When Doves Cry / "17 Days..."

Written specifically for the 'Purple Rain' film, this avant-garde pop masterpiece famously lacks a bassline—a last-minute mixing decision by Prince to give the track an unusually stark, haunting atmosphere. The song opens with an aggressive, heavily distorted guitar solo before transitioning into a skeletal drum-machine beat and layered synthesizer motifs. It became the top-selling single of 1984, showcasing Prince's absolute control over every aspect of his production.