Prince's masterful Sign O' the Times is a musical masterpiece. It's a messy, ambitious, stunning, fun, beautiful, inventive, and an important album. Hands down his best work.
I just recently did my review of this album and one of my subscribers pointed me here. I love that our reviews are different, and we both took different things from it in the end. That is the genius of Prince!
Best album ever! Adore is the best piece of art work ever; you don't get better than 6:38 of this song. Strange Relationship is my number 5 all time song period. Sign O The Times produced 2 of my top 5 favorite songs. I liken this album to Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. Good review guy; as a die hard Prince fan for decades you did it justice. Thanks for your energy!
How great is this album, right?! That three-track combo of If I Was Ur Girlfriend, Strange Relationship, and I Could Never Take The Place of Ur Man kills me every time. My favourite experience with Prince was listening to Around The World In A Day in one sitting. It's such a brave album that flows together in a way that I'd never heard before. Hey, man, could you do a video about Sufjan Stevens album Michigan? I think you'd really like it.
That's a great review usually I don't watch reviews but you did a great job. You need to be in Hollywood you do a better job then any of these people on these ET shows. I only ever got to see Prince once live, Madisen Square Garden back in 88 the best part of that concert was when Prince stopped the show and yelled at some guy in the front row who was smoking weed he said hey we don't do that sh*t here you don't put that out I aint going on. I wanted to stand up and cheer! :) The guy stopped an Prince went on with the show. That's my man. :D
I have been a huge Prince fan for a lot of years and this is one of the best reviews of this album. Not only is Sign O' Times my favorite Prince album but it is my favorite album period. Prince went deep into his psyche and soul to create this masterpiece. Every time I listen to this album not only do you feel you know Prince the musician, composer and producer. With the lyrics to most of the songs having so much depth about human relationships. You feel like you know Prince the man himself. I have so many Prince albums and he has one of the greatest music catalogs in pop music history. Thanks for the great review! Also so him twice in concert and both concerts were incredible. When he died this world lost an incredible music genius and I am so sad he is gone but he left us with a lot of incredible music.
Great review, Eric I'm a HUGE Prince fan. I've been a fan since I saw Purple Rain for the first time. I still can't get over the loss of him. He was the best there have ever been IMO. Sign 'O' The Times is his best album :) what a masterpiece.
This album is in the very top of my favourite double records, along with the White Album, Physical Graffiti and Exile on Main St, perfect records from start to end.
My favourite Prince record along with Dirty Mind. Have you seen his concert film of the same name from 1987? He performs all the songs from this album. Its one of the best concert films I've ever seen along with The Last Waltz by The Band and Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads.
His best albums since _Purple Rain._ _Starfish and coffee ...Maple syrup and jam...Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine ...And a side order of ham.._ Oh man, that so good.
Great review! Every single song on this album is a masterpiece! I love the live version of HOT THING better, especially when the beat comes in. I love IT as a house classic. ADORE gives me chills every time I hear it and it takes me to another place. May U Live 2 C The Dawn.
Prince made a lot of frustrating music business moves. Him halting this tour for SOTT hurt his sales. But, creative geniuses, although he was a pioneer on some level, are artists first, business second.
Yup by the time the Europe leg was over P was ready to move on. He released the SOTT concert movie instead. He did a lot more touring in Europe back then. I think he also moved on from Purple Rain tour in somewhat similar fashion. I can't imagine having so much in my head that I have to create new stuff constantly, but that seemed be the case for him. He was definitely a genius.
The European part of The Sign 'O' the Times tour came to a sudden halt because he was unable to bring the tour to London. Originally the show was to be at Wembley Stadium but it was decided to switch to Earls Court, but as the the stage was so big, Earls Court was the only London indoor venue at that time that could accommodate it. Unfortunately the decision to change venue (plus addition of two extra shows) was taken at such short notice that it was not possible to obtain a licence. As Prince also had problems with venues in Birmingham, Rome and Turin he decided to film his next concerts in Rotterdam and Antwerp, release as a film of him in concert (the film did have a basic plot as well), then cancel any remaining shows on the tour. As with Prince he moved on quickly recording The Black Album and Lovesexy before producing what i think was his greatest tour - The Lovesexy Tour.
It is NOT PINK for God's sake! Sign O' the Times' color scheme is peach & black! And that's Crucial! Like it's said in 'U Got the Look', if u bother 2 listen... Me I got it on casette at the release date and still have it, when vinyl was waning and scarce at the time and many record shops actively avoided Prince's records because he was either gay or degenerate or both. I also remember many a quarrel because he was considered artistically worthless at the time! Ah, the 80's...! 🙄 Also got me a beautiful peach shirt and a blacker than black corduroy jeans! 😎 Those I don't longer have... wouldn't fit anyway!
