🥁 Sheila E. – Sheila E. Album: Feb. 1987

Sheila E.’s third album blends her songwriting with uncredited Prince performances and production guidance

A February 1987 release featuring five Prince‑involved tracks recorded between 1985 and 1986.

🟣 Summary

• Released 24 February 1987, Sheila E. is the third studio album by Sheila E., issued worldwide on Paisley Park / Warner Bros.

• Five of the ten tracks were co‑written with Prince (though credited solely to Sheila E.) and feature his uncredited musical input, including vocals, instrumentation, and arrangement.

• Prince contributed heavily to the sessions between December 1985 and September 1986, recording at Sunset Sound (Hollywood) and his Galpin Blvd Home Studio (Chanhassen).

• Prince also offered Love And Sex for inclusion, but it was not used. Other tracks considered but unreleased include The World Is High, Paradise Gardens, and Split Personality.

• The album produced three singles: Love On A Blue Train, Hold Me, and Koo Koo.

• Despite strong material, promotion was limited as Sheila E. joined Prince’s Sign O’ The Times Tour shortly after release.

• The album peaked at No. 56 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart.

🟣 Highlights

• Released 24 February 1987

• Five tracks co‑written with Prince (uncredited)

• Prince performs backing vocals and most instrumentation on Prince‑related tracks

• Sessions recorded at Sunset Sound and Galpin Blvd Home Studio

• Three singles released: Love On A Blue Train, Hold Me, Koo Koo

• Limited promotion due to Sheila E.’s role on Prince’s 1987 tour

• Album reached No. 56 (Pop) and No. 24 (Black Albums) in the US

🟣 Track Details

CD — Worldwide (Paisley Park / Warner Bros.)

(Prince‑related tracks marked with 1)

One Day (I’m Gonna Make You Mine) — 4:47¹

Wednesday Like A River

Hold Me

Faded Photographs

Koo Koo — 3:24¹

Pride And The Passion — 4:05¹

Boy’s Club — 3:56¹

Soul Salsa

Hon E Man

Love On A Blue Train — 5:33¹

LP / Cassette — Worldwide

Side 1:

• One Day (I’m Gonna Make You Mine) — 4:47¹

• Wednesday Like A River

• Hold Me

• Faded Photographs

• Koo Koo — 3:24¹

Side 2:

• Pride And The Passion — 4:05¹

• Boy’s Club — 3:56¹

• Soul Salsa

• Hon E Man

• Love On A Blue Train — 5:33¹

🟣 All Variants (Complete List)

CD Variants

• Worldwide CD release (Paisley Park / Warner Bros.)

LP Variants

• Worldwide LP release

Cassette Variants

• Worldwide cassette release

Promo Variants

• Regional promo LPs and singles for Hold Me and Koo Koo

🟣 Reissues & Global Variants

• No major reissues

• Japanese editions include standard tracklist

• Some singles issued with alternate titles (Touch Me for Hold Me)

🟣 Production and Context

• Prince — producer, arranger (credited to Sheila E.), all instruments on Prince‑related tracks

• David Z. — co‑producer

• Engineers: Coke Johnson, David Leonard, Peggy McCreary

• Mastering: Chris Bellman

• Sessions spanned December 1985–September 1986

• Prince’s involvement includes backing vocals, instrumentation, and arrangement across five tracks

• Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss contribute horns on multiple Prince‑related songs

🟣 Singles Released

• Love On A Blue Train — Japan only (1986)

• Hold Me — worldwide (1987)

• Koo Koo — worldwide (1987)

🟣 Chart Performance

USA

• Billboard Top Pop Albums — No. 56 (12 weeks)

• Billboard Top Black Albums — No. 24 (12 weeks)

Europe

• Netherlands Album Top 100 — No. 68 (1 week)

• Sweden Albums Chart — No. 24 (2 weeks)

• Switzerland Album Chart — No. 20 (2 weeks)

🟣 Mini Discography

• The Glamorous Life — 1984

• Romance 1600 — 1985

• Sheila E. — 1987

🟣 Mini‑Timeline

• December 1985 — Love On A Blue Train recorded

• March 1986 — Boy’s Club recorded

• May 1986 — Pride And The Passion recorded

• September 1986 — One Day and Koo Koo recorded

• 24 February 1987 — Album released

• March 1987 — Sheila E. joins Prince’s Sign O’ The Times Tour

🟣 Glam Flashback

• The album captures Sheila E. at a creative crossroads — balancing her own songwriting voice with Prince’s unmistakable musical fingerprints, all while transitioning into her role as drummer for the Sign O’ The Times era.

🟣 Image & Artwork Copyright Notice

All images, photographs, and artwork referenced or displayed in this post remain the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included strictly for historical, educational, and archival purposes under fair‑use principles. No ownership is claimed, and all rights belong to the original creators, photographers, designers, and publishers.

🟣 Sources

Prince Vault

Album liner notes

Chart archives

Studio session documentation

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