ON THIS DAY: 25 June 1984 – Prince Released Purple Rain

A Technicolor Soundstorm That Changed Music Forever

Let’s step back to the summer of 1984. MTV was in its golden age, cassette tapes ruled the airwaves, and in swept a mysterious figure in a ruffled shirt and purple trench coat – Prince (1958–2016). With Purple Rain, he created the perfect storm and detonated a cultural bombshell.

Released on June 25, 1984, Purple Rain was Prince’s sixth studio album, but it might as well have been his debut to the world stage. It was the first album to credit his band, The Revolution, marking a shift in both sound and spirit. And it wasn’t just a studio release – it was the soundtrack to Prince’s semi-autobiographical film of the same name. Yes, he gave us a movie, a tour, a look, and a legacy all wrapped in one electric purple package.

The Sound of a New Era

Musically, Purple Rain is a kaleidoscope. Prince smashes together rock, R&B, synth-pop, gospel, and a splash of metal in a way that somehow feels not chaotic, but cohesive. The album opens with ‘Let’s Go Crazy’, a track that starts with a preacher-style sermon before launching into a furious guitar riff that sounds like Jimi Hendrix crash-landing in a disco. From the first chord, Prince declared: “We are gathered here today to get through this thing called life”, and boom – you’re on board whether you planned to be or not.

Then comes ‘Take Me With U’, a buoyant duet with Apollonia that rides on synths and strings. There’s the aching sensuality of ‘The Beautiful Ones’, the slinky funk of ‘Computer Blue’ and the aching desire of ‘Darling Nikki’, which famously sparked a moral panic and led to the creation of the Parental Advisory sticker.

But perhaps no track stirred more than ‘When Doves Cry’. With no bassline – yes, none – it defied pop conventions, yet topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. The minimalism, the tortured vocals, the distorted guitar solo – it was like Prince bottled the feeling of emotional chaos and made it a chart-topping single.

And then, of course, there’s the grand finale: ‘Purple Rain’. Clocking in at nearly nine minutes, it’s part rock ballad, part gospel hymn, part emotional cleanse. Prince’s guitar weeps, his voice soars, and by the time the final chords fade, you’re left breathless. More than a song – it’s a ceremony.

Purple Rain – Tracklist

1. Let’s Go Crazy
2. Take Me With U
3. The Beautiful Ones
4. Computer Blue
5. Darling Nikki
6. When Doves Cry
7. I Would Die 4 U
8. Baby I’m a Star
9. Purple Rain

The Revolution Was Televised (and Cinematic)

What made Purple Rain so unique was how it blurred the lines between album, movie, and mythology. The film was raw and theatrical, a blend of fiction and truth that showcased Prince’s Minneapolis roots, his creative intensity, and his deep emotional scars. He wasn’t just performing – he was confessing.

The Revolution, featuring Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman among others, became central to this story. Their presence brought a collaborative feel to the music, particularly on tracks like ‘Computer Blue’ and ‘I Would Die 4 U’. Their harmonies, textures, and camaraderie onstage made the music richer, fuller – more human.

Commercial Glory and Critical Immortality

Let’s talk numbers. Purple Rain spent 24 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The album snagged Prince two Grammys and an Academy Award. The tour that followed was one of the most celebrated of the decade, cementing Prince not just as a pop star, but as a generational icon.

Critically, the album was hailed as a masterpiece. Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NME – you name it – Purple Rain is regularly perched atop greatest albums of all time lists. It wasn’t just influential; it was alchemical. Artists across genres – from Beyoncé to The Weeknd to Foo Fighters – have cited it as a blueprint.

Legacy in Lavender

Over 40 years later, Purple Rain still pulses with the same power. It’s more than nostalgia. It’s proof that vulnerability and flamboyance, spirituality and sexuality, rock and funk, can coexist on one record and change the world.

Prince didn’t just wear purple – he made it a sound, a feeling, a mood. With Purple Rain, he didn’t ask for the spotlight; he built the damn stage.

So next time you’re feeling brave, confused, in love, or just in need of a sonic catharsis, cue up Purple Rain. It won’t just take you back – it’ll take you higher.

Rating

Prince’s Purple Rain is a sonic monument. From the wild sermon of ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ to the emotional deluge of the title track, this record is flawless in execution and fearless in ambition. It’s the kind of album that doesn’t just demand attention – it earns reverence. All these decades later, it still feels radical, romantic, and totally untouchable.

If perfection had a colour, it’d be purple.

Fun Facts About Purple Rain

• No Bassline? No Problem!
  “When Doves Cry” was famously recorded without a bassline—a move that baffled engineers but thrilled Prince. He felt the track sounded “too conventional,” so he simply erased the bass. Risky? Maybe. Genius? Definitely.
• A One-Take Wonder
  The title track, “Purple Rain,” was recorded live during a benefit concert at the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. Yes, the spine-tingling solo and those iconic wails were captured in one take—with just a few studio tweaks later.
• That Sticker? Blame Prince.
  Tipper Gore heard her daughter listening to “Darling Nikki” and was so shocked by the song’s explicit lyrics that she co-founded the Parents Music Resource Center. The result? The “Parental Advisory” sticker was born—thanks, Prince!
• A Real Motorcycle Man
  Prince didn’t just ride that flashy purple motorcycle in the Purple Rain movie—he actually owned it. The Honda CM400A became almost as iconic as his lace gloves.
• Beyoncé’s Favorite
  Queen B has cited Purple Rain as one of her favorite albums of all time. She even performed the title track during her 2007 Oscars tribute to Prince.
• The Rain Was Real
  During the Purple Rain tour, Prince often ended his concerts with artificial rain falling onstage as he performed the title song. Because if you’re going to sing “Purple Rain,” you might as well feel it, too.
• Almost a Stevie Nicks Collab
  Prince originally asked Stevie Nicks to write lyrics for the instrumental that became “Purple Rain.” She was too intimidated by the track’s grandeur and politely declined. Imagine that duet!
• One Album, One Color, Endless Influence
  The phrase “purple reign” became part of pop culture thanks to this album, inspiring everything from fashion lines to nicknames (hello, “Purple One”).