Way to go Man!! You last sentence gave me full chills!!! Prince was so ahead of most or almost all of us that his death is awaking so many people, I know it has me. I feel his spirit in my daily life and I know he is alive in the 5th dimension W/ Joshua... Thank you for speaking your heart, he hears you. Keep speaking the truth and pray for Justice for him!!! God speed!!
Great review. I'm with you on 'I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'. Probably my favourite Prince song. Love the extended coda. Overall this is right up there in my favourite 80s albums, although I think in terms of Prince, 'Dirty Mind' might just edge it.
His vault contains such brilliance that when combined with his proper releases, he's undoubtedly a genius, and I don't throw the word 'genius' around like confetti. Prince '82-'88 ~ untouchable.
Great overview man. Picked an original copy on vinyl recently. Have to agree - the sequencing on this record is great considering how it manages to mesh and surprise you with the variance in musical styles.
I love Prince. I recently ordered this CD and I can't wait. I've heard a lot of these songs and the variation of styles on it is excellent. Like all great artists, Prince never stayed in one genre or sound for too long (ie David Bowie, David Byrne, The Cure, Death Grips, The Beatles, Peter Gabriel, etc.). Also I believe artists like these always have one cohesive album were they explore a majority of those different types. For example, The Cure's "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me", Death Grips' "The Powers That B", and Prince's "Sign o the Times". Thank you for the great review! Keep it up!
Prince was robbed for not winning Album Of The Year by the Grammy Committee. I love U2 and “The Joshua Tree” but that should NOT have won over Sign O’ The Times.
great review of an excellent album. Sign O the Times has to be in the top 4 of any serious Prince fan's favorite albums. you, Eric, articulated well a lot of what makes this album so great. I used to be a hard-core Prince fan - especially in '87 when this came out - but as "schooled" on Prince's "belle époque" (1978-87) as I am, even I didn't know those details about "strange relationship" that you put out there. you also did a good job of expressing your appreciation of this album - now 30 years old - continues to deserve all the praise heaped upon it.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I love your presenting format. This is one of my favourite albums among may other's by Prince. Interesting as Hot Thing is one of my standout tracks on this album. Great job VR. Love it.
Thanks for sharing. Thoughts about the album: I've heard a good chunk of it and I enjoy it. I love the concert-ish film based on the album. The live versions of "Housequake" and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" are classics. Saw him play in the late '90s in Kansas City. Great show. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular
Man, loads of stuff I didn't know about this album. This, Lovesexy, Dirty Mind, and Controversy are my favorite Price albums. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man is definitely one of my favorite Prince songs. I did get to see him play live in the early 90s at Radio City Music Hall, second loudest concert I've ever been to.
The Flaming Lips, during the Clouds Taste Metallic tour. It was too loud before they even played, just their amps on was too loud. When the pick hit the strings, it was like Back to the Future in that first scene. We immediately grabbed our ears. My friend ran to the bathroom to grab toilet paper which we stuffed in our ears. Next day, black on the qtip. I know I lost some hearing that day.
I don't know, I have the "Parade" on CD. I don't know the extent of your Prince collection, and was recommending one of my favorite Prince albums, recently reissued on vinyl. Actually, all up until "Sign" are now available on vinyl. I hope the reissue campaign continues. I just purchased the vinyl reissue of "Sign" and it has much more full dynamic bass than the original CD.
I noticed that Sign was reissued on vinyl in Europe but not in the US for some reason. I recently picked up an original issue of Parade on vinyl. Nice to hear the remaster of Sign is an improvement
Thanks for your review. It gave me some new insight on it. I'm hoping that Warner Brothers could put out a complete box set version of this album like they did for Purple Rain and release the original crystal ball album in it's entirety. We'll see what happens.
Most people may have more nostalgia for Purple Rain, and don’t get me wrong, it’s a fucking fantastic album, but to me Sign ‘☮︎‘ the Times will always be his greatest artistic achievement. Even his contemporaries agreed. U2 won the Grammy for best album of 1987 for The Joshua Tree, but Bono said that Prince and Sign ‘☮︎‘ the Times should’ve won!
