---
product_id: 52259217
title: "Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Prince Studio Sessions)"
price: "VT18607"
currency: VUV
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reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/52259217-prince-and-the-purple-rain-era-studio-sessions-1983-1984
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---

# Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Prince Studio Sessions)

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## Description

Featuring groundbreaking, never-before-heard stories, Duane Tudahl pulls back the paisley curtain to reveal the untold story of Prince’s rise from cult favorite to the biggest rock star on the planet. His journey is meticulously documented through detailed accounts of his time secluded behind the doors of the recording studio as well as his days on tour. With unprecedented access to the musicians, singers, and studio engineers who knew Prince best, including members of the Revolution and the Time, Duane Tudahl weaves an intimate saga of an eccentric genius and the people and events who helped shape the groundbreaking music he created. From Sunset Sound Studios’ daily recording logs and the Warner Bros. vault of information, Tudahl uncovers hidden truths about the origins of songs such as “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” and “Raspberry Beret” and also reveals never-before-published details about Prince’s unreleased outtakes. This definitive chronicle of Prince’s creative brilliance during 1983 and 1984 provides a new experience of the Purple Rain album as an integral part of Prince’s life and the lives of those closest to him.

Review: epilogue and an introduction written by like minded and self described "Prince scholar" Ahmir "Questlove' Thompson - Every so often over the years, I would come across a book that would help to give me a window into this magical, musical world, most notably, books and material compiled and written by Per Nilsen, all of which are now either difficult to find and/or enormously expensive due to their rarity. But now, I believe that I have read a work that has exceeded all of my expectations for what a volume of Prince "behind-the scenes" could possibly be, so much so that I think it has also transcended its core subject matter to make a grand statement about the nature of art, inspiration and creativity itself. "Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Session 1983 and 1984" from Author Duane Tudahl (once an associate of the aforementioned Per Nilsen) is indispensable, for fans of Prince and frankly, of music itself. This meticulous, exhaustively researched tome, complete with prologue, epilogue and an introduction written by like minded and self described "Prince scholar" Ahmir "Questlove' Thompson, Tudahl takes one specific period in Prince's musical history from January 1983 through December 1984 and details it extensively in almost diary format, all the while chronicling the end of the era of "1999 "the beginnings and recordings of the songs that would constitute "Purple Rain" plus The Time's "Ice Cream Castle," "Apollonia 6," Shelia E.'s "The Glamorous Life" and even the bulk of what would become Prince and the Revolution's "Around The World In A Day" and even the one and only release from "The Family." Add to even that, there are the details of the concerts performed and rehearsed, the writing, filming and release of Director Albert Magnoli's "Purple Rain" film plus the preparations and frustrations of the "Purple Rain" tour, the disillusion of The Time and the rise of The Family, Prince's struggles with post "Purple Rain" superstardom after having existed as a cult hero, his constant need to find inspiration to create and his astonishing dedication to his craft throughout. In addition to Tudahl's clean, elegant prose, he includes copious interview segments, both archived and newly granted, from a variety of the principal cast of characters of this specific era. Memories from The Revolution, The Time, The Family, Vanity/Apollonia 6 and more are all here plus those from exceedingly crucial players, most notably Engineer Susan Rogers, who shared an intensely close working relationship with Prince over the duration of the period when his most celebrated material was created. What I loved so terribly much about this book was how Tudahl brilliantly weaved a narrative that succeeded on a variety of levels. First, he cuts past the notions of Prince's place as a celebrity and enigmatic public figure to focus directly upon what tends to be somewhat lost when people write or possibly even think of him, and that is his extraordinary work ethic. At the outset of this posting, I questioned just how did Prince ever accomplish all that he did and even after reading, I still question it because of his excessive determination and inner drive to play, to create, and to release his gifts to the world. With the book's chronological, month-by-month, day-by-day structure, we are witness to how Prince would record for hours on end without sleep and therefore, requiring and daring his associates, from bandmates to engineers, to keeping up with his seemingly impossible pace, as well as some eccentric recording habits, like recording his vocals with little to no one present as he desired privacy in this area as well as having beds delivered to studios as he liked feeling "at home" as he wrote lyrics. Beyond that, I was astounded to regard the man's crystal clear clarity as he was able to focus with laser like efficiency on whatever project he was recording for, especially as he was working on several albums at the same time. He had an uncanny ability to know precisely which song would work best for whichever project, even if it confounded those