The Australian's Review liftout this weekend featured a list of 25 'classic' albums that are (deservedly in the minds of the authors) collecting dust in record collections the world over. Purple Rain was the last listed (although it wouldn't seem that the albums were ranked in any way):

"A soundtrack album of sorts, this is entitled to come up a little short without the visuals. But it's hard to cop today because of the sounds, the dreadful '80s synthetics and the indulgence. Before this, Prince had a genius for stripped-down pop (When U Were Mine, Little Red Corvette), but his ascent to superstardom gave vent to an egomania that almost ruined some fine songs on Purple Rain, notably the title track and The Beautiful Ones. The closing song, Baby You're a Star, heralds a decade-plus of sub-James Brown funk. His albums have been long on filler ever since."

fairmoan said:

Don't agree with the review. "Purple Rain" is a masterpiece. Not one bad song on the whole album.

What were the other 24 albums?

This review is bullshit.

P.Rain still sounds as good today as when first released. Everytime I put it on, I get an energy surge.

It does not sound dated to me.

good lawd, nobody else listens to it?? fuck, they sure as hell don't.."baby, you're a star"?? c'mon now, at least they coulda looked at the tracklistin for more than 3 seconds...and they're pretty much bullshittin there, cuz pr is the album that most folks know about and the one that gets played on radio all the time.

those cats shoulda done their homework a bit more.

i agree somewhat with the review. i haven't listend to purple rain all the way through in over a decade. and i believe the revolution is prince's weakest band of musicians (compare them to the exodus band or the band he's got now - no comparison!)

having said that, i love the album. in 1984, it ruled! i couldn't get enough of it. and of course it's briliant. absolutely one of his all time best. but i never listen to it. today, i'm much more interested in what prince can still do, not what he has done. i find rainbow children and xpectation more exciting than the old stuff, 'cause for him it's still a challenge to make new music.

on the conrary to what that reviewer said, prince's music has become better since PR. PR was only the beginning of greatness we now know. maybe what this guy deems "filler" is actually the stuff prince wants to explore.

Dang, when I was a young'un back in 1984, I had a rule that I would NOT go to bed until I listened to Purple Rain all the way through at least once.

I think I mighta burned myself out on it a little as a result, ha...but still, every now and then I still pull it out of the cobwebs and give it a spin, and I love it just as much as I did 19 years ago. I think this is the only album I can say I know every nook, cranny, lyric and note of, just like the back of my hand.

Oh please "Purple Rain" (the song) is over-played if you ask me. The reason why I never listen to it i because I have a good chance of hearing it on my local 80s station, lol.

As far as the album goes, I play it every once and awhile, and I know tons of people and some of today's artists that swear by this album. "Purple Rain" is one of those recognized classics, I know tons of people (not Prince fans in general) that still listen to/talk about this album.
I think the reviewer should come down from Mars, be slapped, and take a good look at the track listing.
[This message was edited Sat Aug 9 15:08:48 PDT 2003 by lovebizzare]

Played it this morning!!

Credibility shot.

I checked the article again and the incorrect song title is indeed their mistake, not mine.

I can relate to the review to an extent since I have never thought the album up to much. But I cannot concur with the statement that "His albums have been long on filler ever since" (obviously).