*Great review! Don't forget the b-sides La La La He He Hee, Shockadelica, Housequake (7 Minutes MoQuake) and Hot Thing (Extended Remix) and (Dub Version)! I am lucky to have seen Prince in concert 6 times (Tokyo, Minneapolis & SF Bay Area) and also got to tour Paisley Park when it was open briefly to the public during the Musicology tour in 2005. I feel blessed!*
I never understood all the fuss about this record. Many songs aren't that great, and that Camille voice is just plain annoying and appears out of context anyway, when you know the backstory of it. I feel the closest Prince ever came to making a perfect album was PURPLE RAIN. Some prefer 1999, which I could also understand if it wouldn't drag that much; bit of editing would've been nice. Apart from that, in my mind, record-wise he's best represented via a well-compiled Best-Of. Oh, and by the way: Everybody, please, give the BATMAN soundtrack a break, 'cos it's really quite good. :)
That personal note broke my heart. My two biggest artist inspirations growing up were Prince and Bowie. I had been a fan of both my whole life. When I was 11, Controversy was released and I was hooked. For the uninitiated I recommend the B-sides from Around the World in a Day, Parade and Sign O' the Times. Some of his best work can be found there.
'The Rainbow Children' album is just as good, or even The Gold Experience' 'Emancipation' like you said if you just know his hits era stuff' you don't know him' he got better & better as time went on esp after 1995' & his live album 'One nite alone' & his performances on montreux jazz festival 2013 [esp show 3] the best live gig this decade
I think this is My Favorite Prince album after Lovesexy. top 5 Albums would be 1999, Lovesexy, sign o the times, Purple Rain then Dirty Mind if just looking at the 80's. Also, what the stereo set up you have there? I love the look of the Yamaha turntable... whats the amp and speaker set up?
I love this album and got it in cassette when it was released. Probably listened to it hundreds of times, but I really appreciate your review. I picked up things o hadn’t noticed, so thank you!
Great album! I have the cassette and the Deluxe-Remastered 8 CDs plus 1 DVD Concert. The Deluxe set has many unheard vault tracks and alternate versions of songs.
You literally captured EXACTLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS ALBUM...and what you said at the end there almost had me in tears...I’m 27 and I feel lost that I’ll NEVER see him live...I didn’t even dive into prince till last year...and now he’s such a vital part of my life
It's nice to see such a well versed Prince enthusiast and respectful spirit and yes He moved on to His next life but He left so many diamonds and pearls u have yet to try on and adore .... Gotta disagree about "Hot Thing" tho as a dancer this is one of the funkiest beats to groove to~ the cow bell and the dramatic symbols with drum kick beat is fire hence the reason Cat and Prince play the dance romance on the video. Thanks for posting your delightful 💟
You said some very nice things about Prince-he is my wife and i favorite artist of all time. I will subscribed to based on the fact that you gave him so much love over this review. i just feel sorry for you because i actually lived the music and you have to go back and get it. Much Props..
Hey man, just wanna tell you I love your channel. I just discovered it and couldn't believe you ''only'' have around 12k subs, especially with almost 300 videos. For me that proves you are truly motivated and devoted for this channel. Count me in as a new sub. I also joined the notification squad, so I cant miss any of your videos.
I love a lot of songs of it... Tittle track, Dorothy Parker, Strange Relationship, If I Was Ur Girlfriend, Slow Love, U Got The Look, Adore, The Cross really works conceptually, Hot Thing is fun, Starfish and Coffee is in theory something I'd love but doesn't click with me...
Your review was so open, honest and pure, that I became a new subscriber. Awesome review. Your powerful words at the end honestly choked me up. I became a fan back in 1978. I was introduced to his music by my aunt.......who unfortunately died a couple months ago. I’ve been a Purple addict ever since. And today.....I’m STILL a crazed fan AKA friend of his music (I’m 51, by the way.) as I was in the “For You” days. Cheers to you!
I'm still heartbroken over losing Prince. I. Said just about 6-8 months prior to a music producer friend that I felt Prince was underrated and people just don't realize how incredible he is. He said 'well a guy I work with JUST got included to work with Prince. And myself and ALL the music community rate Prince at the highest level and A MUSICIANS MUSICIAN.'
Actually the concert of sign o the times was awesome as the album times 10.000.000.000 to that as he makes at live music rearrranges to perfections to all diversities ..Thats why he is a genius up to Mozart & Beethoven level
Great video! But I don't think that Sign O' The Times is underrated, it's commonly regarded as one of the best albums of all time. It may not have sold as much as Purple Rain, but it's better received critically.
