wow. it was right around the time as of the new coke. i bought a USA Today that had articles about both. wonder if i still have it.

i'll be back with more stories. from back then up through seeing Wendy, Lisa & Sheila playing my favorite version of the song ATWIAD earlier this year.

They dont mention Joni Mitchell being present at the albums preview, she was there also though wasn't she ?

moonshine said:

Yes she was - but bear in mind this was at a time when getting anywhere near the guy was pretty damned near impossible, so any news was welcomed news (whether it was a crock or not)

I just think it's a cool article.

I was 15 years old, and it was my first full Prince album.

I had the previous hit singles, but this was the point I decided to take the plunge.

I was at my aunts wedding, and at the house reception, I snuck upstairs and plugged the earphones into the record player. April 22.

First listen. ????? America yes, maybe Temptation. The rest was junk!

Second listen. Paisley is good, America too, The ladder is growing.

Third listen. Only Tamborine is shit!

Fourth listen. I love Tamborine!

BananaCologne, I'm so overwhelmed by all the ATWIAD goodness you've collected I can't even think.

I was 14, and I remember tearing up when I heard the first chorus of "Condition of the Heart"... and I remember falling in love with "Tamborine" immediately. I remember how happy I was when I finally tracked down the import 12" with the "Paisley Park" remix on it (much, much harder in those days). I remember completely freaking out when I heard "Hello" and "Girl" and "She's Always in My Hair"... 1985 really did kind of change everything.

skip said:

Thats what I love about Prince. I got the album, and hated Condition of the heart and Tamborine. Yet they are some peoples favourites! Years later, I love them!

I wasn't even born when this album was released, so I can't comment on any of the hysteria and hype that must has been pretty high back then, since I came along in '88.

After seeing Prince in concert on the Musicology tour, I decided to get acquianted with his back catalogue to gain a better understanding for him. Reading various reviews, I always saw ATWIAD getting mentioned somewhere usually in the Top 5 of his album discography, so I knew it had to be a must listen.

When I finally got the chance, I sat down in a quiet room and listened to it while glancing at the inside CD sleeve...

My initial reactions:
At first, I really didn't know what to think. My taste was as wide as it is now, and I had only just began listening to albums like "1999" and "Purple Rain."

I thought the title track was decent, until it finally picked up towards the end of the song.

"Paisley Park" was an interesting puzzle - loved the guitar work, so I kinda liked it.

"Condition of the Heart" was the first song that clicked, since the wonderful minute-and-a-half intro was something I definitely wasn't expecting. The rest of the song was just sweet.

I was nice listening to "Raspberry Beret" all the way through for the first time, especially with the killer drum beat in the beginning. That and the catchy lyrics were a plus, so I could see why it received much praise over the years.

"Tamborine" was a bit too quirky for me the first time around, kinda like listening to "Delirious" for the first time. I didn't know what to think of it.

"America" brought a smile to my face. From the opening guitar riff, I knew I'd like it.

"Pop Life" was very special, since I thought it was a very sincere, and was funky at the same time. Very unique, I liked it.

"The Ladder" was a bit too preachy for me on the first listen. I'd either grow to love it or hate it.

"Temptation" had me captivated. It was so...extraordinary at the time. I loved it.


I let a few hours go by before giving it a second listen, and that's when everything finally clicked with me.

Second listen:
The title track was no longer a bit weird and abstract to me. Now, it was actually kinda funky. I liked it.

With "Paisley Park," the guitar and drums blended a bit more seamlessly, so I appreciated it alot more.

"Condition of the Heart," loved it even more.

"Raspberry Beret" sounded even better than the first time around.

"Tamborine" was FUNKY!! I was bobbing my head to this the whole time, this time around. I had only wished it were longer.

"America" was a killer on this round. The guitar was calling me.

"Pop Life" finally made a bit more sense, since I was able to kinda 'get' what he was saying a bit better.

"The Ladder" had grown on me, so I knew I'd grow to appeciate it even more with increased listenings. Looked like I wasn't gonna hate it, after all.

"Temptation" seemed just as crazy as it was the first time listening to it. I was loving it.


Those were my thoughts when I first got the chance to listen to it a few years back. I could see why it was an essential in Prince's collection as a new fan. This one of the albums that had me decide to become an official fan, at the age of 16 in 2004.

madartista said:

I was there Thank you Chris!

