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Peter: Is this the greatest side 2 of all time?

Tyler: Bold question. Bold!

Peter: What else is in the conversation? Abbey Road?

Tyler: I think it’s certainly up there in the discussion, Purple Rain’s side 2. Not a bum note played or sung. Four classic bangers. Prince!

It actually begins with my least favorite of the four, a certain spare ballad-with-a-beat called “When Doves Cry.”

Peter: Wow! Least favorite of the four? Interesting.

Tyler: Classic track. I just have to really be in the right mood for it. It’s Prince at his most vulnerable, wouldn’t you say?

Peter: It’s got such a unique sound. It’s so stark, which maybe contributes to him sounding vulnerable.

There’s (famously) no bass!

Tyler: It’s a compelling listen. No doubt about it.

Peter: It’s another one where he’s playing all the instruments.

It was his first number 1 hit!

Tyler: Really!

Peter: He was about to get huge. There was a time before that!

Hard to remember. I can’t. I’m not old enough.

Tyler: Pre-Prince. A world without joy. A certain danceable joy.

Peter: I love this one. I read on Wikipedia that Purple Rain has a “psychedelic sheen to the production and performances.” I never would have put it that way, but it’s true! “When Doves Cry” is weirdly psychedelic. Sort of 80s pop psychedelia.

Tyler: I like that. Paisley pop psychedelia.

Peter: His next album, Around The World In A Day, went even further in that direction.

Next up!

Tyler: “I Would Die 4 U.” Spectacular skittering happiness.

Peter: It’s terrific. Love it.

The last three tracks on Purple Rain were recorded live at First Avenue with overdubs added later.

Tyler: That explains the segue after the end of “I Would Die 4 U.”

Peter: Can you imagine being there? That might be my first choice for “Shows I Wish I’d Been At.”

Tyler: That’s a defensible position.

Peter: I’m trying to think of other shows on that list. Monterey Pop? I mean it has to be a big, important, show. Whatever. August 3rd, 1983. First Avenue. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Set the controls on the DeLorean. I’m good with it.

Tyler: The Beatles in Hamburg would be a sight.

Peter: Dylan in Manchester in ’66? The “Judas” one. Was that Manchester?

It was in England! I’m sure of that.

Tyler: Manchester indeed!

I used that as a reason to queue up the recording. The wonders of Spotify.

Peter: The young people don’t understand.

We had to buy the album! Or get it from a friend.

Tyler: Cassette dubs and burned CDs. Back in the days when music was music!

I wonder whether a surviving Prince would’ve given in and allowed his music to be on major streaming platforms.

Peter: It’s a good question.

Tyler: Garth Brooks is doing just fine without Spotify.

Peter: He’s not on Spotify?

Tyler: Nope. Vexes me every once in a long while, when I get a craving for “Callin’ Baton Rouge.”

Peter: Huh. Interesting.

Joanna Newsom’s not on there either.

That’s probably why you haven’t gotten into her yet.

Tyler: I’ve written letters! Letters, I tell you! “Give the world Joanna!” I have written!

Peter: Liar!

I kid. The people love when we rib each other.

Tyler: You old so-and-so! It’s all in love!

Peter: Anyway, I’ve gotten us off track.

“IWD4U” was a single! It went to number 8. I did not know that until recently.

As you mentioned, it segues into “Baby I’m A Star.”

Tyler: I love love love “Baby I’m A Star.” Prince is exuberant.

Peter: It’s so much fun. Love it.

Tyler: Played during the all-time #1 Super Bowl halftime show!

Peter: Yes!

It was raining. The producers called Prince to tell him it was raining. They asked if he was going to be okay. “Can you make it rain harder?” he replied.

Tyler: Immortal.

I was watching with two dear old friends. One of them was skeptical. Until the show began.

Peter: He really nailed it. All-timer.

Tyler: That show, as does this album, concluded with “Purple Rain.”

Peter: I have on actual wired, on-ear headphones tonight. No earbuds for Purple Rain!

All the songs sound magnificent, but none more so than the title track!

Tyler: It’s a gorgeous, sad conclusion.

Peter: He was trying to write like Bob Seger!

Tyler: I love Seger. Well chosen, Prince.

Peter: He wanted to write a crossover hit, but it came out sort of country. He offered the music to Stevie Nicks as a potential duet, but she “felt overwhelmed” by it.

Tyler: I’ll be damned.

Peter: Wendy, of Wendy & Lisa fame, actually helped shape the song with her guitar part. It took the song in its final direction.

It’s a huge closer. Epic in scale. Absolutely gorgeous. 10/10. No notes.

Tyler: Hear hear.

Peter: They used to cut off the end when they played it on the radio, which was a shame. I love the long outro.

Tyler: Man, you don’t do that.

Peter: So that’s it. Purple Rain. My favorite Prince album. There are other great ones, but this is my number 1.

Tyler: I think it’s safe to say that our appreciation here is mutual.