Around the World in a Day 4.22.1985
© 1985 Paisley Park


chapter 6 Hangover p74 Possessed

...he now opened himself more to genuine exchange of ideas.


Prince previewed the album for Warner bros.
during a ceremonious listening party
for about 20 company officials
in early February 1985 in Los Angeles.
Joni Mitchell and Prince's father John L. Nelson
were among the special guests present.
Attendees were seated on the floor of a large conference room,
and as the high pitched flute that begins "Around the World in A Day"
lilted from the speakers,
Prince & Lisa walked in holding flowers;
the whole scene was according to one attendee very Haight Ashbury

-Possessed: the Rise & Fall of Prince p 77

Overall, the album was not as radio-friendly as 1999 or Purple Rain,
but it still had two U.S. top 10 hits,
went double platinum and was an important step in Prince's musical evolution, incorporating new instruments and musical styles.




Around the World in A Day
Cello Oud Fingercymbals & Darbuka performed by David Coleman
Tamborine by Jonathan Melvoin
Background vocals performed by David Coleman, Susannah&Jonathan Melvoin & the Revolution
Recorded at Paisley Park by Susan Rogers & David Leonard

Paisley Park
Violin performed by Novi Novog
Recorded at Paisley Park by Susan Rogers, David Leonard & Peggy Mac

Condition of the Heart
All instruments and voices performed by Prince
Recorded at Sunset Sound by Peggy Mac

Raspberry Beret
String section: Novi Novog-Violin
Suzi Katayama-Cello
David Coleman-Cello
Recorded at Paisley Park by Susan Rogers

Tamborine
All instruments and voices performed by Prince
Recorded at Paisley Park by David Leonard

A m e r i c a
Tamborine: Brad Marsh
Recorded at Paisley Park by Susan Rogers
* full Revolution composition

Pop Life
Drums performed by Sheila E.
String interlude composed & conducted by Lisa & Wendy
Performed by Sid Page, Marcev Dicterow
Vaj-violins
Denyse Buffum, Laury Woods -Viola
Suzi Katayama, David Coleman -Cello
Tim Barr, Annette Atkinson -Stand up Bass
Recoreded at Sunset Sound by Peggy Mac

The Ladder
[John L. Nelson & Prince]
Saxophone playing by Eddie M.
Background voices are Susannah, Taj, Wendy & Lisa
Recorded at Mobile Audio by David Tickle

Temptation
Saxophone by Eddie M.
Recorded at Capitol Records by David Leonard

Cover painting: Doug Henders
LP Design & Assembly: Laura Li Puma


[Edited 4/8/10 16:32pm]

ATWIAD.... I love the psycadelica on this fine album.

So funky, sweet memories.....

from when Prince music was perfect...



I just wish Prince music today had this nerve from back then.

The original cover art:

ernestsewell said:

Of course the one we got is it, but do you think the original would have easily oworked or worked for you?

both have an older woman crying, little AA kid with an American flag, girl on the seasaw the jet flying

the rel one of course feels/looks like Princes world

I loved the brightness of the cover art. I loved staring at it and reading the lyrics while listening to the album.

I also couldn't bring myself to throw away the sticker with the kid flying with the title balloon, so I Scotch-taped it to the album cover.

Regarding the credits: Who were Brad March (America) and Taj (The Ladder)?

Also, I didn't realize the album was released without any publicity. I remember buying it on the day it came out, and even in my little town, one of the radio stations sent a reporter out to Musicland to do a story on its release. I guess I had no idea that it hadn't been promoted beforehand.

Efan said:

Taj is Taja Sevelle. She was a Minneapolis radio personailyt, later a recording artists for Paisley Park records. Brad Marsh? Don't know.

Wonderful album. A musical smorgasbord.
IMO Prince's nod to the 1960's hippy trippy cover art of albums like The Beatle's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" or The Rolling Stones' "Their Satanic Majesties Request". The groovy colors...

To this day "America" is one of my all time favorites. Great lyrics, music and arrangement.

"Condition of the Heart" still makes me think..."Is this a song about John Nelson? Every time I hear it.

"Temptation" makes me , for some reason. It's a serious topic. But it tickles me how Prince is going through all those changes "Silly man...now die" "Nooooo!

"Pop Life" can appeal to all age groups, just like it's creator. Prince.

Just wondeful.