BananaCologne said:

thanks. that was really nice to read, they should take you in at npgmc!

Don't know much about it. I haven't been able to track it down... if i find a copy i'm sure i'll purchase it. looks like raspberry beret and mountains? i know condition of the heart is a good track... Nice pics... is that really prince's handwriting! and pretty scribbles!
[Edited 4/21/06 21:20pm]

I still think it was one of the boldest statements of his earlier career. It kind of reminded me of when Joni Mitchell released Hissing Of Summer Lawns a year after the commerical peak of Court & Spark. Around The World In A Day is a unique record because it showed his developement from being a pop superstar and rock icon to becoming more of a "cult" artist. I mean don't get me wrong, Prince was still the man in '85, but he surprised lots of people who had just jumped on the Purple Rain bandwangon and quickly jumped off when he recorded this album. I don't really think he threw us a curveball with this record, he just matured a bit and gave us a more serious message (I mean...listen to Pop Life, America, and The Ladder). Most of the production still knocks me out and the some of the instrumentation is breathtaking! Not one of my favorite albums, but still a rewarding record that needs more attention (along with Parade).
[Edited 4/21/06 21:45pm]

Great album!!! One of the few Prince albums I like all the way through from beginning to end. At the time I didn't follow Prince very much. My sister had 1999 and Purple Rain and she jammed those out quite frequently, but I was too much of a "metal head dirt rocker" to keep up with what was going on in the paisley universe. The only thing I heard or saw was the video for Raspberry Beret and I was kind of turned off by it at the time. In fact, in 1985 I thought the universe was coming to an end because David Lee Roth quit Van Halen....only to be replaced by (gulp) Sammy Hagar...VOMIT! The party had ended for me.

As the stature and quality of Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing began to rapidly decline, I started noticing performances by Prince (such as the 15th anniversary of Saturday Night Live) where he demonstrated such an overwhelming degree of expressivness and control with his instrument, the likes of which I had never seen....he made King Edward look like a slovenly, sloppy Jimmy Page. After seeing the video for Gett Off in 1991, I became infected with the "funk" and felt compelled to start exploring his music (if you watched the 1991 MTV music awards hosted by Arsenio Hall, you probably remember a very stale, lackluster opening performance of Poundcake by Eddie Van Halen and an extremely explosive closing performance of Gett Off by Prince...I sure do!).

Doing some research, I consistently heard negative reviews about the disappointing followup to Purple Rain, but Around The World In A Day completely mesmerized me to no end. All the post-Purple Rain albums were well-received with me, but ATWIAD had a very special and significant effect. It's like the pivot point in his early career where he became more than just a pop star...he truly be came "The Artist." Happy Birthday ATWIAD! God Bless!!!

gcu1

This was the album that made me think "wow...he is very good!"
I loved Purple Rain....but this made me a life fan, so it's a very special album for me. I still go back and listen to this and remember the magic it had for me when I was younger.

I love this cd !


btw Nana, good job putting this together, thank you

Man i would kill to have that ATWIAD Promo T shirt.


That looks so freakin cool, Hell I would even consider wearing that out, which is a huge no no for me. All of my concert shirts are in a drawer.

chunky said:

Ermm... thanks (I think) but I'll pass if it's all the same.

Again I can't believe it's been 20 years already. I remember being fascinated with the cover and trying to understand each and every scene. Laughing at the fact the mountains was a naked woman's silhouette. Then listening to the album and thinking "This sure isn't Purple Rain!". But I loved it just the same. Temptation was right up my alley and I used that song to convert people to listen to ATWIAD. Worked every time. I still have all the orginal wrapping with the stickers and such. All the 12 inch singles that went with it and everything. Perhaps I will dust off the crates and play the album on it's birthday.

Oh my God here you are; prettiest thing in life I've ever seen...

This album was great.

It seemed to some up that moment in time perfectly.

I don't know what it is about this album but it always takes me firmly back to that whole era when it came out.

If I listen to it I feel like I'm sat back at home in my bedroom listening to my big Philips Stereo record player.

It's a beautiful summers day.

It really brings back the feeling that summers were longer back then and I seemed to have less to worry about.

U know, I was gonna play "The Family" album 2night, but maybe ATWIAD is a better choice,

Whatcha think orgers?

