Just got my hands on cheap Parade & ATWIAD CDs (thanks play.com!) and got to wondering, whether the characters featured on the cover of ATWIAD are supposed to be particular people - band members / characters from songs ??

There are a couple that look like Prince - why would there be 2? and one that could be Wendy but am interested to know what theories there are around this??

There is also one on there that looks like a cross between Sheila and an angry lion.

Have you noticed that the coloured background is the outline of a nekked lady? Tres cool
[This message was edited Thu Sep 25 6:07:01 PDT 2003 by ladymisskat]

MattUK said:

I've never noticed 2 Princes, just the blond headed white one. I think I know what one you're talking about but I don't think it represents Prince. But then again it is wearing womens clothes so . Wendy, I think, is the only obvious one that actually looks like Wendy, at least from the Raspberry Beret video anyway. Lisa is also pretty obvious but I still haven't figured out why she's dreesed like some goth chick.

dont forget the hills in the background are a naked woman lying down. U get to see her nipple too for those who have extremely low porn standards!

Here's the original painting by Doug Henders that was gonna be used for the LP cover...



Neversin.

Neversin said:

that's AWESOME! I've never seen it. Got any other work by Henders?

looks like Uptown #37 had an extensive article.

http://www.uptown.se/2002...wn37.shtml

EVERYBODY'S LOOKING 4 THE LADDER

A Study of the Around The World In A Day Album Cover Artwork

The Around The World In A Day album cover features a painting by Doug Henders, who described his artwork as "a combination of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine cartoon images and the surrealistic landscapes René Magritte [early twentieth century Belgian surrealist painter] used often in his work." Henders had developed some of the set designs for the Purple Rain film, including the Kid's room, and was along for the Purple Rain tour, filming concerts. David Magdziarz takes a closer look at the intriguing album cover art in this article.

From what i can recollect, prince is present on the right of the picture with a white turban (prince of arabia in "condition of the heart")

The character which u said resembles Sheila E. was rumoured to be Michael Jackson, Prince's rival in those times!!! It should only represents the animal side of everybody.

4 the other characters in the paisley park, they r all present in the ATWIAD songs. The band, all mixed in colours (ie black guitarist with blond hair) represent the "interraciality" of his music which goes beyond racial fences.

neversin ROCKS!

madartista said:

Good lord that's CREPPY!

The realism is so...just freaked me right out man. i wanna go back into Princeworld. Realworld scary!
Somebody, start a soundcheck soon, now!

ffotteg said:

But the "real prince from Arabia" wasn't our Prince. It was who she left him for.

CapedCrusader said:

Yeah, what's up with Sean Penn playing the tambourine?

CapedCrusader said:

wuss.

FunkMistress said:

madartista said:

That one looks like a JW pamphlet

VERY cool. Im surprised - why did that get rejected in favour of the other art? Both are good, but comparing the above 2 the cover we know and love - it kinda makes the released version look very simplified, almost college-art-projectish. I still love it though - I have a huge p.o.s promo display of the cover that is about a metre long that is proudly hanging on my wall.

Didnt Doug Henders do something 4 Michael Jackson? (Thinking maybe the 'Dangerous' cover?) If not, Im sure I saw a pic of MJ and Him holding a painting He had done 4 him around that era...

I think the above is absolutely amazing.

Anyone count the doves on the cover?
There are 17!

Agree with you to a degree,the 'Original" looks more accomplished,i got a Dali feel about it,whereas the album cover is more simplistic in it's execution it's more pertinent to Atwiad and Prince maybe.I think it's still a lovely work though and that 'envelope'effect on the album cover was a nice touch.Blimey i loved the tunes they did during this period!B good
[This message was edited Sat Sep 27 13:30:09 PDT 2003 by thegripper]

Thanks everyone, I just knew there was a story behind the cover-art. Hadnt 'appreciated' the background hills/naked lady angle though so will be off nipple-spotting tonight!