PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AMERICA (12" VINYL) PRO-A-2300 PROMO

This is the promotional 12" release of "America".  As you can see, it's kinda cool because it has artwork unique to the release.  Notice how "Prince and the Revolution" is written using the "Purple Rain" font.  The front of the cover is the interesting font used for the song "America" on the album release.  The Paisley Park logo appears on the cover and the back cover is blank white.

The version on the record is the single version of the song and repeats on both sides.  Under the promotional serial number you can find the warning, "Promotional copy. Not for sale."

Three of the singles from "Around The World In A Day" are given unique artwork for the promotional 12".  

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AMERICA

01. America 03:40 (Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Matt Fink, Mark Brown, Bobby Rivkin)

02. America 03:40 (Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Matt Fink, Mark Brown, Bobby Rivkin)

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - PURPLE RAIN (7" VINYL) GWB 0528

This release is the first of a series of releases known as "Back to Back Hits".  I'm sure this wasn't the first in the series, but it's the first appearing on the Paisley Park logo.

This release features 'Purple Rain' and 'Raspberry Beret'.  'Purple Rain' is taken from the "Purple Rain" motion picture soundtrack and 'Raspberry Beret' is from the "Around The World In A Day" album.  Both songs were top 40 hits.

This was only released on 7" vinyl as far as I know.  I'm not even sure these records were released to the general public for commercial sales or if they were promotional items.

Prince is the author of both songs.

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - PURPLE RAIN

01. Purple Rain 04:02 (Prince)

02. Raspberry Beret 03:31 (Prince)

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY (8-TRACK) S124370

On April 22, 1985 Prince's seventh studio album was released on the Paisley Park label.  It was the first album released on Paisley Park and a bit of a radical move by Prince who many expected to follow "Purple Rain" with another rock/funk workout.  

Instead, he delivered the more introspective and psychedelic "Around The World In A Day".  At the height of his popularity, Prince opted out of releasing a record that would become a formula of sorts and challenged his audience with something more complex and forward thinking.  A brave move to be sure.  And not one people expected.

Prince is an artist many of us grew up with.  As a young person, I believed only the music I was listening to had any value.  I didn't believe anything else was worth hearing.  Of course, my opinion changed as my musical exposure changed.  And most of the progress can be traced directly to Prince and the music he brought to my attention.

Of all the albums on Paisley Park label, "Around The World In A Day" probably has the most versions.  This particular entry will focus on one of the 8-track releases.  In my research of this release, I've determined there were two distinct 8-track releases.  Neither were commercially available in retail stores.  They were produced by music clubs for sale to their members.  

One was manufactured and distributed by RCA Music Club and the other was through Columbia House.  The Columbia House release featured a black casing and had the serial number W8 25286.  The RCA version features a cream colored casing and the serial number S124370.  

Of the two, I've only located the RCA edition.  However, I was able to purchase it in its original cover.  In near mint condition.

The versions of Prince albums appearing on 8-track are limited to only the first 3 Paisley Park albums.  At least that's my understanding.  I recently watched "Parade" 8-track sealed in original packaging sell for over $400 on eBay.

The songs play in continuous sequence on 8-tracks.  There are four sections and each contains songs or portions of songs.

Here is the tracklist as it appears on my 8-track.

PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION - AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY
01. Around The World In A Day (Prince, John L. Nelson, David Coleman), Paisley Park (Prince), Condition O The Heart (Beg.) (Prince)
02. Condition O The Heart (Concl.) (Prince), Raspberry Beret (Prince), Tamborine (Prince)
03. America (Prince), Pop Life (Prince), The Ladder (Beg.) (Prince, John L. Nelson)
04. The Ladder (Concl.) (Prince, John L. Nelson), Temptation (Prince)