Billboard Top Lps And Tape chart, where it remained for 12 weeks (the album remained almost a year in the US charts). It also reached number 1 on the US Billboard Black LPs chart, remaining at top position for 19 weeks. In Canada the albums topped the RPM Top 100 Albums chart for 17 weeks, and the "The Record Top 40 Albums" chart where it remained 13 weeks. The albums fared also well in Europe, reaching number 1 position in The Netherlands (for 3 weeks), top 5 positions in Germany, Sweden and Norway, and top ten positions in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria and France. Boosted by the success of the Purple Rain movie, the album catapulted Prince to international stardom as the album outsold all of his previous (and subsequent) albums, selling 13 million copies in the US and 5 million in the rest of the world. Certifications The album was certified platinum by RIAA two months after release, on 29 Aug. 1984. By November 1984, it had reached 8x platinum and in January 1985, 9x platinum indicating 9 million copies shipped in the USA within 7 months. On 16 May 1996 the album was certified 13x platinum by the RIAA and reached the "Diamond album" status. Remaster The album was remastered at Paisley Park Studios in 2015, overseen by Prince. See Purple Rain Deluxe for details about the making and release of the remaster. Track listing CD LP / Cassette Let’s Go Crazy (4:39) Take Me With U (3:54) The Beautiful Ones (5:13) Computer Blue (3:59) 1  Darling Nikki (4:13) When Doves Cry (5:52) I Would Die 4 U (2:51) Baby I’m A Star (4:20) Purple Rain (8:41) Side 1: Let’s Go Crazy (4:39) Take Me With U (3:54) The Beautiful Ones (5:13) Computer Blue (3:59) 1  Darling Nikki (4:13) Side 2: When Doves Cry (5:52) I Would Die 4 U (2:51) Baby I’m A Star (4:20) Purple Rain (8:41) 8-Track Program 1 (11:00 min): Let’s Go Crazy Take Me With U The Beautiful Ones (Beg.) Program 2 (10:59 min): The Beautiful Ones (Concl.) Computer Blue 1  Darling Nikki Program 3 (10:59 min): When Doves Cry I Would Die 4 U Baby I’m A Star (Beg.) Program 4 (11:00 min): Baby I’m A Star (Concl.) Purple Rain All songs written by Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution) except where noted. 1  Written by John L. Nelson, Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin and Prince Personnel Musicians Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Bobby Z. - drums and percussion on Let’s Go Crazy, Take Me With U, Computer Blue, I Would Die 4 U and Purple Rain Brown Mark- bass guitar and vocals on Let’s Go Crazy, Take Me With U, Computer Blue, I Would Die 4 U and Purple Rain Wendy Melvoin - guitars and vocals on Let’s Go Crazy, Take Me With U, Computer Blue, I Would Die 4 U and Purple Rain Lisa Coleman - keyboards and vocals on Let’s Go Crazy, Take Me With U, Computer Blue, I Would Die 4 U and Purple Rain Matt Fink - keyboards and vocals on Let’s Go Crazy, Take Me With U, Computer Blue, I Would Die 4 U and Purple Rain Apollonia - co-lead vocals on Take Me With U David Coleman - cello on Take Me With U, Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain Novi Novog - violin and viola on Take Me With U, Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain Suzie Katayama - cello on Take Me With U, Baby I’m A Star and Purple Rain Jill Jones - vox on Baby I’m A Star (uncredited) Production Prince - producer and arranger, clothing (credited for "rags"), art direction David Leonard - engineer (The Warehouse, St. Louis Park, MN, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA and Record Plant Remote - Black Truck (from New York, NY in Minneapolis, MN USA) Susan Rogers - engineer (The Warehouse, St. Louis Park, MN, USA) Peggy McCreary - engineer (Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA) David Rivkin - engineer (First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA in Record Plant Remote - Black Truck (from New York, NY, USA) Bernie Grundman - mastering Laura LiPuma - design Ed Thrasher and Associates - front cover photograph Ron Slenzak - front cover photograph Larry Williams - additional photography Doug Henders - painting Earl Jones - hair Jayson Jeffreys - make-up Louis & Vaughn - clothing (credited for "rags") Marie France - clothing (credited for "rags") Thanks "All thanks 2 God – the light, Lisa & Wendy, Bobby, Mark & Matt – the Revolution, Big Chick – the protector, Steve, Bob & Joe Ruffalo – the producers, Albert Magnoli – the director, Peggy Mac – the patience, Fred Moultrie – the money, Lee Phillips – the brains, Warner Bros. Records & Film – belief, God 4 the "rain", Sandy – the care, The Time – "chicken grease", Apollonia 6: Susan, Brenda & Apollonia – patience, wisdom & beauty, Jill – love, Roy Bennett – loyalty, David Leonard – the blade, Susan Rogers – energy, Carol McGovney – devotion, God – 4 the rainbow, William Blinn – the story, Alan Leeds – the expert." "Thanks 2 Don Thorin and all the cast & crew of Purple Rain: Clarence Williams, Olga Karlatos, Kim – hi, Morris & Jerome, Katy, Billy Sparks – what up 'tho? Richard Arrington – God – 4 the sun, Wally Gator, Dez Dickerson & the Modernaires – Steve & everybody at 1st Avenue – all the extras & anybody else we foolhardy forgot 2 mention." "Thank u all-may u live 2 see the Dawn."

