Purple Rain Deluxe (Expanded Edition)

by Prince — 19 July 2017 — music — 5/5

Based on what I’ve read this was remastered at Paisley Park in 2015. The contents of the original album are not wildly different from the original release, it was not remixed just remastered. Some of the more subtle things are more prominent in the mix compared to the original CD release (I don’t have an original vinyl copy to compare to) and mostly sound slightly crisper, a bit more string section is noticeable. Overall a nice version of the album, and if you don’t already have it this is the version to get.

The included booklet contains much of the original insert from the original LP release as well as track by track commentary from the band, an extensive essay on the album and movie by esteemed producer, engineer, and professor of music production Susan Rogers. Liner notes for the Bonus Tracks contain production information that has been widely speculated but is now official, which is nice, and the remix liner notes include the front and back covers of the singles that they were originally released on. In terms of packaging it’s very well done and high quality. Given that it’s a deluxe package I suppose I understand the use of silver for the field behind the artwork, though I think it would have been more appropriate to stick with the original white.

Bonus tracks. There is a whole album of previously unreleased songs, all of which have been widely circulated in the fan community for decades at this point. Most of them are much better quality on this and some are slightly different mixes or edits of those songs so it’s nice to add them to even the most rigorously complete collection. It’s often difficult to speculate as to why Prince chose to not release some of the songs from his Vault. There are simply wonderful songs that have never seen an official release while some albums (notably later 90’s ones) have a fair number of good but ultimately forgettable songs that aren’t as good. Back when WB released “The Vault” album of unreleased tracks it was a mishmash or random tracks left around in varying degrees of quality/completion from a lot of different eras. Here we have a collection that is all from sessions for Purple Rain or in the period leading up to Purple Rain, and I appreciate that a great deal. Particularly songs like Love and Sex, a shorter version of Electric Intercourse, and Wonderful Ass would have fit into the film quite nicely in club scenes. The extended Computer Blue is the legendary “Hallway Speech” version (so labeled by fans and now that label has been retroactively applied to it by the record company) in pristine quality. A few of the tracks are rougher either in quality or in songwriting and appear to be working rather than final versions (Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden, Velvet Kitty Cat, Katrina’s Paper Dolls, We Can Fuck) which is a bit disconcerting given the polished nature of other tracks but that is I suppose the nature of working with what’s in the vault. Possessed is a much different version than the several widely circulated versions I’ve heard. I was surprised to not have Neon Telephone on here or Prince versions of any number of Family/Vanity 6/Time/etc songs.

Remixes. Remixes can be the lazy way to do a reissue, just throw the already released single/12” edits on a disc and call it a deluxe edition. Given that there is already a full disc of unreleased tracks the fact that most of these remixes have been officially available for decades a non issue. Nothing surprising here, but nice to have them all in one place.

1985 DVD. This is the same video that’s been circulating on the fan circuit for 30 years, the video quality is slightly better than the VHS copy I picked up in 1987. The audio is substantially improved from the video versions of this show that I’ve seen, on par with the best of the bootleg audio I’ve heard. The show itself is fantastic. Prince and the Revolution at the top of their game is truly a sight to behold. It’s easy to understand Prince’s longevity and appeal from listening to the albums, but to really appreciate him realizing what an incredible entertainer he was is critical and nothing beats the live performances. I’ve seen dozens and dozens of his shows and this is absolutely one of the best. Being in some ways old fashioned I particularly appreciate the stage show and the sound with the understanding that this was all before LED lights made everything cold and washed out and digital effects made everyone sound the same.