Prince at His Peak: A Track by Track Look at Purple Rain

By Aiden Richards 

 

Released in 1984, “Purple Rain” is widely considered Prince’s defining work and one of the most influential albums of the 1980s. Serving as both a studio album and the soundtrack to the film of the same name, it blends rock, pop, funk, soul and R&B into a sound that is entirely Prince. It is ambitious, cinematic and intensely personal, showing an artist at the height of his powers. The album spent 24 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

1. Let’s Go Crazy (0:00)

The album opens with energy that is impossible to ignore. Prince begins with what feels like a sermon about life and urgency before exploding into a rock-and-funk anthem. The guitar solos soar and his vocals move effortlessly between falsetto and full-bodied power. Released as the first single, the song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It sets the stage for an album that celebrates life while acknowledging its fragility.

 

2. Take Me With U (4:39)

A duet with Apollonia 6, this track is playful and melodic, expressing romantic longing and the desire for shared experience. Its bright harmonies and synthesizer-driven production made it a top 25 single in the U.S. and a top 10 hit in the U.K. The song offers a moment of sweetness and lightness, balancing the album’s intensity with warmth.

 

3.  The Beautiful Ones (8:33)

This ballad is raw, dramatic and vulnerable. Prince’s falsetto rises and cracks as he pleads for affection and recognition, with instrumentation that swells and recedes in perfect emotional sync. Not released as a single at the time, it has since become one of the album’s most celebrated tracks for its honesty and power.

 

4.  Computer Blue (13:46)

“Computer Blue” is ambitious and complex, moving through multiple sections that blend rock, funk and experimental synth sounds. It conveys obsession and emotional turbulence. Critics have praised the track for its daring structure, which challenged conventional pop formulas while showcasing Prince’s musical imagination.

 

5.  Darling Nikki (17:45)

This provocative track drew controversy for its explicit lyrics and was cited in discussions that led to the Parental Advisory label. Its funk-driven groove and daring storytelling reveal Prince’s fearless approach to intimacy and desire. It is bold, playful and unapologetic, cementing his reputation as an artist who defied boundaries.

 

6.  When Doves Cry (21:45)

One of the most iconic songs in Prince’s catalog, “When Doves Cry” features a minimalist arrangement famously lacking a bass line. It became Prince’s first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The track’s tension between soft vulnerability and intense desperation mirrors fractured relationships, and its innovative production helped define the sound of the 1980s.

 

7.  I Would Die 4 U (27:53)

Upbeat, spiritually infused and dance-ready, this track mixes devotion and euphoria. Its lyrics blur the line between romantic and religious love, while its driving synths create a sense of urgency. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains celebrated for its infectious energy and emotional depth.

 

8. Baby I’m a Star (30:42)

This track radiates confidence and celebration. Prince’s charisma and the song’s relentless rhythm make it a high-energy anthem. Though not released as a single, it became a concert favorite and exemplifies the album’s dual focus on spectacle and intimacy.

9. Purple Rain (35:06)

The album closes with the title track, a slow-building masterpiece that blends rock balladry with soul-infused guitar solos. Its soaring instrumentation and restrained, aching vocals convey heartbreak, longing and hope. Released as a single, it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. It is cinematic, intimate and timeless, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

 

Purple Rain endures because it balances contradiction. It is vulnerable and powerful, intimate and grand, chaotic and precise. Every track contributes to a cohesive narrative of emotion and artistry, and listening to the album feels like witnessing an artist completely unafraid to share his soul with the world.