Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by the American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Prince. It was released on June 25, 1984, by Warner Bros. Records as the soundtrack album to the 1984 film of the same name. Purple Rain was musically denser than Prince's previous albums, emphasizing full band performances, and multiple layers of guitars, keyboards, electronic synthesizer effects, drum machines, and other instruments.
Purple Rain (album)
A purple themed tribute to Prince at Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl LII halftime show on February 4, 2018
Purple Rain cemented Prince's position as one of the figureheads of pop music.
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument that creates percussion sounds, drum beats, and patterns. Drum machines may imitate drum kits or other percussion instruments, or produce unique sounds, such as synthesized electronic tones. A drum machine often has pre-programmed beats and patterns for popular genres and styles, such as pop music, rock music, and dance music. Most modern drum machines made in the 2010s and 2020s also allow users to program their own rhythms and beats. Drum machines may create sounds using analog synthesis or play prerecorded samples.
A BOSS DR-3 Dr. Rhythm drum machine
Rhythmicon (1932) and Joseph Schillinger, a music educator
Wurlitzer Sideman (1959, inner view)
Seeburg/Gulbransen Rhythm Prince using a mechanical wheel, as seen on bailed out left panel