Sheena Easton (September 7, 1984) – A Private Heaven Album Release
A Private Heaven is the fifth full‑length studio album by Sheena Easton. The project marked a deliberate shift in her artistic presentation, moving away from the “innocent” image associated with her early career and embracing a more overtly sexual, confident persona.
The album’s inclusion of Sugar Walls, written by Prince under the pseudonym Alexander Nevermind, played a central role in this transformation.
Prince’s contribution was recorded in late January or February 1984, during a period of intense creative output. His involvement added a distinctive edge to the album, aligning Easton with the provocative, boundary‑pushing aesthetic Prince was exploring at the time.
Sessions and Compiling
The track Sugar Walls was recorded by Prince in early 1984. The album was assembled from sessions that blended Easton’s pop sensibilities with more daring lyrical and stylistic choices, reflecting a conscious effort to reposition her image.
Promotion
Five singles were released from the album: Back In The City, Strut, Sugar Walls, Swear, and Hungry Eyes (Japan‑only).
The album reached number 15 on the US Billboard 200 and number 26 on the Billboard Soul LPs chart.
A Private Heaven received multiple reissues: • 2000 CD reissue • 2022 Deluxe Edition (2CD) with unreleased tracks and alternate versions • 2024 40th Anniversary 2LP Edition • 2025 remastered CD reissue as part of Strut – The Complete EMI Recordings Volume II. All tracklistings at foot of post.
Album Details
Released: 7 September 1984
Recorded: — Studios: Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
Length: 39:20 (1984) / 73:05 (2000) / 134:23 (2022) / 81:56 (2024) / 79:42 (2025)
Labels: EMI Records
Producer: Greg Mathieson
COUNTRY VARIANTS
• CD Reissue 2000 — EMI — — — 2000
• 2CD Deluxe Edition — EMI — — — 2022
• 2LP 40th Edition— EMI — — — 2024
• CD Reissue 2025 — EMI — — — 2025
Charts
America
USA Billboard 200 — Peak 15 — 35 weeks USA Billboard Soul LPs — Peak 26 — 13 weeks
Asia
Japan ORICON Albums — Peak 9 — 23 weeks
Certifications
USA — Gold (500,000) — 21 Nov 1984
USA — Platinum (1,000,000) — 15 Mar 1985
Canada — Gold (50,000) — 1 Dec 1984 Canada — Platinum (100,000) — 1 Feb 1985
Personnel (Full Track‑Specific Credits)
Sheena Easton — lead vocals
Carlos Vega — drums
Abraham Laboriel — bass
Lee Ritenour — guitar
Mike Landau — guitar
Greg Mathieson — keyboards
Michael Boddiker — keyboards
Lennie Castro — percussion
Richard Page — background vocals
Steve George — background vocals
Tom Kelly — background vocals
Additional Personnel
Adam Mattera — producer (Deluxe Edition)
Chris Lupton — designer (Deluxe Edition)
Fred Schaub — picture archive assistant (Deluxe Edition)
Linda Epstein — picture archive assistant (Deluxe Edition)
Simon Murphy — digital remastering (Deluxe Edition)
David Leonard — recording & mixing engineer
Harriet Wasserman — personal management
Singles from A Private Heaven
Sugar Walls — Released 1984 b/w Straight Talking
📼 ORIGINAL LP / MC — Compact Tracklists
Side 1
Track
Strut
Sugar Walls
Hungry Eyes
Hard To Say It’s Over
Swear
Side 2
Track
Love And Affection
Back In The City
You Make Me Nervous
All By Myself
Double Standard
📀 ORIGINAL 1984 CD — Compact Tracklist
Track
Strut
Sugar Walls
Hungry Eyes
Hard To Say It’s Over
Swear
Love And Affection
Back In The City
You Make Me Nervous
All By Myself
Double Standard
📀 2000 CD REISSUE
— Compact Tracklist
Track
Strut
Sugar Walls
Hungry Eyes
Hard To Say It’s Over
Swear
Love And Affection
Back In The City
You Make Me Nervous
All By Myself
Double Standard
Sugar Walls (Dance Mix)
Letters From The Road
Straight Talking
Fallen Angels
Strut (Dance Mix)
Swear (Dub Mix)
Sugar Walls (Red Mix)
📀 2022 DELUXE EDITION — DISC 1 (Compact)
Track
Strut
Sugar Walls
Hungry Eyes
Hard To Say It’s Over
Swear
Love And Affection
Back In The City
You Make Me Nervous
All By Myself
Double Standard
Strut (Dance Mix)
Sugar Walls (Dance Mix)
Swear (Dance Mix)
Strut (Dub Mix)
Sugar Walls (Red Mix)
Swear (Dub Mix)
📀 2022 DELUXE EDITION — DISC 2 (Compact)
Track
Letters From The Road
Straight Talking
Fallen Angels
Have You Ever Been In Love
Hungry Eyes (Alternate Version)
Hard To Say It’s Over (Alternate Version)
Sugar Walls (Long 'Roman' Version)
Strut (Instrumental Mix)
Love And Affection (Instrumental Mix)
Hungry Eyes (Instrumental Mix)
All By Myself (Instrumental Mix)
Back In The City (Instrumental Mix)
Hard To Say It’s Over (Instrumental Mix)
Straight Talking (Instrumental Mix)
In It To Win It (Instrumental Mix)
📀 2025 CD REISSUE — Compact Tracklist
Track
Strut
Sugar Walls
Hungry Eyes
Hard To Say It’s Over
Swear (Single Version)
Love And Affection (Alternate Version)
Back In The City (Alternate Mix)
You Make Me Nervous
All By Myself (Long Version)
Double Standard
Have You Ever Been In Love
Letters From The Road
Straight Talking
Fallen Angels (Alternate Version)
Have You Ever Been In Love (Alternate Version)
Hungry Eyes (Remix)
Hard To Say It’s Over (Rock Mix)
Love And Affection (Acoustic Version)
You Make Me Nervous (Alternate Mix)
Have You Ever Been In Love (Piano Version)
📀 2024 40th ANNIVERSARY 2LP — Compact Tracklists
Side 1
Track
Strut
Sugar Walls
Hungry Eyes
Hard To Say It’s Over
Swear
Side 2
Track
Love And Affection
Back In The City
You Make Me Nervous
All By Myself
Double Standard
Side 3
Track
Strut (Dance Mix)
Letters From The Road
Hungry Eyes (Remix)
Straight Talking
Sugar Walls (TV Mix)
Side 4
Track
Swear (Dance Mix)
Fallen Angels
Sugar Walls (Long Version)
Have You Ever Been In Love (Alternate Version)
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2
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