Paisley Park Records

NPG Records ◄

All Labels

All Studios

► Purple Music Records

Paisley Park Records

Label details Parent Company: Warner Bros. Records Founded: February 1985 Ceased operation: February 1994 Founder: Prince Location: Chanhassen (MN), USA Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Records (In the U.S.) WEA International (Outside the U.S.) Subsidiaries: Paisley Park Enterprises Discography First Prince Album Release: Around The World In A Day First Prince Single Release: Raspberry Beret First Associate Album Release: The Family: The Family First Associate Single Release: The Family: The Screams Of Passion

Prince’s first record label, Paisley Park Records, a co-venture with Warner Bros. Records, was founded in 1985 and debuted with the release of Around The World In A Day. The label shares its name with Prince’s recording complex Paisley Park Studios and the song Paisley Park. Paisley Park was the first name used for the label. It was changed to Paisley Park Records in 1987. The first release to bear the full name was Madhouse ‘s 6 single. Artists who recorded for Paisley Park Records (or Paisley Park) include The Time, Sheila E., The Family, Mavis Staples, George Clinton, Rosie Gaines, Carmen Electra, Jill Jones, The Three O’Clock, Ingrid Chavez, Dale Bozzio, and Taja Sevelle. Paisley Park Records also released albums by Mazarati, Good Question, Madhouse, Eric Leeds, and Tony LeMans. The label ceased operations in 1994, when Warner ended its distribution deal with Paisley Park Records, effectively closing the label. History Label Creation The idea of the Paisley Park Records label emerged during the summer of 1984. Since 1981, Prince has produced albums for The Time, Vanity 6, Sheila E., and Apollonia 6 under the pseudonym Jamie Starr and offered many songs to various other acts. Paisley Park Records was practically an extension of The Starr Company imprint, used on the records he fully produced. In 1986 Prince made a deal with Warner Bros. Records to create Paisley Park Records as a joint venture, 50/50 owned by Prince’s company and Warner Bros. Records, with the latter responsible for the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of the records. From 1987 on they began signing artists to the label that were officially, properly signed to Paisley Park Records, not Warner. In 1992, the deal between Prince and Warner Bros. Records was revised, as Paisley Park Records would decide how much to spend on videos and promotional activities. Warner Bros. Records and Prince would operate as partners, sharing investments and profits. Prince’s first album to be released on Paisley Park Records, and also the label’s first release, was Around The World In A Day on 22 April 1985. All the subsequent releases, except for the Batman album and related singles, would be on that label until the compilations The Hits / The B-Sides in 1993. The first acts who released an album with the label imprint were The Family, Sheila E. and Mazarati. Label Life Initially no one was really running the label running the label, but Bob Cavallo, one of Prince's managers, would interact with Warner and try to encourage them to promote the records. But there was nobody full time working on the label’s projects. Once the records were made, they were delivered to Warner Bros. Records. When Prince parted ways with Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli as his management team in early 1989, and appointed Albert Magnoli as his manager, the label had little active advocates to promote their releases. Newly signed acts Mavis Staples, George Clinton never really gained momentum with their releases. In late 1992 Alan Leeds, brother of saxophonist Eric Leeds. Leeds had previously served as Prince’s tour manager was named President of Operations for the . When he left Craig Rice was shortly ast the helm before handing over operations to former trade journalist Graham Armstrong. Label Closure On February 1st 1994, Warner Bros. Records and Paisley Park Enterprises announced that they would be terminating Paisley Park Records. Two of the Paisley Park Records acts, Belize and Tyler Collins, were left without contracts when the label folded. Belize had completed an album without Prince’s involvement, but it was never released. Rosie Gaines's Paisley Park album, Concrete Jungle, on which Prince was involved, was due to be released on 22 March 1994. A single for My Tender Heart backed with Pain was also scheduled for release. The album and single were withdrawn when the label was terminated. Gaines later signed a deal with Motown Records, and released an album entitled Closer Than Close in June 1995. Concrete Jungle was eventually digitally released by Rosie Gaines. Shortly before the closure of Paisley Park Records, Prince had already created a new label called NPG Records, and started distributing his music without the involvement of Warner Bros. Records.

