Last week, Duane Tudahl’s long-awaited book Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 was finally published, and I was lucky enough to speak to him about it. If you haven’t read the book yet, you need to listen to this podcast: Duane is a knowledgeable and passionate Prince fan-turned-scholar, and his enthusiasm for the project is infectious. And if you have read the book, you should still listen, because he has a lot to share not only about his research and writing process, but also about his experiences with the celebrated Uptown fanzine and his ideas for preserving Prince’s legacy moving forward. NPG/Comerica/Warner Bros., if you’re out there, give this man some consulting work; we can all benefit from someone with his dedication and expertise steering the ship.

Now, for those of you who haven’t read the book yet, allow me to sweeten the pot: I’ve already bought my copy, but I am planning to secure another one (hopefully signed by the author!) and gift it to a lucky listener who reviews d / m / s / r on their podcast app of choice (iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play). If you’ve never done this before, it’s easy: just subscribe, give the podcast a rating, and leave a short review, then leave a comment on the blog so I know you did it. In about a month, I’ll send my extra copy of Duane’s book to whoever wrote my favorite review. Note that this doesn’t mean your review has to be positive–if you hate my podcast and want to drag me, knock yourself out! As long as you leave a review and tell me where to look for it (and are willing to send me your mailing address, of course), you’re eligible to receive the book.

For now, I hope you enjoy this interview, and I hope you’ll check out Duane’s book–it really is phenomenal. Thanks for listening, and see you again soon!

00:00:00   “D.M.S.R.”  (1983 Rehearsal)

00:01:26   Prince in the Studio by Jake Brown

00:02:34  The Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn

00:21:53   “The Screams of Passion” (1984 recording)

00:23:05   Prince from Minneapolis Conference

00:31:07   “The Dance Electric” (1984 recording)

00:54:18   “Possessed” (1984 recording)

01:11:22   “Around the World in a Day” (1984 recording)

01:16:08   Visit Duane’s Website for a Free Sample Chapter

01:16:47   Duane’s Facebook Group

01:25:35   Cover Art for Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions by Rev

01:26:38   “D.M.S.R.” (1983 Rehearsal, Reprise)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download