I guess I meant that it's underrated by the general listening public and the radio. Most people know 1999 and Purple Rain but that's about it. Maybe hidden gem is a better term
Yeah, HE IS. I REMEMBER 'SIGN OF THE TIMES'. He changed the cross L8r, Love the other songs. There really is something about it. You dig it? Names of his incense from this album. I KNOW ABOUT THE HOUSEQUAKE/EARTHQUAKES TOO. SO DESCRIPTIVE, YES. Like when he wrote about Dorothy Parker and food,his last message was asked if anyone knows how to cook. IT IS OVER THE TOP ,AND UNDER IT. AN AIR TRUMPET? WHO SAID 'I CAN'T BREATHE' ? U GOT THE LOOK DOES HAVE A TOP FEEL. SO I'LL FITD. WHAT'S THIS STRANGE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE? YOU DON'T KNOW😎BETTER ASK SOMEBODY. (OFF OF ANOTHER SONG) Don't die without knowing THE CROSS. THE VAULT MUST BE FULL! THIS IS FANTASTIC. ONLY THING I HATED WAS THE LAST HIT AND RUN TOUR. IT WAS PUBLISHED IN A LOCAL PAPER. YEAH, HEADLINES. OH YEAH,WE WILL DIVE DEEPER AND 'DROP THAT NEEDLE' THAT SEEMS TO BE THE THING OF YESTERDAY AND EVEN HAS A DEEPER MEANING TODAY. MANY TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH A SAINT. AH,NEVERMIND,ONLY PRINCE COULD RELATE. LOVED HIS MUSIC. I WONDER IF HE ATE CHICKEN? NAH,HE WAS A VEGETARIAN. HEALTHY AS A HORSE IF YOU ASK FOR MY OPINION.
I Put Together The Camille Album On My Phone By Adding All The Songs Together From Various Online Playlists And It's My Favourite Album Ever But Sign O The Times Is The Best Prince Album No Doubt I Absolutely Adore It, I Got 3 Copies Of It On Vinyl, one being a radio promo copy which has a gold stamped label saying for Radio Promo Only, The Next One Is A Japanese Pressing and My third was a christmas present of the new Reissue. I Also Got All The 12 inch Maxi Singles. I Think What Makes It So Amazing is the sheer uniqueness of each song that only Prince could really pull off and also how a lot of the songs are very minimal in terms of the instrumentation. In Sydney There Was A Listening Party For The Album At A Local Record Store/Bar and they played it back to back on a Highly Expensive Professional Studio Quality Sound System and I Heard Things On The Record That I've never heard before like background chatter on certain songs and additional musical embellishements that weren't brought out to the forefront in the final mix.
As Andre3000 from Outkast put it "The Greatest Album of All Time"
Prince was so great.
Prince's masterful Sign O' the Times is a musical masterpiece. It's a messy, ambitious, stunning, fun, beautiful, inventive, and an important album. Hands down his best work.
Compare the album version of It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night, to how he performed it on the Sign o the Times concert film.
Absolutley Impressive!
I just recently did my review of this album and one of my subscribers pointed me here. I love that our reviews are different, and we both took different things from it in the end. That is the genius of Prince!
Prince's Friend I was about to do the same thing!!!! Great minds...
Well well, nice to see you here buddy
The color is peach, hence the lyric "color you peach & black..."
Best album ever! Adore is the best piece of art work ever; you don't get better than 6:38 of this song. Strange Relationship is my number 5 all time song period. Sign O The Times produced 2 of my top 5 favorite songs. I liken this album to Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. Good review guy; as a die hard Prince fan for decades you did it justice. Thanks for your energy!
thank you very much
How great is this album, right?!
That three-track combo of If I Was Ur Girlfriend, Strange Relationship, and I Could Never Take The Place of Ur Man kills me every time.
My favourite experience with Prince was listening to Around The World In A Day in one sitting. It's such a brave album that flows together in a way that I'd never heard before.
Hey, man, could you do a video about Sufjan Stevens album Michigan? I think you'd really like it.
added to my list
Great review. He is certainly missed.
thank you
That's a great review usually I don't watch reviews but you did a great job. You need to be in Hollywood you do a better job then any of these people on these ET shows. I only ever got to see Prince once live, Madisen Square Garden back in 88 the best part of that concert was when Prince stopped the show and yelled at some guy in the front row who was smoking weed he said hey we don't do that sh*t here you don't put that out I aint going on. I wanted to stand up and cheer! :) The guy stopped an Prince went on with the show. That's my man. :D
One of my favorite Prince albums. The various styles on this album are fantastic!
I have been a huge Prince fan for a lot of years and this is one of the best reviews of this album. Not only is Sign O' Times my favorite Prince album but it is my favorite album period. Prince went deep into his psyche and soul to create this masterpiece. Every time I listen to this album not only do you feel you know Prince the musician, composer and producer. With the lyrics to most of the songs having so much depth about human relationships. You feel like you know Prince the man himself. I have so many Prince albums and he has one of the greatest music catalogs in pop music history. Thanks for the great review! Also so him twice in concert and both concerts were incredible. When he died this world lost an incredible music genius and I am so sad he is gone but he left us with a lot of incredible music.
well said
Thank you! ;)
Great review, Eric
I'm a HUGE Prince fan. I've been a fan since I saw Purple Rain for the first time. I still can't get over the loss of him. He was the best there have ever been IMO.
