31 March 1986: Parade is released.

So, we've heard "Kiss", "Love Or Money", and not much else. On March 31,1986, Parade is released. You've powered up your turn table [perhaps some have CD players already] and listened to the full album once and only once. You come onto the org to record your opinions, feelings, thoughts about the album.

After the first listen, what do you think you would say? Remember, Sign O' The Times is not known yet. The "rappalicious" Tony M. is not on the mic yet. All you have are the albums prior to Parade. What kind of a review would you give?

it would be dead cuz no-one would have computers to get online and post

But the org didn't exist...we were all to busy enjoying our selves to wonder what other people thought...

He's saying of this forum did exist and the net as it is today did.

I would be bithching and moaning because upon release, I disliked Parade. It seemed half assed to me. I got laughed at by a friend when Do U Lie began. But there was hope with Kiss. Though I was still trying to hold out hope for a return to 1999 (or even PR) form. Only in retropsect did I learn to understand and appreciate Parade. I was not ready for it. It was ahead of its time.

Exactly... it's just fascinating what time can do to reviews.

Not saying anything about the new material, although I find it interesting what my thoughts were initially about certain albums and how I feel about them now.

I'm listening to right now, because it was the first album I heard right when it was released. I remember where I was and what I was thinking. The beginning of "Love 2 the 9's"... amazing! By the time Mayte gets in there I wanted to skip ahead. A mixed bag, but a good mixed bag, I must say.

After my first listen of Come, I remember thinking, "that's it? You've got to be kidding me." I love Come now. However, I had the same reaction with Chaos & Disorder and my opinion hasn't changed much.

As for this last trilogy of albums, I remember loving Musicology; now I hardly, if ever, listen to it. The same with Planet Earth. I do, however, still love 3121. I think, as time progresses, the album might actually age well. Of course, what do I know?

I could go on and on, but I won't bore you; I think you get the point. And the reason why I picked Parade was because it is so wonderfully quirky and strange and yet it is considered [rightfully so] a masterpiece, but I doubt if the word masterpiece would come out of many mouths at the time...

Let me just press this Dolby NR button to get rid of some of the hiss...

I was still high in the Purple Rain

Kiss was on the airwaves everywhere here
and I was following the news as best as I could 2 know what was going on, I was a big lover of Around the World In A Day so Parade wasn't much of a culture shock

I loved the Kiss/Love or Money single photos of Prince & Wendy
I heard rumors Prince was dating Wendy
Old Friends 4 Sale was being played on my favorite radio station at the time
There were performances of A Love Bizarre with Sheila E & Prince & the Revolution
wondering why they were in Paris when they recorded America
The MTV Kurt Lodder interview in 11.1985
And then the album came out
before I listened to it, I went thru the song lyrics/credits, and the album innercover with the photos and then the part with the Revolution members and what they wrote

By the time I listened to it, I was pulled into that Paisley French world of Uptown

I was just a bit disappointed, Cause even though I love all of Prince's music expressions, I love him on the electric guitar. Parade didn't have any of that, except for a Middle Eastern elect guitar sound on AnotherLoverHolenYoHead

I was disappointed that Old Friends 4 Sale wasn't on the album and looked 4 it 2 show as a B-side.

Venus De Milo yielded some guitar work that sounded like he did it right after God the Love Theme, I enjoyed the instrumental

Sometimes It Snows In April end the album well and I was emotionally attached 2 Prince's Parade: Mazarati & the Family opened another door albeit short term that made 1986 pretty exciting.

Purple Rain was Purple Glam
Around the World in a Day Purple Psychedlica
Parade was Purple Chic




11.15.1985



















[Edited 3/22/09 14:39pm]

are you guys feeling 'new power soul' yet?

Great memory provoking account of 1986...

After one listen...I'd be up in here singing his motherfucking praises!!!

I loved the hell out "Parade" before I ever saw UTCM. I could listen to it from beginning to end and start it all over and do it again. Did that, thousands of times! That's what used to be so special to me about Prince's music. I wouldn't even have to hear a whole song. I could just hear a snippet and I would know that I would love the song.

Now-a-days, I have to listen the songs several times, close the drapes, stand on one foot, tug on one ear, do the stanky leg , all to come to the same conclusion I had on the first listen. It sucks!

stanleylieber said:

I'm feeling it, started feeling it when I heard that minneapolis sound.


[Edited 3/22/09 14:59pm]

Joyinrepatition said:

Actually 'the Dawn Experience' is the best title to capture the 1978-1988 years

I'll say like Sheila E. "I remember those times like it was yesterday"

I couldn't dress like Purple Rain
but I had the Parade look down, I even used to got church with my handkerchief in my suit hangin out like they did then and tried to where as much Paisley as possible and had a tan trench like him, I also had a long black one that looked similar to (Take Me With U) with the white scarf looped thru the shoulder straps

Bite me, I can't be bothered with the new Prince album, Geraldo Rivera is going to open Al Capone's secret vault in a couple of weeks. There's totally no telling what rad stuff will be in there!



Just Say No!

xlr8r said:

"Do You Lie," is in my opinion...fucking adorable.

squirrelgrease said:

You think this forum has a lot of George Michael, Michael Jackson, Madonna, et all now? If this was the mid eighties...

FFFFUUUUU.....

KeithyT said:

I HATED that button..all the treble would be taken out!

floralelephants said:

The first couple of songs suck. I dont think it is a good as Purple Rain but it's better than Around The World In A Day. He should have done more songs like Moutains, Kiss is ok, Anotherloverholeinyourhead is good! I dont know why he wasted so much time on the "foreign" trip on the album though. It's going to take me a while to get into. it's like he is trying to bring classical and funk together..and I just dont think the mesh is working very well. I give it a 3 out of 5 though because in an essence it is not a bad album, just all over the place in style.

(that would have been my review in 1986)

However I think the album is fantastic and has no flaws in 2009!!!

Provided there were personal computers and the internet, here is my 1986 post.


I would be like, Oh my Gawd! It is totally awesome! The only problem is my record player is sticking again! I am so excited though! I am finally old enough to get in the after hours teen dance club, and I heard they play this new song called "Erotic city" by Prince! I can't wait! I have got my mini on and my hair is bigger than all my girlfriends! Tonight I am going to party like its 1999!
[Edited 3/22/09 22:37pm]