Today in Prince Music History: July 31st

1985 – Release of a 12" of Pop Life b/w Hello in the US

Album Released:

22 April, 1985 (USA & UK)

Love it, Hate it ... Any comments ???

I wish the tape wasn't spliced so terrible on Hello BUT it is still a favorite

I wish it didn't have Temptation on it but minus that song, it's pretty fucking brilliant. I need to hear a full, fleshed out, Condition Of The Heart LIVE before I die.

I don't appreciate it all that much to be honest. It's alright, and it's interesting, but "interesting" doesn't necessarily make for a good listen.

There was plenty of stuff that didn't make it onto this album that should have, just so that he could make a point. A point that he only halfheartedly made.

27 years old! Aged well! It's one of those albums that I have to be in a definte mood for not a go to album but imo not a bad song on here. the extended version of "America" i love jams like that, the video is good. "the Ladder" is also one of my faves and I love the album artwork.

BUT how about the b-sides? "Hello" and "She's always in my Hair" they have to be some of his best b-s ever. "She's always in my hair" - always happy when I get to hear that one live.

I like it.

The bass line of the unreleased version of ATWIAD is absolutely sublime.

Wow...between this and Cupid & Psyche '85, the summer of '85 must have been the SHIT!!

I remember being blown away by it the first time I heard it.

It was soooooooo slow compared to Purple Rain, and absolutely perplexing in light of it.

But, it was so different from everything that he had released previously, at least on a surface level. The instruments were different, the pace was different, even the tone was different. His previous recordings were pyscholdelic for sure--but they were also rockin and sensual. ATWIAD was anything but rockin' or sensual in the classical sense. He went for dreamy, detached, and contemplative. The ballad "condition of the heart" is not a panty-dropper, but rather it's a melancholy daydream...and Prince doesn't just sing about it--he envelopes you in it with rich textured, moving, drippy/trippy landscapes of sound.

It's an imperfect album for sure---but, I always thought it was the perfect album to release in the shaddow of the enormously popular Purple Rain. Prince could have just done what creepy ass MJ did and release his Bad, aka Purple Rain II, but instead he chose to play around. And, I'm happy he did.

On a different note, am I the only person who feels a similar feel about Planet Earth? Where ATWIAD feels like an extension and progression to Purple Rain though, Planet Earth feels like leftovers from 3121.

Yes!!

1985, we were spoiled by Prince & The Revolution in a very excellent way...

The Around.. album - and also the excellent 12 inch versions and B-sides:

Paisley Park 12 inch ext

Pop Life, Raspberry Beret, America 12 inches

She's Always In My Hair 12 inch B-side

Hello and Girl 12 inch B-sides

What an exciting time to be a Prince fan....

Around The World In A Day the Sergeant Pepper album from Prince.

Pop, funk/rock and psycadelica combined.

Musically this album is a masterpiece!

Man, I used to ride my ass off literally on my ten speed bike listening to this tape with Walkman head phones on when it first came out! Good times!

purplethunder3121 said:

Man, I used to ride my ass off literally on my ten speed bike listening to this tape with Walkman head phones on when it first came out! Good times!

I walked off a break-up in Boston, Mass. Beautiful.

I remember the trip to the wrecka stow to get it like it was yesterday Love it

imago said:

I remember being blown away by it the first time I heard it.

It was soooooooo slow compared to Purple Rain, and absolutely perplexing in light of it.

But, it was so different from everything that he had released previously, at least on a surface level. The instruments were different, the pace was different, even the tone was different. His previous recordings were pyscholdelic for sure--but they were also rockin and sensual. ATWIAD was anything but rockin' or sensual in the classical sense. He went for dreamy, detached, and contemplative. The ballad "condition of the heart" is not a panty-dropper, but rather it's a melancholy daydream...and Prince doesn't just sing about it--he envelopes you in it with rich textured, moving, drippy/trippy landscapes of sound.

It's an imperfect album for sure---but, I always thought it was the perfect album to release in the shaddow of the enormously popular Purple Rain. Prince could have just done what creepy ass MJ did and release his Bad, aka Purple Rain II, but instead he chose to play around. And, I'm happy he did.

On a different note, am I the only person who feels a similar feel about Planet Earth? Where ATWIAD feels like an extension and progression to Purple Rain though, Planet Earth feels like leftovers from 3121.

You had me right up 'til this.

I love, love, love Around the World in a Day - Planet Urf, not so much. And I don't think it sounds like leftovers to 3121. I think it's more the precursor to Lotusflow3r - with tracks that have more in common with The Morning After, Boom, 4ever, Love Like Jazz and Wall of Berlin than anything on 3121.

I bought Around the World in a Day the day it was released - couldn't wait to see how Prince was going to follow Purple Rain. I was not disappointed. I loved the change in direction.

SuperFurryAnimal said:

27 years old! Aged well! It's one of those albums that I have to be in a definte mood for not a go to album but imo not a bad song on here. the extended version of "America" i love jams like that, the video is good. "the Ladder" is also one of my faves and I love the album artwork.

BUT how about the b-sides? "Hello" and "She's always in my Hair" they have to be some of his best b-s ever. "She's always in my hair" - always happy when I get to hear that one live.