Sign 'O' The Times is his best album :) what a masterpiece.
thank you so much Carsten
Fantastic review, you did this stunning album justice.
This is one of my favorite Prince albums amazing review if I was your girlfriend is my favorite song
This album is in the very top of my favourite double records, along with the White Album, Physical Graffiti and Exile on Main St, perfect records from start to end.
those are great albums
And "Live/Dead", "Electric Ladyland", "Wheels Of Fire"
if I was your girlfriend,wow what a tune!
The Sign 'O' The Times concert movie is also a must-see.
My favourite Prince record along with Dirty Mind. Have you seen his concert film of the same name from 1987? He performs all the songs from this album. Its one of the best concert films I've ever seen along with The Last Waltz by The Band and Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads.
My favorite Prince album of all time, a masterpiece in its own right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
read a Prince book. ur missing SO many things that add to the mystique of this classic
1999 remains my favorite Prince album, but I'd recommend two of his latter albums - the very last one Hit n Run, Part 2 and Art Official Age.
His best albums since _Purple Rain._
_Starfish and coffee
...Maple syrup and jam...Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
...And a side order of ham.._ Oh man, that so good.
Definitely agree with Slow Love. My favourite on the record.
Kind of underrated..."I could never take the place of your man" is one of his best songs ever.
This album had so many gems
PEACH and black! :)
Prince best album. But I would love to hear "The Dream Factory" album.
maybe we will with the vault open
Great review! Every single song on this album is a masterpiece! I love the live version of HOT THING better, especially when the beat comes in. I love IT as a house classic. ADORE gives me chills every time I hear it and it takes me to another place. May U Live 2 C The Dawn.
Is that the version from the film?
Vinyl Rewind - Yes, right after he says "come here baby, I wanna talk to you, Hot Thang!" and the beat kicks in! OMG!
nice, I still have to see it
Prince made a lot of frustrating music business moves. Him halting this tour for SOTT hurt his sales. But, creative geniuses, although he was a pioneer on some level, are artists first, business second.
let me edit that, a pioneer on many levels!
I didn't know about the SOTT tour halting
Yup by the time the Europe leg was over P was ready to move on. He released the SOTT concert movie instead. He did a lot more touring in Europe back then. I think he also moved on from Purple Rain tour in somewhat similar fashion. I can't imagine having so much in my head that I have to create new stuff constantly, but that seemed be the case for him. He was definitely a genius.
that makes total sense
The European part of The Sign 'O' the Times tour came to a sudden halt because he was unable to bring the tour to London. Originally the show was to be at Wembley Stadium but it was decided to switch to Earls Court, but as the the stage was so big, Earls Court was the only London indoor venue at that time that could accommodate it. Unfortunately the decision to change venue (plus addition of two extra shows) was taken at such short notice that it was not possible to obtain a licence. As Prince also had problems with venues in Birmingham, Rome and Turin he decided to film his next concerts in Rotterdam and Antwerp, release as a film of him in concert (the film did have a basic plot as well), then cancel any remaining shows on the tour.
As with Prince he moved on quickly recording The Black Album and Lovesexy before producing what i think was his greatest tour - The Lovesexy Tour.
one of my favorite albums of all time!
Awesome review, Very deep and meaningful🎸✌👀
thank you
It is NOT PINK for God's sake!
Sign O' the Times' color scheme is peach & black!
And that's Crucial! Like it's said in 'U Got the Look', if u bother 2 listen...
Me I got it on casette at the release date and still have it, when vinyl was waning and scarce at the time and many record shops actively avoided Prince's records because he was either gay or degenerate or both. I also remember many a quarrel because he was considered artistically worthless at the time!
Ah, the 80's...! 🙄
Also got me a beautiful peach shirt and a blacker than black corduroy jeans! 😎
Those I don't longer have... wouldn't fit anyway!
love this, great review of the beautiful Prince Sign of the Times💜💜💜💜💜 I know miss him to
thank you
really good review, we need more of this kind of stuff. :D
He died on my birthday
Your videos are amazing dude, keep it up!
If you ever find the time and the copy, RAM by Paul McCartney is amazing
I will get to it
Way to go Man!! You last sentence gave me full chills!!! Prince was so ahead of most or almost all of us that his death is awaking so many people, I know it has me. I feel his spirit in my daily life and I know he is alive in the 5th dimension W/ Joshua... Thank you for speaking your heart, he hears you. Keep speaking the truth and pray for Justice for him!!! God speed!!
Great review. I'm with you on 'I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man'. Probably my favourite Prince song. Love the extended coda. Overall this is right up there in my favourite 80s albums, although I think in terms of Prince, 'Dirty Mind' might just edge it.
