Album: His Majesty's Pop Life

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Piano&amicrophone1983.jpg 2018: Piano & A Microphone 1983 All Prince Albums All Related Artists Albums 2019: The Versace Experience
(Prelude 2 Gold)
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His Majesty's Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club

Hismajestyspoplife album.jpg

Album details


Released: Late 1985 (Promotional - Japan only)
13 April 2019 (Special re-release for the Record Store Day - Worldwide)
Length: 72:20
Label(s): Paisley Park Records / Warner Pioneer (1985 Release)

NPG Records / The Prince Estate / Warner Bros. Records (2019 Reissue)

Studio(s): Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA; 77 Beverly Park Ln., Beverly Hills, CA, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA

Charts, Certifications & Awards


Charts
America
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
USA: The Billboard 200 27 Apr. 2019 184 1
Certifications
This album has not received any certifications in the USA
Awards
This album has not received any awards in the USA

Singles released


  • None.

See also


Strange Tales From the Rain
(album)
 
Strangetalesfromtherain album.jpg
His Majesty's Pop Life (subtitled "The Purple Mix Club") is a compilation album of Prince's studio work, initially released in 1985 as a promotional record (500 copies) in Japan only, following the commercial release of Around The World In A Day and its associated singles. At that time, it was Prince’s second promotional compilation album (after Strange Tales From the Rain). His Majesty's Pop Life was re-released worldwide in a limited quantity (14 000 copies) for the Record Store Day on 13 April 2019, becoming Prince’s eight compilation album and the fifth posthumous release.

The first disc includes versions of the tracks released as singles from Around The World In A Day (only America is included in its album version, while the others are remixes originally included on the 12" single vinyl releases).

The second disc includes versions of some of the single releases from the previous two albums, 1999 and Purple Rain, with the addition of the extended version of Erotic City, which had been released as the b-side of Let's Go Crazy.

As such, the double-disc album comprises of recordings from three Prince/Prince and the Revolution studio albums (although mostly in different versions) and and one single, all released originally between 1982 and 1985. Because of the separation of tracks from different eras over the two discs, the second disc is almost double the length of the first, and, as such, the first is played at 45 rpm (which was standard for singles), and the second at 33 ⅓ rpm (standard for LPs).

Of note is that both Prince and Sheila E. had created remixes of Pop Life, and the version included on the record is billed as Pop Life (Fresh Dance Mix) (the one created by Sheila E.) while it is the Extended Mix created by Prince instead. The title given for the remix of Raspberry Beret, Raspberry Beret (New Mix), has not been used elsewhere, although it is the same remix titled Raspberry Beret (Extended Remix) and Raspberry Beret (12" Version) elsewhere.


Promotion

With only 500 copies pressed and distributed only to DJ’s in Japan, the 1985 release of His Majesty's Pop Life became a collectible item. The 2019 reissue was a special release for the Day, with 14 000 copies available worldwide (on the same day as a cassette replica of The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold)). The cover of the reissue bears the NPG Records inprint as well as The Prince Estate and Warner Bros. Records logos and a “WRECKA STOW DAY EXCLUSIVE” sticker referring to a scene in the [The Cherry Moon] film. The compilation reached number 184 on The Billboard 200.



Track listing
CD

The album was available only on vynil.

  • Side one:
  1. Pop Life (Extended Version) (9:07)1,2 
  2. America (Album Version) (3:40)1 
  • Side two:
  1. Raspberry Beret (New Mix) (6:33)1 
  2. Paisley Park (Remix) (6:56)1 
  • Side three:
  1. Let's Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix) (7:35)1 
  2. Little Red Corvette (Dance Remix) (8:22)
  3. 1999 (Album Version) (6:22)
  • Side four:
  1. I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version) (10:15)1 
  2. Erotic City (Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive) (7:24)1 
  3. When Doves Cry (Album Version) (5:52)1 

All songs written by Prince, except where noted.

1  Written by Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution)
2  Although billed as Fresh Dance Mix, this is actually the Extended Version



Personnel
Musicians
  • See individual tracks for credits.


Production
  • See individual tracks and respective albums for credits.


Thanks



Releases
LP, CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2

Japan LP x2 PS-272-3 Promotional center center center center

Variants, Special Editions and Reissues
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2

Record Store Day 2019 release
EU LP x2 0349-78558-5 Wrecka Stow Day Exlusive (sticker) center center center center

Images courtesy of Sleevographia
 
Additional Information

Promotion (at time of release) Trivia


References
Piano&amicrophone1983.jpg 2018
Piano & A Microphone 1983
All Albums All Related Artists Albums 2019
The Versace Experience
(Prelude 2 Gold)
.
The Versace Experience Prelude 2 Gold.jpg