Of course we all know there is that defining moment in a stars career. Purple Rain was Prince's. BUT...what if it never happened. Imagine there was no Purple Rain. Would there have been another peak that he would forever be compared to? Purple Rain was a blessing and curse. Critics constantly compare his new work to PR. So lets just say it doesnt exist for a moment, and look at his other works realisticly without the luxury of comparing it to PR.
Also, think of how much different things would be with the man himself. Would he have become as ego driven as he did? Would he have become as obsessed with the contract "issues" without the success of PR under his belt? I personally dont think so. And without that whole issue.. there most likely would have never been the infamous name change.
We all think about the music, the hits etc etc.. But, how many other things did it really influence in his career?
Is there another defining moment that shoots him to super stardom? If so...what is it?

I would personally have to go with Diamonds and Pearls. It was the most radio friendly and commercially pushed album since PR.

So, in short...heres some details of things that would be different without PR
*No movies...EVER. No Under the Cherry Moon, SOTT, or Graffiti Bridge
*No Paisley Park
*Also, without the Paisley Park Label, there most likely would have never been an NPG label
*No HUGE contract dispute. Face it, PR gave Prince a lot of "say so" in his mid-career. Without it, he probably would have dealt with the contracts.
*No name change. No reason for it without the contract issues.
*Diamonds and Pearls would have been his defining moment.
*Cream would have been his "When Doves Cry" hit.

Any opinions or thoughts?
I know there will probably be some "not so nice" comments, but I just think this is interesting to think about.

I would have to say, "1999." When you think about it, "Little Red Corvette," and "1999," are just as popular as "Purple Rain," they just don't have a movie.

As long as we had Diamonds & Pearls & "TMGBITW" under our belt we're good.

Well, from what you're trying to say, it seems more like if Purple Rain flopped rather than never happened. Well i heard or read from somewhere that Prince was already mostly done with Around the World in a Day before the movie/soundtrack became a hit, so it seems Prince woulda been in the same artistic direction regardless of whether he became popular or not.

so if you think about it probably 1999 or Sign o' the Times, probably because no matter how much Prince hid it in the 80's, he wanted to be a star, so he probably wouldve worked harder to become more popular.
honestly though, Purple Rain the album is so good, that even without the movie, I felt that it wouldve been a hit.

Tame said:

But neither song charted as highly as "Let's Go Crazy" or "When Doves Cry" (or "Purple Rain" itself, for that matter). And the album certainly didn't spend 6 months at #1 like Purple Rain did. Popular they might have been, but things would have been very different for Princey without the success of Purple Rain.

Please no. No life without Purple rain. That was my first Prince album.
Prince goes with purple. It's royal. I can't imagine having gotten into Prince without this album. The albums thereafter would not have done it for me. Though Diamonds and Pearls would have done it and Parade I suppose. But it's Purple rain which inspired my faith in Prince because I know what he's capable of. I wonder what inspired Purple rain (the album) not the song and the others on there.
[Edited 10/27/09 12:27pm]

If that's the case, "Around The World In A Day" would have tanked like a dead body thrown into a river with cement blocks. And if he continued on in that direction with the album after it, it would have done even worse. His label would probably drop him too. He would have no choice but to either go back to his old style or go broke.

Actually, looking back now, as great as "Purple Rain" was, a lot more better music would have come from him if it had never happened.

vainandy said:

Excellent! Thats the kinda thoughts I was looking for. I know its kinda pointless to think about, but at the same time, I think its very interesting.