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)

8 July 2020 (wider commercial release in Japan)

Length: 72:20
Label(s): Paisley Park / Warner Pioneer (1985 Release)

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

Studio(s): Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse, Eden Prairie, MN, USA; The Warehouse, St. Louis Park, MN, USA; Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA; Unknown venue

Charts, Certifications & Awards


Charts
America
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
USA: The Billboard 200 27 Apr. 2019 184 1
USA: Billboard Top R&B Albums 27 Apr. 2019 19 1
USA: Billboard R&B Album Sales 27 Apr. 2019 4 2
USA: Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales 27 Apr. 2019 5 1
USA: Billboard Top Current Albums 27 Apr. 2019 24 1
USA: Billboard Top Album Sales 27 Apr. 2019 25 1
USA: Billboard Dance Electronic Albums 27 Apr. 2019 2 1
USA: Billboard Vinyl Album 27 Apr. 2019 7 1
USA: Billboard Tastemaker Albums 27 Apr. 2019 6 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 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 third promotional compilation album (after a 1984 sampler and 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. In 2020, the album received a wider retail release in Japan only, including its first release on CD.

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 various 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 recordings from three Prince/Prince and the Revolution studio albums (although mostly in different versions) 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 (the 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 Version created by Prince instead.


Promotion

With a limited number 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 Record Store 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 Under The Cherry Moon film. The compilation was re-released on CD in Japan in 2020.

The compilation reached number 184 on The Billboard 200 and 19 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums charts.



Track listing
CD LP

The album was initially available only on vinyl.
The compact disc version (released in Japan only) is a reissue from the LP.

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

The vinyl long play format is the initial release.

  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
  • None



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
Japan 2020 re-release
Japan CD WPCR-18325 The cardboard digifile is a miniature replica of the 1985 vinyl issue. 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