Peter: Tonight we’re talking about one of my absolute favorite albums of all time, Purple Rain! Tyler, I already know the answer, but I’ll ask anyway, were you familiar with this one going in?
Tyler: Oh yes. It’s Purple Rain! My parents owned it on cassette, even. We’re talking a classic here.
How did your Prince fandom come about?
Peter: I had an older cousin who liked Prince, and my brother got into him as well. I remember when this album came out, but I was very young. I think I finally bought it on CD when I was in high school. Now it feels like I’ve always known it. It really is one of my favorite albums of all time. I never get tired of it.
Have you seen the movie?
Tyler: I went to a screening in a county east of Cincinnati, in the days after his death. I was the only person in the theater.
Peter: Oh, wow! That was the first time? In the theater? Alone?
Tyler: Yes indeed. The theater was a hike, but I still thought the total lack of an audience was odd.
Peter: Did you like it?
Tyler: It’s entertaining, if plenty silly. I’d need to revisit it to hammer down a real analysis.
Peter: Fair enough.
Okay, let’s start chopping it up.
Kicking things off is “Let’s Go Crazy.”
Tyler: So good.
Peter: It’s got that absolutely iconic opening with the church organ. “Dearly beloved…” It’s terrific.
It sort of introduces one of the album’s big themes which is Prince’s unique take on God and spirituality.
Tyler: I do like his idea of the afterworld. A world of never-ending happiness? I can very much get down with that.
Peter: Yeah, sign me up for that. He was an interesting guy. He really contained multitudes. On the one hand, he was quite religious. But, on the other hand, he also loved having tons of dirty, dirty sex. You don’t see that very often. Normally it’s one or the other.
Tyler: Wasn’t he an obsessive in the studio? Albums upon albums of shelved tracks? Man, where’d he find the time and energy for all the sex?
Peter: It’s a good question. And church! The man was busy, that’s for sure.
After the intro it’s a real bop. It’s sort of a fusion of dance music and guitar rock. It went to number one in the US.
Tyler: True to character, Prince punctuates the track by beckoning the audience to “please come.”
It’s a jam through and through. Happy as hell!
Peter: For sure. It’s infectious.
Much like the STDs Prince likely had to dodge given his promiscuous lifestyle.
Just kidding.
Next up is “Take Me With U.”
Tyler: A pretty perfect landing spot after “Let’s Go Crazy.”
Peter: Yeah, I love this one.
Tyler: There’s an element of joyful chaos to “LGC.” “Take Me With U” smoothes out the ride.
Peter: This is one of those albums that has a great flow to it. All of the songs fit together perfectly.
He originally wrote this as a duet with his “protege,” Vanity, but had to change plans when she left him. It was then slated for Apollonia 6’s debut album, but ultimately ended up on Purple Rain.
Tyler: Ah yes. A “protege.”
Vanity missed out! It’s a terrific track.
Peter: It’s got a great vibe. I’m trying to remember how they use it in the movie. It’s probably him and Apollonia riding around on his motorcycle, enjoying Minnesota.
Tyler: Your homeland!
Peter: One of many things Prince and I have in common.
Tyler: I forgot about when you changed your name to a symbol.
Peter: My taxes were a mess that year.
Anyway, great tune. Next up is “The Beautiful Ones.”
This one is just Prince. He’s playing all the instruments.
Tyler: What a talent he was, man.
Peter: Incredible.
Tyler: I love his plaintive spoken “Would that be cool?”
Peter: Yeah. This has a sort of slow burn to it. It really builds to that cathartic climax, “Do you want him or do you want me…”
Tyler: He is just letting it fly by that part.
Peter: He really taxes his voice on this album. There’s lots of screaming and whatnot. I feel like he didn’t do that as much later in his career.
It works really well here. It’s stirring.
Tyler: He’s really making every moment count. Hell, the album’s only 43 minutes.
Peter: For sure. This album flies by.
I should mention, he was singing to Vanity. She’s the “beautiful one.” Ultimately, she did not want him. So it’s kind of a sad story.
Tyler: Ah, jeez. Poor Prince!
Peter: I guess it’s true. The beautiful ones always smash the picture.
Next up is “Computer Blue!”
Tyler: Wendy and Lisa!
Peter: Another iconic opening. “Is the water warm enough?” What the hell is going on here, Tyler?
Tyler: Prince world. The wonders and delights tucked away in Paisley Park.
Peter: It’s some of that dirty, dirty sex he loved so much.
This song is almost prog-like. It’s kind of a suite?
I like the structure. I like the different sections.
Tyler: It does feature a fair bit of soloing.
Peter: Yeah. There are some extended instrumental sections. The band is doing their thing. It works really well. Kind of a change of pace. This one couldn’t have been a single. It’s an album track, important for the flow. They can’t all be singles!
Tyler: Speaking of…
The next track wasn’t radio-friendly for alternate reasons.
Peter: “Darling Nikki!”
I had to skip this one in the car with my son.
Tyler: Good call there.
Peter: It has very raunchy lyrics. And tells a sordid tale. “Nikki” should really be in prison.
Tyler: You puritan!
Peter: I kid. But this song did lead to Tipper Gore’s PMRC and their “Parental Advisory” labels on subsequent morally-questionable albums.
Tyler: Ah yes. Those inimitable advisories.
Peter: Raunchy lyrics aside, this is a great tune.
Tyler: Oh, completely.
Peter: It’s just Prince again. Playing everything himself.
Tyler: Remarkable.
Peter: The song ends with a backwards bit. It’s pretty trippy. If you flip it around he sings, “Hello, how are you?/I’m fine, fine/’cause I know that the Lord is coming soon/Coming, coming soon.”
Tyler: Huh!
What a curious wrinkle to include.
Peter: He’s an enigma. A sexy, sexy enigma.
Writers' Loom 