album that opens with the explicit “Sexuality” and includes a direct political message to the White House It marked another step toward the massive success that would arrive with 1999 and Purple Rain. PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS Iconic cover featuring Prince in a purple suit against a newspaper background Bold

Prince Concert Cool THE STORY The review details Prince’s dramatic entrance sliding down a pole from a raised platform, his high-heeled, satin-clad performance, and a 1½-hour set of heavy-beat, jerky, and galloping

at this time RELATED MATERIAL This sits in Prince’s early 1980–1981 touring period, well before the Purple Rain breakthrough.

CONTEXT AND NOTES This in-depth preview ran days before the November 24, 1982 concert at the University Prince’s breakthrough era, with The Time and Vanity 6 as key supporting acts that helped define the Purple Rain sound and aesthetic.

Publication: The Houston Post Date: Friday, November 30, 1979 Country: United States Location: Houston CONTEXT AND NOTES This last-minute ad ran the day before the December 1 concert, reflecting continued local promotion for Prince’s headlining club date in Houston during his late 1979 tour. Photography: None in this clipping WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Final push for attendance at the December 1, 1979 Houston show Venue address and ticket information for The Palace RELATED MATERIAL This follows previous Houston

PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS Iconic hand-drawn psychedelic “1999” lettering on a deep purple starry background gatefold sleeve with full lyrics and photos WHAT THE SLEEVE SHOWS The front cover features a striking purple

Items from this early tour are particularly collectible as they predate the massive Purple Rain era explosion

CONTEXT AND NOTES This feature appeared as Prince was rapidly gaining attention in the UK black music

danceable grooves and sexual energy while noting its lyrical and conceptual complexity that can “muddle the brain Country: United States Section / Pages: Record Reviews Title: Prince’s new album motivates body, muddles brain

A short entertainment brief noting that Prince was filming “Purple Rain” last week on Hennepin Ave. in CONTEXT AND NOTES This clipping confirms that principal photography for Purple Rain was underway by early-to-mid FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: On-location filming of Purple Rain Location: Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis Era: Early Purple Rain production (1983) Tone: Casual local news update Photography: None in this clipping WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Concrete evidence that Purple Rain filming had begun the week of November 6–

Rain album and film. Rain album and movie. CONTEXT AND NOTES This article was published just ten days before the Purple Rain album release (June Rain aesthetic and helping build massive anticipation for both the album and the film. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Music video and album/film promotion Era: Purple Rain Era (1984) Tone: Promotional

A local report in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune announcing that Prince’s feature film Purple Rain 17, 1984 Country: United States Section / Pages: Entertainment / In the Wings Title: In the wings (Purple Rain premiere details) THE STORY The article reports that Purple Rain, starring Prince and largely filmed CONTEXT AND NOTES Published just weeks before the July 1984 release of both the Purple Rain album and FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Purple Rain film premiere announcement + birthday concert recap Era: Purple