There has been a Celebration in the Twin Cities in recent days, and for very good reason. The Purple Rain album by Prince and the Revolution was released on June 25, 1984, making it 40 years old today! Long considered a masterpiece, Purple Rain is the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, and it was Prince’s first No. 1 album — it sat atop the Billboard 200 chart for an astonishing 24 weeks!

Purple Rain gave us so many songs, including “When Doves Cry, “Let’s Go Crazy,” and the outstanding title track, which was recorded live at First Avenue in Minneapolis. The legacy of Purple Rain continues to grow — a stage adaptation of the movie will premiere in 2025, and the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. It’s also listed as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone.

Fortieth anniversaries are known as ruby anniversaries, and we can think of nothing more fitting for musical royalty. Let’s celebrate Prince, Purple Rain, and this milestone, with music.

So for today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs from Purple Rain (the album OR the movie!) would you like to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs Played
Prince – Let's Go Crazy
Prince – Baby I'm A Star
The Time – Jungle Love
Apollonia 6 – Sex Shooter
Prince – Velvet Kitty Cat
Prince – Computer Blue