Performer Notes

Prince & The Revolution: Prince (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Wendy Melvoin (vocals, guitar); Lisa Coleman, Matt "Dr." Fink (vocals, keyboards); Brown Mark (vocals, bass); Bobby Z (percussion).
Additional personnel: Apollonia (vocals); Novi Novog (violin, viola); David Coleman, Suzie Katayama (cello).
Engineers include: Susan Rogers, Peggy Mac, David Riukin.
A soundtrack to a movie so appalling that it is infinitely wiser to let the record stand on its own merits. While Prince cavorted in purple kitchen foil and rode his Harley in high heels, the real star of the film, the music, was doing all the talking. A knit of funk and rock, a heavily stylized Hendrix guitar lick here and there, and a wilfully danceable backbeat all made for a huge commercial smash, and the first real international introduction for many people to a star-in-waiting. 'Darling Nikki' accidentally set the PMRC ball rolling, but the heady lilt of the title track and the crushing 'When Doves Cry' can pardon him that.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.114) - Ranked #72 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "...[The album] showcases Prince's abilities as a guitarist..."

Rolling Stone (11/89) - Ranked #2 in Rolling Stone's "100 Best Albums Of The Eighties" survey.

Entertainment Weekly (10/12/01, p.29) - Ranked #9 in EW's "100 Best Movie Soundtracks" - "...A genre-bending smorgasbord...a monument to mad ambition..."

CMJ (1/5/04, p.14) - Ranked #15 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1984"

Vibe (12/99, p.162) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century

Pitchfork (Website) - "PURPLE RAIN was a landmark that solidified Prince's standing as the preeminent pop genius of his generation; more than three decades on, it still retains all of its power."