https://americansongwrite...ZgGegFFLjM

That was a mild article.

The cover was the first use of the symbol, no? Shoulda put that in there.

WhisperingDandelions said:

The cover was the first use of the symbol, no? Shoulda put that in there.

1999 was.

Can we please get some html link code pop up boxes for people who want to post links?

I actually think it's an atrocious album cover. It's an awful photo of Prince, all that smoke overshadows who/what you're trying to look at.

laytonian said:

I actually think it's an atrocious album cover. It's an awful photo of Prince, all that smoke overshadows who/what you're trying to look at.

He may have wanted it that way? He seemed at times to not like how he looked.

Prince said in the 85 Rolling Stones interview (about the ATWIAD cover)


"The cover art came about because I thought people were tired of looking at me. Who wants another picture of him? I would only want so many pictures of my woman, then I would want the real thing."

*well that and the fact that it was finished before the end of the PR tour and he wanted a different look...?


he went on to say....and thus predicted holograms?

"What would be a little more happening than just another picture [laughs] would be if there was some way I could materialize in people’s cribs when they play the record. "

OnlyNDaUsa said:

laytonian said:

I actually think it's an atrocious album cover. It's an awful photo of Prince, all that smoke overshadows who/what you're trying to look at.

He may have wanted it that way? He seemed at times to not like how he looked.

Prince said in the 85 Rolling Stones interview (about the ATWIAD cover)


"The cover art came about because I thought people were tired of looking at me. Who wants another picture of him? I would only want so many pictures of my woman, then I would want the real thing."

*well that and the fact that it was finished before the end of the PR tour and he wanted a different look...?


he went on to say....and thus predicted holograms?

"What would be a little more happening than just another picture [laughs] would be if there was some way I could materialize in people’s cribs when they play the record. "

He said lots of things but the ATWIAD figure in the cloud suit with white hair is clearly Prince. Remember he'd bleached his hair blonde for a hot minute. But obviously didn't want to talk about THAT.

FrankieCoco1 said:

laytonian said, “the ATWIAD figure in the cloud suit with white hair is clearly Prince. Remember he'd bleached his hair blonde for a hot minute.” Doug Henders who did the art for the ATWIAD cover has confirmed that the cloud suit guy is based on himself (not Prince) - he’s shown the Polaroid of him holding a guitar. The artwork must have been painted between about mid-December 1984 and mid-February 1985. The handwritten list of characters to paint that was given to Doug Henders is written on the back of PR tour/hotel itinerary paperwork dated 11th December and the presentation to the Warner Bros executives of the album took place February 21st 1985. Prince is said to have bleached his hair at the end of the PR tour, which would be early April 1985 - perhaps he did it to fit in with the cover or it’s just one of them myths. [Edited 9/30/22 17:10pm]

More info on the list of characters please? I always assumed the redhair woman with the mustache in the black lace cat suit is Sheila since she wore that outfit in 84/85.

GaryMF said:

FrankieCoco1 said:

GaryMF said:

More info on the list of characters please? I always assumed the redhair woman with the mustache in the black lace cat suit is Sheila since she wore that outfit in 84/85.

Should do a separate thread on this! Here’s a link to the list from the auction - notice the date on the reverse. https://www.rrauction.com...4530644647 Details and some of the photos Doug Henders took as ‘models’ to help him with the painting: https://daily.redbullmusi...d-in-a-day Note that the crying woman in the photo isn’t Wendy or Susannah Melvoin but a friend of the artist, called Julia. It’s meant to be a version of Jill Jones when she’s older - Prince told her, “because I'm going to know you forever” - there was a comment on Facebook by Jill about it in reply to something Susannah put (all friendly and very informative). Edit: Also there’s an article in a The Wire magazine called ‘Inner Sleeve’ about the people on the cover but I can’t get the link to work - do a Google search and you might get lucky to be able to read it [Edited 10/1/22 14:40pm] [Edited 10/1/22 15:51pm]

Thanks.

That article calls Jonathan Melvoin "Michael" (his dad)

I like the picture of Sheila modeling.

laytonian said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

He may have wanted it that way? He seemed at times to not like how he looked.

Prince said in the 85 Rolling Stones interview (about the ATWIAD cover)


"The cover art came about because I thought people were tired of looking at me. Who wants another picture of him? I would only want so many pictures of my woman, then I would want the real thing."

*well that and the fact that it was finished before the end of the PR tour and he wanted a different look...?


he went on to say....and thus predicted holograms?

"What would be a little more happening than just another picture [laughs] would be if there was some way I could materialize in people’s cribs when they play the record. "

He said lots of things but the ATWIAD figure in the cloud suit with white hair is clearly Prince. Remember he'd bleached his hair blonde for a hot minute. But obviously didn't want to talk about THAT.

I am sure I have read it, but when did he bleach his hair? (and are we sure that had anything to do with the cover?) The last show of the PR tour was April 7 and the album came out on just over 2 weeks later. The cover would have been finished by then. Some have said that Prince had a wig during some of the re-shoots for Purple Rain and during the tour...

laytonian said:

I actually think it's an atrocious album cover. It's an awful photo of Prince, all that smoke overshadows who/what you're trying to look at.

Maybe true, but it is by far a well know classic now.

Icon-ish even.

I see it regularly popping up in clothing stores.

Youngsters (twenty and younger) wear it like a Nirvana or AC/DC t-shirt, and I love that.

I'm also amazed how iconic the background with flowers has become, without the Prince on motorcycle picture.

I bought a white shirt some while ago with almost the same flower prints on them, and people keep asking me where I bought that Purple Rain shirt...

-

Just a side note,

in 1984, when Purple Rain was released, a British group called Scritti Politti released a maxi single called '"Absolute" and they had sort of same flower print on the cover.

I love that song, and the artwork. Song is super pop-funky-80's. Try it.

-

laytonian said:

I actually think it's an atrocious album cover. It's an awful photo of Prince, all that smoke overshadows who/what you're trying to look at.

Think you in the very minority that feels that way about the album cover.

I like how the article says: "So, keep reading for the story behind the famous album cover for Purple Rain."

[Edited 10/12/22 10:15am]