closest to him. Furthermore, Tudahl also demonstrates that what was new to us as listeners, was already old and in the distant past to him, making Prince an artistic figure that was forever restless with his own creativity. To regard that "Around The World In A Day" was essentially completed and in the can as the "Purple Rain" tour was beginning was astonishing to me, plus the fact that so much material that still remains unreleased was created during this period as well, which Tudahl also details. From this aspect of the book, I think Tudahl has delivered a powerful service, especially in our era of severe instant gratification and entitlement. Nothing worth doing arrives without the work that one puts into it and Tudahl illustrates over and again that Prince was not a genius because he snapped his fingers and magic happened. He was a genius because he took it to the woodshed, so to speak, every single time, demanding nothing but the best of himself plus whomever happened to be working with him at the time, performing what felt to be impossible and discovering newfound abilities and talents along the way. And to that end, Duane Tudahl's book speaks to the nature of art and creativity itself as he presents just exactly how Prince found himself inspired in the first place, and how he feverishly tried to keep tapping into that specific spirit for every new song that emerged in his brain. Certainly not an easy process but one that Prince was demonstrably in service towards. The search never ceased just as the pursuit for excellence, and if anything has been captured to such a towering degree is that very pursuit for the work was never truly finished--and in that regard, that sentiment works just as equally for Duane Tudahl as it did for Prince. I can only imagine just what Tudahl endured creatively to make a work like this one come to life. From the interviews, of course, but just think of the archived studio logs and information that is now over 30 years old and having to sift through all of it in order to make this narrative function to its very best. Knowing that he is planning further installments, therefore making this book the very first of a series, I am already salivating at the opportunity to dive in again to read about what reportedly will cover the years 1985 and 1986, especially and creatively productive and turbulent times for Prince. For now, we have this initial volume, a work that proves without question that it is an essential document of two years in the life of one of the most idiosyncratic artists we have been fortunate enough to experience. Duane Tudahl has created a work that not only demands and deserves its own reverence, it is equal to the artistic nature and commitment of its subject.
Review: An essential reference material that reads like a great story, focusing on Prince's music - For a fan like me who loves Prince's entire career but is especially fascinated with the Purple Rain era with The Revolution, this book is the holy grail of Prince books. Instead of simply giving us a list of studio sessions as a simple reference book, Duane Tudahl presents a compelling narrative (with quotes from Prince and those who worked closely with him) to give us a month-by-month -- often day-by-day -- account of Prince's work schedule, discussing what was going on in Prince's career and life during these sessions. The author draws upon previous interviews but also conducted many new interviews for this book, and the result gives the reader a unique new perspective never before captured in a book about Prince. There is no gossip or dirt here. The focus is on the music, as it should be. You still get glimpses into Prince's personal life through the eyes and ears of those who worked closest with him, but respectfully so, and only in relation to how it affected his music. In interviews and podcasts promoting the book, Tudahl talked about the years of his life that he spent devotedly and meticulously working on this book, and his devotion is evident in this book. It is clearly a labor of love. It was a huge thrill for me to read about what was going on in the studio and thinking about what was happening in my life at that time, a time was Prince's music consumed me completely. For someone like me who discovered Prince in 1983 and has been obsessed with his music from that time, getting an insight into how this music was conceived and created is a gift that I never dreamed would be possible. During the time period covered in the book, Prince was working on his own music as well as music for The Time, Vanity 6, Appolonia 6, Sheila E., and others. The book covers what is arguably Prince's most prolific time period and documents it in extreme detail while never sounding boring or too scholarly. It's written in simple language that allows you to focus on the story and the songs and not get bogged down in an elaborate writing style or editorializing. The focus is on Prince's music, which is why this book is such a joy to read. I sincerely hope that this book sells well because I would love to see additional volumes covering other eras in Prince's career. Thanks Duane for a fascinating book!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #391,239 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #15 in R&B & Soul #120 in Popular Music (Books) #1,112 in Rock Music (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.9 out of 5 stars 453 Reviews |

## Images

![Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Prince Studio Sessions) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/812TZ5wtNHL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ epilogue and an introduction written by like minded and self described "Prince scholar" Ahmir "Questlove' Thompson
*by S***S on March 13, 2018*

