rank the songs on Sign O' The Times

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this one is super-tough.

1. u got the look
2. ballad of dorothy parker
3. sign o the times
4. i could never take the place of your man
5. if i was your girlfriend
6. play in the sunshine
7. adore
8. housequake
9. strange relationship
10. starfish and coffee
11. the cross
12. forever in my life
13. hot thing
14. slow love
15. it
16. its gonna be a beautiful night

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree w/ 1 and 16, but Housequake needs to get a helluva lot further up than 8.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe i could see putting housequake as 6, and booting down 6 and 7 to 7 and 8.

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

keeping in mind this is one of my favorite albums ever.

1. ballad of dorothy parker
2. forever in my life
3. housequake
4. u got the look
5. strange relationship
6. it
7. i could never take the place of your man
8. if i was your girlfriend
9. hot thing
10. adore
11. sign o the times
12. starfish and coffee
13. play in the sunshine
14. the cross
15. its gonna be a beautiful night
16. slow love

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

"Slow Love" way too low on both lists

haha Matos see if ya can stay away from this thread...!

― Paul (scifisoul), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i only really dislike "beautiful night", and sometimes "it".

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

1. Adore
2. Housequake
3. Ballad of Dorothy Parker
4. If I Was Your Girlfriend
5. Starfish & Coffee
6. Slow Love
7. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
8. U Got the Look
9. Hot Thing
10. Sign O' the Times
11. Strange Relationship
12. Forever in My Life
13. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
14. It
15. The Cross
16. Play in the Sunshine

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Hmmm, keeping in mind that this is a scale of 16 to 1, where 16 is good and 1 is really really really great, I would say:

1. Strange Relationship
2. U Got the Look
3. Ballad of Dorothy Parker
4. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
5. Housequake
6. Adore
7. Play In the Sunshine
8. If I Was Your Girlfriend
9. Hot Thing
10. Starfish and Coffee
11. It's Gonna Be Beautiful Night
12. Slow Love
13. The Cross
14. Forever in My Life
15. It
16. Sign o the Times

1 and 16 were easy for me, most of the rest was tough. It pains me to see some of these listed "low" on the list, but shit, that doesn't mean they're bad.

― Scott CE (Scott CE), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

For me, a different ranking for every mood.

At the small-town high school football game I was covering Friday night, the pompom dance team did their halftime thing to "U Got the Look." Talk about your heck-a-slammin'!

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:32 (twenty-one years ago)

this is a pretty great idea. I don't think I've seen a thread like this for any other albums, has it been done before? it'd be pretty interesting to tabulate the averages after a bunch of people post their lists.

1. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
2. If I Was Your Girlfriend
3. Adore
4. Sign O' the Times
5. The Cross
6. Starfish & Coffee
7. Ballad of Dorothy Parker
8. Strange Relationship
9. Slow Love
10. Housequake
11. U Got the Look
12. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
13. Forever in My Life
14. Hot Thing
15. Play in the Sunshine
16. It

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2. Forever In My Life
15. It
16. Slow Love

3 thru 14 are interchangeable.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah "Forever in my life" and "...Girlfriend" would top my list.

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm curious why everybody's so down (at least relatively) on "It." Maybe I just like really defensively horny songs.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

i used to do this with friends at my store - ive started threads like this for scott 4 and for velvet underground - s/t. i think its a really fun thing to do, too.

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

"It" doesn't work. The arrangement is really blah and uninspired compared to the rest of the album (with the exception of the predictable, overblown theatrics of "Slow Love", which is why that song is ranked lower) and the vocals aren't so much sexy as they are "I AM IN PAIN; PLEASE TAKE MY TORTURED SOUL TO A BETTER LAND OF DAFFODILS AND SERAPHIM". It's also lyrically the worst song on the album and it's fast enought to be an uptempo dance number but the beat is plodding and kills the momentum by being precisely the wrong type of martial stomp.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe I just like really defensively horny songs.

especially with all kinds of Wiley E. Coyote sound-effects incorporated.

x-post "I AM IN PAIN; PLEASE TAKE MY TORTURED SOUL TO A BETTER LAND OF DAFFODILS AND SERAPHIM" totally captures the appeal for me. Thanks!

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

(Actually, "It" is my 16 and "Slow Love" is 15. I don't know what I was thinking before.)

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

man I'm totally going to tabulate the votes for this if more than a dozen people post lists.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

im glad you like the thread so much, al.

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

1. the cross
2. starfish and coffee
3. i could never take the place of your man
4. sign o the times
5. forever in my life
6. hot thing
7. if i was your girlfriend
8. u got the look
9. play in the sunshine
10. housequake
11. slow love
12. its gonna be a beautiful night
13. strange relationship
14. ballad of dorothy parker
15. adore
16. it

but really, it's all pretty great

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm surprised at the relative lack of love Adore and Slow Love are getting (Dan yr wrong about Slow Love but I love you anyway).

I'm also surprised that so many people like Play in the Sunshine.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

thank you, sexy dancer, for showing "the cross" some love. i was starting to worry about you people.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

sexy dancer! beautiful night > dorothy parker????? wtf???? explain yrself!

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

1. ballad of dorothy parker
2. if i was your girlfriend
3. u got the look
4. housequake
5. starfish and coffee
6. hot thing
7. i could never take the place of your man
8. it
9. slow love
10. play in the sunshine
11. sign o the times
12. adore
13. strange relationship
14. the cross
15. forever in my life
16. its gonna be a beautiful night

― tricky (disco stu), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

i dig the spacemen 3 too much to say no to the cross
i like sheila e's too-loud rap over prince's lit. erection, but like i said it all rules.

