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"Purple Rain" director writer Albert Magnoli recalls his collaboration and friendship with Prince How “Purple Rain” found its anthem: “We both knew we needed to find just the right song”Salon talks to "Purple Rain" director writer Albert Magnoli about his collaboration and friendship with Prince
 . Albert Magnoli was the director, co-writer and editor of “Purple Rain,” the 1984 hit movie that launched Prince into super-stardom. In tribute to Prince, Albert agreed to share with Salon some of his memories of that special experience. (This interview was lightly edited for clarity.) . Albert, let me begin in a non-traditional manner by opening up the floor here and handing you the microphone to say anything whatsoever. . I’m sorry. I have no words to say. The magnitude of the loss is overwhelming. . Yes, it is. I’m sorry. Let me take you away from today and let’s go back to a different time and another world, back to the early 1980’s when Prince was just emerging. Prince’s latest album, “1999,” had been a hit, and now Prince was seeking to make a movie. What were you doing back then? . I was in Los Angeles. I had recently graduated from the Film School at the University of Southern California, and I was completing my work as the editor of the 1984 film, “Reckless.” . So how did you get involved with Prince and “Purple Rain?” . At the time, Prince’s talent manager in Los Angeles, Bob Cavallo, was shopping a script around Hollywood for a film starring Prince, but he was frustrated because he couldn’t find a director to helm the film. They all kept passing on the script. I met Cavallo at an early screening of “Reckless,” and shortly thereafter he asked me why no one would direct his script. So I agreed to read it. Cavallo called me the next day for my assessment. I explained that the script needed to be authentic about the real lives of these musicians in Minneapolis. I told him that a writer-director should be sent to Prince’s city of Minneapolis to research these musicians, observe them, learn about them, and understand them. The script should genuinely reflect their lives. Fine, Cavallo said. But what is the STORY?! . I was not expecting his question. I thought my role was simply to explain to Cavallo why his script was not attracting a director. So I was silent for a moment while I gathered my thoughts. Then I launched into a story. I spoke for about 10 minutes and I described a three-act storyline. This is basically the story that is now portrayed in “Purple Rain.” . Cavallo was taken aback. He was quiet for a few moments. He was processing what I had just laid out. Then he broke the silence. . That’s a great story, he said. What are you going to do about it? . I was not expecting this question either. So I thought about it for a moment. Then I said, put me on a plane to Minneapolistomorrow night. I’ll meet with Prince and I’ll tell him this new story. If he likes it, we’ll make a film. If he doesn’t, you’re out nothing more than the cost of a plane ticket. Okay, Cavallo said, that’s a deal I can live with. . Read full article here: "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0 | |
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I would love to hear those 100 songs for Purple Rain Keep Calm & Listen To Prince | |
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Beautiful, thank you for posting. <3 |
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I still find the 100 songs thing hard to believe. | |
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. Yeah, it's exaggeration at the very least. I doubt he had 100 unreleased songs at the time. He claims to still have those tapes, so perhaps one day we will find out more. © Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights. It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for your use. All rights reserved. | |
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Well I mean, he might have had 100 songs but I do wonder if there were ever more than maybe 20 in the running in reality. I just doubt a song like Let's Go Crazy was just another song, number 64 (or whatever) out of a possible 100. | |
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💜💜💜💜great article | |
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I don't think it's unreasonable. He didn't record 100 just for Purple Rain. He was probably pulling stuff he'd recorded, and was tossing them around to see what stuck. Anyone with The Vault or DMSR can sit and count the songs he'd recorded, and not released, to the summer and winter of 1983. Sorry, it's the Hodgkin's talking. |
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. Sure, but I doubt they'd get to hundred, and plenty of them would be unsuitable anyway. Unless there's a huge list of songs we don't know about, and that seems unlikely considering the authors of those books talked so Susan Rogers, the person who started the vault. I somehow doubt that Prince had a bunch of songs stacked away that Susan didn't know about. © Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights. It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for your use. All rights reserved. | |
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I think we should treat Mr. Magnoli's story with a little caution because he basically said it was all his idea. The story, the 100 songs to chose from... As if Prince would let somebody else decide which songs to use! He even suggests that it was his, Alberts, idea to use Purple Rain. | |
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NorthC said: I think we should treat Mr. Magnoli's story with a little caution because he basically said it was all his idea. The story, the 100 songs to chose from... As if Prince would let somebody else decide which songs to use! He even suggests that it was his, Alberts, idea to use Purple Rain. Actually, Alberts collaboration is discussed in other articles about Purple Rain. Google it. Most of his story checks out and considering Prince thrived on supporting other people's ideas I don't doubt that he encouraged Magnolia. The 100 songs could be a combination of his songs and his father's songs. | |
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He's said this in a number of interviews, but I don't think this was possible. PG-13 came about because of Indiana Jones and Gremlins, both of which were released only a month prior to Purple Rain. Also, the MPAA typically reserves PG-13 for violent content while slapping an R on anything remotely sexually provocative. I'd be more inclined to belive WB was pushing for a PG rating than a PG-13. Dig if U will the picture of U and Marvin Gaye and the kids. | |
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