Every so often over the years, I would come across a book that would help to give me a window into this magical, musical world, most notably, books and material compiled and written by Per Nilsen, all of which are now either difficult to find and/or enormously expensive due to their rarity. But now, I believe that I have read a work that has exceeded all of my expectations for what a volume of Prince "behind-the scenes" could possibly be, so much so that I think it has also transcended its core subject matter to make a grand statement about the nature of art, inspiration and creativity itself. "Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Session 1983 and 1984" from Author Duane Tudahl (once an associate of the aforementioned Per Nilsen) is indispensable, for fans of Prince and frankly, of music itself. This meticulous, exhaustively researched tome, complete with prologue, epilogue and an introduction written by like minded and self described "Prince scholar" Ahmir "Questlove' Thompson, Tudahl takes one specific period in Prince's musical history from January 1983 through December 1984 and details it extensively in almost diary format, all the while chronicling the end of the era of "1999 "the beginnings and recordings of the songs that would constitute "Purple Rain" plus The Time's "Ice Cream Castle," "Apollonia 6," Shelia E.'s "The Glamorous Life" and even the bulk of what would become Prince and the Revolution's "Around The World In A Day" and even the one and only release from "The Family." Add to even that, there are the details of the concerts performed and rehearsed, the writing, filming and release of Director Albert Magnoli's "Purple Rain" film plus the preparations and frustrations of the "Purple Rain" tour, the disillusion of The Time and the rise of The Family, Prince's struggles with post "Purple Rain" superstardom after having existed as a cult hero, his constant need to find inspiration to create and his astonishing dedication to his craft throughout. In addition to Tudahl's clean, elegant prose, he includes copious interview segments, both archived and newly granted, from a variety of the principal cast of characters of this specific era. Memories from The Revolution, The Time, The Family, Vanity/Apollonia 6 and more are all here plus those from exceedingly crucial players, most notably Engineer Susan Rogers, who shared an intensely close working relationship with Prince over the duration of the period when his most celebrated material was created. What I loved so terribly much about this book was how Tudahl brilliantly weaved a narrative that succeeded on a variety of levels. First, he cuts past the notions of Prince's place as a celebrity and enigmatic public figure to focus directly upon what tends to be somewhat lost when people write or possibly even think of him, and that is his extraordinary work ethic. At the outset of this posting, I questioned just how did Prince ever accomplish all that he did and even after reading, I still question it because of his excessive determination and inner drive to play, to create, and to release his gifts to the world. With the book's chronological, month-by-month, day-by-day structure, we are witness to how Prince would record for hours on end without sleep and therefore, requiring and daring his associates, from bandmates to engineers, to keeping up with his seemingly impossible pace, as well as some eccentric recording habits, like recording his vocals with little to no one present as he desired privacy in this area as well as having beds delivered to studios as he liked feeling "at home" as he wrote lyrics. Beyond that, I was astounded to regard the man's crystal clear clarity as he was able to focus with laser like efficiency on whatever project he was recording for, especially as he was working on several albums at the same time. He had an uncanny ability to know precisely which song would work best for whichever project, even if it confounded those closest to him. Furthermore, Tudahl also demonstrates that what was new to us as listeners, was already old and in the distant past to him, making Prince an artistic figure that was forever restless with his own creativity. To regard that "Around The World In A Day" was essentially completed and in the can as the "Purple Rain" tour was beginning was astonishing to me, plus the fact that so much material that still remains unreleased was created during this period as well, which Tudahl also details. From this aspect of the book, I think Tudahl has delivered a powerful service, especially in our era of severe instant gratification and entitlement. Nothing worth doing arrives without the work that one puts into it and Tudahl illustrates over and again that Prince was not a genius because he snapped his fingers and magic happened. He was a genius because he took it to the woodshed, so to speak, every single time, demanding nothing but the best of himself plus whomever happened to be working with him at the time, performing what felt to be impossible and discovering newfound abilities and talents along the way. And to that end, Duane Tudahl's book speaks to the nature of art and creativity itself as he presents just exactly how Prince found himself inspired in the first place, and how he feverishly tried to keep tapping into that specific spirit for every new song that emerged in his brain. Certainly not an easy process but one that Prince was demonstrably in service towards. The search never ceased just as the pursuit for excellence, and if anything has been captured to such a towering degree is that very pursuit for the work was never truly finished--and in that regard, that sentiment works just as equally for Duane Tudahl as it did for Prince. I can only imagine just what Tudahl endured creatively to make a work like this one come to life. From the interviews, of course, but just think of the archived studio logs and information that is now over 30 years old and having to sift through all of it in order to make this narrative function to its very best. Knowing that he is planning further installments, therefore making this book the very first of a series, I am already salivating at the opportunity to dive in again to read about what reportedly will cover the years 1985 and 1986, especially and creatively productive and turbulent times for Prince. For now, we have this initial volume, a work that proves without question that it is an essential document of two years in the life of one of the most idiosyncratic artists we have been fortunate enough to experience. Duane Tudahl has created a work that not only demands and deserves its own reverence, it is equal to the artistic nature and commitment of its subject.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An essential reference material that reads like a great story, focusing on Prince's music
*by C***J on March 12, 2018*

