Skip to content

Vinyl

Prince: Purple Rain

Prince’s Purple Rain will also hold a special place for me as it was the first album I ever purchased.  Oh, I had owned some 45s up until that point, but growing up I spent my summers at my grandparents house, and I remember as an eleven year old walking from their house to the local record store and buying it.

I think my grandparents, and my parents for that matter, might not have let an eleven year old buy the album considering some of the lyrics.

Purple Rain

Photo copyright thejcgerm under a CC-SA-NC 2.0 license.

It would be almost 10 years later when I would have my brush with fame and Prince, and I have always remained a huge Prince fan. I currently live about five miles from his studio and a half hour from First Avenue where the songs from Purple Rain were first tested and the movie was later filmed at.

Everyone knows how the album starts:

Dearly beloved

We are gathered here today

2 get through this thing called life

Electric word life

It means forever and that’s a mighty long time

But I’m here 2 tell u

There’s something else

The afterworld

A world of never ending happiness

U can always see the sun, day or night

So when u call up that shrink in Beverly Hills

U know the one – Dr Everything’ll Be Alright

Instead of asking him how much of your time is left

Ask him how much of your mind, baby

‘Cuz in this life

Things are much harder than in the afterworld

In this life

You’re on your own

Then, Prince kicks it into high gear and we’re off on one of the best musical journeys ever to be recorded as a motion picture soundtrack.

Prince then slows it down for Take Me With U and The Beautiful Ones.  Take me With U is the only song on the album to feature Purple Rain’s female lead, Apollonia, and was orginally intended for her solo album that was never released.  The Beautiful Ones, of the two songs, is much less well known, but to me, the better of the two.  It is a classic 1980s ballad as only Prince could create, with the talking voiceover, the synthesizers and Prince’s trademark falsetto.  Prince ups the tempo and the volume towards the end of the song practically screaming “Do you want me? Cause I want you!”

Purple Rain was Prince’s first album to feature the Revolution, Prince’s band, led by Wendy & Lisa, who years later would go on to score the popular NBC TV show Heroes.  Wendy & Lisa kick off the fourth track_, Computer Blue_, in an up-tempo song features Prince’s catchy hooks with a long instrumental segment in the middle that transitions to a beautiful guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Side one ends with Darling Nikki, which found popularity in the late 90s thanks to a cover by the Foo Fighters.

Side two starts off with the lead single, When Doves Cry, Prince’s first song to hit number on in the U.S, topping the charts for five weeks straight.  Over twenty-five years later, I still vividly remember the video for this song featuring scenes from the movie and Prince riding his motorcycle.

I Would Die 4 U was the fourth and last single from Purple Rain went on to become another top ten hit.  At only 2:49, it is the shortest song on the album but still packs quite a punch.  Baby I’m a Star was recorded live at First Avenue in 1983, where Prince auditioned a number of songs from Purple Rain for the filming of the movie that was still more than 6 months away.  That concert at First Avenue ranks as one of the top 5 concerts I would go to if I had my own TARDIS.

The title song from the film and the album ends the album.  What can you say about this song that hasn’t already been said?  At almost nine minutes long, this was another song that was recorded at First Avenue live.  From it’s opening guitar to the gospel elements that come to mind when the organ starts, Purple Rain takes you on an emotional journey that features almost all of Prince’s trademarks captured in one song.

I purchased this album just weeks after it’s anniversary in June, used, at Down in the Valley.  Prince albums are semi-rare here in the Twin Cities, and one of the clerks turned to the other to point out what I was buying.  The second clerk lit up like a Christmas tree and I distinctly received the impression that if she had known it was in the store she might have bought it herself.  Both clerks liked my choice, not knowing the historical significance this classic Prince album holds for me.  This is an album I will cherish for a long time, both for the music and the sentimental memories.

  • in Vinyl
  • 3 min read

of Montreal – The Past is a Grotesque Animal 12″

It’s quite fitting the day after I launched the blog that the most beautiful record I’ve purchased yet should be delivered.

of Montreal - The Past is a Grotesque Animal

of Montreal has released a 12″ album on the Polyvinyl label of The Past is a Grotesque Animal, originally recorded for Spike Jonze’s I’M HERE.  It comes on light blue vinyl with a hand screen printed design by Nina / Geminitactics.

