Prince: Sign O' Times

[qubi]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so i guess here is as good place as any. In the 2 year long pocess of transferring my cd collection to my (now 2nd) ipod, i got to prince's sign o" the times.. Man.. This has always been my favourite prince album, even more than purple rain, which people always thought was wierd.. (hey i'm 35, so "people" refers to teen buddies in the 80's!), but i heard both albums before i ever saw the film. Something about this album that i have never ever heard again, even with prince's later work.. the diversity, the range, and the perfection of excecution of every style.. I mean, it jumps from a beat box sort of electro funky groove to an all out bluesy rock jam session, then back. And even today, the production quality (despite the overly LOUD linn snares) is still astounishing. for those who have paid attention to this album, has there ever been anything as broad and diverse, and yet so well crafted as this?? (i know i'm setting my self up here, but hell, i'll gladley accept seeming ignorrant if it means i get to learn about new amazing albums!)
I mean, starfish and coffee, what the hell was that all about?? but it was beautiful.

yes, i'm a prince fan, although i really couldn't tell you what his last 5 albums were.. something went missing in the soul,sexuality and funk of his work lately. Although his last album did start to bring a little bit of that back. Oh yeah, and the Justin timberlake track which TOTALLY ripped of "sexy cabdriver" .

That's all, just a mental divergance on my part. If anyone feels the same, it would be great to hear from them, and even greater to hear about info on the recording of this amazing album

[code green]

Originally Posted by qubi

Wasn't sure where to post this, so i guess here is as good place as any. In the 2 year long pocess of transferring my cd collection to my (now 2nd) ipod, i got to prince's sign o" the times.. Man.. This has always been my favourite prince album, even more than purple rain, which people always thought was wierd.. (hey i'm 35, so "people" refers to teen buddies in the 80's!), but i heard both albums before i ever saw the film. Something about this album that i have never ever heard again, even with prince's later work.. the diversity, the range, and the perfection of excecution of every style.. I mean, it jumps from a beat box sort of electro funky groove to an all out bluesy rock jam session, then back. And even today, the production quality (despite the overly LOUD linn snares) is still astounishing. for those who have paid attention to this album, has there ever been anything as broad and diverse, and yet so well crafted as this?? (i know i'm setting my self up here, but hell, i'll gladley accept seeming ignorrant if it means i get to learn about new amazing albums!)
I mean, starfish and coffee, what the hell was that all about?? but it was beautiful.

yes, i'm a prince fan, although i really couldn't tell you what his last 5 albums were.. something went missing in the soul,sexuality and funk of his work lately. Although his last album did start to bring a little bit of that back. Oh yeah, and the Justin timberlake track which TOTALLY ripped of "sexy cabdriver" .

That's all, just a mental divergance on my part. If anyone feels the same, it would be great to hear from them, and even greater to hear about info on the recording of this amazing album

my man, i totally agree with you (though purple rain is very hard for me to separate from the time--first album i ever bought the day of release, saw the movie and the tour, etc....which accruse both in its favor and its disfavor). this album is phenomenal. it's been a long time since i've listened, so i'm gonna put it on right now!

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by code green

my man, i totally agree with you (though purple rain is very hard for me to separate from the time--first album i ever bought the day of release, saw the movie and the tour, etc....which accruse both in its favor and its disfavor). this album is phenomenal. it's been a long time since i've listened, so i'm gonna put it on right now!

My favorites are "Sign O The Time", "Parade" and "Around the world in a day".

Songs like "Sometimes it snows In April" and "SLow Love" are amazing slow songs. I was lucky to see prince on both the "Around the World in a day" and "Sign O the Times" and "Graffitti Bridge tours.
We were right at the front of the stage (no barricades) for the first one.

[qubi]

Originally Posted by Henchman

My favorites are "Sign O The Time", "Parade" and "Around the world in a day".

Songs like "Sometimes it snows In April" and "SLow Love" are amazing slow songs. I was lucky to see prince on both the "Around the World in a day" and "Sign O the Times" and "Graffitti Bridge tours.
We were right at the front of the stage (no barricades) for the first one.

