I got this one out and played it all the way through a couple days ago. There's no cohesive flow to it and some tracks are not as strong as others, so I can understand why it's not most people's favorite Prince album (it was never mine, either), BUT...

.. all of the songs are good, anyway, a handful that rank among his best: There's "Raspberry Beret" and "Pop Life", of course, and then there's "Condition Of The Heart" and "The Ladder", two positively sublime ballads. The title track is a charming little opener, "Paisley Park" is psychedelia/hard rock-influenced pop at its finest, "Tamborine" and "America" are great for how long they last (the extended version of the latter I haven't heard yet and is probably superior), and "Temptation" is this red-hot combination of Hendrix and jazz that just works (very underrated/misunderstood track, if you ask me).

I also love, about the album itself, how, after sticking to a more conventional rock/pop sound in the previous record (okay, so there's nothing conventional about "When Doves Cry"'s lack of a bassline, but you know what I mean), he and the Revolution switched it up on everybody and went for a more orchestrated feel this time around. I can dig it.

So what are y'all's opinions of it? It's always lumped in with his classic '80s work and rightfully so, but I still think it's ever-so-slightly underappreciated.

I do dig it, too! Who in their right mind wouldn't?

I was at Wembley in 1986 and Around the World in a Day was the opening song to the show - I remember as soon as it started everyone going wild in the audience - Now whenever I hear the intro to that song I get the same shiver and sense of excitement as I did back then - I love this Album. The Ladder and Temptation are my faves.

I just played my vinyl copy a week ago, Reminds me of when I first heard it back in the '80s-- on vinyl as well-- definitely a contrast between Purple Rain and this one-- and I love it!! The Beatlesque sound was awesome!! I love EVERY song in this album!! It's hard to feel thay way with Prince's last few albums.

ATWIAD seems like an old friend, so close, its like we share the same DNA. It doesnt flow perfectly, but every song is fantastic so u dont get a chance to think about the flow because each cut is so masterful. Its such an enthusiastic album, full of life and excitement. There is great storytelling (Raspberry Beret) and great frivolous fun (Tangerine).

rainbowchild said:

I agree. If Prince could recapture half of the life that is in ATWIAD, I'd be a thoroughly happy camper. 3121 is an improvement over the last few though.

You have to remember that ATWIAD a deliberately difficult album. Prince had
practically assembled it before the Purple Rain movie had even come out. It
was intended to make people go "WTF?". Even the sequencing of the album was
made to be difficult, and he had originally intended not to release any
singles from it either. The album opens with some mid-paced psychedelia in
the form of the title track (no in your face opener like previous albums).
Instead of follwing this with something a bit more catchy like America or
Raspberry Beret he continues with another trippy mid-paced manifesto in the
form of Paisley Park. Then, just to really wind everybody up he follows this
with 2 minutes of rambling atmospherics before the ballad Condition Of The
Heart (way to early in the album for this kind of musical indugence). Only
then do we get a catchy pop number in the form of Raspberry Beret. Then to
remind everyone that this isn't a normal album he hits us with the bizarre
little ditty Tamborine. Then it's over to side two and the much more accessible
America, but even then he can't just give it to us straight and starts the
song as if something's gone wrong with your record player (lost a bit in the
CD generation). Then some more pop genius in the shape of Pop Life, after which
a short string interlude brings us to the epic The Ladder (deliberately not
given it's instinctual home of 'album closer'). Then were given the love vs
lust blues of Temptation to close the album instead.

squiddyren said:

One of his best works from the 80's. Much, much better than "Parade" imo.

EmancipationLover said:

What makes ATWIAD better than Parade?

dreamfactory313 said:

I see both albums related as Prince obviously tried to broaden his musical spectrum on them.

ATWIAD is more playful and fun. "Parade" often sounds forced to me as if Prince tried the music to sound like "big art". The resulting effort is pretty uneven, with moments of sheer brilliance next to filler tracks.

Just my 2 cents...

EmancipationLover said:

I guess I understand what you're saying. I think he tried to make more ambitious musical statements with Parade. I think he tried to create an all encompasing opus of funk, pop, rock, r&b, and traditional balladeering. I think he totally scored in his attempt. I adore that album. If anything, I think ATWIAD was more "uneven".

EmancipationLover said:

I agree; I love both albums but ATWIAD has more depth than Parade.

I love ATWIAD, but just like PARADE and LOVESEXY I'm desperately hoping they will be remastered.

Imago said:

Me too and if Lovesexy every gets remastered they better not one track that cd again.

BorisFishpaw said:

Nailed.

Prince released this record to fuck us up, and it worked. He weeded out a lot of non-music lovers and fairweather fans with this disc. He challenged everyone to come along for the ride, no matter how bumpy it got. It was his first REAL (of many) FU's to the music industry, or at least one that came from any position of power on his end. It's not a great record, and certainly crumbles in comparison to Purple Rain, but it gave all of us old enough to remember buying it on The First Day a clear warning and a statement about what Prince meant to himself and his "fans".

