So with the release of Purple Rain Deluxe, It's interesting to me that Purple Rain could very well have been a double album if not for the editing:

Averaging 16-18 minutes per side:

Side 1:
Let's Go Crazy - 7:35
Take Me With U - 4:55
The Beautiful 1s - 6:15

Side 2:
Computer Blue - 12:10
Darling Nikki - 4:15

Side 3:
When Doves Cry - 5:52
Father's Song - 4:55
I Would Die 4 U - 2:57
Baby, I'm A Star - 4:21

Side 4:
Wednesday - ?
Purple Rain - 8:46 (I would leave this one, as the verse that was cut doesn't really fit with the song)


The only thing holding it back would be one or two more songs from Side 4, depending on how long 'Wednesday' is.

This could have been an awesome double album.

Shoulda woulda coulda.

Purple Rain was perfect as it was. Didn't need expanding upon. No non-hardcore fan is gonna sit through 12 minutes of Computer Blue.

I think this config makes Purple Rain worse. I'm not keen on Fathers Song, long Computer Blue is too long. Haven't heard a final version of Wednesday, I don't think, but not overly keen on the P&M version. If you want to make PR a double then there are better candidates but for me it was perfect as it was released.

It makes it less commercial as a soundtrack album, but it brings it in to line with 1999 which is also essentially not much more than a single LP with many of the songs being the 12"/full length versions.

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[Edited 10/20/20 8:37am]

I wish (and still) that they release a Purple Rain soundtrack album that most likely will be a double

i just want the 'demo' wendy and lisa present to prince in the film with the chords for purple rain.

i love that music

Thanks, guys...

I just realized what we were missing: Possessed (Version #2 - the one playing in the club when Morris and Appolonia were having dinner).

So we have:

Side 1:
Let's Go Crazy - 7:35
Take Me With U - 4:55
The Beautiful 1s - 6:15

Side 2:

God (Love Theme From Purple Rain) - 7:57
Computer Blue (edit) - 7:30

Darling Nikki - 4:15

Side 3:
When Doves Cry - 5:52
Father's Song - 5:30
I Would Die 4 U - 2:57
Baby, I'm A Star - 4:21

Side 4:

Possessed - 7:56
Wednesday - 1:40
Purple Rain - 8:46 (I would leave this one, as the verse that was cut doesn't really fit with the song)

The only thing I don't like now is the tracklist doesn't follow the order of appearance in the movie. But, you gotta make the songs fit the vinyl

[Edited 10/20/20 11:23am]

[Edited 10/20/20 11:24am]

[Edited 10/20/20 16:19pm]

PacManPlus said:

Side 4:
Wednesday - ?
Purple Rain - 8:46 (I would leave this one, as the verse that was cut doesn't really fit with the song)

"Wednesday" is a short song,so there's room for a few more tracks.How about "17 Days" and "Erotic City"? I always felt that those two songs are too good to be B-sides.

Purple Rain was always planned as a single album.

Oh, I know, but it would have been cool to have it like this.

I agree with Soul....Those B-sides would have rounded off the album nicely.

Forgive me for taking this ever so slightly off topic, but one album I wish was a double LP is Parade. For a few reasons…

1) Usually when Prince is constructing an album he’ll swap tracks in and out throughout the development. However, when he had to make room for the singles he essentially had to end the album two tracks earlier than originally intended.

2) The B-Sides ‘Love or Money’ and ‘Alexa De Paris’ both featured in the Under the Cherry Moon movie.

3) Of all of the 80s LPs, I think Parade has some of the best 12” versions. It would have been great to have heard longer versions of Kiss, Mountains and Anotherlover on the LP.

Side A
1. Christopher Tracy’s Parade (2:09)

2. New Position (2:21)

3. I Wonder U (1:40)

4. Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)

5. Alexa De Paris (3:20)

6. Wonderful Day (3:47)

7. Girls & Boys (5:30)

Side B

1. Others Here With Us (2:43)

2. Love Or $ (3:57)

3. Life Can Be So Nice (3:12)

4. Venus De Milo (1:54)

5. Mountains (9:56)

Side C

1. Do U Lie? (2:43)

2. Kiss (7:16)

3. Anotherloverholenyohead (7:52)

Side D

1. Sometimes It Snows In April (6:48)

2. Old Friends 4 Sale (3:34)

3. All My Dreams (7:20)

PacManPlus said:

Oh, I know, but it would have been cool to have it like this.

