On this day in 1984: Prince started a 24 week run at the top of the U.S. album chart with ‘Purple Rain’. His sixth studio album which features the hits ‘When Doves Cry’ and ‘Let’s Go Crazy’, as well as the title track has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, becoming the seventh best-selling soundtrack album of all time. It was the first album to feature his band The Revolution.
In addition to Purple Rain’s breakthrough sales, music critics noted the innovative and experimental aspects of the soundtrack’s music, most famously on the spare, bass-less “When Doves Cry”. Other aspects of the music, especially its synthesis of electronic elements with organic instrumentation and full-band performances along with its consolidation of rock and R&B, were identified by critics as distinguishing, even experimental factors. Purple Rain is regularly ranked among the greatest albums of all time. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that “are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important”.
On this day in 1984, Prince would also be starting his fifth and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “When Doves Cry”, a song from the Purple Rain soundtrack.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1984:
1 1 WHEN DOVES CRY –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-10 (5 Weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 GHOSTBUSTERS –•– Ray Parker, Jr. (Arista)-8 (2)
3 4 STATE OF SHOCK –•– The Jacksons with Mick Jagger (Epic)-6 (3)
4 3 DANCING IN THE DARK –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-11 (2)
5 9 WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT –•– Tina Turner (Capitol)-12 (5)
6 6 INFATUATION –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-11 (6)
7 7 SAD SONGS (Say So Much) –•– Elton John (Geffen)-9 (7)
8 15 STUCK ON YOU –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-7 (8)
9 11 BREAKIN’… THERE’S NO STOPPING US –•– Ollie & Jerry (Polydor)-10 (9)
10 13 I CAN DREAM ABOUT YOU –•– Dan Hartman (MCA)-14 (10)
11 5 EYES WITHOUT A FACE –•– Billy Idol (Chrysalis)-14 (4)
12 8 LEGS –•– ZZ Top (Warner Brothers)-12 (8)
13 10 JUMP (For My Love) –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-15 (3)
14 14 DOCTOR! DOCTOR! –•– Thompson Twins (Arista)-11 (11)
15 18 IF EVER YOU’RE IN MY ARMS AGAIN –•– Peabo Bryson (Elektra)-13 (15)
16 20 PANAMA –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers)-7 (16)
17 19 SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT –•– Corey Hart (EMI-America)-11 (17)
18 12 ALMOST PARADISE –•– Mike Reno & Ann Wilson (Columbia)-13 (7)
19 23 ROUND AND ROUND –•– Ratt (Atlantic)-8 (19)
20 16 MAGIC –•– The Cars (Elektra)-12 (12)