Releases
LP, CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 America Canada LP 92 51101 WEA Music Of Canada labels, w/ sticker and poster Canada LP W1-25110 CRC CI Columbia House (CBS Records Canada) labels USA LP 1-25110 w/ sticker and poster USA LP 1-25110 Purple Vinyl w/ sticker and poster Mexico LP LWB-6281 Purple Vinyl w/ poster Mexico LP LWBS-6281 Purple Vinyl w/ sticker & poster ► See more  ► See more  Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 Mexico LP FLWB-6281 Picture Disc in PVC sleeve Guatemala LP 1-25110 DIDECA Labels, printed sticker Ecuador LP LP-80068 Fediscos Labels, 1st edition Ecuador LP LP-80068 Fediscos Labels, 2nd edition Ecuador LP LP-80068 Fediscos Labels, 3rd edition Colombia LP 6042 Philips labels Brazil LP 26.132 EMI ODEON labels, black & white insert sheet Brazil LP 670.4218 BMG ARIOLA labels Argentina LP 83.814 SADAIC labels Europe Ireland LP 925110-1 Island Music labels UK LP 925 110-1 Island Music labels w/ BPI Award Winner sticker UK LP 925 110-1 Purple Vinyl, Island Music labels Sweden LP 925 110-1 Purple Vinyl, NCB Labels w/ poster The Netherlands LP 925 110-1 STEMRA Labels The Netherlands LP 925 110-1 Purple Vinyl, STEMRA Labels w/ poster Germany LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 Purple Vinyl, GEMA/BIEM label 1st edition w/ poster Germany LP 925 110-1 Purple Vinyl, GEMA/BIEM label 2nd edition w/ poster & booklet Germany LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 GEMA labels Germany LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 GEMA/BIEM labels w/ white sticker & poster Germany LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 GEMA/BIEM labels w/ purple rectangular sticker & poster Germany LP 41 685 9 Club Edition w/ GEMA/BIEM labels Germany LP 32 276-8 Club Edition w/ GEMA/BIEM labels France LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 SACEM labels + "le nouveau Prince" sticker France LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 GEMA/BIEM labels + "le nouveau Prince" sticker France LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 GEMA/BIEM labels + 2 stickers France LP 925 110-1 • U • WE 361 Purple Vinyl, SACEM labels + "le nouveau Prince" sticker France LP 925 110-1 Purple Vinyl, GEMA/BIEM labels + "le nouveau Prince" sticker Spain LP 925 110-1 Polygram + Island Music labels + bio insert Italy LP 92 5110-1 S.I.A.E. labels Greece LP 925110-1 AEPI labels Middle-East Israel LP BAN 925110-1 w/ Hebrew language sticker Africa South Africa LP WBC 1573 Asia/Pacific Korea LP OLW 316 Purple Vinyl Japan LP P-13021 w/ OBI, Poster, Lyrics & Info Sheet Japan LP P-13021 Purple Vinyl w/ OBI, Poster, Lyrics & Info Sheet China LP CH-1107 M&M Blue Labels w/ lyrics sheet China LP CH-1107 Chade Blue Labels w/ lyrics sheet Australia LP 25110-1 • MX209227/8 WEA Records Pty labels + white round sticker Australia LP 25110-1 • MX209227/8 WEA Records Pty labels + purple rectangular sticker Variants, Special Editions and Reissues Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 Europe Germany Boxset WMV 573-3 ZY Issued in 1990: contains CD, VHS and a Poster Germany LP 7599-25110-1 [WE381] Limited Edition 180 grams, 1st edition (24 Nov. 1997). Matrix runout WMME Alsdorf 759 925110-1-A / B Germany LP 7599-25110-1 Limited Edition 180 grams, 2nd edition Europe LP 8122-79914-9 180 grams edition Asia/Pacific Japan LP x2 PS-255-6 Strange Tales From the Rain promotional edition Some of the above pictures courtesy of Aprilsnow and Sleevographia