I have made up play lists of the 'soundtrack' putting all the other songs back in (Jungle Love, Possessed, Modernaire, Sex Shooter & The Bird), and made another versions based on the early configurations.

MattyJam said:

Shoulda woulda coulda.

Purple Rain was perfect as it was. Didn't need expanding upon. No non-hardcore fan is gonna sit through 12 minutes of "Computer Blue."

Agreed. Prince did the 7-9 minute song after song thing on 1999, and a bit earlier with "Do Me, Baby." Not that he wouldn't do it again (and did for the title track), but the genius of Purple Rain isn't just the songwriting and production, it's the editing. It's honed in, purposely not a double album (and frankly back-to-back doubles would've been way too much, even if it was a soundtrack), and every song is solid as a rock.

That's not to say the full version of "Computer Blue" isn't fucking brilliant in all its weird rockin' glory. But as some long song on Purple Rain, to be digested by Mr. and Mrs. RickSpringfieldBruceSpringsteenDuranDuranCyndiLauper Public, it'd have been ignored. Despite its sections, it's not comparable to side three of ELO's Out Of The Blue. Yet both are equally genius.

As an expanded playlist at home, knock yourselves out. Hell, get all the songs, and put them in order of the film itself. But as a proper soundtrack? It's just fine as is.

I consider the 7:30 version of Computer Blue to be the definative version. I love the long versions, but Prince seemed settled on the 7:30 version for release and I agree with him. It packs the perfect punch.

It was clearly edited again at the last minute simply to make room for 'Take Me With U'.

It could have been a much better album with 17 Days, Erotic City, Fther's Song and We Can Fuck

MattyJam said:

Shoulda woulda coulda.

Purple Rain was perfect as it was. Didn't need expanding upon. No non-hardcore fan is gonna sit through 12 minutes of Computer Blue.

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Exactly. Perfect pop album.

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My thing is;

Computer Blue should've been released world wide as a single, with the 12" extended Hallway version.

Yowsa, that would've been it !

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Should Modernaire be added?

McD said:

The reason 1999 never joins Purple Rain, SOTT or (sometimes) Parade on these Best Albums Ever lists is down to Prince being overly indulgent on the length of the tracks. You could literally shave 20 minutes off the album with the same track listing and do nothing but improve it.

NouveauDance said:

McD said:

The reason 1999 never joins Purple Rain, SOTT or (sometimes) Parade on these Best Albums Ever lists is down to Prince being overly indulgent on the length of the tracks. You could literally shave 20 minutes off the album with the same track listing and do nothing but improve it.

1999 is my favorite Prince album.I have no problem with the lengthy tracks.

I always thought Computer Blue (album edit) should have been the B-side to Take Me With U. Then they could have sold us all a TMWU 12" with the hallway speech version of CB as the B-side. Even though the A-side would have been the regular TMWU (just like IIWYG was), who here could have walked away from the 12-minute Computer Blue?

eyewishuheaven said:

I always thought Computer Blue (album edit) should have been the B-side to Take Me With U. Then they could have sold us all a TMWU 12" with the hallway speech version of CB as the B-side. Even though the A-side would have been the regular TMWU (just like IIWYG was), who here could have walked away from the 12-minute Computer Blue?

It's more interesting to wonder why "Computer Blue" was never a single to begin with, really. TMWU is cute, and it's a duet, but CB is a better and strong single. Separate it a bit from LGC since they're both rock songs, but talk about pulling in more of that Duran Duran white audience money... that'd have been the ticket.

McD said:

eyewishuheaven said:

I always thought Computer Blue (album edit) should have been the B-side to Take Me With U. Then they could have sold us all a TMWU 12" with the hallway speech version of CB as the B-side. Even though the A-side would have been the regular TMWU (just like IIWYG was), who here could have walked away from the 12-minute Computer Blue?

mmmmm I wanted a Computer Blue(A side) single and release a B side that compliments it. Anything at this point would have been hot. Traffic Jam, Possessed, Father's Song, Love & Sex, We Can Fuck

OldFriends4Sale said:

Should Modernaire be added?

Yes, and the The Time and Apollonia 6 songs; it would have made an amazing album, but it would have been too expensive and would not have made the same impact on the charts because of that. And Prince was shooting for the stars.