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Purple Rain at 30

30 years ago today Prince and the Revolution unleashed the soundtrack album 4 a movie called Purple Rain. My (musical) life changed 4ever. The whole world of high school, MTV and beyond became paisley, purple gospel, girls and fuzzed out guitars in 1984. Move over Michael Jackson. It inaugurated the Purple Reign of Prince.

Purple Rain is rightly considered a masterpiece. I have my original vinyl, poster intact. I made several cassette copies of Purple Rain that I wore out. So many highlights on that record, the album opener, Let's Go Crazy; Baby I'm a Star; I Would Die 4 U; The Beautiful Ones; When Doves Cry and Purple Rain. And it's an Oscar winner. That's right! People forget that Prince and the Revolution took home the Academy Award for best Song Score. All from the LP that ultimately resulted in the parental advisory sticker.

Purple Rain has lost none of its power in 30 years. It is melodic, heavy, groovy, melancholy and uplifting. Dig Prince and his new band 3rdEyeGirl jamming Let's Go Crazy from earlier this year. And then of course, you should simply pull out your vinyl, cassette or CD of Purple Rain and go crazy. If you make a playlist be sure to add the B-Sides, 17 Days, God and the rare 12" of Let's Go Crazy, the version from the top of the film with the whacked-out piano solo, 4 maximum effect (This doesn't even include the hits we heard later from Morris Day and the Time).

I'm still waiting however for a proper remaster of the CD. The best way 2 experience the record is on vinyl. WB and Prince are allegedly rereleasing Purple Rain, so there is hope. In the meantime, I don't care where we go...

Make it a Purple day!

 #Prince
#PurpleRain
#PrinceAndTheRevolution
#AcademyAwards
#Oscars
#Music
#MTV

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