Additional Information Promotion (at time of release) Trivia US and UK Press adverts for this album.        Two early configurations of the album are known to exist containing alternate tracks and/or alternate versions (see Alternate Album Configuration column above). The album doesn’t include all the songs played in the movie : Jungle Love and The Bird were released on The Time’s Ice Cream Castle, Sex Shooter was released on Apollonia 6’s eponymous album. The instrumental version of God (as God (Love Theme From Purple Rain) was released as the b-side of a 12" release of the Purple Rain single. Dez Dickerson’s Modernaire was released in 2005. The full (1984) version of Possessed was included on the posthumous Purple Rain Super Deluxe Edition in 2017. Michel Colombier’score written specifically for the movie was not released on record. Backwards Woman did not get any official release either. Several songs that were mentioned in the first drafts were not kept as the movie underwent further changes : Moonbeam Levels, Can’t Stop This Feeling I Got, Too Tough, Wouldn’t U Love To Love Me, I Just Wanna Be Rich, Bold Generation, G-Spot, Mia Bocca, Wednesday (to be sung by Jill Jones) and Electric Intercourse (replaced by The Beautiful Ones). Warner Bros. Records claimed first-day sales of 1.3 million copies for the album. The high figure was backed by retailers in a Billboard article on 7 July 1984; initial orders had sold within 3 days, having them to re-order a large number of units to face the demand. The "Prince Purple Rain" logotype that was originally commissionned by Warner Bros for the movie was later adapted by graphic designer Jay Vigon for the album cover. Even though he’s not credited as such, Ed Thrasher, an art director previously employed at Warner Bros. Records, was the album cover art director. He also designed the Purple Rain movie poster. References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition, paperback), Duane Tudahl (2018) Design: JayVigon.com, Ed Thrasher Copyrights: US Copyright Office / SR0000054679 / 1984-07-24 and US Copyright Office / SR0000055615 / 1984-07-11 Press: Out Of The Box: Sales Rocket For Jacksons, Prince Cover Story / Prince’s New Album Explodes by Fred Goodman (Billboard Vol.96 N°27 - 7 July 1984) Charts: USA: www.billboard.com / Purple Rain; Billboard Vol. 96 N°25 onwards: Top LPs And Tape, Black LPs & Rock Albums; Canada: RPM Charts; Top Albums, The Essential Chart Guide by Nanda Lwin (Nielsen Soundscan ISBN 9781896594149); Billboard Vol. 96 N°30 onwards: Hits Of The World / Canada: The Record Top 20; Europe: hitparade.ch; dutchcharts.nl; swedishcharts.com;norwegiancharts.com; austriancharts.at; www.infodisc.fr (France); Hit Bilanz - Deutsche Charts LP’s 1962-1986 (Taurus Press ISBN 3922542298); Pacific: australian-charts.com; charts.org.nz; Certifications: RIAA Certifications / Top Diamond Awards Albums (USA); BPI Certifications (UK); SNEP Certifications (France), CRIA Gold & Platinum Albums (Canada), BVMI Gold/Platin-Datenbank (Germany) Awards: Grammy Awards Past Winner / 1984 / Prince

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1985 Around The World In A Day