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When it comes to memorable songs and albums by Prince, there is almost an embarrassment of riches to choose from.

But there is one Prince album that stands above them all in terms of commercial success and that is “Purple Rain” which knocked Bruce Springsteen’s iconic “Born in the U.S.A.” album off the top step of the podium on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart on this date in 1984 and that’s where it would stay until “Born in the U.S.A.” would reclaim the honours in early 1985.

For those 24 weeks, the music world was coloured in lurid shades of purple orchestrated by His Royal Badness himself at the peak of his commercial success.

So tonight we celebrate “Purple Rain” in the only way we can and that’s playing every track (though not quite in album order because “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry” are very definitely the tracks for warm-ups!).

Game 1 Warm-Ups

Zamboni and Game 2 Warm-Ups

Part of the fun of this job is dealing with the curveballs that come our way.

Sometimes it’s a bit of technical difficulty with the sound system and we have to get creative with salvaging the night’s theme in a limited set.

Tonight, it was the happy bonus of the Zamboni finishing up the Wake rink so we ended up with a few bonus tracks starting at “Raspberry Beret” and continuing to the Batman soundtrack which rocked the warm-ups.

What? Gotta play some more tunes as we’re in a holding pattern? Please, please…don’t throw me in that thar briar patch! 🙂

Post-Game