I totally agree, especially parade. I bought that when it first came out, and i just remember listening to it endlessly, it was so different than anything else out there at the time. It did have some of the feel of Sign, more programmed but just as funky if not more.
Man, i wish i had the chance to see the sign o' times concert live!! i did get to see prince in the "nude" tour, in spain around '91, then a couple more times in the states in the mid 90's. Awesome.

[Steamy Williams]

My favourite Prince albums are Dirty Mind, Purple Rain and Sign O' The Times. The Sign O' The Times concert film is amazing. If you like the album you should definitely get the DVD. In fact, you've just reminded me that I had planned to pick up Purple Rain the film on DVD this weekend, so I'm gonna go into town to get it as soon I finish writing this post.

I recently bought a Linn LM-1, the same model that Prince used, one of only around 500 made. I think getting that has pushed my Prince "obsession" over the edge.

Anyway, if you haven't seen it already, check out the link below to footage of a rare peformance of Computer Blue on YouTube, which I believe is actually from before the Purple Rain film and album were released. It rocks! Stuff like this has a habit of getting deleted from YouTube, so I advise you watch it ASAP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbZ7wV02EVg

[zvenx]

Ballad of Dorothy Parker has always been one of my favourite songs of his.
A few years ago I saw him perform it on one of the late night shows, maybe David, maybe Leno. He played rhodes. it was wicked.
rsp

[qubi]

Originally Posted by Steamy Williams

My favourite Prince albums are Dirty Mind, Purple Rain and Sign O' The Times. The Sign O' The Times concert film is amazing. If you like the album you should definitely get the DVD. In fact, you've just reminded me that I had planned to pick up Purple Rain the film on DVD this weekend, so I'm gonna go in town to get it as soon I finish writing this post.

I recently bought a Linn LM-1, the same model that Prince used, one of only around 500 made. I think getting that has pushed my Prince "obsession" over the edge.

Anyway, if you haven't seen it already, check out the link below to footage of a rare peformance of Computer Blue on YouTube, which I believe is actually from before the Purple Rain film and album were released. It rocks! Stuff like this has a habit of getting deleted from YouTube, so I advise you watch it ASAP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbZ7wV02EVg

Thanks for the link, Awsome .. I use to own the sign o' times concert on vhs, but it's long gone. Definitely gonna order the DVD. Already got purple rain can't bring myself to buy "under a cherry moon" or "graffitti Bridge".. seen them, great soundtracks, pretty bad films

[Steamy Williams]

Originally Posted by qubi

Thanks for the link, Awsome

It's worth looking on YouTube for other Prince stuff if you're interested, as there's quite a lot on there, including some other songs from the same gig that that footage is from. I've put another link below to footage of Prince & Shiela E. doing A Love Bizarre with The Revolution from '86, which couldn't have been long before Prince disbanded The Revolution. The description from the person who added the clip pretty much sums it up "a tight, funky, fun show".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wpTKR7BQxE

Originally Posted by qubi

I use to own the sign o' times concert on vhs, but it's long gone. Definitely gonna order the DVD.

I consider that & Portishead in NYC to be the best concerts available on DVD.

Originally Posted by qubi

Already got purple rain

I've been checking out the extras features on the two-disc special edition on DVD since picking it up yesterday. There's some really interesting info on one of documentaries that's on it.

Originally Posted by qubi

can't bring myself to buy "under a cherry moon" or "graffitti Bridge".. seen them, great soundtracks, pretty bad films

Agreed.

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by Steamy Williams

It's worth looking on YouTube for other Prince stuff if you're interested, as there's quite a lot on there, including some other songs from the same gig that that footage is from. I've put another link below to footage of Prince & Shiela E. doing A Love Bizarre with The Revolution from '86, which couldn't have been long before Prince disbanded The Revolution. The description from the person who added the clip pretty much sums it up "a tight, funky, fun show".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wpTKR7BQxE


I consider that & Portishead in NYC to be the best concerts available on DVD.


I've been checking out the extras features on the two-disc special edition on DVD since picking it up yesterday. There's some really interesting info on one of documentaries that's on it.



Agreed.

Under the Cherry Moon has some great songs on it.