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I like Beautiful Night too, even the telephone rap. It's live Prince funkin' out, what's not to like?

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"the cross" was in my top 3 or 4 a year or two ago. itll probably get back there... among the top 12 or so, theres usually a big turnover. usually, "u got the look" and "dorothy p" are still on top, though. god damn, "u got the look" is just fucking exhilarating in this way that few songs are.

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:11 (twenty-one years ago)

It's live Prince funkin' out, what's not to like?
ehhhhhhhhhh... i dunno. his funk is rarely as good as his pop. excepted, OF COURSE, are all of dirty mind and "erotic city" and "soft and wet".

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

haha, as I look at the tracklist "It" is the only song I can't bring to mind. I have no idea what it sounds like, it's made no impression on me. The rest of the album I know like the back of my hand. Funny.

"Play in the Sunshine" is great, totally stuffed to the gills. "Drummer drummer! Do your thing!"

― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

The only song I flat out don't like on SOTT is "Slow Love." "Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is a bit long but has great parts. Everything else I love love love.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that if "Adore" wasn't on the album I would have a much higher opinion of "Slow Love". But yeah, every song on the album does have something amazing to recommend it.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

(re: Play in the Sunshine)

Yeah, but it's also the only song where the drum programming sticks out to me as totally cheesy. I try to ignore it but it keeps drawing attention to its silly self.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

is that undoubtedly a drum machine? could it just be a triggered or electric set?

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

The worst thing about "Slow Love" is that it has a stupid title. Hey it's a slow song, and it's called "Slow Love"! He could have done better.

― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that if "Adore" wasn't on the album I would have a much higher opinion of "Slow Love".

OTM. "Slow Love" just sounds like a genre exercise in comparison.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, but it's also the only song where the drum programming sticks out to me as totally cheesy.

Dude, "It"!

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

"Slow Love" has a pretty memorable melody, I think. It's still in the bottom half of my list, but I like it.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

is that undoubtedly a drum machine

It is undoubtedly a drum machine.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, but it's also the only song where the drum programming sticks out to me as totally cheesy.
Dude, "It"!

Ha, 'It' doesn't stick in my head either, I can't even remember what it sounds like. I'll have to listen tonight.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:45 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah - "it" is sparse, and not in a good way. it sounds like the song only took him like 2 minutes to come up with and record and mix, and not in a good way. its pretty cheesy, and not in a good way.

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

everything on SOTT is in a good way

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm even starting to turn around on "Slow Love" when I think about it out of context. The only reason I get antsy during it when listening to the album is I want to jump to a really godly track.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

The other big problem that "Slow Love" faces is that it's followed by the infinitely superior "Hot Thing" and you kind of want the draggy self-indulgent nonsense to end so that you can get to the bumpin', flame-hot self-indulgent goodness.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

u r all slow love mentalists

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

YOU'RE the one who's knocking "Play In The Sunshine", Glass-House-Man.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I would just like to give a shout-out to the movie. It took me a while to realize the whole thing was lip-synched. There's one moment where Prince starts doing this crabwalk with his legs on the ground with his arms spinning punch-style over his chest (is there an actual term for this move?). The only time I wish I was short is when I see Prince.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

wait - what movie is this?

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Sign O' The Times! It's a concert film of the majority of the album (released briefly in theatres but still available on video, not sure about DVD). They filmed it live and then Prince demanded they redo it to the backing track. It's really over-staged (no audience) compared to Prince & The Revolution - Live! but still jaw-dropping.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:03 (twenty-one years ago)

um. what the fuck? under what rock have i been?

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I wasn't aware of it until Matos' book.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

my copy of that book is en route to me right NOW!

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, the film is pretty lame. It does have Sheena in it for the duet though, which is cool.

Better to seek out bootlegs of the Lovesexy tour. Now THAT should have seen an official release.

― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

oh fuck.

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
3. Housequake
4. Adore
5. U Got the Look
6. The Cross
7. Starfish & Coffee
8. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
9. Hot Thing
10. It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
11. Strange Relationship
12. Forever in My Life
13. Slow Love
14. It
15. Play in the Sunshine
16. Sign ‘O’ the Times

the only reason I didn't write extensively about the SOTT movie (which is magnificent) in the book is that my word count was up.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

goddamnit I've got like 80 new (or recently bought) albums to listen to and just when I'm about to crack into it I've got a psycho hankering to put this album on. Like I don't know it by heart already. Yeargh!

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

3. Adore
4. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
5. Housequake
6. Hot Thing
7. Strange Relationship
8. Play In The Sunshine
9. Starfish & Coffee
10. The Cross
11. Sign O' The Times
12. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
13. It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
14. U Got The Look

The difference in ranking from 8 to 14 is INFINITESSIMAL.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Matos, i'm dissappointed by your low ranking of "Forever in my Life".

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

matos, im FLOORED by your low ranking of the title track.

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha! i didnt even notice that!

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

The title track pales in comparison to the majority of the album! All of the singles have this problem with the sole exception of "If I Was Your Girlfriend" which of course is the best thing on there.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

The lyrics on the title track are pretty bad.

― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

1. "Starfish and Coffee"
2. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
3. "Housequake"
4. "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
5. "Sign 'O' the Times"
6. "U Got the Look"
7. "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker"
8. "The Cross"
9. "It"
10. "Strange Relationship"
11. "Play in the Sunshine"
12. "Adore"
13. "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night"
14. "Forever in My Life"
15. "Slow Love"
16. "Hot Thing"

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit I really underrated "If I Was Your Girlfriend" on my list. It should at least be in the top 5.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:13 (twenty-one years ago)

You were thinking of the TLC version Ant.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

It's one of the only songs that just glues my ear to the lyrics every time I listen to it, and I'm not really a lyrics kind of guy.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

TLC's version is so chickenshit. WTF it needs to end with Left Eye asking us if we know what silence looks like.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

i dunno - i think the title track is one of the best things on there - the lyrics arent the best, but they ooze with that sort-of-awkward-weirdo prince charm. i dont know how intentionally or earnestly prince copped that aesthetic, and it DID take me some time to get used to, but now its totally my favorite.

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

and that tone! the bell ringing after the hurrican annie line! its so sparse (in a GREAT way).

― peter smith (plsmith), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

01. If I Was Your Girlfriend
02. Housequake
03. Adore
04. Play in the Sunshine
05. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
06. U Got the Look
07. It
08. Hot Thing
09. Forever in My Life
10. Sign o’ the Times
11. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
12. Starfish & Coffee
13. It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
14. The Cross
15. Slow Love
16. Strange Relationship

Only the last one is really beyond my patience. The other 15 I'm at least pro on, if not more than.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

What a great idea. What a difficult choice.

1-8, in any order: If I Was Your Girlfriend
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
U Got the Look
It
Hot Thing
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
Starfish & Coffee
Strange Relationship

9. Housequake
10. Sign o’ the Times
11. Adore
12. Forever in My Life
13. It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
14. The Cross
15. Slow Love
16. Play in the Sunshine

I honestly can't rank the top eight in any sort of order of preference; they're all gold to me.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

But I hate to be a pussy. SO, entirely arbitrary, but:
1. U Got the Look
2. Dorothy Parker
3. Hot Thing
4. Strange Relationship
5. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
6. If I Was Your Girlfriend
7. Starfish and Coffee
8. It

All this "It" hate confuses me. It's always been a favorite, no pun intended.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Goes without saying that the bottom six or so are still favorites in the canon. "Slow Love" is okay but I've never liked "Play in the Sunshine". Go figure.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Better to seek out bootlegs of the Lovesexy tour. Now THAT should have seen an official release.
It did! In Europe, at least. They released 2 VHS volumes from the Lovesexy tour, each around an hour long. Pretty damn excellent too, as I recall.

Ooh, Amazon UK has used copies for sale...

― retort pouch (retort pouch), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

No way! Wow - you are correct sir. That's probably what I saw then. Yeah, a friend of mine has it; I had no idea of the provenance and just assumed it was a bootleg. But it is very well shot. Yeah, it's a great performance.

― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

well this is fuckin impossible but

1. adore
2. if i was your girlfriend
3. starfish and coffee
4. i could never take the place of your man
5. u got the look
6. the cross
7. housequake
8. strange relationship
9. its gonna be a beautiful night
10. ballad of dorothy parker
11. sign o the times
12. play in the sunshine
13. slow love
14. hot thing
15. it
16. forever in my life

the vast differences in rankings of some songs is fascinating to observe, but as someone said upthread, its all pretty darn great

― H (Heruy), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

now that this thread has died down and begun to slip down the New Answers, and I had some homework to avoid doing, I tabulated the results:

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
3. Housequake
4. U Got The Look
5. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
6. Adore
7. Starfish & Coffee
8. Strange Relationship
9. (tie) Sign O’ The Times / Hot Thing
11. The Cross
12. Forever In My Life
13. Play In The Sunshine
14. It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
15. It
16. Slow Love

damn you Slow Love haters! I just listened to disc 1 and am really wishing I'd ranked it higher.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 14 October 2004 02:57 (twenty-one years ago)

1. housequake
2. adore
3. hot thing
4. i could never take the place of your man
5. it's gonna be a beautiful night
6. the ballad of dorothy parker
7. starfish and coffee
8. u got the look
9. play in the sunshine
10. if i was your girlfriend
11. it
12. slow love
13. forever in my life
14. sign o the times
15. the cross
16. strange relationship

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 14 October 2004 05:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm a Side Three kinda guy...

1. i could never take the place of your man
2. u got the look
3. if i was your girlfriend
4. sign o the times
5. strange relationship
6. slow love
7. adore
8. starfish and coffee
9. its gonna be a beautiful night
10. housequake
11. ballad of dorothy parker
12. forever in my life
13. hot thing

...then a big gap before..

14. the cross
15. play in the sunshine

...and another big gap before...

16. it

All rankings are entirely personal and subjective, e.g. "If I Was Your Girlfriend" might be the superior song, but "I Could Never Take The Place" just SENDS me, maaan.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Thursday, 14 October 2004 08:22 (twenty-one years ago)

if 'icnttpoym' was the short video/radio one instead of the long santana lp one it would probably rank first for me

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 14 October 2004 08:37 (twenty-one years ago)

otm, cinniblount. at least it would move from 4 to 3 on my list. i try to just think about my shopping list or something while the sort-of-lame interlude section is on, so that when the guitars come back in on the build up, and prince counts off, im completely taken off guard - its like a great reprise.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 12:27 (twenty-one years ago)

this is impossible but approximately:

Play in the Sunshine
Starfish & Coffee
If I Was Your Girlfriend
Strange Relationship
Housequake
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
The Cross
Forever in My Life
Slow Love
Hot Thing
U Got the Look
It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
Adore
It
Sign o’ the Times

