‘Prince And Purple Rain Book’ Celebrates The Classic Album’s 40th Anniversary
Andrea Swensson’s new book Prince And Purple Rain is now available in celebration of the classic album’s 40th anniversary in 2024.
Authoritatively written and including rare photography and memorabilia, this beautiful slip-cased volume is a stunning and in-depth celebration of Prince’s most iconic album and film, Purple Rain.
Buy Prince vinyl and CDs at the Dig! store.
In 1984, Prince, along with his band, The Revolution, released what would become his best-selling album and a touchstone of 1980s pop culture. Worldwide, Purple Rain has gone on to sell 25 million copies and counting. In Prince and Purple Rain, Andrea Swensson, a Minneapolis-based journalist, and host/co-producer of the Official Prince Podcast, takes a deep dive into the legendary musician’s most famous album on its 40th anniversary.
Chapters in Prince And Purple Rain cover Prince’s youth and early music career in Minneapolis, as well as each of the five studio albums that preceded Purple Rain; Prince’s backing band, The Revolution, and the backgrounds of each of its individual members, with an emphasis on the Purple Rain studio and touring members: drummer Bobby Z, bassist Brown Mark, guitarist Wendy Melvoin, keyboardist Lisa Coleman, and keyboardist Dr. Fink.
The book also includes a track-by-track analyses of each side; a look at the groundbreaking film of the same name and its multiplatinum soundtrack; Awards, accolades, and critical reception and Prince’s legacy post–Purple Rain, up to his untimely death in 2016
Featuring a foreword by Prince superfan Maya Rudolph and illustrated with more than 200 images featuring performance, off-stage photography, and memorabilia from top collectors, Prince and Purple Rain is a decisive and beautifully produced tribute to a legendary album from a legendary performer and artist.
Andrea Swensson is an author, podcast host, and music journalist based in Minneapolis. She hosts the Official Prince Podcast, produced in collaboration with Paisley Park Enterprises, NPG Records, Warner Records, and Sony Music Entertainment, and has contributed music journalism to numerous publications including NPR Music, Pitchfork, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, City Pages, and The Current, where she previously hosted The Local Show.
Buy Prince vinyl and CDs at the Dig! store.