Continuing what i had hoped would be a group discussion of Prince's music (lol). If you are wondering what all this is about - every day we are discussing Prince's album starting a few days back with For You. One album a day. If you want to look at past posts, just check the links below.

AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY

Today is Around the World in a Day. After the massive success of Purple Rain I guess many were hoping for Purple Rain 2. And let's face it, it would have been easy for Prince to repeat the formula. But rather than just trot out another rock pop crossover album, Prince looked to expand his musical horizons.

Labelled as his psychedelic Sgt Peppers inspired album, you can see why most would have thought it. The album cover alone is as far removed from Purple Rain as you could get. And opening the gatefold to look a the artwork while the record played was a trip. Trying to spot all the characters the songs talked about. And split by the ladder, Prince's metaphor for spiritual enlightenment, almost beckoning you to climb.

And all you had to do was place the needle on the record, and let the music take you away.

Arranged around a percussive rhythm and arrangement by Lisa's brother David Coleman. AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY this track was unlike anything you had heard Prince do before. The track is more world music influenced than Parliament showing Prince's broadening musical horizons. Starting with that swirling flute intro and Prince's scream - you are swept off onto a new musical journey. The rhythm seems more middle eastern with the Turkish Darbuka drum and tambourine clangs, yet there's that Princely handclap almost reassuring you that while he is exploring the musical landscape, he has still packed the funk. Even the use of the drum pattern seems warmer, less clinical, more organic. Lyrically calling you to take part in this journey, both spiritual and musically it sets the tone for the album - almost telling people to leave their expectations behind of what a Prince album should sound like, and just enjoy the music. Of course there are still Princely elements like the synth bridge that brings the funk after the call of "i think i want to dance".

From a world music feel to a Beatle-esque vibe, PAISLEY PARK simultaneously plods along with the grounded drum pattern and floats with the organ bubbling during the verses. A truly joyous song Paisley Park has one of Prince's most beautiful choruses that just makes me smile when i (attempt) to sing it. I remember when I first listened to this song, I felt like i was in the clouds looking down on the song rather than being emersed in it. And let me tell you the view was pretty spectacular. and still is.

It was around this time that i began to notice Prince had these weird little "experimental songs" that popped up every now and then (and more increasingly on post ATWIAD releases). Not to dismiss or lessen the value of these "experimental songs" but it seemed like Prince felt if he was going to have filler in between the killer songs they may as well challenge the listener. As his musical sophistication in composition and arranging grew it was only natural that he would want to challenge the conventions and break new ground, and for me CONDITION OF THE HEART is such an example. Musically the 2 minute intro is almost classical, and the haunting melody of the main song stirs all the emotions the title requires, but the vocal delivery seems a little bit tongue of cheek in part. As if Prince is challenging you to take on what you expect from an r&b ballad. and just when you think he has lost he pulls out the bridge and those powerful "oooooh oooooh's". Funny, as i listen to it now it seems less quirky than i remember thinking it was way back when. And maybe that is the beauty of the so called "experimental songs" that you are almost quick to write them off, and then after a few listens you discover the beauty within.

If Condition of the Heart is lovelorn, then RASPBERRY BERET is its joyous opposite. Originally written during 1999, RB has the classic Prince trademarks - the Linn drum machine inspired beats, the flanged rim shots, and the popping handclap i love so much. The song seems to saunter along with a gleeful step. You can almost hear the smile in Prince's vocals, and backed by Wendy's sweet vocals and the beautiful string arrangement Wendy and Lisa brought to it the song beams like a glorious summer day - despite the overcast days.

Ohhhh TAMBOURINE. I love Prince when he jumps on the drums. His style is just funky, laying a steady pattern and then punching off beat accents here and there. Once again it's a fairly sparse track consisting predominately of drums, synth bass, and vocals - oh yeah and a tambourine. Gotta love a man who can make guilty pleasures sound so joyously inviting. Today this is still one of my all time favourite Prince songs to drum to, especially all those rolls at 1:55. And here once again the Prince backing vocals hit in classic structure, sitting ahead of some lines, accompanying others and then offering running commentary to the lead. A great song in my books.

and funky is as funky does, and funky does just fine on AMERICA. A funk party jam in the vein of Baby, I'm a Star and socially aware Party Up, you can see how this song built out of an all band jam. And despite what some may say - the 21 minute 12" version is a total experience to listen to. I use to put it on over and over, filling up an hour on the one vibe and loved every minute of it.

