Romance 1600 (full title Sheila E. In Romance 1600) is the second album by Sheila E., following her debut album The Glamorous Life.
Credits on the album state that all tracks are produced, written and arranged by Sheila E. (other than A Love Bizarre, which gives Prince co-credit), but in fact seven of the eight tracks were produced, written, and arranged by Prince (with input and help from Sheila E.).
Only one track, Merci For The Speed Of A Mad Clown In Summer, contained no writing input from Prince, although he palys keyboards on it.
This album is the first Sheila E. album (and third album overall, after Prince and the Revolution’s Around The World In A Day and The Family self-titled album) to be released on Paisley Park (records).
Sessions and compiling
The album, originally to be titled Toy Box, was recorded in three sets of sessions during days off from the Purple Rain Tour. Dear Michaelangelo, Bedtime Story, Toy Box, Sister Fate and A Love Bizarre were recorded in early January 1985. Romance 1600 and Yellow were recorded in early February 1985.
A song called Fish Fries recorded in early January 1985, was likely also intended for the album, but not included in any known configuration.
A first compiling of the album was done at Sunset Sound - Studio 3 in Hollywood, California on 5 February 1985. At this point the album did not yet contain Yellow, which was recorded on 8 February 1985
Promotion
The album produced four singles, Sister Fate, Bedtime Story (both of which preceded the album) and A Love Bizarre, which appeared as too separate releases, one with a medley The Glamorous Life, Sister Fate and A Love Bizarre as the a-side and parts 1 & 2 of A Love Bizarre as its b-side.
It reached number 50 on the Billboard Pop Album Chart and number 12 in the Billboard Soul LP’s chart.
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