I remember it very well.

I was 11. I had been a Prince fan already because of 1999, LRC and Delirious, but I didn't know too much about him. When the video and single for WDC hit, I was completely in awe. I bugged my mom to take me to the store when the album came out, and I remember at first being like... WTF is this? LOL. Then I became completely in love with it.

I recorded the album onto a cassette tape (along with 17 days and erotic city), and played it on my walkman all summer. That summer of 1984 will always be associated with Purple Rain for me.

83 and 84 were terrific times in pop music, but Purple Rain was the apex.

Wow, and today's my birthday, too.

Little did I know I was celebrating my birthday when the album dropped. 11 years old at the time.

I didn't get the album until after the movie came out!!!

So I will celebrate my 36th with a quick listen of that album, my edit, with all the tracks extended as needed.

Yeah, that's the ticket!!!!

Congrats!!!!! I still wish I existed at that time it came out

I was listening to Prince already, but my first "Purple Rain" memory is driving to the bank with my mom and best friend.
I was in the front passenger seat, mom driving and my buddy in the back seat..all of a sudden the opening of "When Doves Cry" comes on the radio and as they say.. the rest is history...

This year, this album, this movie changed my life.

Hate to say it but I was just graduating high school and getting ready for college and this whole summer into the next year was crazy. Loved everything about it. Met my future wife and new friends have followed the man ever since.

All hail Purple Rain...
[Edited 6/25/09 9:51am]

I feel old

1nonly said:

Happy Birthday!

Genesia said:

MmmHMmmmmm...so, like uhh.....where do you work exactly??

Judas L Christ gets 'Lump in throat'.

Sorry, I haven't read all the replies yet.... but is there anyone that was at the June 7 1984 b-day party that could give us a story? I've seen some pics but no video has appeared and I have never heard any real stories about this great, exciting show.

Thanks.

i saw this movie what seems like FOREVER ago lol... i was then the age of my son now, in the movies with my mom, my good friend in michigan, her mother, her cousin and that girls mom - all those ladies are friends in michigan and visit when we go up - since now we live long distance.

anyway, jenny w. thats my prince lovin friend from michigan, been friends with her since our mom's were pregnant together - thats a long time huh? she was the prince fan and turned me on to him...boy did she!!! i've been a fan ever since

i loved the movie, still do, my kids love it too, even mom was into it... but i have to say there were a couple parts of the movie that made my momma a little nervous with all of us impressionable younsters in there watching it

gotta put the props out there, just got back from michigan, saw my grandmother while i was there, shes 87 years old now and moving pretty slow hard to believe that shes the one that took me out to buy the p rain album, yes i do mean album and shes also the one that was dancing in her living room when i opened it and put it on... that is one of my favorite memories of her

in my family, and really anyone i know, there is noone else that has a favorite singer they have stuck with for years...but EVERYONE knows my love for prince!! i still get calls after hes on tv or like when he did the superbowl, or the induction into the hall of fame from family and from even friends of my mom's i havent talked to in awhile when its over just so they can say "DAMN!!! DID YOU SEE THAT?????" i love that they think of me, i love that hes been around for so long, i love that the old stuff is still my favorite, and im so happy that everytime i watch this movie again i still feel like that young girl sittin in the movie - if i only knew the lifelong love i would have for him... its kinda cool!!!

happy birthday purple rain, and thanks for the ride prince!!!!

I had just turned 14 when I heard When Dove's Cry on the radio in the car.I remember going to the store immediately and purchasing the 45, which I played over and over again, until the Album came out.After that, no one touched him in my book, yet 1984 was an amazing year musically.

..dig if you will, the picture..









I saw that movie 19 times!!!!!

It's the 25th anniversary of the album.

The 25th anniversary of the movie is July 27.

I heard Purple Rain and other songs all my life but I didn't get into it until I was about 12/13. The movie, however, I that back in 94/95 and even though I love this movie it's one of the reasons why I'm somewhat sexually and gender confused . Still, I'm happy that the music has proven the test the time and can't wait for the 30TH Anniversy. :beer:
[Edited 6/25/09 10:38am]

NastradumasKid said:

Oh baloney. You'd be confused either way.

JudasLChrist said:

What do you mean?

NastradumasKid said:

So do I

I remember being in a mall in Muncie, Indiana (lol) when the album was released...my college roommate and I were already big Prince fans but for some reason we didn't really keep track of when Purple Rain was being released (we would stop and stare tranfixed on the tv, though, whenever the video for "When Doves Cry" came on)...

