Purple Rain Resurgence
Prince and The Revolution's Iconic Purple Rain Album Returns to Billboard Charts 42 Years Later
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Prince and the Revolution's landmark album *Purple Rain* has climbed back onto the Billboard 200, landing at No. 166 — 42 years after it first hit No. 1 in 1984, according to Parade. The return shows the enduring pull of one of pop music's greatest records.
The album has sold an estimated 25 million copies worldwide since its release. Even nine years after Prince's death in 2016, both the album and its title track keep finding new listeners, according to Charlotte Observer.
How Purple Rain Became Prince's Biggest Record
*Purple Rain* came out in 1984 as the soundtrack to Prince's hit film of the same name. It was his sixth studio album. It was also the first to officially credit his backing band, The Revolution, as full collaborators, according to Modesto Bee.
The album shot to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and stayed there. It became Prince's best-selling project by far. Its mix of rock, funk, and R&B pushed it beyond any genre box and drew in millions of fans around the world.
Grammy Hall of Fame and Library of Congress Recognition
*Purple Rain* has earned top honors well beyond chart success. The Recording Academy inducted it into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The Library of Congress also added it to the National Recording Registry, which preserves records of major cultural and historical value, according to San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Being placed in the National Recording Registry puts *Purple Rain* alongside a small group of recordings deemed worth saving for future generations. It is a rare honor that underlines just how much the album meant to American music history.
Prince's Death Did Not Slow the Album's Legacy
Prince died in April 2016 at age 57. But his music did not fade. Both the *Purple Rain* album and its title song returned to charts around the world after his passing, according to The State. Fans old and new kept streaming and buying his work.
The latest chart return — landing at No. 166 on the Billboard 200 — shows that legacy is still very much alive. Forty-two years is a long time. Very few albums from any era manage a comeback like this one.
Why the Revolution's Credit Still Matters Today
When *Purple Rain* was released, Prince chose to share the spotlight. He listed the band as Prince and the Revolution — a big deal at the time. His bandmates had rarely received that kind of public credit before, according to Star-Telegram.
That decision helped shape how fans and critics remember the album. It wasn't just a solo triumph. It was a group effort. That story still resonates with listeners today, helping keep interest in the record alive more than four decades later.
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