The Beatlesesque POP LIFE grabbed me from the get go. The duelling basslines, the plucked and the synthed, the straight ahead drums played by Sheila E, and those wonderful lyrics. I think this is one of Prince's most underrated songs. Maybe including Pop in the title made people see it as disposable, but to me it's one of his finest moments ever on record. Yeah that's me making the big call.

Unfortunately for me, it was here that the album used to end. I never really got into THE LADDER. It was perhaps the song i felt most trying to be a Purple Rain follow up. As much as i appreciate the lyrics the song just failed to move me in the way that Purple Rain did. And TEMPTATION, ok I don't like it. To me it sounded like a seedy show tune. And even today I can't listen to more than half of it before pressing stop.

To many this was a disappointing follow up to Purple Rain. But I think he could have released Purple Rain again and some would have been disappointed. Personally i loved that he was pushing the boundaries of music, and making the music the focus. Sure it was a more laid back album, less frenetic and energised than its predecessor but I liked that aspect of it. Maybe some wanted Prince by the numbers, but invariably it's when he paints outside the lines that he creates something exciting and new.

Swa

For previous Celebration discussion:
FOR YOU http://prince.org/msg/7/311337
PRINCE http://prince.org/msg/7/311446
DIRTY MIND http://prince.org/msg/7/311567
CONTROVERSY http://prince.org/msg/7/311655
1999 http://prince.org/msg/7/311739
PURPLE RAIN: http://prince.org/msg/7/311810

Although I think both The Ladder and Temptation are brilliant, too.

Swa, You have recently written a lot of nice, "Celebration," post for Prince's albums, and that is sweet.

Love this album, and of course I love "Temptation," also...It is a song that teaches.

The Album cover set the tone..what? he's not on the cover?..animated? (even thought it opened up to be a silhoutte of a woman on her back) wtf?..it looks like Sgt Peppers..but he was telling u to open your minds and get ready to expand your horizons because he was about to do the same..i personally thought he did this to test the new fans loyalty, him not putting shes always in my hair on the album because it was too "in the pocket" makes sense. It was his chance to get away with some experimentation that hes always wanted to do..some songs worked..some didnt..Paisley Park and Shes always in my hair are still on my playlist in my Iphone and besides, it was his first "mulligan"..I'm cool with that

Tame said:

The plan is to do one album a day. With the hopes of having other people share their thoughts, recollections on the albums too. Glad you are enjoying them.

Swa

around the world n a day is the bomb album!!! i dig the whole joint, but tambourine and america r my favs.

I LOVE AWTWIAD. I think it's a concise, thematic album that holds together really well. The "big" songs were Raspberry Beret and Pop Life, which I really like, but over time, I began to dig songs like Condition of the Heart, Tambourine, and Around the World In a Day. In fact, I love the song ATWIAD, which people rarely even acknowledge. I can honestly say I like every song on the album, though I'd say Paisely Park is the "weakest".

And, the B-sides coming out of this era, 17 Days, She's Always in My Hair, to name a few, were outstanding.

way2funky1 said:

Straight up.

I agree, the album is alright but pales in comparison to the four preceding it. Its about the same level as the 1979 Prince album a B, still Raspberry Beret, Condition of The Heart and Paisley Park were definitely new Prince classics.
Like Prince said at the time (In more or less words, do not quote me if I have messed a few up), "The 3 million fans who bought this, also bought 1999, I made an album for me and the fans, not people who bought Purple Rain and dug it just because it was a hit"
But then we got the superlative Parade

My favourite Prince album. Easily my most played.

YES this psycadelic album is just wonderful...

those extended 12 inches: Raspberry Beret, Paisley Park, Pop Life, America...



Great music, classics

Pop Life
America
Raspberry Beret
Paisley Park

wonderful songs.

The first Prince song i ever saw performed live ATWIAD LONDON '86

nuff said

great album, good times!

Nice thoughts and I have the album on high rotation on my ipod - in my top 5 all time Prince albums

BRILLIANT album

only fault imo is not enough screaming guitar.

Nice write up Swa, I love the way you interpet the album. ATWIAD, is one of my favorite albums it blows away some of his more recent material IMO.

HAZE03 said:

Sorry I missed Around The World In A Day Day

Definately one of my favorite albums Prince or otherwise. It's so out of the ordinary , it's an escape. Most Prince fans get it but alot of people just don't get it.

