Thursday April 22nd was a sad day in the music world. It marked six years since Prince departed from us in music form. Let’s reexamine two albums that help made the Purple One bigger than life. (Originaaly Posted January 12, 2022).
In the 80s, Prince was bigger than life. It is safe to say the mass popularity is accredited to 1999 and Purple Rain, his 1982 and 1984 releases. Of course, it didn’t start there. In fact, many diehard Prince fans may tell you Dirty Mind, his 1980 release, was his best work due to the amount funk infused on the album. Maybe Around the World in a Day, despite it not being one of his better sellers. I think all of Prince’s albums are worthy of a conversation — which we plan to get to in the future — but for now, let’s talk about 1999 and Purple Rain.
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Prince released 1999 October 27 1982. The album’s title track made an immediate purple splash. In what was created to be a protest record, ended up being one of the biggest party records of the century.
Prince would use indirect methods on other tracks as well to get his point across. In “Little Red Corvette,” Prince uses the popular sports car as a metaphor to describe a promiscuousness woman he’d fallen for.
“I guess I should’ve known,” Prince sings. “By the way you parked your car sideways./See, you’re the kinda person that believes in makin’ out once. Love’em and leave ’em fast!”
The song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Delirious,” also reached the top-10, peaking at number 8.
Of course, Prince had the chart toppers, but he was known to have jams on the B-side as well. “Lady Cab Driver,” the tell of a female cabbie taking him from the stress and worries world and “International Lover,” metaphorically using a 747 to describe his love making skills, were fan favorites.
1999 was Prince’s first top 10 album on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 5th.
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Two years later, the world got to see and listen to Purple Rain, the movie and soundtrack. Prince & The Revolution were at the helm of all the tracks. Like 1999, he started with an upbeat party record, “Let’s Go Crazy.” Again, like “1999,” there was a hidden message but it turned out to be another timeless party anthem.
This album had it’s share of songs that charted. The aforementioned, “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Purple Rain” and “I Would Die 4 U” peaked at peaked at number 2 and number 8 spot, respectively.
The B-sides got their share of notoriety. “Darling Nicki” and “Baby I’m A Star” were fan favorites.
Purple Rain became Prince’s first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200.
Despite other albums playing a part, these two albums help solidified Prince’s legacy and the subgenre, Minneapolis Sound.
RIP Prince
In your opinion, which was the better Prince album; ‘1999’ or ‘Purple Rain’?
Polls Are Closed!!
1999 – Unanimous
Purple Rain – 0%