The album was released without any publicity, simply turning up in record stores to the surprise of fans.

Not sure what you mean by that statement, but I believe most people knew when it was coming out. The Purple Rain tour had just finished a couple weeks prior and he made the statement he would no longer tour and was looking for the Ladder. It was released with no single ahead of time, but as we all know Raspberry Beret was released and a video made about a month later.
[Edited 4/1/10 13:10pm]

motherfunka said:[quote]

OldFriends4Sale said:

A true masterpiece !
The proof that the man could do whatever he wanted, with style and class !!!
And some of the best 12'' with some of the best B sides (She's always in my hair, girl, hello)...

fms said:

Brad Marsh was a tech at Paisley Park.

Zannaloaf said:

Thanks, both of you, for the answers.

I still remember the day it came out like it was a week ago. I remember getting the cassette that first day and running to the tape deck as America started playing. It totally sounded like the tape was being shredded. If I could only have 5 albums this will always be in that list of 5.

wishuhvn said:

I knew of the album. "Raspberry Beret" had hit radio early in my city. I was in a record store, perhaps Sam Goody or one of the other old ones. I heard a weird song on and thought "Wow, that sounds like Prince".

I looked toward the register, and saw the LP cover propped up on a shelf that said "NOW PLAYING" under it.

I spent the next 45 minutes looking at every single album in the store, just to stick around and listen to the album. Then I just walked out when "Temptation" was over.

I walked through the mall, looking for my mom and brother, just elated. I picked up the cassette the next week, and wore that shit out!

"Condition of the Heart" took a while to grow on me. "Tambourine" was crazy. I thought the record was F'd up on "America", and I loved "The Ladder".

October 27, 1985 @ the Theatre Du Verdure, France
[Edited 4/1/10 20:36pm]

I still have the album I bought back in 1985, my favorite, I can get lost in the paintings still

Around the World in A Day
Cello Oud Fingercymbals & Darbuka perf. by David Coleman Tamborine by Jonathan Melvoin, background vocals by David C Susannah-Jonathan Melvoin & the Revolution. Recorded at Paisley Park by Susan Rogers & David Leonard

their is an unreleased version with a bass line



Around The World In A Day

Open your heart, open your mind
A train is leaving all day
A wonderful trip through our time
And laughter is all U pay

Around the world in a day, oh!
Around the world in a day

Now dig...
Loneliness already knows U
There ain't no reason 2 stay
Come here, take my hand, I'll show U
I think I know a better way, y'all

Around the world in a day, ow!
(Listen 2 me now)
Around the world in a day
All the babies sing it now

Ooh la, la
Ooh la, la, la, la
No, sha, sha
No, no shouting every day (No shouting every day)
No shouting (No shouting)
No, no shouting
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha

The little one will escort U
2 places within your mind
(The former is red, white, and blue)
Former is red, white, and blue!
(The latter is a purple climb)
The latter is a purple - come on and climb!

Around the world in a day, sugar (Oh, baby)
Around the world in a day
Come on, say it!
Around the world in a day
Say papa, I think I wanna dance!

(In summer she's sweeter)

Around the world in a day {repeat to fade}
Oh yeah!
All the little babies sing around the world
A government of love and music boundless in its unifying power {fade out}
A nation of art 2 production
Sharing ideas, a shower of flowers

© 1985 Controversy Music - ASCAP


David Coleman (Lisa Colemans brother)
Around the World in a Day was composed by David during studio time given 2 him by Prince 4 David's birthday

Around the World in a Day 2:46 demo 5min 46 sec original demo
the original demo of the song it was recorded in the 1984 sessions.
[There is a version with a bass line too]
another demo circulated as:Around the World in a Day (eavesdropped in intimate moments)



[Edited 4/7/10 15:52pm]

got the album today from bestbuy. Prince said in a phone conversation in 1986, that he told the interview that, that is his favorite album. if u want prove that he said that i will send u the link in a email address.

hbk183 said:

why didn't U just post it friend?

I think most hardcore Prince fans read that interview


THE ELECTRIFYING MOJO (1986)
-----

On the eve of his birthday in 1986, Prince gave a surprise interview to legendary Detroit disc jockey the Electrifying Mojo. He had never offered a live radio interview before. Of the experience, Mojo later said:

"I had no idea he was going to call. I had no list of questions or anything like that. First I talked to Billy Sparks and he said, 'Hey Mojo! Prince wants to talk to you. You got a minute?' I said, 'Do I have a minute? Give me a minute to make sure we have a tape on,' and Prince says, 'Hey Mojo! What's happening? This is Prince.' If I hadn't heard Billy Sparks' voice prior to that, I may have said, 'Yeah, right.'"