Polyvinyl is a small label out of Champaign, Illinois and features a number of indie artists that I’ve been lucky to hear on my local radio station, 89.3 The Current.  Polyvinyl is home to of Montreal, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Joan of Arc and is the former home for Mates of State.  Last year they had a bit of financial trouble, and using Kickstarter they had a sale to save 10,000 records from destruction.  For only $20 I received 8 CDs that served as a great introduction to the artists on their label.

of Montreal was one of those artists I received a further introduction too, receiving their Icons, Abstract Thee CD.  Kevin Barnes is the man behind the project, having released 9 of Montreal albums, with the tenth coming out later this year (and available via pre-sale now.  And yes, I pre-ordered the limited edition red LP package).

The Past is a Grotesque record features two versions of the song, the second with The Lost Trees.  The song features of Montreal’s trademark catchiness and is also haunting in a way – but the vocals are like nothing done on an of Montreal record before.

I’ve listened to it a few times, and while it may not be my favorite song by of Montreal, it’s probably the favorite record I’ve purchased so far.  The record is a beautiful sky blue and the picture below doesn’t do it justice.

sdc10169.jpg

This is the first vinyl record I’ve purchased from Polyvinyl, but it won’t be the last.  I already have pre-orders in for of Montreal’s next album, False Priest, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s August release Let it Sway.  Polyvinyl, and more importantly, their artists get how the music industry is changing – you can order the CD or LP – both with the album in MP3 available on release date,  as well as packages containing t-shirts, buttons or stickers.  It’s good to see at least one label who understands CwF + RtB (Connect with Fans) + (Reason to Buy).  And they sent me some bonus items with my of Montreal purchase:  The ZZZZ’s latest album, a poster and a pink lemonade Airheads!

sdc10164.jpg

Vinyl (R)Evolution

Note: This is reposted from my main blog and seems fitting to kick off my Vinyl Music blog with.

When I was 17 or18 years old, I wanted to be a DJ with a friend of mine. I grabbed all of my parents vinyl records, trucked them over to my friend’s house and then… we didn’t do anything. He and I eventually had a falling out and a couple years later when I inquired about getting the records back, I was dismayed to learn that his basement had flooded and they were trashed.

I don’t think my father has forgiven me to this day.

I grew up heavily influenced by music, including my parents listening to their records and favorite artists such as ABBA, Billy Joel and Elton John. I remember periods of my life based on the music I was listening to at the time and if I hear a specific song it can take me back right to that moment.

I’ve been thinking about buying a turntable for the last few years and re-creating some of those memories. I participated in Record Store Day last year shopping at a local store and picking up a number of CDs and this year on Record Store Day I went out and this time picked up some used and new vinyl records and then bought a turntable off Craigslist. (An early 80s Pioneer direct-drive).

img_5174.jpg

I’m one of growing number of people getting back into vinyl – just visit The Future of Vinyl blog for non-stop media coverage of the growth of vinyl over the last couple years – it’s now the fastest growing segment of the (dying) music industry. Even large retailers like Best Buy are getting in on it. (Though I found their selection disappointing – very few new records, just 180g re-issues of older material, and for the same prices as the local stores, who I would rather support).

I own more CDs than I can count, and even if it’s in my head, I do think vinyl sounds better. There is something to be said for the crackle and hiss of a well worn and loved album playing on a stereo.

I don’t know what’s more fun – listening to the albums or shopping for them. I’ve already bought over 60 records in the last 6 weeks, the bulk of them at two events. The first was a private collector who put an ad in Craigslist and was selling over 5000 records with most of them going for 3 for a dollar. The second sale was today at the Minnesota Record Show which is held four times a year and features a number of dealers selling records for a few bucks each to rare albums worth hundreds of dollars. On average at an event like this or in the local record stores, used albums are about $3 each. I have bought a few re-issues on 180 gram vinyl of some of my favorite albums of all time, such as Depeche Mode’s Music for the Masses. (Most albums are 120 grams – the thicker the album the higher the fidelity).

img_5171.jpg

But what impresses me the most is the resurgence in current artists releasing vinyl day and date with CD – and including MP3 or FLAC downloads for free when you purchase the vinyl record. I’ve picked up some great new albums, including the latest from The Hold Steady, The New Pornographers and Broken Bells.

My wife laughs at me every time I say “I’m going downstairs to listen to some records” but I’m enjoying the experience immensely. She also says I’m done collecting for a while, but don’t tell her, I have my eyes on some more new releases and I heard about another upcoming show…