"All Things Purple" 2night from 10pm-12am (eastern)

on www.holyriverradio.com

I have such fond memories of this album - growing up and all the usual problems this brings - this album made me sooo happy - me and my friend would play this sooo loudly!!!! we used to live across the road from each other and we used to get grounded countless numbers of times!!!!! so we used to play this album and hang out our bedroom windows waving to each other!!!!! making lots of noise of course - then our parents used to get so fed up of us that they would let us go out in the end!!!!
my friend also kissed a boy to 'Temptation' and afterwards he told his friends she was trying to seduce him with weird music he he he!!!!

Growing up was fun

wendyrachel said:

Beautiful thread Nana.

Anyone remember how special it was to get a single LP in a double LP sleeve?!

This album was a real turning point. With Dirty Mind, he pushed boundries, but when around the world in a day came out, it stuck two big fingers up to the whole commercialism of the music industry.

This was Prince saying, you go that way, I'm going that way. Bye!

This was a great time period for Prince and his fans and yes I'm old enough to remember Paisley Park, Raspberry Beret, The Ladder, etc. Congrats Prince for having staying power .

This album blew my mind.

Not becuase I thought it was brilliant but becuase it sounded nothing like the 3 other Prince albums (I had heard at the time), namely 1999, PR and Contreversy.

Where Contreversy, 1999, and Purple Rain were largely progressive transitions into a white friendly crossover appeal, ATWIAD was a departure from top 40 pop music in general.It was as if Prince was saying "alright, I got my hit album (Purple Rain), now try this."

just read the rolling stone article. wow! what a trip. can anyone do that in today's corporate environment? call up the label, say "i'm on the way," and drop off an album that had never been heard? delightfully crazy, and to echo what many others have alreadsy said, it set me up to never know what to expect from the guy.

i was 14, and the love affair with Prince music that began when I discovered "1999" was in full purple bloom. my parents bought the cassette for me at KMart. although not pop music fans at the time, they knew most of Purple Rain, Apollonia 6, and the Glamorous Life because they were one heavy repeat thru most of 1984 and 85 in our house. I listened to the cassette in my room. When the album came out, word was there would by NO SINGLES and NO VIDEOS, so as not to compete with We Are the World. Knowing that, I began to imagine videos for each of the songs from that first time I listened to the album. I only made it as far as Condition of the Heart before I unplugged my boombox and ran downstairs to play it for my parents -- "Listen to this song, it's like nothing before!" After the parental interlude, I returned to solitude and listened to the rest. Loved it all, from start to finish. I don't think it has happened to my again that I like an entire Prince album from the get-go, and don't tire of it.

In short order I picked up a vinyl copy as well, just to have the artwork. The balloon boy sticker was on the top left corner of my bedroom mirror from that day until i went away to college in 1989. the day I bought the album, I also picked up a new Apollonia poster. I realized after I left the store that the clerk had overcharged me by a dollar. The sticker said $8.98, and I distinctly remember seeing the guy type $9.98 into the register. But I couldn't find my receipt. I went back to the store, and the Record Bar clerk dug my receipt out of the trash can. Turns out, a staff member had labeled the albums wrong. Rather than say anything, he charged me what it should have been and threw away my receipt! LOL. Crazy memories coming back as I write!

And as for bringing the journey full circle, when Wendy & Lisa performed this at the Largo in January, the drummer with them was Joey Waronker, son of WB President Lenny Waronker who was in the room for first listen with Wendy & Co.

LOVE THE ALBUM, LOVE THE MEMORIES, LOVE THE REVOLUTION!

Well, This is the one that started it all for me. I got this one on vinyl from Tower Records. My favs on this are Pop Life, The Ladder, Tomborine, and Raspberry Beret. Funny thing is, I had a huge crush on a girl in my high school that wore berets, plaid skirts, and knee socks with the rolls on top. I think of her when I hear that song. I still say he changes to trampoline or troubling in Tamborine.

Peace...Now, I think a joint venture with Madonna will just take the cake!!

GREAT THREAD BANANA! I REALLY ENJOY LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM, IT IS SO CREATIVE, PEOPLE DISS "TAMBOURINE" BUT I THINK ITS A FUNNY TRACK, JUST PRINCE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF FUN. FANTASTIC CD!