The life behind the music

Prince built a musical world in which songwriting, instrumental performance, production and image were closely connected. His recordings drew on funk, rock, soul and pop while preserving an unmistakable individual identity. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 2004. This collection concentrates on the Minneapolis sound and the 1980s records that brought his ideas to a wide audience.

Start with the contrast between the dance pulse of 1999, the exposed rhythmic space of When Doves Cry and the scale of Purple Rain. These are different uses of a studio and a performing voice. Hearing them together makes it easier to recognise the decisions behind the spectacle: what to layer, what to emphasise and what to leave out.

Historical reference: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artist biography. Listening commentary by Past Tunes.