Albums Revisited: Prince’s ‘Around The World In A Day’ Turns 31: a look back on Prince’s underrated psychedelic opus.
The world is still reeling from the death of Prince. While the cause of death is still unknown, the loss is a devastating blow to those of us who grew up listening to his music.
But one thing that surely gives fans comfort, is his formidable body of work: a whopping 39 studio albums, along with greatest hit comps, EPS and live albums (with more reportedly on the way).
And given his back catalogue is reclaiming the charts in light of his passing there’s one less heralded entry that deserves a shout-out.
That would be 1985’s Around The World In A Day which celebrated its 31st anniversary the day after his passing..
If ever there’s an album ripe for rediscovery for fans in mourning, it’s World. Despite spawning two hit singles and going double platinum, it’s fallen off the beaten path, not held in the same light as masterworks like Purple Rain, 1999 and Sign O The Times.
Each Prince album has its own distinctive flavor, but Day is more pointed than most. This was apparent from the album cover, one of the few not featuring his likeness. In his place was a trippy painting featuring images that corresponded to song titles.
The album art and sound within, drew comparisons to The Beatles’ Sargent Peppers, but he downplayed its influence in a Rolling Stone interview:
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.
But The Beatles presence was absorbed second-hand, thanks to Prince’s interest in the Paisley Underground, an L.A. based scene deeply influenced by 60’s psychedelia. This would even inspire the name Paisley Park, for both his record label and famed recording studio.
Two artists from the scene drew his interest the most: The Three O’Clock and The Bangles. The former he would sign to his label, and the latter would gain fame with Manic Monday, a composition written by Prince himself.
Around The World‘s biggest hit was Raspberry Beret, which hit #2 on the Billboard charts. It feels like a companion piece with Monday thanks to its sunny atmospherics, ornate orchestral touches and guitar jangle.
But it’s silly, dizzying sonics stood in stark contrast to album opener America, one of his most overtly political songs, with a musical furor equal parts Parliament Funkadelic and Jimi Hendrix:
Aristocrats on a mountain climb
Making money, losing time
Communism is just a word
But if the government turn over
It’ll be the only word that’s heard
The album’s other hit single was Pop Life, a holdover from the Purple Rain sessions. The track was a more down tempo jazzy affair featuring some classic stream of consciousness philosophy as only Prince could deliver:
What’s the matter with your life
Is the poverty bringing U down?
Is the mailman jerking U ’round?
Did he put your million dollar check
In someone else’s box?
The title track is the most experimental entry, weaving Middle Eastern percussion and an exotic arrangement–but Condition of the Heart is certainly the strangest, a delicate water-warped piano ballad with one of Prince’s most androgynous vocals (pre-Sign O The Times):
There was a woman from the ghetto
Who made funny faces just like Clara Bow
How was I to know that she would wear the same cologne as you
And giggle the same giggle that you do?
Whenever I would act a fool, the fool with a condition of the heart
It’s that boutique quaintness, that makes World such an engaging listen. Whether it’s the sunshine and rainbows utopia of Paisley Park, or the soul-searching spiritual The Ladder, the album features
One could also argue it’s Prince’s most understated album as well, not as overtly sexual or manic as his most popular material, confusing fans and critics. The exception, being Temptation, the closing track featuring Prince at his raunchiest, his horndog tendencies so flagrant that the song ends with condemnation from God above.
Click here for Controversy: Remembering Prince’s ‘Darling Nikki’ and The PMRC
Prince was slightly miffed by the cold critical reception to the album, but took it in his usual gracious stride, also telling Rolling Stone: I’ve heard some people say I’m not talking about anything on this record. And what a lot of other people get wrong about the record is that I’m not trying to be this great visionary wizard. 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.
Always the audacious showman, Prince had an unusual marketing strategy for the album, releasing it a full month before any promotional single, daring fans to immerse themselves without benefit of a teaser. And that’s still the best way to experience its carnival ride thrills. It’s still a worthy trip.
RIP Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016)
You can own Prince’s ‘Around The World In A Day’ via iTunes or Amazon below:
