I really always considered Parade Prince's crowning glory.

Not that it's always been my favourite record, it surely isn't, but the sound, the whole aural landscape put forth with this record is so special, so sexy!

I could spend HOURS typing away at why and how this album is so cool, but it's all be said or at least thought by us all.

I do think that what deserves a little nod, is the sequencing on the LP - The structure of the LP is so fantastic, I do think better than any other Prince LP from For You, to Musicology.

Listening to the LP, it really is like watching a film - it triumphs in that respect, it's just so cinematic and theatrical.

I love the whole adventure that the album presents to the listener, it constantly changes and switches on you, yet presents a whole that is beautiful.



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[Edited 9/15/04 16:44pm]

I have to say, Purple Rain has the most satisfying sequencing. The tracks follow the order in the film, so you feel you are watching the film and the songs create one story. Except of course they put Purple Rain at the end - in the film of course it is I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm A Star. Purple Rain is just so much more satisfying as an end track, especially with the long way it fades out, so an important sequencing decision there.

I love Parade though - It has a consistency in sound that was lost in later albums. Shame Prince never liked it much. I think if Prince had more time, he would have over-produced the tracks as he has a tendency to do and lost some of the rawness that I love.

Parade's sequencing worked much better in LP format, when you had to flip sides. Now the change from "Venus De Milo" to "Mountains" is a bit too radical. But just a bit.

Parade is just a brilliant, brilliant album...I mean, it's simplistic, stylish and fun. It's like the epcott center of Prince's partying in music.. I LOVE IT!
Didnt he make that album when he was in his 20's? I can relate!

Just BRILLIANT! EDIT
[Edited 9/16/04 7:21am]

I love Parade and I really think that the sequencing of the album is the best out of any Prince album. For me, once I hear listen to Christopher Tracy's Parade, I can't stop listening to the rest. It still flows perfectly for me, which is why it's always in my top 3 Prince albums. Hey Cherrie, from what I've read, Prince was 26-27 when he recorded the tracks in 1985.

Novabreaker said:

My sentiments exactly. Listened to Parade on vinyl the other night. I think it was meant that way that's why the sides are listed as 'Intro' and 'End'

metalorange said:

I agree with you there, PR has great sequencing, even though it's one of those songs I hardly ever listen to, the end of the title track how it just carries on with the orchestration, it gives me goosebumps!

I love this one too. Though I love concept albums...and to me this was one. It's like he went to Paris and this was the result. All of the voices, sounds etc. I totally agree that this type of stuff was missing in his later projects.

After 1999 (sequentially) this was his best effort since that one. And it's got Mountains, so how can you not love it?

I like Parade better than most of his albums cause it's so experimental and risky. Not one song on it sounds like it was made for mass consumption, and adding odd instruments such as the steel drum, accordian, the orchestra background etc.., just sets this apart as a masterpiece. I think the set list flows perfectly, one song lifts up the other, then lets it down until you switch sides, from Venus De Milo to Mountains. I feel that Parade was a better departure from the norm than ATWIAD, cause absolutely NO other artist out at the time would have even dared such a move.

UncleGrandpa said:

True - everybody goes on about how ATWIAD was so different from Purple Rain, yet no one goes on about how different Parade was from ATWIAD AND Purple Rain. You could argue that Sign o The Times was a bit of each of those previous albums and a bit of something new again.