Which do you think is the very best version of Purple Rain?

I was listening to the Syracuse '85 version earlier and that guitar solo is insane. The guitar is crying! For me it probably just about edges it. However, I would have to give a special mention to the Milan 2010 version. He channels something special during that guitar solo.

GoldenEPump said:

Which do you think is the very best version of Purple Rain?

I was listening to the Syracuse '85 version earlier and that guitar solo is insane. The guitar is crying! For me it probably just about edges it. However, I would have to give a special mention to the Milan 2010 version. He channels something special during that guitar solo.

SYRACUSE...the soulful, soaring EXTENDED guitar intros get me every time. (& I'm REALLLLLY tired of this song, but I can still get with this version).

I have always loved the version from Dortmund '88, not too long, blazing solos, wonderful.

I've heard so many live versions of it so many times that it hardly ever moves me anymore, so I'd go with the album version, the one I fell in love with in the first place, and the one that still does something to me every time.

The album version.

Any version of that song is definitive.

It has been played too often, too much.

Really.

Only sometimes I can feel the emotion that is supposed to go with it, so the better shows are without that song. Because of that song but also because of the rest of the setlist.

They're all great. Everyone has a favorite.

I like the 4-14-11 LA Forum version, but not because of the song.

At the end, you hear a young lady in the audience say, "I can die now. I'm ready".

Awesome.

RodeoSchro said:

They're all great. Everyone has a favorite.

I like the 4-14-11 LA Forum version, but not because of the song.

At the end, you hear a young lady in the audience say, "I can die now. I'm ready".

Awesome.

I was very strict, between 1994 and 1998, on the fact that I couldn't die before hearing Days Of Wild live at least once in my life. It happened in '98 so I guess I've been ready ever since, but still there are a few more things I'd like to do, so let's earn some time and say I can't die until the whole The Flesh album AND sessions leak (or get an official release)

Too obvious?

First Avenue 8.3.1983

iloveannie said:

I would have to say like many mentioned...

Lovesexy in Dortmund..Something about that!

Of course I just raved about Milan back when someone posted a thread on it!!! Just amazing!

Also of course, is the one he did in Montreux! The beginning guitar licks to the song is too sweet to miss! JUST listen to it again!

He has performed it so many times so exceptionally well, it is really hard to pick!

He should start performing 'Last December' more often!

But here I go, talking about what he should do..lol

I just would like to see that song back in the setlist again!

thebanishedone said:

thebanishedone said:

thebanishedone said:

I'm not comparing those guys.but they are my guitar heroes beside Prince,so i wonder what you think

Hmm, well I'm not overly familiar with either Springsteen or Isley purely because I don't enjoy their music.

Carlos Santana I can't stand either so that limits my knowledge somewhat. I can see a lot of him in the way Prince solos. Long notes, drawn out, bit boring.

George Benson. Well I love jazz guitar so that's an easy one. The nice thing about jazz musicians is that they study and therefore know which notes are the right ones as opposed to just widdling about with a mode or scale. You only need to listen to the staggering difference between the others you've mentioned and Benson to see what I mean. Prince for all his ability is a world away from Benson. Impossible to compare really. It's just a shame he never learnt his theory as he'd be able to use it to such wonderful effect.

Hendrix? Well let's face it what he did with the guitar surpassed anything Leo ever had in mind when he stuck those two pieces of wood together. I reckon his jaw must have hit the ground when he saw what he was doing with his baby. Hendrix, like Prince, really knew how to fill in and fill out the song. But when he solo'd, well that was just a wall of sound coming at you. How he ever made a single coil rumble, roar and scream like he did beats me.

So what do you think of the folk scene in the UK at the moment. Bands like The Bad Shepherds, Mumford & Sons, Bellowhead? It's a real happening thing at the moment. It gets you up off your feet and dancing, has lyrics that are raw and real: music that requires great passion, timing and harmony, that demands it be listened to. Not gonna be everyone's cup of tea but believe me when you're stood there with a beer in your hand and a girl on your arm it's the best thing going. Impossible not to dance and sing to. I like music that lifts the spirit and shows me I'm alive.