We Are the World (album)

1985 studio album by USA for Africa and various artists From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We Are the World (album)

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. The album was released on April 1, 1985,[1][2][3] by Columbia Records.

Quick Facts Studio album by USA for Africa and various artists, Released ...
We Are the World
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Studio album by
USA for Africa and various artists
ReleasedApril 1, 1985
Genre
Length41:37
LabelColumbia/CBS
ProducerQuincy Jones, Various
Singles from We Are the World
  1. "We Are the World"
    Released: March 7, 1985
  2. "Tears Are Not Enough"
    Released: May 1, 1985
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In addition to the title track, the album includes nine previously unreleased songs by donating artists, including Prince, Steve Perry, 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.

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, done for Live Aid, was included on Prince's The Hits/The B-Sides.

Chicago's contribution, "Good for Nothing", would be the last single released with bass player Peter Cetera's lead vocals before he left the band. It was later included on the band's comprehensive 2003 compilation, The Box.

The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1986.

Critical reception

More information Review scores, Source ...
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
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The album sold over three million copies. According to Billboard on April 27, 1985, it reached number one in only two weeks, something only formerly accomplished by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.[citation needed]

Track listing

  1. USA for Africa – "We Are the World" (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie) 7:02
  2. Steve Perry – "If Only for the Moment, Girl" (Randy Goodrum, Steve Perry) 3:44
  3. The Pointer Sisters – "Just a Little Closer" (Robbie Nevil, Mark Mueller) 3:53
  4. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – "Trapped" (Live at Meadowlands, August 6, 1984) (Jimmy Cliff) 5:11
  5. Northern Lights – "Tears Are Not Enough" (David Foster, Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance) 4:21
  6. Prince & The Revolution – "4 the Tears in Your Eyes" (Prince) 2:45
  7. Chicago – "Good for Nothing" (Richard Marx, Robert Lamm, David Foster) 3:35
  8. Tina Turner – "Total Control" (Martha Davis, Jeff Jourard) 3:38
  9. Kenny Rogers – "A Little More Love" (Thom Schuyler, J. Fred Knobloch) 2:54
  10. Huey Lewis and the News – "Trouble in Paradise" (Live in San Francisco on February 21, 1985) (Johnny Colla, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes, Sean Hopper, Huey Lewis, Mario Cipollina) 4:34

Personnel

Charts

More information Chart (1985), Peak position ...
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Certifications and sales

More information Region, Certification ...
Certifications and sales for We Are the World
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil 850,000[18]
France (SNEP)[19] Gold 100,000[20]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[21] Platinum 15,000^
United States (RIAA)[22] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

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