― splooge (thesplooge), Thursday, 14 October 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

this is a great-ish album all right, but for me I'd probably have a tougher time trying to rank my favorites on '1999'...bigger gap there between great and crap though

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 14 October 2004 13:09 (twenty-one years ago)

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2. The Cross
3. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
4. Sign "O" The Times
5. Strange Relationship
6. Starfish And Coffee
7. Play In The Sunshine
8. Housequake
9. It
10.Hot Thing
11.U Got The Look
12.Slow Love
13.Forever In My Life
14.The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
15.Adore

99.It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night

If released today, he could have skipped the godawful "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" and there would be space for the entire album on one Compact Disc.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 14 October 2004 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

It is funny that my usual rule of "a few fantastic songs cannot carry an entire album" goes completely out of the window when it comes to _Parade_ because even though this thread has made me realize that by all rights I should think _Sign O' The Times_ is the better album, my unreasoning and deeply abiding love og "Kiss", "Mountains" and "Sometimes It Snows In April" completely colors the way I view the rest of that album and just makes it untouchable to my ears.

(xpost GEIR DON'T FEAR THE COUNTER-MELODY)

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Thursday, 14 October 2004 13:38 (twenty-one years ago)

1. It (a good many of you people are fucking high, ranking this at the bottom)
2. Housequake
3. Hot Thing
4. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
5. The Cross
6. Sign...
7. Forever In My Life
8. If I Was Your Girlfriend
9. Starfish and Coffee
10. I Could Never Take The Place...
11. Strange Relationship
12. U Got The Look
13. Play In The Sunshine
14. Slow Love
15. Adore
16. It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

― Dark Horse, Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

FINALLY! some 'It' Love.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

1. "Adore"
2. "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
3. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
4. "Starfish and Coffee"
5. "Sign 'O' the Times"
6. "Strange Relationship"
7. "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker"
8. "Housequake"
9. "Hot Thing"
10. "Forever in My Life"
11. "Play in the Sunshine"
12. "The Cross"
13. "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night"
14. "U Got the Look"
15. "It"
16. "Slow Love"

― Sansai, Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

and "it" order is restored.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i'm guessing all the 'it' haters aren't really big fans of prince's guitar solos. 2 bad so sad.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

So says the guy that wanted to excise the Santana bits from ICNTTPOYM!

― Roy Williams Highlight (diamond), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

haha, true

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't take seriously any list that has "It" ranked anything but dead last.

01. adore
02. housequake
03. strange relationship
04. i could never take the place of your man
05. if i was your girlfriend
06. sign o the times
07. u got the look
08. forever in my life
09. ballad of dorothy parker
10. its gonna be a beautiful night
11. play in the sunshine
12. slow love
13. starfish and coffee
14. the cross
15. hot thing
16. it

"hot Thing" and "It" have always seemed to me as the weakest links. If could've swaped those out for other "Camile"-era tracks-- like, let's say "Scarlet Pussy" and "Rock Hard In A Funky Place"-- it would've been an even more solid album in my book. Not that it isn't already solid.

― Randy Reiss (undeadsinatra), Thursday, 14 October 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

Poll o' the Times done got me all nostalgic for ranking things. Goddamn I love this album.

1. "Strange Relationship"
2. "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
3. "Adore"
4. "Housequake"
5. "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker"
6. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
7. "Forever in My Life"
8. "Slow Love"
9. "Hot Thing"
10. "Play in the Sunshine"
11. "Starfish and Coffee"
12. "Sign 'O' the Times"
13. "U Got the Look"
14. "The Cross"
15. "It"
16. "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night"

― Davey D, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 07:34 (seventeen years ago)

keeping in mind that there is not a single track on this album that I do not totally love:

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2/3. Ballad of Dorothy Parker/U Got the Look (there is NO WAY I can pick)
4. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
5. Housequake
6. Play In the Sunshine
7. It
8. Hot Thing
9. The Cross
10. Strange Relationship
11. Adore
12. Sign O the Times
13. Starfish & Coffee
14. Forever in My Life
15. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16. Slow Love

― babyalive, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 08:07 (seventeen years ago)

1. Ballad of Dorothy Parker
2. If I Was Your Girlfriend
3. Strange Relationship
4. Forever in My Life
5. Hot Thing
6. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
7. Adore
8. Starfish and Coffee
9. Slow Love
10. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
11. U Got the Look
12. Housequake
13. The Cross
14. Sign O The Times
15. Play in the Sunshine
16. It

― strgn, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 08:56 (seventeen years ago)

Today:

"Hot Thing"
"U Got the Look"
"I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
"Strange Relationship"
"If I Was Your Girlfriend"
"The Ballad of Dorothy Parker"
"Housequake"
"Starfish and Coffee"
"Adore"
"The Cross"
"Sign 'O' the Times"
"It"
"Slow Love"
"It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night"
"Play in the Sunshine"
"Forever in My Life"

― Ioannis, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 09:42 (seventeen years ago)

I just voted for "Forever in My Life" over on the other thread, but fuck if "The Cross" isn't magnificent.

1. The Cross
2. Forever in My Life
3. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
4. U Got the Look
5. If I Was Your Girlfriend
6. Starfish & Coffee
7. Housequake
8. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
9. Sign O' the Times
10. Adore
11. Slow Love
12. Play in the Sunshine
13. Hot Thing
14. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
15. Strange Relationship
16. It

― The Reverend, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 09:57 (seventeen years ago)

I really need to listen to "Forever in My Life" again.

