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, on LP by Columbia Records and on CD by PolyGram.
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
The album sold over three million copies. On April 27, 1985, it reached number one on Billboard's Top Pop Albums in only two weeks, something that had last been accomplished in 1981 by the Rolling Stones album Tattoo You.Billboard April 27, 1985, page 6
Track listing
Personnel Executive producer: Ken Kragen Album supervisor: Humberto Gatica
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for We Are the WorldChart (1985)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report)6
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for We Are the WorldChart (1985)PositionDutch Albums (Album Top 100)59Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)10US Billboard 20076
Certifications and sales
References
External links