For that, it's brilliant in its own right.

herb4 said:

You aren't kidding. When I first played it, I was like "Where's the funk?" I guess that was the first time Prince gave me the finger. But it helped me appreciate music for more than just a beat. He made you appreciate each individual song for whatever he made it to be.

It's a great album all the way through. My only gripe is when it was released.

Not all of them were. People seem to forget that Prince had a huge R&B following for years before "Purple Rain". Those fans were dead serious about music and had been very heavy into Prince for years. He weeded a lot of them out also. Probably moreso than the newfound pop fans.
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[Edited 3/25/06 18:20pm]

vainandy said:

Two excellent points.Prince certainly did weed out many followers with ATWIAD.

Although, do you think Prince was really trying to do that? Really trying to whittle away at his suddenly enormous fan base? After all, he did make a rather cute and fan friendly video for "Raspberry Beret" that was shown endlessly on MTV. Prince certainly was trying to reach many millions with that tune and video. So couldn't ATHWIAD be looked upon as an unsuccessful experiment rather than an F.U. to the growing number of new fans?

I don't think he was intentionally trying to weed out people. I just think he was in a completely different state of mind than he was before and did what he wanted to do regardless of who liked or not. He was changing, which is something everyone does, and it looks like he wanted his fans to change with him. For instance, releasing the album without a lead single to warn them of the change. However, it doesn't work that way. Just because he's changed doesn't mean the fans are going to. They are individuals with their own tastes just like he is. I can understand Prince for changing but I also can understand his fans that left also.

vainandy said:

Well said.

I agree. I think Prince wants us along for the ride with whatever he puts out. Though his work may "weed out" some fans, I'm almost sure that Prince would rather have them along with him on his adventurous ride.

I'm sure Prince wanted as many "Purple Rain" fans to be fans of ATWIAD, but ATWIAD is a ride that not many seemed to want to get on. I kind of see ATWIAD that way - a trip his fans simply did not want to take. Not Prince's deliberate attempt to distance himself from the rabble.

I can't say enough about Around The World In A Day.I love it to death. It's the first Prince album I bought and my favorite Prince album.A true masterpiece.

First Prince album i bought

Am I the only one who thinks Tambourine is the funkiest, freakiest damn thing ya ever heard??? This was a truly magical ablum for me- even the way it was packaged was clever (not to mention at the time I think it was the first time I had ever seen a clear cassette case- up until that all cassettes were in black cases...this may not seem like much now, but back then it was cool as hell seeing that not to mention the coolest fuckin cover art slid inside it).

There really isn't a clunker to be found on this album (to me anyway). It all seemed leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else at the time (even though some of it was derivative; beatles' psychedelia, etc) and it left me speechless the first time I listened to it all the way thru. To this day I can put it on and not have to hit the skip button.

If anything it makes me feel bittersweet. There was a time when albums like this would surface with a sense of urgency and magic, that with each song would leave you on the edge of your seat waiting to see where it was going next. I just don't see that these days- and I guess that's fine. at least I can be happy that albums like ATWIAD exhist.

God, am I feeling old right now for some reason

I actually think ATWAID is a very cohesive and satisfying album. It's ultimately very quirky and very unlike Prince up to that point (thanks in no small part to the Melvoin/Coleman family influence, imo). It's not my favorite album BUT it does have the distinct honor as being the release that cemented my interest in Prince. Purple Rain (the album and movie) finally drew me in and made me notice Prince more than 1999 had done but it is ATWIAD that made me decide to stick with it and explore all his earlier recordings. Following this, it is Parade that made me a life long fan of his work.

I, also, think ATWIAD is a much more enjoyable listen than Purple Rain - as a whole. PR has a few more high points, maybe, but ATWIAD is a much more mature and rewarding journey.

Christgau hates it.

Like I've stated many times, ATWIAD is part of one of what I consider Prince's "golden" era. ATWIAD, Parade, Dream Factory, Black Album, Lovesexy. Always loved this album. Takes you somewhere, which is what a good album should do. Must be enjoyed as an album. No less. And the B-sides/extended mixes may be the best he's ever did. As a collective. Where's the funk? Hello.

vainandy said:

You said Vain... I was one of those fans. I have come full circle. This week I bought 3121, and (building my collection) ATWIAD from Ebay.

BorisFishpaw said:

That it was deliberately difficult is the reason why so many longtime fans regard it with disdain.

From Dirty Mind through Purple Rain he made each successive album easier to understand, more pleasing to the ears, more emotionally generous.

Then, with ATWIAD he throws this sucker punch at his audience. He was "challenging" his listeners. And the people said, "KTHNXBYE."

It's sort of like a relationship when the ecstatic, passionate phase comes to an end, when all your tricks are used up, and you go: Now what???

One option is to get real and open up and talk. Which is what Bruce Springsteen did after "Born in the USA." Prince, on the other hand, deliberately confused his fans. Instead of showing a more intimate, human side, he invented more fodder for his legend.

In short, ATWIAD was a mindfuck. He just got too close to his audience and he freaked out and fled into his happy place.