― Ioannis, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 10:30 (seventeen years ago)

Yes you do.

― The Reverend, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 10:43 (seventeen years ago)

That came off more smug than I intended.

― The Reverend, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 10:45 (seventeen years ago)

watching the concert film again has made this much harder. a lot of it seems badly overdubbed??? forever in my life and beautiful night really come alive. on the lp i'd have to stick with "if i was your girlfriend."

ooohhheeeeeoowwwww ooooowoooaahhhhooooo

― Crackle Box, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 10:57 (seventeen years ago)

xxp

It's not that I don't like it, it's that I can barely remember anything about it. Ain't growin' old great?

― Ioannis, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 11:05 (seventeen years ago)

I have already done this, and it seems I still agree with myself from back then.

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 15 January 2008 12:33 (seventeen years ago)

four weeks pass...

I'm a huge Prince fan and I absolutely love this album, but I can't rank them until I listen to it again. I love all the tracks too much. All I can say is:

#1 would be "It" for me and you guys are all fucking insane. "The Cross" would be top 3 or 4 for me, too.

― Reatards Unite, Thursday, 14 February 2008 02:18 (seventeen years ago)

I dunno about "It" being #1, but we are all fucking insane, that is true.

― The Reverend, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:00 (seventeen years ago)

1. Adore
2. the rest

― The Brainwasher, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:10 (seventeen years ago)

I've only listening to this album like 3 times though

― The Brainwasher, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:11 (seventeen years ago)

listened*

― The Brainwasher, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:11 (seventeen years ago)

it's too long

― The Brainwasher, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:13 (seventeen years ago)

-- Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, October 13, 2004 4:25 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Link

I don't know if I stand by this. Dorothy Parker and Starfish & Coffee would be lower now, and Hot Thing and Strange Relationship would be higher, for starters.

I've listened to this album like a billion times through.

― Jordan, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:17 (seventeen years ago)

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2. Forever In My Life
3. Adore
4. The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
5. Housequake
6. Hot Thing
7. Strange Relationship
8. Play In The Sunshine
9. Starfish & Coffee
10. The Cross
11. Sign O' The Times
12. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
13. It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
14. U Got The Look
15. Slow Love
16. It

I still stand by this. "It" sucks.

― HI DERE, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:04 (seventeen years ago)

three years pass...

did we do a poll on this? either the search is fucked or i am.

― piscesx, Sunday, 12 June 2011 06:46 (fourteen years ago)

Poll "O" The Times

― circles, Sunday, 12 June 2011 07:19 (fourteen years ago)

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, October 13, 2004 12:34 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark

if i were gonna do this again, i'd move the title track down a few spots and i'd move Slow Love, Forever In My Life, and Play In The Sunshine all up at least a couple spots each.

― how to turn your swag on 3D (some dude), Sunday, 12 June 2011 12:04 (fourteen years ago)

Strange Relationship
If I Was Ur Girlfriend
I Could Never Take the Place...
Housequake
The Cross
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
It
U Got the Look
Starfish and Coffee
Hot Thing
Forever in My Life
Play in the Sunshine
SOOT
It's Gonna Be a Wonderful Night
Adore

― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 June 2011 12:10 (fourteen years ago)

Basically side three is the best side ever.

― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 June 2011 12:10 (fourteen years ago)

lol

01. If I Was Your Girlfriend
02. Housequake
03. Adore
04. Play in the Sunshine
05. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
06. U Got the Look
07. It
08. Hot Thing
09. Forever in My Life
10. Sign o’ the Times
11. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
12. Starfish & Coffee
13. It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
14. The Cross
15. Slow Love
16. Strange Relationship
Only the last one is really beyond my patience. The other 15 I'm at least pro on, if not more than.
― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, October 13, 2004 2:21 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Sunday, 12 June 2011 13:51 (fourteen years ago)

Through a glass darkly.

― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 June 2011 13:58 (fourteen years ago)

Just don't let's rank out Hotter Than July.

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Sunday, 12 June 2011 14:38 (fourteen years ago)

Only undeniable dud track for me is "Happy Birthday." Really totally torn between "Did I Hear," "All I Do," "Rocket Love," "Do Like You" and "Lately." And then the other four are really great too.

^^^^ otm

― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 June 2011 14:47 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.funnyphotos.biz/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Mirror-High-Five.jpg

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Sunday, 12 June 2011 15:35 (fourteen years ago)

If I Was Your Girlfriend
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Housequake
Hot Thing
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
The Cross
Sign O' The Times
Forever in my Life
U Got The Look
Play in the Sunshine
Adore
Starfish and Coffee
Strange Relationship
Slow Love
It
It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night

― Davek (davek_00), Sunday, 12 June 2011 16:02 (fourteen years ago)

four months pass...

never seen the film version before.
but tonight with the wife upstairs, and nowt on tv, i decided it was time.
headphones on ..volume up.
damn this is good.
i wish this version had been released as an 'official' live album ..

― mark e, Saturday, 22 October 2011 22:15 (fourteen years ago)

The Cross
If I Was Your Girlfriend
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Sign O' The Times
Strange Relationship
Starfish And Coffee
I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man
Housequake
Hot Thing
Adore
U Got The Look
It
Forever In My Life
Play In The Sunshine
Its Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
Slow Love

― Master of Treacle, Sunday, 23 October 2011 01:15 (fourteen years ago)

Frequency of 'The Cross' appearing in many people's 10-16 a shock IMO

― Master of Treacle, Sunday, 23 October 2011 01:23 (fourteen years ago)

five months pass...

