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6“When Doves Cry”
THE TWILIGH T
SINGERS

When his friend
Apollonia called him
and asked if he’d be
interested in singing on a
Prince tribute album with
her, Greg Dulli wasn’t
sure what to say. “My
first response was,
‘Hmm,’ ” admits the ex–
Afghan Whigs frontman.
Gradually, he warmed
to the idea. “It was a fun
challenge. I can guarantee
you that what we do
will sound nothing like
what you expect. The
only thing you’ll
recognize is the lyrics.”
More surprises are forth-
coming: Dulli is finishing
a new Twilight Singers
album, due for release
next year on Sub Pop.

7“I Would Die 4 U”
MARIACHI EL BRONX

“Being a badass musician, I think Prince will dig what we did,” boasts frontman Matt Caughthran about the Bronx’s picante take on the Purple One’s deliriously catchy messiah trip. “Something about the rhythms of ‘I Would Die 4 U’ seemed to fit really well with a mariachi sound.” Prince even had an indirect influence on the L.A. punk maulers’ interest in traditional Mexican music, featured on the upcoming album Mariachi El Bronx. “I’ve always completely respected him for doing whatever the fuck he wants. He’s completely out of control and totally in command at the same time. That’s punk. And so is a hardcore band playing mariachi.”

8“Baby I’m a Star”
CRAIG WEDREN

Purple Rain turned this
song’s title into a fact
of life for Prince. It also
may have marked a
turning point of a different
sort. “He was best when
he had something to
prove,” says Craig Wedren,
frontman for Shudder to
Think. “ ‘Baby I’m a Star’
is self-aggrandizing, but
it’s also hungry in a way
his music couldn’t be after
he became so successful.”
Wedren, now a film com-
poser who’s also prepping
a solo disc, had some
inside info on how to han-
dle the material. “Wendy
and Lisa are friends of
mine. Knowing where
they come from musically
helped me figure out how
to look at the song.”

9“Purple Rain”
LAVENDER
DIAMOND

According to singer
Becky Stark, Lavender
Diamond’s involvement
in the tribute was fated
to happen. “I was driving
and ‘Purple Rain’ came on
the radio, and ohmigod,
I got so emotional that
I had to pull over. After
that, I knew I had to sing
it. Then a week later, this
opportunity came along.”
Destiny aside, did the L. A.
folk-pop quartet have any
trepidation about covering
one of Prince’s trademark
songs? Not really, says
Stark. “His recordings
are ingenious, but the
melodies are so beautifully
simple. At its core, ‘Purple
Rain’ is like a hymn.”

Availability and lineup are subject to change without notice and subject to the sole discretion of SPIN Media LLC. This offer expires 9/30/2009 and is only available for legal residents of the U.S. and Canada. If a user cannot download songs in the manner described, SPIN Media LLC is under no obligation to provide replacement or alternate downloads. Void where taxed, prohibited, or restricted. All original songs composed and arranged by Prince, except “Computer Blue,” words by Prince, music by Prince, John L. Nelson, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, and Matthew Fink. Copyright owner/ administrator, Controversy Music c/o Universal Music Corporation and WB Music Corporation c/o Warner Chappell Music, Inc. SPIN allows the distribution of this album with respect of the compulsory license obtained to do so. By downloading the album, users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SPIN Media LLC and its affiliates, subsidiaries, and their respective officer, directors, and employees from any and all third party claims, loss, cost, or expense (“Claims”) which any of the foregoing might incur by reason of any claim or action arising out of or relating to use or distribution of this download in a manner not covered under the compulsory license that SPIN obtained to record and distribute the original performances of the Purple Rain songs.

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