Prince’s When Doves Cry, released in May 1984 as the lead single from Purple Rain, remains one of the most striking and unconventional hits of the decade. Written, produced, and performed entirely by Prince, the song was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, where he laid down every instrument and vocal part himself. The creative decisions he made during the session broke almost every convention of the time, helping to propel the song to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for five weeks.
The foundation of When Doves Cry is the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer, which Prince had been using extensively since the early 1980s. He programmed its distinctive kick, snare, and hi-hat pattern to provide a stark, mechanical pulse. What made the track truly radical was his decision to strip away the bass line altogether after recording it, leaving the Linn LM-1 exposed and creating an unusual sense of space. In an era when pop, funk, and rock records were defined by heavy low end, this move gave the song a skeletal, almost eerie quality that made it instantly stand out on radio.
Alongside the drum machine, Prince added layers of synthesizers, including a Yamaha DX7 and Oberheim OB-8, creating sharp, metallic textures and haunting string-like pads that contrasted with the dry, driving LM-1 beat. The lead line, a guitar run doubled with synth, adds urgency and grit, while the intricate vocal arrangement showcases Prince’s wide range, from intimate whispers to soaring falsetto. The lack of bass meant that every vocal harmony, synth stab, and guitar lick carried greater weight, each part locked tightly to the precision of the Linn LM-1 grid.
At Sunset Sound, Prince worked quickly, often finishing songs in a single night. Susan Rogers, his engineer at the time, recalled that When Doves Cry was tracked and mixed in a matter of hours, with Prince experimenting relentlessly until he found the right balance. The Linn LM-1 outputs were individually processed through the console, allowing Prince to EQ and treat each drum element like a live kit. Reverb was used sparingly, giving the song its stark, dry sound, in keeping with the decision to remove the bass and leave space for the vocals and synths to breathe.
The result was a track that defied expectation: part funk, part new wave, part psychedelic rock, and yet none of these entirely. Its unusual production choices shocked Warner Bros. executives, who initially questioned whether a bass-less single could succeed. Prince held firm, and his instincts proved right, When Doves Cry became his first US number one and remains one of his most celebrated works.
The song’s impact extended far beyond its chart success. By showcasing the Linn LM-1 drum machine in such a raw, unembellished way, Prince influenced a generation of producers and redefined the sonic possibilities of pop. When Doves Cry stands as a testament to his fearless approach to production, a track that challenged the rules of radio yet became one of the defining singles of the 1980s.