Dirty Mind is great too
always been my favorite prince album. this probably the best review as well. the first half of this album alone is so sonic.
His vault contains such brilliance that when combined with his proper releases, he's undoubtedly a genius, and I don't throw the word 'genius' around like confetti.
Prince '82-'88 ~ untouchable.
This is such an underrated channel. I'd love it if you reviewed 'Kid A' by Radiohead or '13' by Blur, would love to hear your thoughts on both!
I will certainly get to Radiohead
Great Video. very stylisch! please more Prince Reviews.
It's so Important that we don't forget him. He was the Best.
thank you!
This was the first Prince record I heard. I wasn't extremely impressed, but then, somewhat recently, I heard Purple Rain, and I really enjoyed it.
Great overview man. Picked an original copy on vinyl recently. Have to agree - the sequencing on this record is great considering how it manages to mesh and surprise you with the variance in musical styles.
thank you
I love Prince. I recently ordered this CD and I can't wait. I've heard a lot of these songs and the variation of styles on it is excellent. Like all great artists, Prince never stayed in one genre or sound for too long (ie David Bowie, David Byrne, The Cure, Death Grips, The Beatles, Peter Gabriel, etc.). Also I believe artists like these always have one cohesive album were they explore a majority of those different types. For example, The Cure's "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me", Death Grips' "The Powers That B", and Prince's "Sign o the Times". Thank you for the great review! Keep it up!
Prince was robbed for not winning Album Of The Year by the Grammy Committee. I love U2 and “The Joshua Tree” but that should NOT have won over Sign O’ The Times.
Agreed. Prince should’ve won even U2 acknowledged it was a great record when they won the award
One of my favorite albums of all time - great review 👍🏼
Amazing album! One of Prince’s best! I listened to Dorothy Parker about a thousand times!
great review of an excellent album. Sign O the Times has to be in the top 4 of any serious Prince fan's favorite albums. you, Eric, articulated well a lot of what makes this album so great. I used to be a hard-core Prince fan - especially in '87 when this came out - but as "schooled" on Prince's "belle époque" (1978-87) as I am, even I didn't know those details about "strange relationship" that you put out there. you also did a good job of expressing your appreciation of this album - now 30 years old - continues to deserve all the praise heaped upon it.
thank you very much
Thanks for this video. This record is an absolute masterpiece
This album is a masterpiece.....you have to listen to the song Adore 100 times to get all the details, just amazing.
Yesterday on the last day of March was the 30th anniversary of that album
Sign O The Times turns 30yrs old this year. The album is a MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!!!!!
Great review. Didn't knew the Camille project.
thank you
I would love to hear you break down an album by The Band.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I love your presenting format. This is one of my favourite albums among may other's by Prince. Interesting as Hot Thing is one of my standout tracks on this album. Great job VR. Love it.
the white album of prince
I played it for 2 years straight. His best album.
Awesome review my man. U have made me a follower. Sign o the times is my favorite Prince album. Awesome review!
Prince was just amazing such a great guitar player very underrated as a guitar player and what a song writer he will be missed
Thanks for sharing. Thoughts about the album: I've heard a good chunk of it and I enjoy it. I love the concert-ish film based on the album. The live versions of "Housequake" and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" are classics. Saw him play in the late '90s in Kansas City. Great show. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular
Man, loads of stuff I didn't know about this album. This, Lovesexy, Dirty Mind, and Controversy are my favorite Price albums. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man is definitely one of my favorite Prince songs. I did get to see him play live in the early 90s at Radio City Music Hall, second loudest concert I've ever been to.
what was the first?
The Flaming Lips, during the Clouds Taste Metallic tour. It was too loud before they even played, just their amps on was too loud. When the pick hit the strings, it was like Back to the Future in that first scene. We immediately grabbed our ears. My friend ran to the bathroom to grab toilet paper which we stuffed in our ears. Next day, black on the qtip. I know I lost some hearing that day.
damn, that's rough
If you haven't already check out Parade re-released recently on vinyl.
is it much different than the original release?
I don't know, I have the "Parade" on CD. I don't know the extent of your Prince collection, and was recommending one of my favorite Prince albums, recently reissued on vinyl. Actually, all up until "Sign" are now available on vinyl. I hope the reissue campaign continues. I just purchased the vinyl reissue of "Sign" and it has much more full dynamic bass than the original CD.
I noticed that Sign was reissued on vinyl in Europe but not in the US for some reason. I recently picked up an original issue of Parade on vinyl. Nice to hear the remaster of Sign is an improvement
Perhaps the most important album for modern music..you hear SOT back in Basement Jaxx, Jamie Lidell, Outkast,Beyonce, R.Kelly,Alicia Keys.
