1985 April 22: Around The World Era

A genuine piece of Prince’s iconic Purple Rain tour history is now available: a stage-used tambourine personally played by Prince during the 1985 Purple Rain Tour, featuring the handwritten inscription “Love God.” Item Highlights Artist: Prince Era: Purple Rain Tour (1985) Item: Tambourine (stage-used) Inscription: “Love God.” handwritten by Prince Auction: Heritage Auctions This tambourine was used by Prince on stage during one of his most legendary and visually spectacular

Prince’s short-lived but influential R&B/funk side project that introduced the world to intricate Minneapolis Sound arrangements and launched the solo career of St. Paul Peterson. OVERVIEW The Family was a six-piece band assembled by Prince in 1985 as a side project. It served as a vehicle for him to explore more sophisticated R&B, jazz, and pop arrangements while giving opportunities to talented Minneapolis musicians. MEMBERS St. Paul Peterson – Lead vocals, keyboards Eric L

Three handwritten lyric sheets created by Prince during the 1985 production of Under the Cherry Moon have been announced for auction, including a screen‑used prop page from the film. SUMMARY PARAGRAPH Three handwritten lyric sheets created by Prince during the 1985 production of Under the Cherry Moon have been announced for auction, including a screen‑used prop page from the film. NEWS DATA Source: Julien’s Auctions Date: 2026 listing (Lot #612) Location: Gardena, California

A rare and elegant 1985 Christmas card personally sent by Prince, featuring striking original artwork on the front The card features a bold, artistic front cover with a winged angel in a red robe standing on a globe against a black-and-white geometric background, accented by a flowing red ribbon. Below the illustration it reads “Happy Christmas” in elegant script. Inside, on a plain cream background, Prince wrote the simple message “Love God” followed by his flowing signature

A major two-page feature in Blues & Soul spotlighting Sheila E. during the peak of her solo success with the album Romance 1600 and her association with Prince. SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Blues & Soul Date: October 15, 1985 (Issue 443) Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Cover Story + Two-page interior feature THE STORY This in-depth feature explores Sheila E.’s solo career breakthrough with Romance 1600, her transition from percussionist to frontwoman, and her strong c

This was the third single from Around The World In A Day, featuring artwork taken from the album cover. Artist: Prince and the Revolution Label: Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Date: October 14, 1985 Catalogue: W8858 / 928 858-7 Format: 7" Single Country: UK Produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince & The Revolution TRACK LIST UK 7" Single (W8858) Side A Pop Life Side B Girl LINKED RELEASES / VARIANTS Album version on Around The World In A Day (1985) 12" versions with

This extended 12" single was the fourth and final release from Around The World In A Day. Artist: Prince and the Revolution Label: Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Date: October 2, 1985 Catalogue: 0-20389 Format: 12" Single Country: USA Produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince & The Revolution TRACK LIST USA 12" Single (0-20389) Side A America (21:46) Side B Girl (7:36) LINKED RELEASES / VARIANTS Album version on Around The World In A Day (1985) UK/European releases (p

One of the most important and visually striking Rolling Stone covers of the 1980s, featuring Prince’s major interview breaking his silence after Purple Rain. SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Rolling Stone Date: September 12, 1985 (Issue No. 456) Country: United States Section / Pages: Front Cover + Six-Page interior feature THE STORY This landmark Rolling Stone cover and extensive six-page interview captures Prince opening up about his life, career, family, and creative process. T

This 1985 clip marks Prince’s first black‑and‑white promotional video, created specifically for the worldwide Live Aid broadcast. Instead of appearing at the Philadelphia or London concerts, Prince contributed a filmed studio performance of 4 The Tears In Your Eyes, recorded on 4 June 1985 at SIR Studios, Los Angeles. The intimate trio arrangement with Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman became one of the most widely seen Prince performances of the mid‑’80s, later issued in audio

Pop Life was the third single (second in North America) to be released from Prince’s eighth album Around The World In A Day, the second to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. The single included a non-album track b-side, Hello. RELEASE INFORMATION Released July 10, 1985 7" Vinyl Single Reference: US: 7-28998 A. Pop Life (3:42) B. Hello (3:23) 7" Promo A. Pop Life (3:42) B. Pop Life (3:42) US VARIANTS: • US - Warner Bros. 7-28998 - 1985 (Commercial) • US - Warner Bros

