Released April 23, 1985 Genre Various Artist U.S.A. for Africa Label CBS Records International | Recorded Various Length 41:37 Release date 23 April 1985 | |
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Nominations Grammy Award for Album of the Year Similar 95 Carats, Back Streets of Tokyo, FOR YOUR LOVE, All Four One, Shock | ||
We Are the World is a 1985 album that contains USA for Africa's "We Are the World", a superstar charity recording for famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.
Contents
In addition to the title track, the album includes nine previously unreleased songs by donating artists, including Prince, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (a rendition of Jimmy Cliff's obscure "Trapped" recorded live at Meadowlands Arena on their Born in the U.S.A. Tour, which achieved considerable album-oriented rock radio airplay and topped the Mainstream Rock chart), Tina Turner and others. In addition, "Grace", by Quincy Jones, is not included in this album but appeared as the B-side of the title track when it was released a month earlier.
The album also includes another famine relief fundraising song, "Tears Are Not Enough," which was performed by Canadian supergroup Northern Lights.
Prince and The Revolution recorded "4 the Tears in Your Eyes" for the album. A rare live version of the song was included on Prince's The Hits/The B-Sides.
Reception
The album sold over 3 million copies. According to Billboard on April 27, 1985, it reached number one in 2 weeks, something only formerly accomplished by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Track listing
- USA for Africa – "We Are the World" (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie) – 7:02
- Steve Perry – "If Only for the Moment, Girl" (Randy Goodrum, Steve Perry) – 3:44
- The Pointer Sisters – "Just a Little Closer" (Robbie Nevil, Mark Mueller) – 3:53
- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – "Trapped" (Live Version) (Jimmy Cliff) – 5:11
- Northern Lights – "Tears Are Not Enough" (David Foster, Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance) – 4:21
- Prince & The Revolution – "4 the Tears in Your Eyes" (Prince) – 2:45
- Chicago – "Good for Nothing" (Richard Marx, Robert Lamm, David Foster) – 3:35
- Tina Turner – "Total Control" (Martha Davis, Jeff Jourard) – 3:38
- Kenny Rogers – "A Little More Love" (Thom Schuyler, Fred Knobloch) – 2:54
- Huey Lewis and the News – "Trouble in Paradise" (Live Version) (Johnny Colla, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes, Sean Hopper, Huey Lewis, Mario Cipollina) – 4:34