Prince - Purple Rain

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Prince — Purple Rain

Because Sound Matters One-Step pressing

Sourced from 192kHz/24bit files transferred from the original EQ'd analog master tapes

Mastered by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering

Limited to 6,000 numbered copies

One-Step plating and pressing on 180-gram high-definition vinyl at RTI

Stoughton Printing Old Style tip-on jacket with original artwork

"...though it's still bright, it is fundamentally even-keeled bright with the sheen and haze somehow removed. The sound is 'tight' and transparent in a way that reveals details formerly caught in the haze. Yes, Prince's voice has that '80s era processing but it doesn't smear over everything, thus his voice sits solidly in a three-dimensional space as I've never before heard it. Production details hidden are now in plain audible sight and you can crank the shit out of it and your ears won't bleed." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 — Michael Fremer, TrackingAngle.com. Read the full review here.

One-Step vinyl is the ultimate vinyl pressing, removing generational loss in the process of creating metal stampers to press records. Because Sound Matters' meticulous One-Step process creates the definitive sound audiophile version of the all-time classic album Purple Rain by Prince. 

This initial pressing of this One-Step version is limited to 6,000 copies. The album is housed inside a top quality, uniquely designed numbered slipcase. The enclosed LP will feature an "Old Style" single pocket gatefold tip-on jacket with original artwork, including the original inner sleeve and poster.

Special care has been taken to faithfully preserve the original sound with exceptional clarity and depth, capturing the recording's nuances and subtleties at every step, in order to create the best sounding record possible. The One-Step process is highly regarded among audiophiles and collectors for its unparalleled sound fidelity and represents the pinnacle of vinyl manufacturing craftsmanship.

Having sold more than 25 million copies Purple Rain isn't only one of the best-selling records of all time, it is considered a creative masterpiece. A classic for all time!

In 2010, Purple Rain was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2012, the album was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important." In 2019 the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." 

In the United States, Purple Rain debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Top 200 the week of July 14, 1984. After four weeks on chart, it reached No. 1 on August 4, 1984.  The album spent 24 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 from August 4, 1984, to January 18, 1985, and more than 32 weeks in the Top 10, becoming one of the most successful soundtracks ever. Prince also joined Elvis Presley and The Beatles being the only artists to have the number one album, single and film in the U.S. all at the same time.

Notes For This Release

Purple Rain was recorded, mixed and mastered on analog tape including a couple live performances captured at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Only a ¼" EQ'd analog master tape was ever delivered to Warner Bros. by Prince — clearly a sign that was the source he ALWAYS wanted to be used in manufacturing. After 40 years, Because Sound Matters did not want to run the risk of additional wear and tear on this iconic tape as several playbacks would be necessary in the One-Step process — so, we used an original 192kHz/24bit file transfer, as opposed to a more recent 96kHz/24bit update.

We listened and analyzed many different vinyl LP pressings. Most of those sounded very good, but what we accomplished was being able to surpass the sound of original 45 RPM 12" pressings of the singles. Not an easy task considering the length of sides on Purple Rain ... we hope you agree we did, and in the process created the best sounding version of this iconic record ever.

 

Side A

1. Let's Go Crazy

2. Take Me With U

3. The Beautiful Ones

4. Computer Blue

5. Darling Nikki

Side B

1. When Doves Cry

2. I Would Die 4 U

3. Baby I'm A Star

4. Purple Rain

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