Back in the 1980s, while I respected Prince as a talented musician and songwriter, I was not necessarily a big fan of his music. Although I enjoyed a few of his songs, none of them made it to my regular playlists. However, as time went by, my appreciation for Prince’s music grew.
In recent years, I have found myself completely drawn in whenever I hear the iconic song Purple Rain playing on the radio. Its haunting melody, powerful vocals, and passionate guitar solos have made it a classic that still resonates with audiences today. It’s a bluesy tune that showcases Prince’s incredible talent as a musician, singer, and songwriter. While other artists have covered the song, nobody does it quite like Prince.
Of course, there are other great tunes on the Purple Rain album, such as Let’s Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. However, Purple Rain is undoubtedly the standout track and an excellent choice to close out the album.
While there isn’t a lot of detailed information available about the recording of the album or individual tracks, it is known that Prince had a preference for certain pieces of equipment. According to Engineer Susan Rogers, four effects were used throughout the recording sessions for the Purple Rain album and were some of Prince’s favourites. These effects include:
- Lexicon 224 digital reverb
- AMS RMX16 digital reverb
- Eventide H910 harmonizer
- dbx 160X compressor
It’s fascinating to consider the impact that Prince’s music has had on the industry and on fans over the years. Even for those who were not fans in the 80s, his music has stood the test of time and continues to be celebrated today.
