On this next episode of The Broken Record Player Podcast, my buddy Tim Guill and I pay homage to the Purple One, Prince, as we dive deep into the masterpiece that is Purple Rain. 

Coming off the success of 1999, Prince was looking to push the envelope further. Already a star, Prince would cement his legacy with Purple Rain. It was not just an album, rather it was a testament to the genius that was Prince. Filled with classics such as the title track itself, “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and more, Purple Rain is as close to perfection in an album as it gets. It was a more grand sound for Prince, and it brought him to superstar status on the same level as his peer (and occasional rival), Michael Jackson. 

What makes this album so unique, besides the epic and grand production and quality, is that Prince is working with a band: The Revolution. Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Dr. Fink, Brown Mark, and Bobby Z, worked tirelessly with their mad scientist leader to craft an album that featured funky bass lines, shredding guitar solos, electronic effects, pounding drum beats, beautiful ballads, and the shrieks, screams, wails, and heartfelt vocals of Prince. 

As if a groundbreaking album wasn’t enough, to showcase how ambitious Prince was in 1983, a movie of the same name was made. Tim and I discuss both as we take a look at one of the most celebrated albums, and artists, of all time.