The 12-inch maxi single for "Mountains" by Prince and The Revolution is widely celebrated as one of the crown jewels of Prince's extensive 12-inch vinyl catalog.
Released on May 7, 1986 (with a wider rollout by May 21) as the second single from the Parade album—the soundtrack to his film Under the Cherry Moon—the maxi single transformed a concise pop track into an expansive, hypnotic psychedelic-funk masterwork.
The story behind this legendary 12-inch pressing encompasses collaborative songwriting, studio magic, and a fan-favorite B-side.
Unlike many Prince tracks where he played every instrument, "Mountains" was born out of a true collaboration with his bandmates.
The song originated from an instrumental demo created by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. When Prince heard it, he was deeply inspired. He added lyrics, structures, and refined it alongside The Revolution at the Washington Avenue Warehouse in Minneapolis on November 30, 1985.
The song's lyrical theme centers around love overcoming massive, seemingly insurmountable obstacles ("But words are so cliché / It's time we find new harmony"). [
This single captured The Revolution at the height of their musical tightly-knit powers, featuring a full band arrangement that included the first official appearance of trumpet player Atlanta Bliss, adding a triumphant brass texture.
🎚️ From 4-Minute Pop to a 10-Minute Jam
While the standard Parade album track and 7-inch single clocked in at a tight 3:58, the 12-inch maxi single blew the arrangement wide open to 10:03.
Instead of a simple copy-and-paste edit, the extended version functions as a living, breathing studio jam. After the album version's natural ending point, the 12-inch single transitions into a massive, extended polyrhythmic section. It highlights a driving snare pattern, looping synths, and heavy horn-filled funk lines. Rumored to have been largely recorded in just one take, you can actively hear the raw, playful energy of the band as they stretch the Minneapolis sound into hypnosis.
A major reason why the 12-inch single remains highly collectible among vinyl enthusiasts is its B-side, "Alexa de Paris".
It is a beautiful, sweeping instrumental track written and produced by Prince.
It serves as a rare exception for the Parade era by prominently featuring a soaring, emotional guitar solo from Prince, juxtaposed against cinematic orchestral arrangements. Like "Mountains," "Alexa de Paris" was featured in the movie Under the Cherry Moon. The 12-inch single gave fans the extended, definitive version of this instrumental.
Prince directed the music video for "Mountains," which was released in April 1986. To promote the single, a vibrant, color version of the video was serviced to MTV. This stood in stark contrast to Under the Cherry Moon, which was entirely stylized in black-and-white. The video featured Prince and The Revolution dancing and performing against ethereal backdrops, capturing the neo-psychedelic aesthetic of the era.
Commercially, "Mountains" met with moderate success compared to Parade's lead mega-hit "Kiss." It peaked at No. 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 15 on the Hot Black Singles Chart, while reaching No. 45 in the UK and No. 20 in the Netherlands.
However, its chart positions don't tell the whole story. Ironically, while the song radiates themes of attachment and unity, Prince disbanded The Revolution just months after its release. For the Prince community, the "Mountains" 12-inch single remains a poignant monument to what the band could achieve together—a monumental example of why Prince's extended maxi singles are considered essential pieces of his artistic legacy.
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