Album: We Are The World: Difference between revisions

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|studios                = Mobile recording studio outside the Superdome, New Orleans, LA, USA
|studios                = Mobile recording studio outside the Superdome, New Orleans, LA, USA
<!------ ALBUM CHRONOLOGY -------->
<!------ ALBUM CHRONOLOGY -------->
|previous year          = No previous compilation
|previous year          = 1984
|next year              = 1988
|next year              = 1988
|previous image        = Image:NoPreviousAlbum.png
|previous image        = File:Risky_Business.png
|next image            = Image:Brightlightbigcity album.jpg
|next image            = Image:Brightlightbigcity album.jpg
|previous album        = Prince
|previous album        = Album: Risky Business
|next album            = Album: Bright Lights, Big City
|next album            = Album: Bright Lights, Big City
|previous album link    = [[Prince|See biography]]
|previous album link    = [[Album: Risky Business|Risky Business]]
|next album link        = [[Album: Bright Lights, Big City|Bright Lights, Big City]]
|next album link        = [[Album: Bright Lights, Big City|Bright Lights, Big City]]
<!-------ALBUM TEXT ------->
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The album contained the hit song ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World We Are The World]'', featuring an all-star line-up of artists spearheaded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson Michael Jackson] (including, among many others, [[Sheila E.]]).  
The album contained the hit song ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World We Are The World]'', featuring an all-star line-up of artists spearheaded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson Michael Jackson] (including, among many others, [[Sheila E.]]).  


[[Prince and the Revolution]]'s recording of [[4 The Tears In Your Eyes]] is not available anywhere else, although an acoustic re-recording of the song was included on [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]] in 1993.
[[Prince and the Revolution]]’s recording of [[4 The Tears In Your Eyes]] is not available anywhere else, although an acoustic re-recording of the song was included on [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]] in 1993.




<b>Recording process</b>
<b>Sessions and compiling</b>


[[Prince]] was invited to the recording, which took place following the 1985 Grammy Awards, but he declined, and instead [[Prince and the Revolution]] contributed the song [[4 The Tears In Your Eyes]] to the album.  
[[Prince]] was invited to the recording of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World We Are The World]'' , which took place on 28 January 1985 following the [[28_January_1985|12th American Music Awards ceremony]], but he declined (his lines were given to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huey_Lewis Huey Lewis]). [[Prince]] chose to contribute to the album with a new song instead. Four days later, on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/February_2|2 February 1985]], [[Prince and the Revolution]] recorded [[4 The Tears In Your Eyes]] in between shows on the [[Purple Rain Tour]].


He was criticized in the press for not participating (which he directly addressed in the song [[Hello]]).
He was criticized in the press for not participating (which he directly addressed in the song [[Hello]]).
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{{AlbumSingles|
{{AlbumSingles|
|singles =  
|singles =  
*We Are The World
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World We Are The World]
*Tears Are Not Enough
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tears_Are_Not_Enough Tears Are Not Enough]
}}
}}
|see also              =  
|see also              =  
{{SeeAlso|
{{SeeAlso|
|item1  = [[Video:_4_The_Tears_In_Your_Eyes|4 The Tears In Your Eyes]]<br>(music video)
|item1  = [[Video:_4_The_Tears_In_Your_Eyes|4 The Tears In Your Eyes]]<br>(Music video)
|image1  = [[File:4thetearsinyoureyes-tb-vid.png|80px|link=Video: 4 The Tears In Your Eyes]]  
|image1  = [[File:4thetearsinyoureyes-tb-vid.png|80px|link=Video: 4 The Tears In Your Eyes]]  
|item2  = &nbsp; 
|item2  = &nbsp; 
Line 150: Line 150:
|album promotion        = The album was widely publicized by many of the artists involved as a means to contribute to aid relief in Africa.
|album promotion        = The album was widely publicized by many of the artists involved as a means to contribute to aid relief in Africa.
*Some songs from the album were played live on the global telecast [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Aid Live Aid] event on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July_13|13 July 1985]], where a video of [[Video: 4 The Tears In Your Eyes|4 The Tears In Your Eyes]] was also broadcast.
*Some songs from the album were played live on the global telecast [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Aid Live Aid] event on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July_13|13 July 1985]], where a video of [[Video: 4 The Tears In Your Eyes|4 The Tears In Your Eyes]] was also broadcast.
|trivia                = This was [[Prince]]'s only contribution of music to a wide-scale charity relief effort. Royalties from his 2005 single [[Single: S.S.T.|S.S.T.]] were directed to relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, however.
|trivia                = This was [[Prince]]’s only contribution of music to a wide-scale charity relief effort. Royalties from his 2005 single [[Single: S.S.T.|S.S.T.]] were directed to relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, however.
 
*[[Sheila E.]] took part to the recording of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World We Are The World] as a chorist.
 
*On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/January 30|30 January 1995]], the 22nd annual American Music Awards closed with 10th-year anniversary performance of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World We Are The World]. This time, [[Prince]] joined the celebrity group that was gathered onstage, including [[Sheila E.]], [[Wendy Melvoin]] and [[Lisa Coleman]], but he didn’t sing, instead sucking his lollipop. He stood next to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Jones Quincy Jones], the producer of the song, and after some time he held his microphone toward [[Prince]]’s mouth to sing with them. He responded by holding his lollipop up to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Jones Jones]' mouth for him to get in a few licks, but when he went for it, [[Prince]] quickly pulled it back. Many people took offence at his refusal to sing, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Jones Jones] was quoted as having told [[Prince]] afterwards that "as far as I’m concerned you’re still a prick."
 