The extended 12" single release from Prince’s eighth studio album Around the World in a Day. Released in the United States on June 19 1985 on Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records. This was Prince’s first single on his own Paisley Park label. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince and The Revolution Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records Release Date: June 19 1985 (12" release) Country: United States Format: 12" Single (Commercial & Promo) TRACK LISTINGS (US 12") Commercial 12" Sin

Vanity, Prince’s former protégé and former leader of Vanity 6 / Apollonia 6, asserts full control over her career, starring in the new film The Last Dragon and releasing her own solo album on Motown. Publication: Chronicle Tribune Date: Monday, June 10, 1985 Country: United States Location: Marion, Indiana Section: Entertainment THE STORY The article profiles Vanity (Denise Matthews) one year after Purple Rain, highlighting how she has taken complete charge of her career afte

A 1985 feature article from The Winona Daily News focusing on Vanity (Denise Matthews), Prince’s former protégé and leader of Vanity 6 / Apollonia 6, as she attempted to move beyond her provocative “nasty girl” image toward a more controlled and multifaceted career in film and music. Publication: The Winona Daily News Date: June 5, 1985 Country: United States Section / Pages: Entertainment / Feature Page Title: “Prince Protege Sheds ‘Nasty Girl’ Image” THE STORY The article b

Concert review of Jesse Johnson’s Revue making their local debut at First Avenue in Minneapolis, following the breakup of The Time. PUBLICATION: Date: May 31, 1985 Country: United States Section / Pages: Entertainment / Review (Page 2C) Title: Johnson revue a bit short in local debut THE STORY Jon Bream reviews Jesse Johnson’s Revue performance at First Avenue. While noting Johnson’s charisma, strong backing band, and hits like “Be Your Man,” the review criticizes the show fo

A contemporary news article in the Star Tribune discussing the controversy surrounding sexually explicit lyrics in popular music, prominently citing Prince’s “Erotic City” as a key example. PUBLICATION Publication: Star Tribune (Minneapolis Star and Tribune) Date: May 28, 1985 Country: United States Section / Pages: Page 24 Title: Sexually Explicit Songs Still Lead Charmed Life THE STORY The article by Carolyn Skorneck (Associated Press) examines how songs with explicit sexua

A commentary piece from the Minneapolis Star Tribune reviews the fifth annual Minnesota Music Awards, noting the event’s overall success despite Prince’s absence, while praising the production and media coverage. PUBLICATION Publication: Star Tribune Date: May 26, 1985 Country: USA Section / Pages: Awards / Page 77 Title: Minnesota Music Awards score well, mostly, even without Prince THE STORY Staff writer Jon Bream gives the fifth annual Minnesota Music Awards a B+ grade. He

A music section clipping from the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the arrest of former The Time guitarist Jesse Johnson after a concert in Cincinnati, while also noting that Prince & The Revolution’s Around the World in a Day had reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart that week. PUBLICATION Publication: Star Tribune Date: May 26, 1985 Country: USA Section / Pages: Music / Page 78 Title: (Music section header) THE STORY The article details the arrest of Minneapolis rock ‘n’

A local Minnesota newspaper publishes a three-star review of Prince’s hit film Purple Rain, praising his musical performances while noting the film’s stiff dramatic elements PUBLICATION Publication: Post-Bulletin Date: Saturday, May 25, 1985 Country: United States Section / Pages: Page 42 Title: PURPLE RAIN (R) PUBLICATION Publication: Post-Bulletin Date: Saturday, May 25, 1985 Country: United States Section / Pages: Page 42 Title: PURPLE RAIN (R) THE STORY The review descri

“Paisley Park” was released on May 24 1985 as the second single from Around The World In A Day, though in the UK, Europe, and Australia it functioned as the lead single from the album. It arrived five weeks after the album’s release — on the very same day Prince recorded “Hello” in the studio.

Around the World in a Day is Prince’s seventh studio album and the third to credit The Revolution. Released in April 1985, it marked a deliberate shift away from the commercial pop-funk of Purple Rain toward a more psychedelic, experimental, and opulent sound. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince and The Revolution Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records Date: April 22, 1985 Catalogue: 9 25286-1 Format: LP Country: United States (worldwide release) Following the massive success

Prince’s first single on the Paisley Park label in the US, Raspberry Beret launched the Around The World In A Day campaign with a psychedelic pop masterpiece backed by the non‑album favourite She’s Always In My Hair. Artist: Prince and the Revolution Title: Raspberry Beret Release Date: 15 May 1985 (US 7" release) Label: Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Format: 7" Vinyl Catalogue Number: 7-28972 Country: United States Length: 6:58 (combined A/B sides) Raspberry Beret was the first