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

A bold and provocative mid-80s magazine cover featuring Prince in a dramatic, partially bared pose, promoting a free giant poster and teasing an in-depth feature. SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Freeze Frame Date: April 1985 Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Front Cover THE STORY This eye-catching Freeze Frame cover showcases Prince in a striking, theatrical pose with the bold headline “PRINCE A ROYAL DEROBED” and the promise of a “FREE GIANT POSTER MOST BARING YET.” The c

A global broadcast, a record‑breaking food drive, and new film ambitions — Prince’s world in March 1985 was expanding in every direction at once.

On March 25, 1985, Prince accepted the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for Purple Rain at the 57th Oscars in Los Angeles. Dressed in a sequined cloak and flanked by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, he delivered a brief, heartfelt speech — then disappeared backstage, skipping the press room entirely. The moment was shown once, never repeated, and never forgotten.