The following is the text of the spoken interview, as transcribed by Rose Gardner on the Emancipation mailing list.


MOJO: Let's talk about the album, Around The World In A Day... which I think was one of the greatest albums.

PRINCE: My favorite!

MOJO: It's absolutely my favorite, without question. Tunes like "Around The World In A Day," "Paisley Park." What type of mood were you in when you recorded that album?

PRINCE: Yeah, I sorta had an f-you attitude, meaning that I was making something for myself and my fans. And the people who supported me through the years -- I wanted to give them something and it was like my mental letter.

And those people are the ones who wrote me back, telling me that they felt what I was feeling. Record sales and things like that...it really doesn't matter, ya know. It keeps a roof over your head, and keeps money in all these folks' pockets that I got hangin' around here! (laughs) It basically stems from the music, and I'm just hoping that people understand that money is one thing but soul is another. That's all we're really trying to do, you know? Idon't know.

I wouldn't mind if I just went broke, you know, 'cuz as long as I can play this type of thing and come here, ya know. There were a lot of people there tonight and they turned the lights on and I looked up...it brings tears to your eyes because it's just -- you can feel the love in the room, ya know? And that means more than money. I could just go on for hours...I don't know, I just have fun, and I'm thankful to be alive, ya know?
[Edited 4/4/10 7:58am]

Do you read most of what's been written about you?

Not long ago I talked too George Clinton, a man who knows and has done so much for funk. George told me how much he liked Around the World in a Day. You know how much more his words meant than those from some mamma-jamma wearing glasses and an alligator shirt behind a typewriter?

Do you hate rock critics? Do you think they're afraid of you?

[Laughs] No, it's no big deal. Hey, I'm afraid of them! One time early in my career, I got into a fight with a New York writer, this real skinny cat, a real sidewinder. He said, "I'll tell you a secret, Prince. Writers write for other writers, and a lot of time it's more fun to be nasty." I just looked at him. But when I really thought about it and put myself in his shoes, I realized that's what he had to do. I could see his point. They can do whatever they want. And me, too. I can paint whatever picture I want with my albums. And I can try to instill that in every act I've ever worked with.

What picture were you painting with 'Around the World in a Day'?

[Laughs] I've heard some people say that I'm not talking about anything on this record. And what a lot of other people get wrong about the record is that I'm not trying to be this great visionary wizard. Paisley Park is in everybody's heart. It's not just something that I have the keys to. I was trying to say something about looking inside oneself to find perfection. Perfection is in everyone. Nobody's perfect, but they can be. We may never reach that, but it's better to strive than not.


[Edited 4/1/10 20:30pm]

PRINCE: Yeah, I sorta had an f-you attitude, meaning that I was making something for myself and my fans. And the people who supported me through the years -- I wanted to give them something and it was like my mental letter.



Exactly !!!!! ThanX Prince !!!

Interesting. thx

Prince said:

Love this quote!

I remember back in the day getting ummm, "elevated", then listening to ATWIAD on headphones and feeling like I'd been transported to this beautiful, weird, cool and funky place.
ATWIAD, Parade and Dream Factory. Top 3 for me.

^
This includes all b-sides, 12inch's, and unreleased cuts from this period as well.
I'm not going to argue the merits of stuff before or after this period. This is just my absolute fave Prince era.
[Edited 4/2/10 6:03am]

... this is one of the most relevant albums for me. I remember 2 songs being on the radio. Prince "coughing" in the video for Raspberry Beret. The kiss video with the elusive woman in a satin sarong or something. Good album. Still wasn't a fan then but I was in high school and a heavy radio listener back then.

PurpleLove7 said:

Um....."Kiss" was on Parade, not ATWIAD.

ernestsewell said:

don't flog me !!!

I had Kiss on the brain ...

PurpleLove7 said:

"Condition of the Heart" took a while to grow on me. "Tambourine" was crazy. I thought the record was F'd up on "America", and I loved "The Ladder".[/quote]


I thought that too. I had originally only bought the album, and called the record store complaining that it skipped. They set me straight.