Album: We Are The World

1984: Risky Business ◄

All Compilations

All Prince Albums

► 1988: Bright Lights, Big City

We Are The World

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 We Are The World Tears Are Not Enough 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: We Are The World - USA For Africa If Only For A Moment, Girl - Steve Perry Just A Little Closer - The Pointer Sisters Trapped - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Tears Are Not Enough - Northern Lights 4 The Tears In Your Eyes - Prince and the Revolution (2:45)1 Good For Nothing - Chicago Total Control - Tina Turner A Little More Love - Kenny Rogers Trouble In Paradise - Huey Lewis and the News The vinyl long play format is the original issue. Side 1: We Are The World - USA For Africa If Only For A Moment, Girl - Steve Perry Just A Little Closer - The Pointer Sisters Trapped - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Side 2: Tears Are Not Enough - Northern Lights 4 The Tears In Your Eyes - Prince and the Revolution (2:45)1 Good For Nothing - Chicago Total Control - Tina Turner A Little More Love - Kenny Rogers Trouble In Paradise - Huey Lewis and the News 1 Written by Prince Personnel Musicians Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Bobby Z. - drums Brown Mark - bass guitar Wendy Melvoin - background vocals and guitar Lisa Coleman - background vocals and keyboards Dr. Fink - keyboards 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. Sheila E. took part to the recording of We Are The World as a chorist. 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 The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) RIAA website

1984 Risky Business

All Compilations

All Prince Albums

1988 Bright Lights, Big City