I knew the Mac was recording, thanks to the blurb in Rolling Stone about a year before the album came out, but I could never find a definitive release date. Then, one day, I was in the library and opened RS to the centerfold to find a huge 2-page heavy-paper black glossy advert about the album. It was beautiful, and without hesitation I ripped it right out and stuck it in my backpack. Then, I carried my backpack home (in front of me, rather than wearing it) because I didn't want the ad to get bent or wrinkled.
I stared at it for hours -- that painting is just amazing. All the little eyes in the foliage, and the alien spaceship... Then, on release day, I rushed to the record store, only to find they didn't have any LPs, only cassettes and CDs. I was crushed, but got a cassette anyway figuring I'd get the LP (and full-size cover painting) later. I never did.
I spent that summer on a merchant marine training cruise through the Caribbean and down to South America (Rio de Janeiro!!!). While I was gone, a friend sent me a mix tape that started off with "Seven Wonders" and "Book of Miracles", and included the 45 single sleeve in the package. I taped it to the wall above my bunk, and stared at it every night before going to sleep, imagining how freakin' fun that photo shoot must've been. I heard "Seven Wonders" on the radio and in nightclubs all over the islands and in Rio. Also, in Rio (at a nightclub called Help! that was LOADED with Brazilian hookers for some reason...) I heard the 12" remix for the first time, and the dance floor filled to overflowing ... everyone LOVED it.
I also tortured all my shipmates with my mix tape any time we were working on the ship. Like I said, it started off with SW and BOM, but the rest of it was just 2 hours of American radio. Everyone loved it, especially after two months of hearing steel drum reggae versions of Elvis and '50s songs.
And several people asked about SW -- if it was the Mac. I said yes, it was from the new album. And they ALL said, "Man, that song is SO much better than that first single "Looking Out for Love" or whatever... I HATE that song!!!"