I mentioned this in another thread but there is an absolutely killer take of "The Ladder" on a British Prince television special from around 1991. Just Prince's vocals and electric piano. I would love to see that particular performance be released officially.

"Raspberry Beret" and "Pop Life" are two of my very favourite Prince singles.

I actually really dig "Temptation." Isn't that the first example of horns on a Prince song? Also great guitar on that one.

I used to find the first three songs a little on the slow side but now I dig them.

I also think that like Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day gifted us with some great b-sides.

rialb said:

Actually since the Ladder comes before Temptation, the Ladder is the first to feature horns, that is on a Prince/Prince & the Revolution song/album, Sheila E's the Glamorous Life featured horns during the PR time

sgmusic said:

That sums it up to a tee.

Swa

dodgy ph double post edit
[Edited 7/1/09 3:16am]

Love this album except for the sequencing of the last two tracks. I love 'The Ladder' and 'Temptation' separately, but when placed next to each other they both sound weak.

For some reason, I associate this album with the smell of wet paint. I have no idea why.

GirlBrother said:

Yeah I can see how this backing can make the songs feel a little under cooked. I have more time for The Ladder now days as a single track than for its place in the album.

Swa

This Album was the first Prince Album I brought when it came out. my first was PR. When I 1st heard it I tried to compare it with PR which you cant!! saying that i hated it which i remember doing but I played it all the time more than PR. this album, tape , cd has been with me throu personal loss and gain. I glad that Prince released this as there I have put alot into this. certin songs mean so much to me. this classic set of songs including the 12 inches/ remixes will remain with me forever.

THANK YOU PRINCE! YOUR THE MAN!!!!

GirlBrother said:

lol probably the inside and outside is a big painting

especially the indide, it looks like a huge oil painting

I love the way each song looks/feels/sounds like the colors of the words in the album sleave

I love the intimacy of this album, so many people from his cicle singing/playing participating on this album

Condition of the Heart sounds Green
Tambourine sounds Black
[Edited 7/17/09 9:12am]

It's still one of my favorites

I love listening to it with the B sides: Hello Girl She's Always In My Hair and the extended versions

very complete album

I group the songs as Spiritual or Social Conscious: Around the World in A Day, Paisley Park Hello America Pop Life the Ladder
Romantic: Condition of the Heart Raspberry Beret Girl Tamborine She's Always in My Hair, Temptation

I would love for him to do Condition of the Heart live -the full song like on the album, the piano solo is awesome
and Tamborine -just him with a tambourine Rhonda on bass and Sheila E on the drums and you gotta have the finger cymbols

I love Around the World in A Day,
I love the continuity I feel in listening to it, the expression
the color, the band, the extras: Sheila E Jill Jones Taj Saville David Coleman Eddie M. Susannah

I wish he would have done more with this album, performances, videos etc etc





[Edited 7/17/09 9:11am]

the B sides for Around the World In A Day right on the same level or greatness as the Purple Rain B sides. Hello, Girl & She's Always In My Hair, should have been on the album. I love all the B sides from ATWIAD and the long version are even hotter. I've included a min section on 4 the Tears In Your Eyes as well.

Girl [Bside]

The B-Side of the track was "Girl", a light pop number which speaks of Prince's lust for a woman. Featuring a minimal drum loop and sparse synthesizer lines, Prince's lust is in such force that he declares that "all I have to do is think about you and i can have an orgasm" as he invites her to feel how sweaty his hands have gotten from their meeting. The full length version from the 12" features backmasking of Wendy Melvoin reciting the lyrics with the word "boy" replacing "girl".

Girl (Extended Version)

Girl, U excite me so
Ooh wee baby, your body's like no other
Girl, it's U I gotta know
Ooh wee baby, I bet U're quite a lover
Ooh girl, I wanna take U home
Ooh wee baby, U're dreaming I scream inside U
I want U in the worst way
U make me...

Girl {x2}
Girl, won't U kiss me?
Ooh wee baby, my lips they want U so
Girl, how can U resist me?
The smell of animal lust is all, all over me
Oh girl, if I could hold your hand
I'd make U touch my body until U understand
I'm your man all night, all day
I want U in the worst way
U make me...

Caress the flower
Warm, warm
Bring it 2 the garden
The garden?
Be poetic
Tell me what it feels like
A sea of electricity?
Now that's wonderful
Talk 2 U? Talk 2 U?
What do U wanna hear?
If I was anything else I'd be the water in your bath, darling
Mmm

(Girl) Girl, U excite me so
Ooh wee baby, my flesh is on fire
(Girl) Girl, the way U play with it
Ooh wee baby, I think U desire me

Girl
Make a wish, baby
Anything
We'll make it come true
Me and U
I want U in the worst way
U make me...

