Do you ever go through phases of not listening to one album for ages, and then overdosing on it? Well, I haven't listened to Sign O The Times for quite some time now. Instead, the unadulterated funk of Controversy has been getting some much needed play. So I want to inject some life into this monster of an album, apparently a classic, but is it really as good as everyone appears to say it is? Sign O The Times, what's so great about it, are there any flaws - minimal or glaringly obvious, and what's your favourite ' least favourite part of the album? I prefer disc 2 to disc 1, from U Got The Look to Adore, the music and production is excellent.

Personally speaking, I think sometimes however the overall record can feel a little lifeless. Rdhull said something about the Controversy album that stuck in my mind, something along the lines of, "it's the kind of album you wanna fuck!" Well, I agree but I don't feel the same about Sign O The Times. I feel like I take time over it, almost like making love rather than fucking LOL But I really wanna get back into it, so tell me, what are the little grooves on this album that make you wanna rejoice at having just listened to a man and his art at one of the most critically acclaimed high points of his career, a Prince album that almost every other is rated against?
[This message was edited Tue Sep 10 6:46:50 PDT 2002 by Anji]

Since getting myself a minidisc player I have transfered SOTT to one 80 minute disc. It is kewl to have both discs playing non-stop. Also, my MD player gives me the chance to boost up the sound level, making the sound thicker. Also kewl.
And then the songs themselves...
Funny, I think the first record is more balanced when it comes to variety. Especially Side One.
But the inclusion of Forever In My Life on Record Two is also a plus.
After listening to these songs, editing them, some songs jumped out to me again. First of all Strange Relationship. The groove, the lyrics. I have to say that Side Three always held one minor point for me; U Got The Look, which, compared to all the other songwriter craftmanship, is just a bleak never mind. Funky, but not as groovy as the phat Housequake, lusty as Hot Thing or just the pelvic driven It.

What I think Sign "O" The Times signify is Prince's craftmanship when it comes to lyrical content, in combination with his best years as a musician/producer. The entire album is diverse, but the diversity drives the album beyond any of his other albums. Lovesexy is great but sounds like one song (hence the original tracking) and other great albums, like Purple Rain might have spunk, but not the top notch genius of SOTT. From art design to music, from lyrics to production and the full blown inclusion of Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss, but also the last effects of having The Revolution around and his need to do it all alone. This album is my all time fave. Most times.

one of my 2 all time favs(other is controversy)...shoulda been 1 disc though...16 sons on 1 album isn't unusual...i hate having 2 change the disc right as i'm getting in2 the album's funky groove

AprilMichelle said:

Buy an MD, transfer them on a 80 minute MD; have fun!

I don't know how flawed it is, but I can say that if there is any weakness to the album it would be what was originally Side 2 on the album.

-It
-Slow Love
-Starfish and Coffee
-Hot Thing
-Forever In My Life

If you look at every other side on that album there is classic material. Side One alone may be the best album side of material Prince has ever recorded. Side Three you have 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' and 'I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man'. Side Four, 'The Cross' and 'Adore'. Of the Side Two material, IMO 'Forever In My Life' is the best tune among the five. However, none of them will ever be mistaken for his best.

If there's any weak link, it lies here.

Must say I agree about side two of the original LP being the weakest but then there's Hot Thing which has one hell of a funky beat line, and that intro from the live video always gets me going! And of course, Forever In My Life ends it very well indeed. I dig It but think it works better live, Starfish & Coffee's still a wonderful little number but have never been that keen on Slow Love, would have much preferred Crucial.

Some albums just hang on people with events.

LoveSexy came out the year I lost my virginity.

Sign of the Times is the album I listened too for a whole summer in the back seat of a firebird from here to Tennessee. (That's no exageration)

Although I haven't listened to either in quite a while nor will I for some time to come, both albums are probably my favorite because of what was involved in listening to them.

At 1st, I didn't like the LP but it did grew in me and I noticed things I didn't notice at 1st. Ya know?? The lil' things/details that capture you and make into it. Everything I veend from Prince is in that LP, say whatever(Rock-Motown-Funk-HipHpo-Folk,,,etc etc etc etc etc). If I'm gonna write a review, it would take 4ever!