The MARK’S VINTAGE VINYL page features something from Mark’s collection of recordings from over the years. Most of it is on vinyl – hence the name – though there will be a few entries from his CDs (remember those?).
Purple Rain, by Prince and the Revolution
- Sixth studio album by Prince released in 1984. The album also is the soundtrack album for the Purple Rain film.
- Of the 92 albums that I have featured here on the blog, this is the first one where I do not have a physical copy. I downloaded the album soon after Prince passed away in 2016.
- This was Prince’s first album to top the Billboard 200 album chart, and it was #1 for 24 consecutive weeks. Only five other albums have had a longer run at #1 on the album chart (the longest run was the soundtrack to West Side Story – #1 for an amazing 54 weeks). The album is certified 13x platinum.
- Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who bought the album soon after his death. The album went to #2 in 2016, and 19 of his albums were simultaneously on the Billboard 200 chart soon after he died.
- Five singles from the album were released. When Doves Cry and Let’s Go Crazy both topped the Hot 100, and the title track peaked at #2. I Would Die 4 U made it to #8, and Take Me With U reached #25. When Doves Cry was the biggest hit of the year, ranked #1 for all of 1984 by Billboard. I was only mildly interested in Prince until this song came out. The music video got tons of airplay on MTV – Prince himself directed the video. Prince also performed all of the instruments on the song. The song is ranked #52 on Rolling Stones’ list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- As great as the song is, Let’s Go Crazy is a party classic. Turn it up loud and rock – the crescendo guitar solo at the end is one of the best ever.
- For more on Prince, see my post from December 6, 2017. It includes a video of his performance of Purple Rain in a downpour at the Super Bowl – easily my vote for the greatest Super Bowl halftime show ever. Here’s the video of Let’s Go Crazy. Wow!!!