Around the World in a Day

Last updated

Around the World in a Day
Prince Around.jpg
Studio album by
Prince and the Revolution
ReleasedApril 22, 1985
RecordedFebruary–December 1984
Studio
Genre
Length42:33
Label Paisley Park, Warner Bros.
Producer Prince
Prince chronology
Purple Rain
(1984)		Around the World in a Day
(1985)		 Parade
(1986)
Singles from Around the World in a Day
  1. "Raspberry Beret"
    Released: May 15, 1985
  2. "Paisley Park"
    Released: May 24, 1985 (EU)
  3. "Pop Life"
    Released: July 15, 1985 [8]
  4. "America"
    Released: October 2, 1985
  5. "Around the World in a Day"
    Released: 1985 (GER Promo)

Around the World in a Day [9] is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Prince, and the third release on which his backing band the Revolution is billed. It was released on April 22, 1985, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records. Departing somewhat from the commercial sound of his previous release, the massively successful Purple Rain (1984), the album instead saw Prince experimenting with psychedelic styles and more opulent textures. In compliance with Prince's wishes, the record company released the album with minimal publicity, withholding accompanying singles until almost a month after the album's release. [10]

Contents

Around the World in a Day was released to mixed reception among crossover audiences after the success of Purple Rain, though it nonetheless sold relatively well and became Prince and the Revolution's second number-one album on the Billboard 200. Two of its four singles reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100: "Raspberry Beret" and "Pop Life". Following Prince's death, "Raspberry Beret" re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 as a top 40 hit, reaching number 33. [11] Around the World in a Day was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 2, 1985.

Background

Recording for Around the World in a Day was begun in sessions dating back before that of Purple Rain . [12] Following six months of touring behind that bestselling album, Prince returned to recording. [12] An initial inspiration for the album's sound came in the form of a demo, recorded by David Coleman, the brother of Revolution band member Lisa Coleman, which would ultimately become the title track. [12]

The album pursued a dense, psychedelic style that made use of unconventional instruments and cryptic lyrics. [12] Its sound and album cover painting by Doug Henders (artist) drew numerous comparisons to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. [4] [10] Prince spoke in an interview about the album's sound and cover, denying inspiration from the Beatles:

"The influence wasn't the Beatles. They were great for what they did, but I don't know how that would hang today. 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 would be if there was some way I could materialize in people's cribs when they play the record. I don't mind [the album being called psychedelic], 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." [13]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Chicago Sun-Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [16]
Entertainment Weekly C [17]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Pitchfork 8.8/10 [12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 4/10 [19]
The Village Voice B− [20]

Despite the muted promotion and its less commercial sound, the album still had two American top 10 hits, and went double platinum. Initial critical reception was mixed, but retrospective reviews are positive.

According to Prince, George Clinton was a fan of the album. [13]

Greg Tate of Spin wrote, "Perhaps it's inevitable, given a career built as much on calculated mindfucking as mindblowing music, that Prince would choose to follow the best album of his career with the most bewildering, if not the worst." [21]

In a positive retrospective review for Pitchfork , Alan Light described the album as "a brave and deeply personal project, exploring sounds and ideas that were almost shocking coming from a pop icon at his peak." [12] Simon Price wrote for The Guardian that the album "always sounds better than you think it will, when you revisit." [2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Prince, except where noted

Side one [22]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Around the World in a Day" Prince, John L. Nelson, David Coleman3:28
2."Paisley Park" 4:42
3."Condition of the Heart" 6:48
4."Raspberry Beret" 3:33
5."Tamborine" 2:47
Total length:21:18
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."America" 3:42
7."Pop Life" 3:43
8."The Ladder"Prince, John L. Nelson5:29
9."Temptation" 8:18
Total length:19:12

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Charts

Singles

  1. "Raspberry Beret"
  2. "She's Always in My Hair" (US)
  3. "Hello" (UK)
  1. "Paisley Park"
  2. "She's Always in My Hair"
  1. "Pop Life"
  2. "Hello" (US)
  3. "Girl" (UK)
  1. "America"
  2. "Girl"

Certifications

Certifications for Around the World in a Day
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [39] Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) [40] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [41] 2× Platinum2,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide—4,300,000 [42]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

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  11. ↑ "Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake". HipHopDX. April 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
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  13. 1 2 Karlen, Neal (September 12, 1985). "Prince Talks: The Silence Is Broken". Rolling Stone . New York. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
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  41. ↑ "American album certifications – Prince – Around the World in a Day". Recording Industry Association of America.
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