Prince and the Revolution: "His Majesty's Pop Life" Album (2020)

Escape
Nov 1, 1985
3 min read

Updated: Sep 23

Prince and the Revolution’s His Majesty’s Pop Life, subtitled The Purple Mix Club, was originally released as an LP album in Japan by Warner-Pioneer (catalog number 28XD-451) on November 1, 1985, as a compilation album featuring Prince’s studio work, with a UK release in December 1985.

Originally released as a promotional record exclusively in Japan, it followed the commercial release of "Around The World In A Day" and its singles. At that time, it was Prince’s third promotional compilation album, following a 1984 sampler and "Strange Tales From the Rain." The album was reissued globally in a limited run of 14,000 copies for Record Store Day on April 13, 2019, marking Prince’s eighth compilation album and the fifth released posthumously. In 2020, the album was made available for wider retail in Japan, including its first CD release.

The first disc features versions of tracks released as singles from "Around The World In A Day" (with "America" in its album version, while others are remixes originally from various 12" single vinyl releases).

The second disc contains versions of some singles from the previous albums "1999" and "Purple Rain," along with the extended version of "Erotic City," which was originally the B-side of "Let’s Go Crazy."

This double-disc album includes recordings from three Prince/Prince and the Revolution studio albums (mostly in different versions) and one single, all initially released between 1982 and 1985. Due to the separation of tracks from different eras across the two discs, the second disc is nearly twice the length of the first. Consequently, the first disc is played at 45 rpm (standard for singles), and the second at 33 ⅓ rpm (standard for LPs).

Notably, both Prince and Sheila E. created remixes of "Pop Life." The version on the record is labeled as "Pop Life (Fresh Dance Mix)" (created by Sheila E.), but it is actually the Extended Version made by Prince.

Promotion

With a limited number pressed and distributed solely to DJs in Japan, the 1985 release of "His Majesty’s Pop Life" became a sought-after collectible. The 2019 reissue was a special Record Store Day release, with 14,000 copies available globally, coinciding with the cassette replica of "The Versace Experience (Prelude 2 Gold)." The reissue cover features the NPG Records imprint, The Prince Estate, and Warner Bros. Records logos, along with a “WRECKA STOW DAY EXCLUSIVE” sticker referencing a scene from 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 number 19 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums charts.

The album was initially available only on vinyl.

The compact disc version (released in Japan only) is a reissue from the LP.

The vinyl long play format is the initial release.

Pop Life (Extended Version) (9:07) 1,2

America (Album Version) (3:40) 1

Side two:

Raspberry Beret (New Mix) (6:33) 1

Paisley Park (Remix) (6:56) 1

Side three:

Let’s Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix) (7:35) 1

Little Red Corvette (Dance Remix) (8:22)