Paisley Park (song)
Encyclopedia
"Paisley Park" is a song by Prince
and The Revolution
. It was the first single in both the UK and Australia to be released from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day
. The song has a psychedelic
feel, similar to some of The Beatles
' later work with echoed guitar
and finger cymbals. The lyrics describe a Utopia
n place that one can feel in their heart, despite the chaos of the world around them. "Paisley Park" was recorded before Purple Rain
was completed, indicating the new direction Prince wanted to take after the success of that album and film. Violin on the song was played by Novi Novog
, and Wendy & Lisa
provide backing vocals. The rest of the song was performed by Prince. The single reached #18 in the UK.
of the single was "She's Always in My Hair", which was also on the U.S. release of "Raspberry Beret
". Many copies of the 12" single are mis-pressed, featuring four tracks instead of the three mentioned on the sleeve ("She's Always In My Hair" being present twice).
12" single
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
and The Revolution
The Revolution (band)
The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
. It was the first single in both the UK and Australia to be released from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day
Around the World in a Day
Around the World in a Day is the seventh studio album by Prince and the second by The Revolution, released on April 22, 1985 on Warner Bros. In compliance with Prince's wishes, the record company released the album with minimal publicity, not even releasing an accompanying single until almost a...
. The song has a psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
feel, similar to some of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' later work with echoed guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and finger cymbals. The lyrics describe a Utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
n place that one can feel in their heart, despite the chaos of the world around them. "Paisley Park" was recorded before Purple Rain
Purple Rain (album)
Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by Prince, the first to officially be credited to Prince and The Revolution, and is the soundtrack album to the 1984 film Purple Rain.Purple Rain is regularly ranked among the best albums in pop music history...
was completed, indicating the new direction Prince wanted to take after the success of that album and film. Violin on the song was played by Novi Novog
Novi Novog
Novi Novog, born in North Hollywood, California is an American viola player. She is sometimes simply credited as "Novi" and is the cousin of Lauren Wood .-Albums :...
, and Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa are a music duo consisting of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. They began working with Prince in the early 1980s and were part of his band The Revolution, before branching out on their own and releasing their debut album in 1987...
provide backing vocals. The rest of the song was performed by Prince. The single reached #18 in the UK.
"She's Always in My Hair"
The B-sideA-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of the single was "She's Always in My Hair", which was also on the U.S. release of "Raspberry Beret
Raspberry Beret
"Raspberry Beret" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It was the first U.S. single from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day. The sound was different from any previous Prince track, incorporating Middle Eastern finger cymbals, stringed instruments, and even a harmonica on the extended...
". Many copies of the 12" single are mis-pressed, featuring four tracks instead of the three mentioned on the sleeve ("She's Always In My Hair" being present twice).
Track listings
7" single- A. "Paisley Park" – 4:41
- B. "She's Always in My Hair" – 3:27
12" single
- A1. "Paisley Park" – 4:41
- A2. "She's Always in My Hair" – 3:27
- B. "Paisley Park" (Remix) – 6:53