It established Prince as a true icon: Controversy and 1999 showcased His Royal Badness' true talent and made him into a real mainstream contender, but it wasn't until 1984's Purple Rain that Prince posed a real threat to Michael Jackson and Madonna to become not only a 1980s icon - but one for all time.

Every song feels like a single: Face it, it's pretty much the perfect pop album, right? Probably has something to do with director Albert Magnoli listening to over 100 Prince songs and whittling it down to the best ones. No wonder the album spent 24 weeks in the Billboard Charts and was the last ever winner of the Oscar for Best Original Score.

The tracks are the still the highlight of not only any Prince gig, but any party anywhere: Seriously, you go play 'Let's Go Crazy', 'I Would Die 4 U', 'Computer Blue', 'Baby I'm A Star' or 'Take Me With You' and see what happens.

'Darling Nikki' is responsible for 'Parental Advisory' stickers: At the height of the Purple One's most sex-obsessed days, track five's tale of a 'sex fiend...masturbating in magazines' upset America's conservative culture. Vice President Al Gore's wife, Tipper Gore, campaigned for Parental Advisory stickers on album covers after she heard her daughter listening to the filthy track (which has since been covered by the likes of Rihanna and Foo Fighters).

'When Doves Cry' is one of the few 'dance' songs with no bass line: Yup, pretty impressive, eh? Prince removed it because he thought the song was 'too conventional'. Proof of the Purple One's magic touch.

The album's inspiration is boundless: A record and movie so huge was only ever going to have an immeasurable influence. Artists inspired by Purple Rain include Muse, Foo Fighters, Bloc Party, Chvrches, Rihanna, Beyonce, Beck, Bat For Lashes, Justin Timberlake and beyond.

The movie is amazing: Most films made by musicians are pretty dubious affairs, especially when they semi-autobiographical - but Purple Rain set the bar for shameless, solid-gold entertainment in that field. The Purple One, charming the ladies, riding around on his purple motorbike, fighting off competition to be the most badass rock star in town, and pulling off some utterly awesome performances (all of which were done in just one or two takes). You haven't seen it? You must feel ashamed and filthy. "Why don't you purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka?"