Raspberry Beret (video) was also awarded best video something that year

Eddie M style of Purple sax from Romance 1600 album and the Ladder & Temptation

the Paisley Park logo

don't forget Girl and I love the 2nd half even more the nasty 1/2 with the backwards speech

nursev said:

I remember the trip to the wrecka stow to get it like it was yesterday Love it

same here

got my allowance

dad drove me to the mall

came out, my brothers helped me unrap it

even though it was dark out we were captivated

I still have my album with the bsides from then

Brilliant move by Prince 2 drop this right behind Purple Rain.

It let people know, Prince is NOT a one trick pony and won't be trying 2 duplicate the Purple rain joint w a "part II".

my bloke's favourite, he loves to sing along to the songs and does a few actions & stuff, he can get right carried away with himself & pretends he's prince.

OldFriends4Sale said:

^ I would love to hear the title track and Paisley Park played live. There are some pretty cool lyrics on the entire album.

LittleBear said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

^ I would love to hear the title track and Paisley Park played live. There are some pretty cool lyrics on the entire album.

Have you ever seen any Parade shows?

OldFriends4Sale said:

LittleBear said:

^ I would love to hear the title track and Paisley Park played live. There are some pretty cool lyrics on the entire album.

Have you ever seen any Parade shows?

NO I want to see the Parade shows Sooooo bad.

Genesia said:

imago said:

I remember being blown away by it the first time I heard it.

It was soooooooo slow compared to Purple Rain, and absolutely perplexing in light of it.

But, it was so different from everything that he had released previously, at least on a surface level. The instruments were different, the pace was different, even the tone was different. His previous recordings were pyscholdelic for sure--but they were also rockin and sensual. ATWIAD was anything but rockin' or sensual in the classical sense. He went for dreamy, detached, and contemplative. The ballad "condition of the heart" is not a panty-dropper, but rather it's a melancholy daydream...and Prince doesn't just sing about it--he envelopes you in it with rich textured, moving, drippy/trippy landscapes of sound.

It's an imperfect album for sure---but, I always thought it was the perfect album to release in the shaddow of the enormously popular Purple Rain. Prince could have just done what creepy ass MJ did and release his Bad, aka Purple Rain II, but instead he chose to play around. And, I'm happy he did.

On a different note, am I the only person who feels a similar feel about Planet Earth? Where ATWIAD feels like an extension and progression to Purple Rain though, Planet Earth feels like leftovers from 3121.

You had me right up 'til this.

I love, love, love Around the World in a Day - Planet Urf, not so much. And I don't think it sounds like leftovers to 3121. I think it's more the precursor to Lotusflow3r - with tracks that have more in common with The Morning After, Boom, 4ever, Love Like Jazz and Wall of Berlin than anything on 3121.

I bought Around the World in a Day the day it was released - couldn't wait to see how Prince was going to follow Purple Rain. I was not disappointed. I loved the change in direction.

By most accounts, that'e exactly what Planet Earth is. Leftovers from both 3121 and LotusFlow3r, which were mostly recorded at the same time.

It certainly isn't an album. Not that I dislike it. In fact, I'm more inclined to listen to PE than 3121 all the way through, but it just sounds like what was leftover from those other 2 with a few stronger tracks thrown in for good measure.

DecaturStone said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Have you ever seen any Parade shows?

NO I want to see the Parade shows Sooooo bad.

ATWIAD songs were featured/intoduced on the 1985 leg of the PR tour like America 14:56min, Temptation,

but on the Parade tour ATWIAD 2:10 min opened the show usually, Rasberry Beret 1:50-5min

Condition of the Heart 1:45min the Ladder 2:31min Pop Life 4:35 America 4:20min were performed mostly

This is the #1 Prince album I can play all the time

And I always create a full playlist, the album cut of ATWIAD, plus the unreleased bass version

ext Paisley Park Rasberry Beret America Pop Life

ext Bsides Girl Hello She's Always In My Hair

and live versions

love to mix God in after Temptation God the Ladder in that order

“Paisley Park” is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It was the first single in both the UK and Australia to be released from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day. The song has a psychedelic feel, similar to some of The Beatles’ later work with echoed guitar and finger cymbals. The lyrics describe a Utopian place that one can feel in their heart, despite the chaos of the world around them. “Paisley Park” was recorded before Purple Rain was completed, indicating the new direction Prince wanted to take after the success of that album and film. Violin on the song was played by Novi Novog, and Wendy & Lisa provide backing vocals. The rest of the song was performed by Prince. The single reached #18 in the UK.

The B-side of the single was “She’s Always In My Hair”, which was also on the U.S. release of “Raspberry Beret”. Many copies of the 12″ single are mis-pressed, featuring four tracks instead of the three mentioned on the sleeve (“She’s Always In My Hair” being present twice).

RELEASE/PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Label: WEA Musik GmbH
Catalog#: W 9052 T
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – Prince And The Revolution

SIDE A
(A1) Paisley Park 4:41
(A2) She’s Always In My Hair 3:30

SIDE B
(B) Paisley Park (Remix) 6:58

Some folks might kill me 4 this......................but this just might be Prince's best project in his whole career.