Ooh girl
(Girl) {x2}
U like the dreaming I scream...

Girl, your lips are so wet (Girl)
Feel my hands, they're all sweaty (Girl)
I don't know, I... I guess U frighten me
Cuz I've never wanted anyone like this before
2 feel this way it's like, I don't know, it's like a sin
Cuz sometimes I feel bad
Sometimes I want U so much I can...
God, all I have 2 do is think about U and I can have an orgasm
That sounds funny, doesn't it? Ha ha
Marry me
Yeah that's right, marry me

Girl, don't U ever get lonely sometimes? (Girl)
Gir... girl, don't U ever...
Don't U ever want someone...
Don't U ever want someone just 2...
Don't U ever want someone just 2 talk 2?
Well, U can talk 2 me, baby
I'm... I'm a good listener
U know what?
U know what else?
U know what else I am?
U know what else I am, I am?
I'm a good kisser 2
Come here
Closer
Come here, closer
Closer
Come here, come here
Your ass is so tight
Shhhh
Come here, come here
That's it, right there
Hush
Darlin' I... I'll never...
(Don't talk) {x2}

Hello
recorded in the Spring of 1985 Hello is essentially a blow by blow description of the evening of the We R the World session:background vocals by Lisa Wendy & Jill Jones

A line of the song had been written for Prince to sing and a space in the studio blocked out for him to stand next to Michael Jackson. But at some point during the course of the evening, he decided not to show up, and instead took a limousine to the restaurant Carlos & Charlie's on Sunset Boulevard with Jill Jones and several bodyguards. (Huntsberry was not present.) While he has never explained the suddenness of his decision not to attend, Prince later said in interviews that he would have felt uncomfortable around so many entertainment luminaries, and that he preferred to work with close friends. This rings true; Prince in any situatio needed to feel in control, something that would have been impossible at a session dominated by his arch rival, Michael Jackson.

Recording of "We Are The World" proceeded without Prince. Across town, as Prince and his entourage exited the Mexican restaurant at about 2 a.m., several paparazzi descended on him. One particular audaciaous photographer jumped into his limousine. Prince and his friends were justifiably frightened and outraged, and the bodyguards reacted by seizing the photographer's camera and forcefully ejecting him from the car. The police were summoned, and one bodyguard - 6ft 9inch, 300 pound Lawrence Gibson- was arrested for battery, and the other, Prince's friend Wally Safford, for robbery.

Seeking damage control, Prince agreed to contribute a song to the We Are The World album. He cut "4 The Tears In Your Eyes" during a rare day off on the Purple Rain tour;



And matters were not helped when the National Enquirer published an article, based on an interview with Huntsberry (who had recently quit his post) entitled "The Real Prince-He's Trapped in a Bizarre Secret World of Terror." It described Prince as (among other things) a cloistered weirdo with an obsession for Marilyn Monroe.

Prince poured some of his frustration about these developments into a pair of songs - "HELLO" & "Old Friends 4 Sale" -recorded in the spring of 1985. "Hello" is essentially a blow by blow description of the evening of the We Are the World session. Musically, the song pulsates with energy and features special touches such as a sped-up guitar solo and a harpsichord-like keyboard riff.

-CHAPTER 6 Hangover (Possessed: the Rise & Fall of Prince)

She's Always In My Hair Raspberry Beret-Bside 5.15.1985
Whenever I feel like givin' up
Whenever my sunshine turns 2 rain
Whenever my hopes and dreams are aimed in the wrong direction
She's always there tellin' me how much she cares
She's always in my hair She's always in my hair, my hair Whenever I feel like not 2 great at all
Whenever I'm all alone
Even if I hit the wrong notes
She's always in my boat
She's always there tellin' me how much she cares
She's always in my hair She's always in my hair, my hair (Maybe I'll marry her)
Maybe I'll marry her, maybe I won't
Maybe I will not
Let me tell U, baby (Even if I was a gigolo all my life)
If I was a gigolo all my life
She'd still be there tellin' me just how much she really cares
(She cares)
She's always in my hair She's always in my hair, my hair Yeah Listen...
Whenever I feel like givin' up
Whenever my sunshine turns 2 rain
Whenever my hopes and dreams are aimed in the wrong direction
She's always there tellin' me just how much she cares
(Tellin' me how much she cares)
Tell me, baby
Always in my hair She's always in my hair, my hair song orchastrated around Jill Jones




[Edited 7/17/09 10:23am]

Around the World in a Day 4.22.1985 © 1985 Paisley Park

1st Album under the Paisley Park label or was it Romance 1600?


