Black History Music Pt. 5

In celebration of Black History Month, the Ear Candy Update intends to celebrate landmark recordings by black artists that have shaped the collective consciousness, mentality, and sense of cool the world over. Next, Prince and the Revolution's "Purple Rain."

To begin, do not trust anyone who speaks ill of Prince. This record is a masterpiece and anyone who says otherwise is not to be trusted. 

Sex and religious devotion, life and afterlife, isolation and collaboration... in nine, perfectly crafted songs. This was designed as a soundtrack, yes, but it was part of a more grand battle plan. This was to turn Prince into a global superstar. Audacious, to be sure and it fucking worked. No one else could have pulled this off, including the other contemporary titans like Michael Jackson.

Mike could have written the songs, but he damn sure couldn't play the instruments. Heavy metal licks, pop sensibility, consolidated funk and R&B, neo-psychedelic swirls, rock and blues riffs, and classical strings abound in, through, and around these nine tracks. Factor in all of that and it still retains the Prince prerequisite of making you shake your ass. 

It's exuberant, ambitious as hell, and a cause for celebration. Every listening reveals something new - did you ever notice that "When Doves Cry" doesn't have a bassline? Prince was a master musician, and had he chosen to focus his prodigious talents in any one discipline – jazz, classical – he would not have had many rivals in his generation. He couldn’t be restrained, and what’s more, he actively sought out strangleholds so he could conquer them.

It’s difficult to isolate any one Prince album, especially his terrific run through the entire 1980s. It all came in an onslaught: “Dirty Mind” in 1980, “Controversy” in 1981, “1999” in 1982, and then… “Purple Rain” in 1984.  He was 26 years old. “Around the World in a Day” and “Sign ‘O’ the Times” would come in ’85 and ’87 respectively, and I debated putting Times up here ahead of Rain, but jurisprudence and my backbone directed me otherwise.

He had no reverence for the status quo, and to say he was a musician is to say Mt. Everest is tall. He looked like a purple pirate in five-inch heels, and he could take your girl with a glance. His influence is omnipresent. Every Outkast record has a Prince moment, and so does every Janelle Monáe, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, and Roots record too. Hell, even the Talking Heads and Justin Timberlake owe a debt of gratitude. 

Purple Rain? Purple Reign.