USA For Africa - We Are The World (1985)

USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) was the name under which 44 predominantly U.S. artists, led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single "We Are the World" in 1985. The song was a U.S. and UK number one for the collective in April of that year. This super group was inspired by Bob Geldof's Band Aid.
“We Are the World” was a 1985 album that contained USA for Africa's "We Are the World" superstar charity recording for famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.
In addition to the title track, the album included nine previously unreleased songs by donating artists, including Prince, 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 included 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 was included on Prince's The Hits/The B-Sides.

Track listing

01.  USA For Africa We Are The World  - 7:02 
02.  Steve Perry - If Only For The Moment, Girl  - 3:44 
03.  The Pointer Sisters - Just A Little Closer  - 3:53 
04.  Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Trapped  - 5:11 
05.  Northern Lights (Canadian All Stars)- Tears Are Not Enough  - 4:21 
06.  Prince And The Revolution - 4 The Tears In Your Eyes  - 2:45 
07.  Chicago - Good For Nothing  - 3:35 
08.  Tina Turner - Total Control -  3:38 
09.  Kenny Rogers - A Little More Love  - 2:54 
10.  Huey Lewis & The News - Trouble In Paradise  - 4:34 

Credits
Dan Aykroyd (The only Canadian, and one of two non-US performers)
Harry Belafonte
Lindsey Buckingham (of Fleetwood Mac)
Kim Carnes
Ray Charles
Bob Dylan
Sheila E.
Bob Geldof (The only member of Band Aid, only Irishman, and one of two non-US performers)
Hall & Oates (Daryl Hall and John Oates)
James Ingram
Jackie Jackson
La Toya Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Michael Jackson
Randy Jackson
Tito Jackson
Al Jarreau
Waylon Jennings
Billy Joel
Cyndi Lauper
Huey Lewis and the News (Sean Hopper, Bill Gibson, Johnny Colla, Mario Cipollina, and Chris Hayes)
Kenny Loggins
Bette Midler
Willie Nelson
Jeffrey Osborne
Steve Perry
The Pointer Sisters (Anita Pointer, June Pointer and Ruth Pointer)
Lionel Richie
Smokey Robinson
Kenny Rogers
Diana Ross
Paul Simon
Bruce Springsteen
Tina Turner
Dionne Warwick
Stevie Wonder

Notes
Genre:  Pop
Producer:  Quincy Jones, Various
Length: 41:37
Label:  CBS Records

© 1985