Purple Rain – the work of a true musical genius

Purple Rain is not only arguably Prince’s best album, but one of the most awe-inspiring albums to be released in the last fifty years of popular music. The album was released in 1984 as a soundtrack to the motion picture of the same name, yet it is the music that remains most renowned, and for good reason. With nine tracks that flow seamlessly into one another, written, produced, arranged and performed by Prince & The Revolution, the album demonstrates the artist at the height of his creative and performing career.

’When The Doves Cry’ epitomizes the album with its virtuoso guitar work and unique production; it is perhaps one of the only chart topping hits not to contain a bass line, and the impulsive, wandering guitar and keyboard solos emphasise the anarchy of the metaphorical title. The sexually explicit ‘Darling Nikki’ depicts a nymphomaniacal woman who is heartless and cold with Prince’s trademark of lyrical controversy displayed with fittingly erratic music. ‘I Would Die 4 U’ is Prince’s ultimate testament to love and sacrifice, with the title track ‘Purple Rain’ and ‘The Beautiful Ones’ continuing the album’s reoccurring themes of sorrow and conflict. The coda at the end of ‘Purple Rain’ is truly touching, climaxing after a series of melodic guitar solos to a soaring falsetto ad lib by Prince which serves as a fitting finale to the album as a whole.

The album is highly emotive, but does not get lost in melancholy as the mood is perfectly balanced by fun pop songs such as ‘Let’s Go Crazy’, with it’s dynamic guitar work and drum beat, and the perfectly crafted pop masterpiece, ’Take Me With U’, with it’s teenage heart throb feel and intricate string work. As a complete piece of listening the album is a compact thriller, and showcases one of the most successful musical artists of all time at the height of his power. A must buy album for any music lover. *****

Written by Jamie Edmondson