Prince – Sign "O" The Times

This record is one of the love affairs of my life. I’ve always loved the unique sound of the mastering of this album, and the vinyl mastering of these early UK pressings seems totally in-point for the records sonic vision. A dark, almost flat, compressed feel to it all, which totally suits it.
This record never ever gets old. ❤️💥

Sounds glorious! Sheffield lab cut + RS Alsdorf pressing amazing !

The movie is great too! m m m m

Arguably Prince's most critically highly-regarded release, and unquestionably of all of his 30+ full albums the one that best showcases his artistic range and diversity, spanning rock, funk, soul, pop, dance and soulful ballads - often simultaneously.

Begat from the ill-fated Crystal Ball and Dream Factory double and triple albums, and resultant from his disbanding of the commercially successful Revolution band (notably following his sacking of long-time side-kicks Wendy [Melvoin] and Lisa [Coleman], Prince felt he needed to go in a new, sexier and harder direction than he was heading with his band. The Revolution's influence is still strongly felt throughout this double album - not least of which in the live recording of 'It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night' with the full band - and in reality most of the tracks were recorded with, or partially recorded with, his band.

Notwithstanding this, the album is unquestionably his, and contains some of his strongest work ever put to vinyl. The lead single and title track, Sign 'O' The Times, is compelling for its stark and incessant rhythmic drive, thought-provoking (if not especially raw) lyrics, and earnest questioning. Immediately following on to the playful 'Play In The Sunshine', carefree and rocking good times with a mildly positive message, the intense drive of 'Housequake' (of which he famously quipped 'I can play 'Streets Have No Name' but not U2, no-one can play 'Housequake' as a snide putdown of the commercial and award success of Irish megagroup U2 and their phenomenally successful 'Joshua Tree' album) and the beautiful, thought-provoking 'The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker' which closes the first side. Hard to think of a more diverse opening side of an album.

Side Two continues the proceedings with the funky dance 'It', the gorgeous and melodic 'Starfish and Coffee', the funky groove and yearning of 'Hot Thing' before closing with the beautiful soul ballad 'Forever In My Life'. Contentment.

Yet it is at this point, the opening of the second disc, that Prince perhaps nails his finest, if not definitive, 20 minutes of recorded music. The modestly commercial success of the bouncy, perky 'U Got The Look', a ballad with Sheena Easton is followed by the simply beautiful, haunting and heartbreakingly open 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' (a commercial failure, not cracking any top 40 charts despite being the second single from the album). One of Prince's most beautiful and pure songs ever recorded. The powerful and groovy 'Strange Relationship' is a perfect followup, before the side closes with the underrated and sonically-flowing 'I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man'. Funk, rocking guitar and thoughtful lyrics, not to mention a driving beat make this a superb track.

The album closes with the emotive, religious and moving 'The Cross', the fun live funk of 'It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night', where Prince's immediate musical past (The Revolution) is combined with his future (the likes of Cat, Miko et al) and he achieves a moment of serendipity. The album finishes with the beautiful, retro soul of 'Adore', harking back to the soul and blues of Motown and other black artists of the '70s.

Sign 'O' The Times is at once sprawling yet focussed, and perfectly highlights Prince's multitude of abilities and musical styles, almost genre-defying in nature, yet being at once perfectly 'Prince'. Whilst this lacks a single (or indeed multiple) 'hits' that many great albums are built around, this is instead a piece of work for the ages, and best presents Prince for what he is - a prodigious musical talent whose influences are many yet whose sound is unique.