07/07/2025
5 Surprising Facts About Prince’s ‘Around the World in a Day’
✍🏽: Eric Alper
How do you follow up Purple Rain—one of the most iconic albums of the 1980s? If you’re Prince, you don’t. You sidestep the spotlight, vanish into the paisley ether, and drop Around the World in a Day, a record that refused to chase chart success and instead embraced psychedelic mystique, emotional vulnerability, and sonic risk. While the world was waiting for Purple Rain 2.0, Prince gave them something stranger, denser, and more surprising. Here are five things you might not know about the album that blurred the lines between pop and the surreal.
1. Recording Began Before Purple Rain Was Even Finished
Prince wasn’t done with Purple Rain before he’d already started Around the World in a Day. Some songs were being demoed and tracked while his previous masterpiece was still in the works. He was always one step ahead—and this album proved he had no interest in standing still.
2. The Title Track Was Sparked by Lisa Coleman’s Brother
The lush, Middle Eastern–inflected title track was born from a demo by David Coleman, brother of Revolution keyboardist Lisa Coleman. That initial sketch inspired Prince to build the sonic world of the album around its whimsical, mystical feel. A true family affair that helped set the tone for the entire project.
3. “Paisley Park” Was Recorded Just Three Months After Purple Rain
The ethereal “Paisley Park” came to life quickly—just three months after Purple Rain was released. Featuring violin from Novi Novog and vocal support from Wendy & Lisa, the track foreshadowed the creation of Prince’s actual Paisley Park studio and label, solidifying his vision of a creative utopia.
4. The 12” of “America” Played Until the Tape Ran Out
The extended version of “America” runs over 21 minutes—because Prince and the Revolution literally played until the recording tape ended. That jam session was raw, unfiltered energy, caught in real time. The tape fades just before it physically runs out, capturing the band’s maximalist spirit.
5. “Pop Life” Features a Riot Sample Prince Couldn’t Explain
In “Pop Life,” the line “throw the bum out!” comes from a crowd sound effect that fans long believed was recorded during a disastrous Rolling Stones opening slot. In truth, it came from a 1982 horror film [😮PS CORRECTION: it was actually samples from Authentic Sound Effects: Volume 4: Prize Fight, Large Arena and Barroom Brawl see link in comments]. When asked why he used it, Prince simply said: “Good question — me too :)”
Around the World in a Day wasn’t a sequel to Purple Rain—it was a rebellion against the very idea of one. It challenged expectations, defied commercial logic, and let Prince explore deeper layers of sound, spirituality, and identity. Nearly 40 years later, its paisley palette still feels bold, bizarre, and totally, unmistakably Prince.