|alternative            =  
|alternative            =  
|references            =[[Book:_The_Vault|'''The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince''']] ''by Per Nilsen & JooZt Mattheij, with the UPTOWN Staff'' (Uptown: 2004) ISBN 91-631-5482-X
|references            =''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''  
* [http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS RIAA website]
* [http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS RIAA website]
|categories              = [[Category:1985]][[Category:Compilation Albums (Prince Contribution)]]
|categories              = [[Category:1985]][[Category:Compilation Albums (Prince Contribution)]]
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 16:02, 27 June 2022

1984: Risky Business ◄ All Compilations All Prince Albums ► 1988: Bright Lights, Big City
We Are The World
We Are The World album artwork

Album details

Released: 12 April 1985
Length: 41:37
Label(s): Columbia Records
Studio(s): Mobile recording studio outside the Superdome, New Orleans, LA, USA

Charts, Certifications & Awards

Charts
America
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
USA: Billboard Top Pop Albums 20 Apr. 1985 1(3) 22
USA: Billboard Top Black Albums 20 Apr. 1985 6 17
Europe
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
U.K.: UK Albums Chart 20 May 1985 31 5
Certifications
RIAA, USA 1 Apr. 1985 Gold (500,000)
RIAA, USA 16 Apr. 1985 Platinum x2 (2 million)
RIAA, USA 24 Jun. 1985 Platinum x3 (3 million)
Awards
1986 Grammy Awards, USA 25 Feb. 1986 Record Of The Year (Quincy Jones - producer)

Singles released

See also

4 The Tears In Your Eyes
(Music video) 		  
We Are The World is a compilation album released to raise money in response to droughts and famine in Ethiopia, Sudan and other African nations.

The album contained the hit song We Are The World, featuring an all-star line-up of artists spearheaded by Michael Jackson (including, among many others, Sheila E.).

Prince and the Revolution’s recording of 4 The Tears In Your Eyes is not available anywhere else, although an acoustic re-recording of the song was included on The Hits / The B-Sides in 1993.


Sessions and compiling

Prince was invited to the recording of We Are The World , which took place on 28 January 1985 following the 12th American Music Awards ceremony, but he declined (his lines were given to Huey Lewis). Prince chose to contribute to the album with a new song instead. Four days later, on 2 February 1985, Prince and the Revolution recorded 4 The Tears In Your Eyes in between shows on the Purple Rain Tour.

He was criticized in the press for not participating (which he directly addressed in the song Hello).


Promotion

The album produced two singles, We Are The World and Tears Are Not Enough, both of which preceded the album. The We Are The World single was enormously successful, becoming the fastest-selling American pop single in history, and was one of fewer than thirty all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.

The album contained contributions from many successful artists of the time, drawing a huge amount of attention. It reached number 1 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart, and raised approximately $50 million for aid and relief.



Track listing
CD LP/MC

The compact disc version is a reissue from the original LP.
Details given for Prince-related tracks only:

  1. We Are The World - USA For Africa
  2. If Only For A Moment, Girl - Steve Perry
  3. Just A Little Closer - The Pointer Sisters
  4. Trapped - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
  5. Tears Are Not Enough - Northern Lights
  6. 4 The Tears In Your Eyes - Prince and the Revolution (2:45)1
  7. Good For Nothing - Chicago
  8. Total Control - Tina Turner
  9. A Little More Love - Kenny Rogers
  10. Trouble In Paradise - Huey Lewis and the News

The vinyl long play format is the original issue.
Side 1:

  1. We Are The World - USA For Africa
  2. If Only For A Moment, Girl - Steve Perry
  3. Just A Little Closer - The Pointer Sisters
  4. Trapped - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Side 2:

  1. Tears Are Not Enough - Northern Lights
  2. 4 The Tears In Your Eyes - Prince and the Revolution (2:45)1
  3. Good For Nothing - Chicago
  4. Total Control - Tina Turner
  5. A Little More Love - Kenny Rogers
  6. Trouble In Paradise - Huey Lewis and the News


1 Written by Prince



Personnel
Musicians


Production
  • Prince - producer
  • David Tickle - mixing engineer
  • Bruce Allen - executive producer
  • Lou Blair - executive producer
  • Ken Kragen - executive producer (album)
  • Michael Branch - assistant executive producer (album)
  • Harry Benson - front cover photography
  • Henry Diltz - additional photography
  • Ken Lei Chung - additional photography
  • Sam Emerson - additional photography
  • John Coulter - art direction
  • Trish Talbot - artwork assistance


Thanks
  • none.



Releases
LP, CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
This section is under construction

Variants, Special Editions and Reissues
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
This section is under construction
 
Additional Information
Promotion (at time of release) Trivia
  • The album was widely publicized by many of the artists involved as a means to contribute to aid relief in Africa.
  • Some songs from the album were played live on the global telecast Live Aid event on 13 July 1985, where a video of 4 The Tears In Your Eyes was also broadcast.
  • This was Prince’s only contribution of music to a wide-scale charity relief effort. Royalties from his 2005 single S.S.T. were directed to relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, however.
  • On 30 January 1995, the 22nd annual American Music Awards closed with 10th-year anniversary performance of We Are The World. This time, Prince joined the celebrity group that was gathered onstage, including Sheila E., Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, but he didn’t sing, instead sucking his lollipop. He stood next to Quincy Jones, the producer of the song, and after some time he held his microphone toward Prince’s mouth to sing with them. He responded by holding his lollipop up to Jones' mouth for him to get in a few licks, but when he went for it, Prince quickly pulled it back. Many people took offence at his refusal to sing, and Jones was quoted as having told Prince afterwards that "as far as I’m concerned you’re still a prick."
References
1984
Risky Business 		All Compilations All Prince Albums 1988
Bright Lights, Big City
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