I would really like for there to be a remastered version of this album tbh

― dayo, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 03:16 (thirteen years ago)

Frequency of 'The Cross' appearing in many people's 10-16 a shock IMO

― Master of Treacle, Saturday, October 22, 2011 6:23 PM (5 months ago) Bookmark

it's my #1

― Flat Of NAGLs (sleeve), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 03:20 (thirteen years ago)

i just listened to this for the first time in forever and i think i had blocked out how terrible

12. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night

― the penultimate prophets (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 19:37 (thirteen years ago)

also forgot how awesome "hot thing" is

― the penultimate prophets (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 19:37 (thirteen years ago)

Remaster coming.

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/full/551105615.jpg?key=480403&Expires=1333275357&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIYVGSUJFNRFZBBTA&Signature=sTUF6Hr6ICmiU3SIgNYfAJpAcNfmDu28Sni~p95rFqm2nVJZHrMAEcriytTk3M6y7JC95j0cr-DH252k2VNv64~DPzcIm5-~4jlIYvtnyxPzTsUb76IJYbVDZeWCVsRYTCAkTHpfeMqdDXDsfaWqgBqx4emQkS1LL6DNrNnn6D8_

― TALiB KWELi SODMG (The Reverend), Sunday, 1 April 2012 09:59 (thirteen years ago)

there seems to be some disagreement over where this is a april fools joke. people on prince.org say it is, questlove says it's not.

― TALiB KWELi SODMG (The Reverend), Sunday, 1 April 2012 10:08 (thirteen years ago)

ok, apparently it is http://www.itaintover.org/april/index.html

*goes and cries for a week*

― TALiB KWELi SODMG (The Reverend), Sunday, 1 April 2012 10:11 (thirteen years ago)

wait! "This message was brought to you by Reverend."

o_O

― red is hungry green is jawless (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 1 April 2012 11:51 (thirteen years ago)

as it is right now, it's pretty good, mastered flat so you can crank it and it'll still sound good.

however, I would like there to be more bass. :|

― dayo, Sunday, 1 April 2012 11:59 (thirteen years ago)

wait! "This message was brought to you by Reverend."

o_O

ha, I didn't see that!

― TALiB KWELi SODMG (The Reverend), Sunday, 1 April 2012 19:28 (thirteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

okay there was some other Prince thread recently (I can't find it) where people were bandying about some bootleg of Sign o' the Times/Crystal Ball-era outtakes and alternate cuts and I REALLY WANT TO HEAR THIS but can't remember if it ever actually made the rounds or where the thread was.

li'l help?

― Jilly Boel and the Eltones (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 15:46 (thirteen years ago)

eh?

― Jilly Boel and the Eltones (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 17:31 (thirteen years ago)

Was it this thread?

― America's Mobile, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 17:36 (thirteen years ago)

ah! yes thx

― Jilly Boel and the Eltones (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 17:42 (thirteen years ago)

I don't think it ever got to happening. Or if it did i was left outta the loop.

― aluminum rivets must not be proud of their plastic bosses (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 18 April 2012 17:42 (thirteen years ago)

ten months pass...

Rather worth the read -- Susan Rogers being the engineer for the whole thing.

http://daddyrockstar.tumblr.com/post/43885486088/susan-rogers-on-princes-sign-o-the-times-part-1

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 25 February 2013 15:27 (twelve years ago)

She always seems so cool. I might be getting confused, but didn't she write a book about her experiences working with prince? I definitely have one where she features a lot.

― Crackle Box, Monday, 25 February 2013 15:40 (twelve years ago)

There was a pretty good unofficial biography Possessed which has a lot of her in it, so you might be thinking of that.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 25 February 2013 15:41 (twelve years ago)

Interesting, I don't think I'd heard/read this before:

When he would conceive of an album there were core songs that were the heart and the skeleton of the album. “Purple Rain” was a core song on the album Purple Rain, and of course “Sign O’ The Times” was one of the fundamental songs for that album. So when we would sequence a record sometimes we’d take our core songs and a few other tracks and we would sequence them together just to hear how the album was going to sound. If there was something missing, if there needed to be a song that would transition between two of the core or the more important songs, Prince would actually write something specifically to serve in the sequence. So in that sense there were the most important songs and then there were the album cuts–the things that were almost interludes on the record. So the songs were never intended to be singles or even have any important message. That’s what “Play In The Sunshine” was; it was just a bridge to get us out of “Sign O’ The Times” and into the rest of the record. “Slow Love” was another one of those…that was an old one from the vault.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 25 February 2013 15:42 (twelve years ago)

Thought this would be upcoming Prince Tribute benefit concert at Carnegie feat. Elvis Costello, Booker T. Jones and many others with The Roots as the backing band.

Can't look right now, does Clare Fisher get mentioned in that article?

― Stranded In the Jungle Groove (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 25 February 2013 15:46 (twelve years ago)

The hell, what's said concert benefiting?

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 25 February 2013 15:47 (twelve years ago)

Also no Clare IIRC.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 25 February 2013 15:47 (twelve years ago)

Various underprivileged youth programs in NYC.

― Stranded In the Jungle Groove (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 25 February 2013 15:49 (twelve years ago)

1. starfish and coffee
2-16. other songs on this album

― flopson, Monday, 25 February 2013 16:11 (twelve years ago)

loved the Kate Bush bit.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 25 February 2013 16:12 (twelve years ago)

I guess you know me well, I don't like winter
But I seem to get a kick out of doin' you cold
Oh what the hell, you always surrender
What's this strange relationship that we hold onto?

