1. "Around the World in a Day" (David Coleman, John L. Nelson, Prince) – 3:27
2. "Paisley Park" (Prince) – 4:41
3. "Condition of the Heart" (Prince) – 6:46
4. "Raspberry Beret" (Prince) – 3:31
5. "Tamborine" (Prince and the Revolution) – 2:46
6. "America" (Prince) – 3:40
7. "Pop Life" (Prince) – 3:42
8. "The Ladder" (Nelson, Prince) – 5:26
9. "Temptation" (Prince) – 8:21

after Purple Rain took Prince to the heights of mega stardom...he decided that he would not milk the cow...

he decided to go left....

recorded mostly on the Purple Rain Tour in 1984...ATIWAD was designed specifically by Prince to shake off fake fans....

if they wanted to hear Purple Rain again, then they could listen to Purple Rain....

ATWIAD is a whimsical collection of songs with a very loose theme uniting them....basically an update of Uptown, now called Paisley Park is where the denizens of Prince's mind now gather....

a place of whimsy and carefree vibes, Prince observes those who collect there....

the album cover is a psychedelic illustration that is reminiscent of The Beatles's breakthrough, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band....

the cover shows characters from the songs gathered in what we can assume to be Paisley Park...

characters show various emotional states...the older people are crying and in pain...some are lustful, some are peaceful, some joyful....

there are several depictions of Prince like figures who have different faces....

they are posed against a multi colored background that once the cover is opened is revealed as the silhouette of a nude woman in recline...

many of the songs have ambiguous lyrics hat were probably written that way purposely to invite speculation....

Prince touches on varied topics such as the Cold War, his first sexual experience, lust as sin, masturbation, loneliness, drug addiction, and spiritual salvation...

Condition of the Heart is a chilling piano ballad with an outstanding vocal by Prince that is one of Prince's best written and performed songs....but sadly doesnt get much recognition....

Raspberry Beret was the well-known pop hit...

P returns to the funk on the drum powered smoker Tambourine and also on Pop Life, an easy groover w/drums by Sheila E.

the title track is an Indian influenced joint that was written on tour in 1984....

altogether the album is very enjoyable and there are a number of top-notch songs on it...

but other songs dont stick as well....such as The Ladder and Paisley Park, a Beatles flavored piece of (cliche term alert)pop psychedelia...possibly the driving one chord funk jam America could fit in this category as well....

the critics as well as fans were confounded by this record....and Prince indeed succeeded in shaking off his post Purple Rain fairweather fans...

although it was a wobbly start, this album kickstarted Prince's most creative period....

Scorp's Rating: 3.75/5.00



The avatar: Windimoto Is Here...

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Quote of a lifetime:
"...music is not just a hobby or what I do...it's what I live...music is the voice of my god, my vehicle for spiritual enlightenment..."
-Illogicz