Memories of High school, Class of '87! A CLASSIC Prince masterpiece!
Thanks for your review. It gave me some new insight on it. I'm hoping that Warner Brothers could put out a complete box set version of this album like they did for Purple Rain and release the original crystal ball album in it's entirety. We'll see what happens.
Most people may have more nostalgia for Purple Rain, and don’t get me wrong, it’s a fucking fantastic album, but to me Sign ‘☮︎‘ the Times will always be his greatest artistic achievement. Even his contemporaries agreed. U2 won the Grammy for best album of 1987 for The Joshua Tree, but Bono said that Prince and Sign ‘☮︎‘ the Times should’ve won!
*Great review! Don't forget the b-sides La La La He He Hee, Shockadelica, Housequake (7 Minutes MoQuake) and Hot Thing (Extended Remix) and (Dub Version)! I am lucky to have seen Prince in concert 6 times (Tokyo, Minneapolis & SF Bay Area) and also got to tour Paisley Park when it was open briefly to the public during the Musicology tour in 2005. I feel blessed!*
I never understood all the fuss about this record. Many songs aren't that great, and that Camille voice is just plain annoying and appears out of context anyway, when you know the backstory of it. I feel the closest Prince ever came to making a perfect album was PURPLE RAIN. Some prefer 1999, which I could also understand if it wouldn't drag that much; bit of editing would've been nice. Apart from that, in my mind, record-wise he's best represented via a well-compiled Best-Of. Oh, and by the way: Everybody, please, give the BATMAN soundtrack a break, 'cos it's really quite good. :)
The color was peach. Purple Rain was purple, ATWIAD was paisley/multicolor, Parade was black and white and Sign was peach and black.
That personal note broke my heart. My two biggest artist inspirations growing up were Prince and Bowie. I had been a fan of both my whole life. When I was 11, Controversy was released and I was hooked.
For the uninitiated I recommend the B-sides from Around the World in a Day, Parade and Sign O' the Times. Some of his best work can be found there.
Sad he is gone but his music lives on your reviews are great!
'The Rainbow Children' album is just as good, or even The Gold Experience' 'Emancipation' like you said if you just know his hits era stuff' you don't know him' he got better & better as time went on esp after 1995' & his live album 'One nite alone' & his performances on montreux jazz festival 2013 [esp show 3] the best live gig this decade
I think this is My Favorite Prince album after Lovesexy. top 5 Albums would be 1999, Lovesexy, sign o the times, Purple Rain then Dirty Mind if just looking at the 80's. Also, what the stereo set up you have there? I love the look of the Yamaha turntable... whats the amp and speaker set up?
Great video. It is a lot of stuff to get through to really know Prince' music. Post-SOTT I will recommend The symbol
(92) and GOLD(94 or 95)
I love this album and got it in cassette when it was released. Probably listened to it hundreds of times, but I really appreciate your review. I picked up things o hadn’t noticed, so thank you!
Great album! I have the cassette and the Deluxe-Remastered 8 CDs plus 1 DVD Concert. The Deluxe set has many unheard vault tracks and alternate versions of songs.
You literally captured EXACTLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS ALBUM...and what you said at the end there almost had me in tears...I’m 27 and I feel lost that I’ll NEVER see him live...I didn’t even dive into prince till last year...and now he’s such a vital part of my life
Speaking of Warner Bros , have you checked the new logo this year
Housequake was not Camilles' debut... Camille appeared on a Parade Album B-side " ♥️ or 💲"
It's nice to see such a well versed Prince enthusiast and respectful spirit and yes He moved on to His next life but He left so many diamonds and pearls u have yet to try on and adore .... Gotta disagree about "Hot Thing" tho as a dancer this is one of the funkiest beats to groove to~ the cow bell and the dramatic symbols with drum kick beat is fire hence the reason Cat and Prince play the dance romance on the video. Thanks for posting your delightful 💟
You said some very nice things about Prince-he is my wife and i favorite artist of all time. I will subscribed to based on the fact that you gave him so much love over this review. i just feel sorry for you because i actually lived the music and you have to go back and get it. Much Props..
U Got The Look video is awesome. Surprised you dismissed the song rather quickly.
Hey man, just wanna tell you I love your channel. I just discovered it and couldn't believe you ''only'' have around 12k subs, especially with almost 300 videos. For me that proves you are truly motivated and devoted for this channel. Count me in as a new sub.
I also joined the notification squad, so I cant miss any of your videos.
Thanks so much for your support and kind words, I really appreciate it!
Great review!!!
thanks
Not pink, the colors 4 this album was Peach and Black. He sings about it in U Got the Look.