― This beat is TWEENCHRONIC (DJP), Monday, 25 February 2013 16:14 (twelve years ago)

Okay parts two and three of that Susan Rogers interview:

http://daddyrockstar.tumblr.com/post/44079621006/susan-rogers-on-princes-sign-o-the-times-part-2-of

http://daddyrockstar.tumblr.com/post/44236225279/susan-rogers-on-princes-sign-o-the-times-part-3-of

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 March 2013 15:30 (twelve years ago)

“U Got The Look” was also tracked at Sunset Sound. We spent much longer on it than usual–several days rather than the typical 24 hours it took Prince to track, overdub and mix a song. I recall that it was tracked over the Thanksgiving weekend. We had planned to take Thanksgiving Day off but we were in the middle of the Sign O’ The Times album and stopping momentum was not easily done. The thing I remember most about Sheena’s visit was that when Prince asked her if she’d like to take a minute and warm up vocally, she replied that she was always warm vocally.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

― ARE YOU HIRING A NANNY OR A SHAMAN (Phil D.), Friday, 8 March 2013 15:57 (twelve years ago)

"I'm warmed up already. LET'S GET TO RAMMIN'."

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 8 March 2013 16:03 (twelve years ago)

Judged purely on my emotional response to each song, as the whole album is an unseparatable thing:

a. Starfish and Coffee
b. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
c. Housequake
d. Sign "O" the Times
e. It
f. The Cross
g. Hot Thing
h. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
i. Adore
j. U Got the Look
k. Play in the Sunshine
l. If I Was Your Girlfriend
m. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
n. Strange Relationship
o. Forever in My Life
p. Slow Love

― @GracieLoPan #fyi (Display Name (this cannot be changed):), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:11 (twelve years ago)

anti-"it" sentiment in this thread is the worst

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:15 (twelve years ago)

not really, "It" is terrible

― "Bellini." (DJP), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:19 (twelve years ago)

I was pretty sure we had agreed to accept my rankings as gospel truth on this, so I'm siding with BradNelson on this, but I recognize the senior Senator from Massachusetts' objection to disgusting fleshneed ew ugh

― @GracieLoPan #fyi (Display Name (this cannot be changed):), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:23 (twelve years ago)

I still stand by this:

― "Bellini." (DJP), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:27 (twelve years ago)

"it" is sometimes my favorite prince song

the sound of that drum

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:31 (twelve years ago)

the cluster of synth notes

wtf is wrong with this

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:31 (twelve years ago)

it's lazy, stagnant and the synth sounds don't work well together

― "Bellini." (DJP), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:35 (twelve years ago)

I'd rank "Play in the Sunshine" a lot lower now and "Slow Love" a little higher, but otherwise mostly g2g.

― Zero Dark 33⅓: The Final Insult (Eric H.), Friday, 8 March 2013 17:58 (twelve years ago)

the guitar solo in "It" comes out of nowhere – it's like a thunderclap.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 8 March 2013 18:28 (twelve years ago)

Just played this today so thought I'd join in.

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2. The Cross
3. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
4. Starfish & Coffee
5. Sign O' the Times
6. Slow Love
7. Strange Relationship
8. Play in the Sunshine
9. Ballad of Dorothy Parker
10. Housequake
11. U Got the Look
12. It
13. Adore
14. Hot Thing
15. Forever in My Life
16. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night

I'm not sure what it all means when the person who has the most similar taste to me is Geir?

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 19 March 2013 08:06 (twelve years ago)

1. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
2. If I Was Your Girlfriend
3. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
4. Strange Relationship
5. Hot Thing
6. Starfish & Coffee
7. Sign O' the Times
8. U Got the Look
9. Housequake
10. Play in the Sunshine
11. Forever in My Life
12. It
13. The Cross
14. Adore
15. Slow Love
16. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night

― Gavin, Leeds, Tuesday, 19 March 2013 10:17 (twelve years ago)

three years pass...

1. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
2. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
3. Strange Relationship
4. Housequake
5. Adore
6. If I Was Your Girlfriend
7. Play in the Sunshine
8. Sign O' The Times
9. U Got the Look
10. Starfish & Coffee
11. Slow Love
12. The Cross
13. Forever In My Life
14. Hot Thing
15. It
16. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Nihgt

This was fucking impossible. Tracks 1-12 are bonafide 10/10 classics. I guess Side 2 is slightly better than Side 1, but It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night takes up so much of it. Anyway--definitely the best Prince album and probably the best album of the '80s.

― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Saturday, 23 April 2016 16:47 (nine years ago)

1. Adore
2. Play in the Sunshine
3. If I Was Your Girlfriend
4. Housequake
5. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
6. U Got the Look
7. Sign O' the Times
8. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
9. The Cross
10. Strange Relationship
11. Starfish & Coffee
12. Forever In My Life
13. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
14. It
15. Slow Love
16. Hot Thing

Something like that. Adore is pretty much my favourite Prince track.

― jmm, Saturday, 23 April 2016 17:23 (nine years ago)

two weeks pass...

'It' rules, what the hell is wrong with everyone!?

― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Sunday, 8 May 2016 17:54 (nine years ago)

i'm p sure i'd put the title track at 16.

― dynamicinterface, Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:01 (nine years ago)

It is great, but there are lots of better tracks on the record. The one "too low" i have from my two weeks ago list is "Hot Thing," which is an incredible groove.

― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:04 (nine years ago)

Too many folks ranking 'It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night' too low, too... it's one of my favourite tracks on it! Maybe I'm just a sucker for Prince's extended funk jambs.

― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:08 (nine years ago)

Gonna Be a Beautiful Night suffers from the way the album was mixed for me--sounds a bit muffled, doesn't capture the energy of the live show. The movie version is awesome, but it's weirdly flat and way too long for me on the record.

― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:18 (nine years ago)

oh we oh we oh

― dynamicinterface, Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:33 (nine years ago)

Squirrel meat!!!

― scarcity festival (Jon not Jon), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:06 (nine years ago)

oh we oh we oh

Original lyric in The Wizard Of Oz was "All we own, we owe."

― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:27 (nine years ago)

There's also an Edward Lear quote in the song

― scarcity festival (Jon not Jon), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:00 (nine years ago)

I fucking love 'Hot Thing'... that bass synth!

― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:37 (nine years ago)

1. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
2. U Got The Look
3. It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
4. Strange Relationship
5. The Cross
6. Hot Thing
7. It
8. Slow Love
9. Housequake
10. If I Was Your Girlfriend
11. Play In The Sunshine
12. Sign O' The Times
13. Starfish and Coffee
14. Adore
15. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
16. Forever In My Life

― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Monday, 9 May 2016 21:36 (nine years ago)

I like them all but even for a lavish double album three last songs is too many imo, spoils/drags out the last side a lot.

― albvivertine, Monday, 9 May 2016 22:01 (nine years ago)

Side 3 is easily the best side of the lot, IMO.

― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Monday, 9 May 2016 22:07 (nine years ago)

man I hate 'slow love'. what a skipper. blech.

― akm, Monday, 9 May 2016 22:44 (nine years ago)

shut up already

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 May 2016 23:03 (nine years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/v/DRgnbtePzYE&fs=1&hl=en

― Old Familiar Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 May 2016 23:12 (nine years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRgnbtePzYE

― Old Familiar Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 May 2016 23:13 (nine years ago)

the last show he did here in sf (an aftershow from 2-4am) he jammed on hot thing for ike 20 minutes it was dope.

― kurt schwitterz, Monday, 9 May 2016 23:19 (nine years ago)

slow love on the live boots from the lovesexy tour is much better than the album version. i didnt like the song until i heard that.

― kurt schwitterz, Monday, 9 May 2016 23:20 (nine years ago)

Is there any particularly good Lovesexy tour boot? Ppl keep mentioning how amazing those shows were.

― albvivertine, Monday, 9 May 2016 23:40 (nine years ago)

Paris July 8; Milan July 19 are both v good
Both r on City Lights Vol. 7 boot

― Iago Galdston, Tuesday, 10 May 2016 00:23 (nine years ago)

I gotta admit, the part in 'Play In The Sunshine' where he's all "DRUMMER! DO YOUR THING!" brings such a huge smile to my face knowing it's essentially a command to himself!

― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 20:38 (nine years ago)

xxp there are some bootlegs floating around the youtubes of the Dortmund stop of the Lovesexy tour

― thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 20:42 (nine years ago)

1. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
2. If I Was Your Girlfriend
3. Adore
4. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
5. U Got the Look
6. Strange Relationship
7. It
8. Starfish & Coffee
9. Housequake
10. Hot Thing
11. Sign O' the Times
12. Slow Love
13. The Cross
14. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
15. Forever In My Life
16. Play in the Sunshine

― bunny slopes, Thursday, 12 May 2016 05:38 (nine years ago)

if i was your girlfriend
i could never take the place of your man
the cross
housequake
starfish and coffee
the ballad of dorothy parker
strange relationship
sign o the times
it's gonna be a beautiful night
play in the sunshine
u got the look
hot thing
it
slow love
forever in my life
adore

― flappy bird, Thursday, 12 May 2016 05:40 (nine years ago)

Thanks ppl! X-posts

― albvivertine, Thursday, 12 May 2016 06:10 (nine years ago)

eight years pass...

Totally dropped the ball on this, but for Black Friday, you could've gotten the new super deluxe set for $50 at Prince's official website's store. (Someone said his cost about $65 after shipping and taxes.) By far the cheapest price I've seen, basically less than half of retail. It's now back up to $75 before shipping and taxes which to tbf is still an excellent price and still close to half off retail.

― birdistheword, Wednesday, 4 December 2024 03:10 (one year ago)

(the 8CD + 1 DVD edition that is)

― birdistheword, Wednesday, 4 December 2024 03:15 (one year ago)

Sale is back for one day only!

Sign O' The Times 8 CD/1 DVD - $51

https://store.prince.com/product/5Q...per-deluxe-edition-8cd-1-dvd?cp=103229_103233

FYI shipping will be at least $10 (more if you want it by Christmas), but still an incredible deal, by far the cheapest price I've seen.

― birdistheword, Tuesday, 10 December 2024 22:12 (one year ago)

For some reason that link isn't working, but just go into the store and search for it. It's even listed under the sale section but they buried it rather than putting it on top.

― birdistheword, Tuesday, 10 December 2024 22:14 (one year ago)

ten months pass...

I didn't realize they had handwritten lyrics from this album on display at the Minneapolis airport.

― birdistheword, Monday, 27 October 2025 05:00 (two months ago)

they have “Dorothy Parker” just stuck in a Perspex standee? I hope it’s a facsimile.

― assert (matttkkkk), Monday, 27 October 2025 08:32 (two months ago)

Ha call it paranoia after the Louvre incident but I just had the same thought.

― piscesx, Monday, 27 October 2025 14:00 (two months ago)

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