📰America (12" Version) – Digital Single Released

Prince’s 21‑minute Minneapolis‑funk odyssey returns in a newly remastered high‑resolution digital edition for the 40th anniversary of Around the World in a Day

✦— SUMMARY

Released worldwide (excluding the US) on 4 July 2025 by Warner Records, this newly remastered digital single revives the legendary 21:41 extended version of America — originally issued in 1985 during the Around the World in a Day era. Credited to Prince and The Revolution, the track appears here as a high‑resolution WAV file (24‑bit / 44.1 kHz), offering the cleanest and most dynamic digital presentation of the full‑length jam to date.

Issued as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations for Around the World in a Day, the single also acts as a precursor to the Around the World in a Day: The Singles Vinyl Box Set. The 12" Version of America has long been a fan favourite — a sprawling, hypnotic, politically charged funk workout that captures Prince and The Revolution at their most explosive.

✦ — HIGHLIGHTS

• Released 4 July 2025 (worldwide, excluding US)

• Digital single, high‑resolution WAV (24‑bit / 44.1 kHz)

• Remastered for the 40th anniversary of Around the World in a Day

• Features the full 21:41 extended version

• Originally released in 1985 by Prince and The Revolution

• Precedes the Around the World in a Day singles box set

✦ — TRACKLISTING

America (12" Version) — 21:41

✦ BLOCK 4 — PRODUCTION & CONTEXT

© 2025 NPG Records, LLC, under exclusive license to Warner Records LLC for territories outside the United States.

℗ 1985, 2025 NPG Records, LLC, under license to Warner Records LLC.

ISRC: USWB22500019

Barcode: 0603497810871

Originally released as a 12" single in 1985, America (12" Version) is one of Prince’s most ambitious extended jams — a relentless, improvisational funk workout driven by live instrumentation, political commentary and The Revolution’s signature energy. The 2025 remaster restores clarity, punch and warmth, making the track widely accessible again after decades of rarity.

✦ — LEGACY

America (12" Version) stands as one of the defining long‑form recordings of Prince’s mid‑’80s period — a fusion of protest funk, psychedelic improvisation and Minneapolis groove. Its 21‑minute runtime showcases Prince’s band‑leader instincts, his political edge and his willingness to push the boundaries of the 12" format.

This 2025 digital reissue brings the track back into circulation for a new generation of listeners, reaffirming its place as a cornerstone of Prince’s extended‑mix legacy.

✦ PRINCE 1985–1986 MINI‑TIMELINE — THE AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY ERA

✦ April 1985

Around the World in a Day is released, marking Prince’s shift into psychedelic pop and experimental studio textures.

✦ May–June 1985

Raspberry Beret becomes a major US hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

✦ Summer 1985

Paisley Park and Pop Life expand the album’s global presence, each charting differently across territories.

✦ October 1985

America is released as a single, including the now‑legendary 21‑minute extended version — one of Prince’s longest studio jams.

✦ 1986

Prince and The Revolution continue to evolve their sound, leading into the Parade era and the Under the Cherry Moon project.

This period captures Prince at his most colourful, experimental and politically charged — a creative bridge between Purple Rain and Parade.

✦ GLAM FLASHBACK — America (7" Version) VS. America (12" Version)

✦ America (7" Version)

• Tight, radio‑friendly edit

• Focuses on the song’s political message and core groove

• Designed for mainstream airplay

• Captures the essence of the track in under four minutes

✦ America (12" Version)

• A sprawling 21‑minute Minneapolis‑funk odyssey

• Driven by live improvisation and extended instrumental passages

• Showcases The Revolution’s full power as a band

• One of Prince’s most ambitious long‑form studio recordings

Together, the two versions highlight Prince’s dual mastery: concise pop precision and expansive, free‑form funk experimentation.

✦ SOURCES

Personal archive knowledge

Prince Vault

Discogs

AllMusic

Rate Your Music

Wikipedia

BBC Official Charts Company