In the fall of 1984 there was nowhere you could go in the United States without hearing something off of Purple Rain, the album and the motion picture from Prince and The Revolution. This album was the sixth studio album by Prince, and the first to also bill the band, The Revolution (although the band was hinted at on the album 1999, being written backwards on the album cover). Prince would become a superstar with this album and film.
Prince (aka Prince Rogers Nelson) was born into a musical family. His mother was a jazz singer and his father was a pianist in a jazz group called the Prince Rogers trio. His father, John Lewis Nelson, went by the stage name Prince Rogers, from which Prince got his name. Prince was a multi-instrumentalist, prolific singer-songwriter, producer, actor, and director. He signed his first music contract with Warner Brothers Records at the age of 19, and had achieved considerable success with his albums “Dirty Mind,” “Controversy,” and "1999,” the last of which was a commercial success with “Little Red Corvette” receiving considerable airplay on MTV.
Purple Rain would spend 24 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart. Prince required his management to obtain a deal for him to star in a major motion picture in the early 1980's, at a time when he was relatively unknown outside of a few pop and R&B hits. The film is loosely autobiographical, and follows Prince's character, the kid, as his relationships, family, and band fall apart. Things turn around when the kid opens up to others and his career is resurrected by a song with lyrics from his father and music from his band members. Hit songs would include “When Doves Cry” and “Let's go Crazy,” both topping the charts, and “Purple Rain,” which would hit number 2 on the charts.
Prince would go on to be a music icon, and estimates of the number of complete songs written during his lifetime range between 500 and 1000. Prince tragically died of a fentanyl overdose in 2016 at the age of 57.
This is an historic album and a torchbearer of a R&B/rock fusion genre that was literally everywhere in the fall of 1984. We hope you will listen to this album in its entirety.
Let's Go Crazy
“Dearly Beloved....we are gathered here today to get through this thing called 'LIFE'.” Those fantastically quotable lines lead off the album. You get a sense that this will be a different sound with the combination of a R&B beat and a Jimi Hendrix-style screaming guitar more associated with hard rock. This is the second single from the album and a number 1 hit on multiple charts.
Take Me With U
This song is a duet with singer and co-star of the film, Apollonia Kotero, and was the final single released from the album. It was originally going to be on Apollonia's band's album (Apollonia 6), but made it on the soundtrack. Prince intended to have the singer Vanity in the lead role, but Apollonia was chosen when Denise "Vanity" Matthews resigned from Vanity 6.
I Would Die 4U
The fourth single from the album would hit number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The lyrics are thoughts on words that Jesus would say to his disciples. This song occurs towards the end of the movie in a mini-concert, and was often paired with the song “Baby, I'm a Star” on radio at the time.
Purple Rain
The title track and third single from the album was originally intended as a country collaboration with Stevie Nicks! According to Nicks, she received a 10-minute instrumental and was asked to write the lyrics, but was overwhelmed at the prospect. Band member Wendy Melvoin inspired a change to the current style with her guitar chords during a practice session. This song also has religious overtones, with the color purple often evoking images of God or end times in Prince's music.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the television series “Miami Vice” - Jan Hammer
This show had everyone in thrall, Don Johnson in stubble and scrunched-up jackets, and Jan Hammer on the charts in a rare instrumental hit.
STAFF PICKS:
The Bird by Morris Day and the Time
Bruce leads off the staff picks with another group propelled to stardom by "Purple Rain." Prince had a clause in his Warner Brothers contract that allowed him to recruit and produce other artists for the label, and The Time was one that he assembled in 1981. Prince collaborated on much of the work from The Time, including this third album "Ice Cream Castle." Morris Day and the Time played a rival house band in the movie "Purple Rain."
If This Is It by Huey Lewis and the News
Brian brings us the fourth single from the hugely successful album “Sports.” The video demonstrates Lewis's humor, with beach scenes and the band buried up to their necks. "So let me go, or make me want to stay...If this is it, please let me know." This is the first Huey Lewis song to break into the top 40 in the U.K.
New Girl Now by Honeymoon Suite
Wayne's staff pick features a deeper cut from a Canadian hair metal band. This chronicles the issues that may follow when a guy has a specific type of girl he falls for. The band hails from the Niagara Falls area, and the connection with that popular honeymoon location explains the origin of their name. The sound has hints of new wave with the synthesizer in the background.
A Girl In Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing) by Romeo Void
Rob closes out this week's staff picks with a more pop-oriented song from a decidedly non-pop band. The band, sometimes associated with new wave, really wanted to be considered a punk band. Singer Deborah lyall considered the band to be a reaction against the bleached blonde conformity of the time, and was proud of her Native American heritage. The lyrics portray a more positive “taking care of things yourself” attitude than the minor key would suggest.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Shortberry Strawcake by Sheila E.
We finish off this week's podcast with another Prince-related artist. Sheila E. had this instrumental track on her album "Glamorous Life."
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