Around The World In A Day

Around The World In A Day was Prince's 1985 follow-up to Purple Rain. The album was released without any publicity, simply turning up in record stores to the surprise of fans. Prince decided to go in the opposite direction of Purple Rain and instead of giving fans what they expected, he challened them to new sounds. The album confused and disappointed many fair-weather fans by going off in a psychedelic direction, but his core audience ate up the new music with gusto. A happy medium for all was the hit single "Raspberry Beret".

Related Topics:
Prince - 1985 - Purple Rain - Psychedelic - Raspberry Beret

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The album opens with a keyboard-flute interupted by a screaming Prince. The title track combines a Middle-Eastern sound with Prince's trademark drum machine and an organ solo. It fades into "Paisley Park", a very Beatles-like tune which describes a whimisical place and general feeling of joy. Prince later took the song name for his vanity label and recording studio. The heartfelt "Condition Of The Heart" follows with a powerful piano introduction. Next is the hit "Raspberry Beret" followed by the album's funkiest track "Tambourine", containing only bass guitar, drums, finger cymbals and vocals, all by Prince alone.

Related Topics:
Keyboard - Flute - Middle-Eastern - Drum machine - Beatles - Vanity label - Bass guitar - Drums - Finger cymbals

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Side 2 may at first cause the listener to think the record/CD is skipping, with the imaginative intro to "America", which is more critical of the country than patriotic. "Pop Life" follows, lamenting the trappings of celibrity. Next is the gospel arrangement of "The Ladder" recalling "Purple Rain", if not quite as catchy. The album ends with the raucous blues-rock and roll of "Temptation" which closes with Prince arguing with God and confessing to "be good".

Related Topics:
CD - Patriotic - Gospel - Blues - Rock and roll - God

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Overall, the album was not as radio friendly as Purple Rain, but was an inportant step in Prince's musical evolution, incorporating new instruments and musical styles. The more international direction would also endear Prince to his European audiences, even at the expence of his American fans.

Related Topics:
Radio - European - American

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