Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ gets new Dolby Atmos mix for 40th anniversary
Prince’s classic 1984 album ‘Purple Rain’ is receiving a new audio-immersive Dolby Atmos re-issue for its 40th anniversary.
The new mix is being made available by NPG Records and Paisley Park Enterprises, in partnership with Warner Records, and is available to stream now via participating streaming services.
The album, recorded by Prince and the Revolution, arrived weeks ahead of the hit film of the same name. The record topped the US charts for 24 weeks, sold over 25 million copies worldwide and picked up awards at the Grammys, Brits and Oscars.
The Atmos version has been mixed from the original master tapes by Chris James, a longtime collaborator with Prince, and an audiophile Blu-ray version will be released later in the year.
A newly restored 4K version of the Purple Rain film is also receiving a release, with a limited theatrical run set to start on July 3.
Also this weekend, at the iconic Paisley Park Studios in Minnesota, Prince fans are congregating for Celebration 2024. Running until Monday (June 24), it will feature live performances by The Revolution, The New Power Generation, Morris Day and others.
A stage musical of Purple Rain is currently in development and production, with the Tony-winning Orin Wolf reportedly set to produce.
Earlier this month, Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson opened up about her final conversations with him and spoke about his similarities with their father.
The ‘Purple Rain’ singer passed in 2016 at the age of 57. His cause of death was due to the musician accidentally overdosing on fentanyl in Paisley Park – his 65,000-square-foot estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Nelson revealed that their final interaction occurred four days prior to his death. “He kept avoiding questions. I kept getting mad. I felt like ‘talk to me for two seconds.’ He’d change the subject, make a joke and then we’d both laugh,” she said.
In other news, Prince‘s Minneapolis house, which was featured in Purple Rain, will be available to rent as an Airbnb for a year.
Elsewhere, his rare B-side ‘United States Of Division’ has recently been shared to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his 2004 album ‘Musicology’.
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Max Pilley
NME
