Prince Podcast Episode 13
Mar 16th, 2007 by mdean
Around the World in a Day album review and
WE ARE GOING TO VEGAS!! March 31st 3121 Rio!
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Running Time: 1:10:00
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5 Responses to “Prince Podcast Episode 13”
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ATWIAD is the “puzzle album;” there’s something in here for everybody to scratch their heads and say “wtf is this?” You got foundational (master)pieces like “Pop Life,” “Raspberry Beret” and “Condition of the Heart;” detail pieces like “Tambourine,” “America,” “Paisley Park;” and you got filler like “The Ladder” — which is hot garbage — and “Temptation.” But I don’t think it’s any more political than “1999″ (”Free”) or even “Controversy” with “Ronnie Talk to Russia.” Really, I don’t think he’s done anything more overtly socio-political than Side 2 of “Dirty Mind.”
But when you put in the context of 1985, it sort of makes sense that he would purposely put out an album that would fork his sound and image. He didn’t want to have “Purple Rain” to be something that defined his artistry and sound. You had a gang of copycats (Ready for the World jumps out — people still think “Oh Sheila” was Prince.) that ripped his look and sound. Even Rick James started wearing ruffled shirts. Besides, Jesse was holding it down with the first Revue album. (Shout out to “Free World”) So, our boy went left. He knew he had a foothold with the white audience (which was the point of The Family) and he started to cater to it with ATWIAD, and giving The Bangles “Manic Monday.”
One other thing about the album — the cover had a gang of symbols and innuendoes represented by characters in the songs: a ladder, the old man from “Paisley Park,” that weird Sheila E looking thing with a mustache and red hair. Even the mountain in the background; turn the gatefold sideways and you’ve got “Temptation.” Also, the first Prince to release on CD and the Paisley Park imprint.
With every show you’ve done, the best parts are when you drop jewels and jog memory — I was screaming “Hell, yeah!” when you chatted up the “America” video.
I got to say…..this was the review I had been waiting on. It’s one of my favourite albums because it was the one that really turned me into a fan. It was soooooo different and I remember thinking “I got to get everything on this guy”. LOL
Purple Rain got my attention, but this did it for me.
You have to remember that I’m in Australia and Purple Rain was really the first time he got noticed or played here, so when ATWIAD came out it was news. I actually remember waiting for it to be released and grabing it first day. LOL
I think I played it 4 or 5 times that day just hear and catch everything that he was doing.
Great review and I love that you’re doing the research behind when and how the songs came together as well. Keep it up guys!
althom
I had the exact same reaction as Arthur when Michael kinda went to orbit with the America-video - woow, he’s kicking it in that one and I just love the last jam-part of it with P behind the drums. A killer moment, but (in my opinion) he went even further and funkier on the ‘86 Hit N’ Run Tour - I can’t wait ’till you get to that part. Besides that ATWIAD is not one of my favorite P-albums. Yes, it’s very different and phsycadelic and honestly I like The Ladder a lot (I agree it’s kind of Gospel and that’s what I like about it), but, nahh, he’s done way better than that…
I’m really, really exited about your trip to Vegas. Oh boy, when you started talking about meeting all of us down there, I almost turned my car around to go straight to the airport! But let’s hope he’ll FINALLY remember that’s it been way to long since he’s been to Europe (or Australia, for that matter!?)…
Greetings from sunny Copenhagen
Yeah! We need a tour of Australia!!!!!
Yeah it is time he went around the world again and bless ya’ll with the funk.