For a fan like me who loves Prince's entire career but is especially fascinated with the Purple Rain era with The Revolution, this book is the holy grail of Prince books. Instead of simply giving us a list of studio sessions as a simple reference book, Duane Tudahl presents a compelling narrative (with quotes from Prince and those who worked closely with him) to give us a month-by-month -- often day-by-day -- account of Prince's work schedule, discussing what was going on in Prince's career and life during these sessions. The author draws upon previous interviews but also conducted many new interviews for this book, and the result gives the reader a unique new perspective never before captured in a book about Prince. There is no gossip or dirt here. The focus is on the music, as it should be. You still get glimpses into Prince's personal life through the eyes and ears of those who worked closest with him, but respectfully so, and only in relation to how it affected his music. In interviews and podcasts promoting the book, Tudahl talked about the years of his life that he spent devotedly and meticulously working on this book, and his devotion is evident in this book. It is clearly a labor of love. It was a huge thrill for me to read about what was going on in the studio and thinking about what was happening in my life at that time, a time was Prince's music consumed me completely. For someone like me who discovered Prince in 1983 and has been obsessed with his music from that time, getting an insight into how this music was conceived and created is a gift that I never dreamed would be possible. During the time period covered in the book, Prince was working on his own music as well as music for The Time, Vanity 6, Appolonia 6, Sheila E., and others. The book covers what is arguably Prince's most prolific time period and documents it in extreme detail while never sounding boring or too scholarly. It's written in simple language that allows you to focus on the story and the songs and not get bogged down in an elaborate writing style or editorializing. The focus is on Prince's music, which is why this book is such a joy to read. I sincerely hope that this book sells well because I would love to see additional volumes covering other eras in Prince's career. Thanks Duane for a fascinating book!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Dearly beloved we are gathered here today..." to read the greatest book so far about the greatest musician of the 20th Century
*by B***T on December 9, 2017*

I received my book on Thursday and well, I called in sick to work yesterday and I finished it this morning. Now I am reading it again, but this time will take it a bit more slowly and let it sink in. I have been a fan of Prince since the first time I saw him at First Ave. Oct. 5 1981. His leaving us last year was devastating for me, I still can not talk about him on a personal level, it is that painful a year and a half later. However, reading this book was amazing, I was like a fly on the wall of the studio, unnoticed while he recorded some of his most incredible work. And while at moments I felt tears welling up as his associates discussed things like his sense of humour, it brought back so many wonderful memories of those magic years of 1983 and 1984 in Minneapolis. This is the first book about Prince that I have read, perhaps ever, that had completely new information about Prince, while pretty much everything else out there is a just a rehash of the same information with a couple of new quotes here and there. This book provided great insight into how Prince created music and how music created him. Learning how he spent New Years Eve 1983, after the year he had, well that alone was worth the price of admission. While some may say that this book is for really hard core fans, I say fiddle faddle to that (well actually I say something a bit different that starts with the same first letter...). This book is a wonderful read for fans and non fans alike, as it chronicles arguably the greatest musician, performer, composer and recording artist of the 20th century as he goes from a cult hero to the most popular entertainer on earth. The focus is on his work and I doubt that one will find another artist since Mozart that worked so hard and such long hours, and like Mozart, it would seem that it was not work for him. After reading this book it became obvious to me that for Prince not to be recording his music was as impossible for him as it would be for him not to breath. It inspires and leaves me in awe of the man. The book is obviously a work of pure love from the author versus so many other obvious quick cash grabs. It provides oodles of details, but not in some dry fire scorched manner, but instead telling the story with the same passion and depth that Prince put into his music. Scholarly work, no doubt, I can only imagine the decades of research the author put into this book and that would have been enough, but he also proves to be an excellent story teller. A rare combination. My sincere thanks to the author for bringing Prince back for me. Get the book, put on Purple Rain, Ice Cream Castles, The Glamorous Life, and Apollonia 6 and loose yourself in Prince's world. Amazon, where is the pre-order link for the next book??? I can't wait.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Prince Studio Sessions)
- Prince and the Parade and Sign O' The Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985 and 1986 (Prince Studio Sessions)

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*Last updated: 2026-06-04*