I bought Purple the day it came out as well (like many of you) from Tower Records in Garden City, NY. I can even remember where in the store the CD was. I was so excited walking in there, lol. Mine had the scales, and I didnt know of other versions existing until a friend got one thru BMG 2 years later.
But, how many of you bought The Crow soundtrack a month or two earlier when the radio started playing "Big Empty" (before "Vasoline" ever hit the airwaves)? I remember Z100 played it a lot in the spring.
Haha, I did and got into "Dead Souls" by NIN from hearing that soundtrack. Good stuff.