Studio Album · No. 6
Purple Rain Songwriting Credits by Prince
Produced by Prince · Engineered by David Leonard, Susan Rogers, Peggy McCreary, David Rivkin
Holds writing credit on 9 of 9 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Prince carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 4
Prince wrote the bulk of Purple Rain alone, but it is credited to Prince and the Revolution and several tracks were cut live with the band. 'Computer Blue' carries co-writes from Prince, his father John L. Nelson, Wendy Melvoin, and Doctor Fink, the clearest sign of the Revolution's creative input on a Prince record up to that point. The remaining eight songs were composed solely by Prince, who produced, arranged, and performed across the album. The band's onstage chemistry shaped the title track and 'Let's Go Crazy,' both derived from concert recordings.
Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by Prince and the soundtrack to his semi-autobiographical film of the same name, released in June 1984 on Warner Bros. Records and produced by Prince. The album was a cultural phenomenon, spending twenty-four consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawning two number-one singles in 'When Doves Cry' and 'Let's Go Crazy,' as well as the iconic title ballad. The record blended hard rock, funk, soul, and new wave into a sound that was simultaneously personal and universally accessible, with Prince's virtuosic guitar playing reaching new heights. Purple Rain won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Performance and Best Score Soundtrack, and the accompanying film further cemented Prince's status as a generational star. It remains one of the best-selling albums in history and a cornerstone of 1980s American popular culture.
Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Let's Go Crazy
#1
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Wendy Melvoin (Guitar)Lisa Coleman (Keyboards)Matt Fink (Keyboards)Bobby Z (Drums)Brown Mark (Bass) |
| 2 |
Take Me with U
#25
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Apollonia Kotero (Backing Vocals)Lisa Coleman (Keyboards) |
| 3 |
The Beautiful Ones
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Lisa Coleman (Keyboards) |
| 4 |
Computer Blue
|
Prince Rogers NelsonJohn L. NelsonWendy MelvoinLisa ColemanDoctor Fink | Prince Rogers NelsonJohn L. NelsonWendy MelvoinLisa ColemanDoctor Fink | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Wendy Melvoin (Guitar)Lisa Coleman (Keyboards)Matt Fink (Keyboards)Bobby Z (Drums)Brown Mark (Bass) |
| 5 |
Darling Nikki
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 6 |
When Doves Cry
#1
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 7 |
I Would Die 4 U
#8
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Wendy Melvoin (Guitar)Lisa Coleman (Keyboards)Bobby Z (Drums)Brown Mark (Bass) |
| 8 |
Baby I'm a Star
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Wendy Melvoin (Guitar)Lisa Coleman (Keyboards)Matt Fink (Keyboards)Bobby Z (Drums)Brown Mark (Bass) |
| 9 |
Purple Rain
#2
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Wendy Melvoin (Guitar)Lisa Coleman (Keyboards)Matt Fink (Keyboards)Bobby Z (Drums)Brown Mark (Bass) |