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We Are the World (album)

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We Are the World
Studio album by
USA for Africa and various artists
ReleasedApril 1, 1985 (1985-04-01)
Genre
Length41:37
LabelColumbia/CBS (LP)
PolyGram (CD)
Producer
Singles from We Are the World
  1. "We Are the World"
    Released: March 7, 1985
  2. "Tears Are Not Enough"
    Released: May 1, 1985

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] 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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStar[4]

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.[5]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."We Are the World" (performed by USA for Africa)
Quincy Jones7:02
2."If Only for the Moment, Girl" (performed by Steve Perry)
  • Goodrum
  • S. Perry
3:44
3."Just a Little Closer" (performed by The Pointer Sisters)
Richard Perry3:53
4."Trapped" (performed by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band) (Live at Meadowlands, August 6, 1984)Jimmy Cliff
5:11
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
5."Tears Are Not Enough" (performed by Northern Lights)
Foster4:21
6."4 the Tears in Your Eyes" (performed by Prince and the Revolution)PrincePrince2:45
7."Good for Nothing" (performed by Chicago)
Foster3:35
8."Total Control" (performed by Tina Turner)
John S. Carter3:38
9."A Little More Love" (recorded by Kenny Rogers)
David Malloy2:54
10."Trouble in Paradise" (performed by Huey Lewis and the News) (Live in San Francisco on February 21, 1985)
Huey Lewis and the News4:34
Total length:41:37

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for We Are the World
Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] 6
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[7] 5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9] 8
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] 6
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[11] 1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 1
UK Albums (Official Charts)[14] 31
US Billboard 200[15] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 6

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for We Are the World
Chart (1985) Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] 59
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 10
US Billboard 200[19] 76

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for We Are the World
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil — 850,000[20]
France (SNEP)[21] Gold 100,000[22]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[23] Platinum 15,000^
United States (RIAA)[24] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Kragen, Ken (9 March 1985). "An Open Letter To Everyone In Radio" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 10. New York, NY, USA: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 5. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 4 April 2024. The release of this record [single] on March 7 and the subsequent album on April 1 is not just about raising money
  2. Adelson, David, ed. (9 March 1985). "Columbia Set For March 7 Release Of "We Are The World"" (PDF). Cash Box. 48 (39). New York, NY, USA: Albert, George: 7. ISSN 0008-7289. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 4 April 2024. An album, featuring not only the single but also unreleased tracks by some of the artists who performed on "We Are The World," as well as by others (including Prince) who were unable to attend, will follow on April 1.
  3. "10-song 'We Are The World' album hits record stores today". Gainesville Sun. No. 1 April 1985. Gainesville, FL, USA. Associated Press. p. 5C. Retrieved 4 April 2024. The USA for Africa fund-raising album featuring 45 superstars singing "We Are The World" is scheduled to arrive in record stores today
  4. We Are the World at AllMusic
  5. Billboard April 27, 1985, page 6
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 317. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – USA for Africa – We Are The World" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – USA for Africa – We Are The World" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – USA for Africa – We Are The World" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  10. "Charts.nz – USA for Africa – We Are The World". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  11. "Norwegiancharts.com – USA for Africa – We Are The World". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  12. "Swedishcharts.com – USA for Africa – We Are The World". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  13. "Swisscharts.com – USA for Africa – We Are The World". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  14. "Official Albums Chart on 19/5/1985 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  15. "USA for Africa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  16. "USA for Africa Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  17. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1985". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  18. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985". hitparade.ch. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  19. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  20. Pignatori, Decio (May 18, 1985). "VIDEO - CLIP LP A TV encontra a sua poetica". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). p. 35 – via National Library of Brazil. afinal, o LP we are the world vendeu em apenas tres semanas no brasil um total de 850 mil copias
  21. "French album certifications – U.S.A. For Africa – We Are The World" (in French). InfoDisc. Select U.S.A. FOR AFRICA and click OK. 
  22. "Les Certifications". InfoDisc. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  23. "New Zealand album certifications – USA For Africa – We Are The World". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  24. "American album certifications – USA For Africa – We Are The World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 6, 2022.