I was in a Hallmark store or some small stupid store just mucking around...and there was a record store across the mall from where I was. All of a sudden I heard the screams from the end of "The Beautiful Ones" blaring throughout the tiny small town mall, and I said "What the hell is that!" lol...I went over to the record store, and just stood in the entry way listening, then said "Holy shit...that's Prince!"...the cashier smiled and nodded. My roommate saw me and walked over, and I pointed to the air inside the record store, said "Prince", his eyes got wide, and he bought the album on the spot

My roommate, my girlfriend and I all sat around together listending to the album...only time in my life I ever listened to a new album with other people like that. We wore that album OUT ...Also remember the VJs on MTV playing "Darling Nikki" backwards and talking about the message at the end of it...it was like a discussion group about Prince and the Purple Rain album. Made everything seem even more important at the time.

The 10-page oral history was compiled and written by Brian Raftery, who spoke to most of the key participants in the original project, including Wendy and Lisa, other members of the Revolution and the Time, Rob Cavallo (the film’s producer and Prince’s manager at the time), director Albert Magnoli, and the original screenplay writer William Blynn. Prince and the Time’s main man Morris Day did not participate.

“We did a full court press to get Prince himself involved,” said Brod. “He’s a pretty tough guy to get a hold of, and he doesn’t dwell much on nostalgia.”

I do remember being shocked when i got the album that 1999 wasn't on it. The video was always on-with Little Red Corvette, Take me with you and Purple Rain. Mabey the look confused me-i thought 1999 was in the movie too. The after the first time i saw the movie-to be honest-I remember Wendy as much as Prince. My first real guitar hero was actually her.
I was still at school in 84. one of my mates had a car-so we'd all cram in-and drive around Coventry and Birmingham blasting Purple Rain out-and a car full of lads singing along lol what memories
I also remember going picture selling for the first time-to buy all the albums before Purple Rain.

Man I still adore the movie. The album-mabey i over listened to it over the years as I rarely play it now. But i do get the dvd out or watch Syracruse or Atlanta regularly

This album and movie pretty much shaped my existence.

I was only 1 when it came out, but it was a huge part of my life.

I once did Let's Go Crazy at a school talent show when I was 6.

My mother tells me that when the movie or album would end, I would start to cry.

I still remember sitting on the floor with my little Sesame Street record player. Watching the record spin, and staring at the album cover.

lol-thats sooooo cute -lets go crazy-at 6. Brilliant

PS reminds me i used to watch charlies angels with a picture of Farrah Fawcett Majors on the arm of the chair-and apparently i'd get upset and cry if any baddies messed with her lol

happy bday.

It was the Summer of '84....(duh) and my cousin was spending a week of summer vacation with me. I was 11 and he was 13. Of course the mall was our hangout. And, of course, we had to visit the record store.

I bought this:

and he bought this:

Of course since he was staying at MY house I got to listen to my album first when we got home. Of course I'm all like "Who ya gonna call?" and stuff...
Well when we were done listening to my album I let him have his turn. He put the needle on the record and my whole world changed. The music coming out of my speakers was hypnotizing. The only word I can use explain it. I musically grew up that day. So of course the next weekend I immediately went and bought the album for myself and have been buying Prince ever since!

OldFriends4Sale said:

OOOOOHHHHH Snap! I gotta get my hands on that.

I watched the movie last night after a long time and I think I just fell in love with Prince's music all over again

The music on this album was the first contact I ever had with his music. I remember I had just finished middle school so there was nothing to do. I was at home and they aired the movie on VH1, so I decided to watch - I thought maybe that's where The Beautiful Ones was on, I wanted to listen to the original version since I loved Mariah's. I never expected to be as excited about his music as I was The music is just flawless.


Purple Rain

I didn't buy the album until my 15th birthday, though Purple Rain
[Edited 6/25/09 11:27am]

The first time I heard the album was on the day I turned 11. I was thrilled to get it for my birthday,and promptly disappeared into my room to listen to it with my friend at the time. I remember both of us standing next to my stereo when I layed the needle to vinyl. I listened,and looked at the poster,which later would be hung on my purple walls. I also remember going to ask my Mom if I could listen to Darling Nikki,she said yes,and again we (my friend and I) stood at the stereo,and listened. After the song was done,I remember wondering what the big deal was. I assumed it would be much dirtier.

Happy Birthday Purple Rain!
[Edited 6/25/09 11:39am]

I had just turned 5 a month earlier.

My earliest memory of the Purple Rain album was staring at the album cover's white background with the exotic flowers tossed about it. It seemed so beautiful but so simple and made such a statement. The album stayed in heavy rotation no matter which family members house I was over. Everyone seemed to have it sitting on the counter or coffee table.