Of course you don’t like hot thang the funkiest song on the album
Just placed a pre-order for the limited edition remaster in peach-coloured vinyl. It should arrive late september.
Forever In My Life is the greatest sleeper on the album. Great lyrics and vocal performance
If I Was Your Girlfriend is genius
Somehow you weirdly left out the final song of the album : the cross ?
It WAS nominated for album of the year. Color is Peach.
Ain't that a bitch, Warner bros wouldn't release the 3 disc idea at first but now they're releasing all of his material
I love a lot of songs of it... Tittle track, Dorothy Parker, Strange Relationship, If I Was Ur Girlfriend, Slow Love, U Got The Look, Adore, The Cross really works conceptually, Hot Thing is fun, Starfish and Coffee is in theory something I'd love but doesn't click with me...
Your review was so open, honest and pure, that I became a new subscriber. Awesome review. Your powerful words at the end honestly choked me up. I became a fan back in 1978. I was introduced to his music by my aunt.......who unfortunately died a couple months ago. I’ve been a Purple addict ever since. And today.....I’m STILL a crazed fan AKA friend of his music (I’m 51, by the way.) as I was in the “For You” days. Cheers to you!
I'm still heartbroken over losing Prince. I. Said just about 6-8 months prior to a music producer friend that I felt Prince was underrated and people just don't realize how incredible he is. He said 'well a guy I work with JUST got included to work with Prince. And myself and ALL the music community rate Prince at the highest level and A MUSICIANS MUSICIAN.'
Actually the concert of sign o the times was awesome as the album times 10.000.000.000 to that as he makes at live music rearrranges to perfections to all diversities ..Thats why he is a genius up to Mozart & Beethoven level
Great video! But I don't think that Sign O' The Times is underrated, it's commonly regarded as one of the best albums of all time. It may not have sold as much as Purple Rain, but it's better received critically.
I guess I meant that it's underrated by the general listening public and the radio. Most people know 1999 and Purple Rain but that's about it. Maybe hidden gem is a better term
Yeah, that's very true.
29 years later? irrelevant now.
Just stop your crying it’s a sign of the times
Sorry, wrong artist
Yeah, HE IS. I REMEMBER 'SIGN OF THE TIMES'. He changed the cross L8r, Love the other songs. There really is something about it. You dig it? Names of his incense from this album. I KNOW ABOUT THE HOUSEQUAKE/EARTHQUAKES TOO. SO DESCRIPTIVE, YES. Like when he wrote about Dorothy Parker and food,his last message was asked if anyone knows how to cook. IT IS OVER THE TOP ,AND UNDER IT. AN AIR TRUMPET? WHO SAID 'I CAN'T BREATHE' ? U GOT THE LOOK DOES HAVE A TOP FEEL. SO I'LL FITD. WHAT'S THIS STRANGE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE? YOU DON'T KNOW😎BETTER ASK SOMEBODY. (OFF OF ANOTHER SONG) Don't die without knowing THE CROSS. THE VAULT MUST BE FULL! THIS IS FANTASTIC. ONLY THING I HATED WAS THE LAST HIT AND RUN TOUR. IT WAS PUBLISHED IN A LOCAL PAPER. YEAH, HEADLINES. OH YEAH,WE WILL DIVE DEEPER AND 'DROP THAT NEEDLE' THAT SEEMS TO BE THE THING OF YESTERDAY AND EVEN HAS A DEEPER MEANING TODAY. MANY TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH A SAINT. AH,NEVERMIND,ONLY PRINCE COULD RELATE. LOVED HIS MUSIC. I WONDER IF HE ATE CHICKEN? NAH,HE WAS A VEGETARIAN. HEALTHY AS A HORSE IF YOU ASK FOR MY OPINION.
Three top ten singles do constitute a large fire...
Black and PEACH, my man. Black and peach.
I Put Together The Camille Album On My Phone By Adding All The Songs Together From Various Online Playlists And It's My Favourite Album Ever
But Sign O The Times Is The Best Prince Album No Doubt I Absolutely Adore It, I Got 3 Copies Of It On Vinyl, one being a radio promo copy which has a gold stamped label saying for Radio Promo Only, The Next One Is A Japanese Pressing and My third was a christmas present of the new Reissue. I Also Got All The 12 inch Maxi Singles. I Think What Makes It So Amazing is the sheer uniqueness of each song that only Prince could really pull off and also how a lot of the songs are very minimal in terms of the instrumentation. In Sydney There Was A Listening Party For The Album At A Local Record Store/Bar and they played it back to back on a Highly Expensive Professional Studio Quality Sound System and I Heard Things On The Record That I've never heard before like background chatter on certain songs and additional musical embellishements that weren't brought out to the forefront in the final mix.