Releases
Catalog numbers are indicated regardless of format, under the year of release, into brackets.
Prince
Albums
1985 (25286) 1986 (25395) 1987 (25577) 1988 (25720) 1990 (27493) 1991 (25379) 1992 (45027) 1993 (45431) 1993 (45435) 1993 (45440) Around The World In A Day Parade Sign O’ The Times Lovesexy Graffiti Bridge Diamonds and Pearls The Hits 1 The Hits 2 The Hits / The B-Sides
Singles
1985 (28972) 1985 (29052) 1985 (28998) 1985 (28999) 1986 (28751) 1986 (28711) 1986 (28586) 1986 (28620) 1987 (28399) 1987 (28334) Raspberry Beret Paisley Park (Europe only) Pop Life America Kiss Mountains Girls & Boys (Europe only) Anotherlover -holenyohead Sign O’ The Times If I Was Your Girlfriend 1987 (28289) 1987 (28288) 1987 (28288) 1988 (21858) 1988 (27806) 1988 (27745) 1990 (19525) 1990 (19525) 1991 (19225) 1991 (19175) U Got The Look I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man Hot Thing Alphabet St. Glam Slam I Wish U Heaven Thieves In The Temple New Power Generation Gett Off Cream 1991 (19090) 1991 (19059) 1992 (19020) 1992 (5301) 1992 (40480) 1992 (18817) 1992 (18704) 1992 (18599) 1992 (18700) 1993 (18583) Insatiable Diamonds And Pearls Money Don’t Matter 2 Night Willing And Able (US promo only) Thunder (UK only) Sexy M.F. My Name Is Prince 7 Damn U The Morning Papers 1993 (18371) 1993 (18372) 1993 (5994) 1993 (18280) 1994 (1278) Pink Cashmere Peach Nothing Compares 2 U Controversy '93 (UK only) Pope (UK promo only)
Associated Artists
Albums
1985 (25322) 1985 (25317) 1986 (25368) 1987 (25545) 1987 (25498) 1987 (25575) 1987 (25546) 1987 (25658) 1988 (25599) 1988 (25717) The Family The Family Sheila E. Romance 1600 Mazarati Mazarati Madhouse 8 Sheila E. Sheila E. Jill Jones Jill Jones Taja Sevelle Taja Sevelle1 Madhouse 16 Dale Bozzio Riot In English Three O’Clock Vermillion1 1988 (25743) 1989 (25995) 1989 (25994) 1989 (25798) 1989 (29K2-1002) 1990 (27490) 1990 (TDCK-2003) 1991 (27499) 1991 (27497) 1991 (25879) Good Question Good Question Tony LeMans Tony LeMans1 George Clinton The Cinderella Theory Mavis Staples Time Waits For No One Kahoru Kohiruimaki Time The Motion2 (Japan only) The Time Pandemonium1 Kahoru Kohiruimaki Time The Motion Live2 (Japan only) Eric Leeds Times Squared T.C. Ellis True Confessions Ingrid Chavez Ingrid Chavez 1993 (25338) 1993 (25049) 1993 (PRO-CD-6595) 1993 (25518) 1993 (45199) Carmen Electra Carmen Electra Mavis Staples The Voice Mavis Staples Gospel Tracks (US promo only) George Clinton Hey Man... Smell My Finger Eric Leeds Things Left Unsaid 1 Distributed by Reprise Records instead of Warner Bros. Records. 2 Distributed by Warner-Pioneer instead of Warner Bros. Records.
Singles
1985 1985 1985 1985 1985 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 The Family The Screams Of Passion Sheila E. Sister Fate Sheila E. Bedtime Story Sheila E. A Love Bizarre The Family High Fashion Mazarati Players’ Ball Sheila E. Love On A Blue Train Sheila E. Holly Rock Mazarati 100 MPH Mazarati Stroke 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1987 1988 1988 1988 Madhouse 6 Sheila E. Hold Me Jill Jones Mia Bocca Sheila E. Koo Koo Jill Jones G-Spot Madhouse 10 Taja Sevelle Love is Contagious Jill Jones For Love Taja Sevelle Wouldn’t You Love To Love Me? Madhouse 13 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1988 1989 1989 Taja Sevelle Popular Dale Bozzio Simon Simon Taja Sevelle Take Me For A Ride Three O’Clock Love Explosion Good Question Listen To Your Heart Three O’Clock Neon telephone Dale Bozzio Riot In English Good Question Got A New Love Mavis Staples 20Th Century Express Mavis Staples Jaguar 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989 1990 1990 1990 1990 1990 George Clinton Tweakin’ Tony Lemans Higher Than High Mavis Staples Time Waits For No One Mavis Staples Christmas Vacation Tony Lemans Forever More (US promo only) Tony Lemans Cookie Crumbles The Time Jerk Out Mavis Staples Melody Cool Tevin Campbell Round And Round The Time Chocolate 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1991 1992 1993 The Time Shake! Eric Leeds The Dopamine Rush (US promo only) Eric Leeds Little Rock (US promo only) T.C. Ellis Miss Thang Ingrid Chavez Elephant Box T.C. Ellis Pussycat Ingrid Chavez Hippy Blood Ingrid Chavez Heaven Must Be Near (UK promo only) Carmen Electra Go Go Dancer Carmen Electra Everybody Get On Up 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1998 (1991) Carmen Electra Fantasia Erotica Mavis Staples The Voice George Clinton Paint The White House Black George Clinton Martial Law Mavis Staples Blood Is Thicker Than Time George Clinton The Big Pump (US promo only) Eric Leeds Woman In Chains (US promo only) Carmen Electra Fun

Additional Information See also Trivia NPG Records Although the label has been closed for years, Paisley Park® is still a registred trademark (Registration Nr: 3065684) owned by Paisley Park Enterprises, Inc. (Chanhassen, MN 55317). It is covering: Recording studios; music, motion picture film and videotape production services; film and video editing services. Of note the Paisley Park® trademark is labelled as having being first used on 22 April 1985. References Entrepeneur bug bites artists... And results vary by Deborah Russel (Billboard Vol.? No.? - 30 May 1992) Wikipedia: Paisley Park Records Wikipedia: Warner Bros. Records Catalog: Discog: Paisley Park, 45Cat: Paisley park Trademark: Trademarkia: Paisley Park Trademark

◄

NPG Records

All Labels

All Studios

Purple Music Records

►