NPG Records and Paisley Park Enterprises, in partnership with Warner Records and Legacy Recordings, are pleased to announce the first-ever digital release of the newly remastered extended version of “America” taken from Prince And The Revolution’s groundbreaking Billboard #1 album Around The World In A Day, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Originally released in October 1985, “America”, which Prince described as “straightforwardly patriotic”, was the fourth and final single to be taken from Around The World In A Day, released five months earlier. The 12” version of the track weighs in at 21 minutes 41 seconds and has been newly remastered in stereo by Bernie Grundman for its first-ever streaming release. The single and album versions of the song were edited down from this epic performance, which was only cut short as the tape ran out.
“America” has also been meticulously mixed in a new Dolby Atmos presentation from the original multi-track master tapes by Prince’s protege and Best Engineered Grammy nominee Chris James.
“America” was recorded in the Summer of 1984, before the Purple Rain Tour, and made its live debut in February 1985 at The Forum in Los Angeles as the final song of the night. The song would regularly return to Prince’s shows throughout the 1990s and the 2000s.
In addition, at Paisley Park (Prince Museum), there will be a special spotlight exhibit that highlights the single “America” from Prince’s Around The World In A Day album. This Paisley Park spotlight exhibit will be on display from July 4th until July 10th.
Bold, iconic, and unmistakably Prince. In conjunction with the music release, the Prince team also offers new merchandise with The America Tee featuring artwork inspired by the original single from Around the World In A Day. Order yours exclusively at the Official Prince Store.
Prince was an iconic American musician, singer, songwriter, bandleader, performer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, and a pioneer in artists’ rights and freedoms. Born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he released his debut LP, For You, in 1978 and went on to become one of the most successful recording artists of all time, eventually selling more than 150 million albums.
Over his 40-year career, his work received unprecedented critical praise as well as official recognition of his achievements including seven Grammy Awards, seven Brit Awards, six American Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, NAACP Awards, a Grammy President’s Merit Award, a Billboard Icon Award, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score for the film Purple Rain). His albums, 1999 (1982), Purple Rain (1984), and Sign O’ The Times (1987) frequently appear in rankings of the greatest albums of all time. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the U.K. Music Hall of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, and more.
Prince was a leader in philanthropy, giving privately and without fanfare to countless charities and causes that he championed, and a trailblazer in music, fashion, art, and practically all forms of entertainment. Prince is considered by many to be the greatest artist of all time.