"Purple Rain" is a power ballad by Prince and the The Revolution. It was his third US single (second UK) and title track from the legendary 1984 album of the same name, which in turn was the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name. The song is an emotional combination of rock and roll, pop and gospel music. It reached #2 in the U.S., and is often considered Prince's signature song.
The song was recorded live at the Minneapolis club First Avenue in 1983. The performance was the live debut of Wendy Melvoin, and also netted the final three songs of the Purple Rain album, although the songs would undergo studio overdubs later. "Purple Rain"'s original lyrics contained an extra verse about money that was edited out, as it diluted the emotional impact of the song.