...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



Cover painting: Doug HendersLP Design & Assembly: Laura Li Puma

Prince: The cover art came about because I thought people were tired of looking at me. Who wants another picture of him? I would only want so many pictures of my woman, then I would want the real thing. What would be a little more happening than just another picture [laughs] would be if there was some way I could materialize in people's cribs when they play the record.

How do you feel about people calling the record "psychedelic"?

Prince: I don't mind that, because that was the only period in recent history that delivered songs and colors. Led Zeppelin, for example, would make you feel differently on each song.



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
Definately a different sound and feel 2 what originally came out of Uptown & Erotic CityThis song was actually written/musically by David Coleman (Lisa's brother) This song does not include a bass line. Yet there is one during the live performances. Very ethnic sounding and a greater usage of strings and Middle Easter instruments.This song is similar to Sexuality, in that it's presenting a state of mind, versus Paisley Park, which takes it further to being a inner place as well as a gather place like: Uptown, Erotic City, 3121, and a way of living:People's who hair on one side is swept back...



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

Prince: 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. I love the etherial guitar strings in this song, you hear it in various songs from Purple Rain, but not as hard edge rock. Again this is a song that presents a place such as Uptown, I love the intro guitar work in the extended version.I actually listened to this song more in the past year, than I did when it first came out, I felt I was being teased with
the electric guitar, I wanted more guitar.

Condition of the Heart
All instruments and voices performed by Prince
Recorded at Sunset Sound by Peggy Mac My favorite song on the album. I can listen 2 this oneall the way through all the time. The intro is very haunting, the squeaky synth sounds, the echoey percussionand the classical piano playing... really show his talent at being a musician.
The 1st part starts out soft then builds 2 a climax before the 2nd part of the song brings in the vocalsThe heavy feeling in the song really connected me 2 this album. Condition of the Heart was said 2 be a shadow of the story behind Under the Cherry Moon.



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

A feel good favorite. The 1st single and only 'real' video from the album. It's very colorful
and reminds me of Take Me With U. Like it's Take Me With U Part II the video scenes show Prince on his motorcycle with a woman the looks like Apollonia and scenes of being in a barn 2 be intimate, similar to the cut scenes from Purple Rain.

The long version is hot, and the coughs are sick, it adds to the sound.



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

I don't care what anyone says, this song is hot and sexy -in a ahhh personal way seriously a song about self pleasure with a nudie magazine. Tick Tick Bang!!!
I love to play this song along with Tick Tick Bang(unreleased) Sexuality and Tangerine
For some reason they feel the same.



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

I want 2 use this song as an example of the constant "typo" excuses given when a person(s) are not credited correctly. There are a few songs on this album that I don't think the Revolution as a whole or individuals were not credited for.
America was a REVOLUTION full out collaboration.

It's a hard out Rocker, and where he may have come up short on Ronnie Talk 2 Russia he made up for + some on this song. It's a serious work out and when you hear the 12something minute extended version, you really swet. The video was just as swetty.



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

The 2nd song that 'touched' me from this album. Without the words, something about the music just pulled me in and connected me emotionally. I think I enjoy the album cut just as much or more than the extended version. Near the end, you hear what sounds like people at an amusement park, but it's actually crowd sounds from when the band opened for the Rolling Stone back in what 78-79?

The crowd threw vegatables at them, what I thought was a pinball machine was probably tomatoes and lettuce hitting the stage and instruments
Then you hear "THROW THEM OUT" ... I guess that's pop life...

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

I like hearing this live, it's a gospel number definately, The sax work by Eddie M. was on point and he gave that gospel feel through the sax.
Also this is the first use of the sax on a Prince album (outside of Sheila E.)

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

Where the Ladder was squeaky clean, Temptation was red hot as sin
This song is wicked, and I don't mean that in the moral sense. The guitar playing was distorted and raw, Prince & Wendy put their backs into this one, and where Eddie M present the virtues on his sax work on the Ladder and did a total flip and showed us the lust of the flesh on this song.

This song would have been perfect for his Lovesexy tour