Set List - Wednesday Special

In this edition of Set List - Wednesday Special, I am featuring Purple Rain by Prince.

Background -

- 6th studio album

- First album to feature Prince's band, the Revolution

- Released in June 1984

Genres considered -

Pop...R&B...Rock...Funk...Psychedelic...Soul...Gospel

My note - An extreme range of genres, but all combined together makes sense.

First Track - "Let's Go Crazy"

Last Track - "Purple Rain"

Critical Acclaim -

- Debuted at No. 11 in July 1984 on Billboard 200

- 1.5 million copies sold in the U.S. alone

- No. 1 in August 1984 on Billboard 200

Awards -

- Grammy Award (1984)

Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

- Grammy Award (1984)

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

- Grammy Award nomination (1984) for Album of the Year

- Academy Award (1985)

Best Original Song Score

Reception -

- As of 2008, Purple Rain has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

- Certified 13x Platinum (Diamond) - 13 million copies sold

- Library of Congress's National Recording Registry (2012)

Sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important"

- 4 U.S. Top 10 singles -

"When Doves Cry" (No. 1)

"Let's Go Crazy" (No. 1)*

*Staple in concert performances ... Certified Gold (U.S.)

"Purple Rain" (No. 2)

"I Would Die 4 U" (No. 8)

Honors -

- Comparable to Michael Jackson and Madonna

- Time magazine - 

15th greatest album of all time (1993)

- No. 18 on VH1's Greatest Rock and Roll Albums of All Time

- Rolling Stone -

Second best album of the 1980s

76th on 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

- Vanity Fair - 

Best soundtrack of all time (2007)

Sales/Certification -

- 1.5 million copies sold in store within first week of release

- 25 million copies sold worldwide

- 2x Platinum in the UK (600,000 copies sold)

- Platinum in Switzerland (50,000 copies sold)

- 5x Platinum in New Zealand (75,000 copies sold)

- Platinum in the Netherlands (100,000 copies sold)

- 3x Gold in Germany (750,000 copies sold)

- Platinum in France (338,600 copies sold)

- 6x Platinum in Canada (600,000 copies sold)

(Source - Wikipedia)

My take away -

I will always remember the breaking news of Prince's death - unexpected, unsuspecting, and devastating.  Every car radio played anything by Prince - especially "1999."  I will always remember radio stations playing "1999" on the New Year's holiday.  Prince was so loved by fans.  His contribution to the music industry is profound and will last forever.