Sign O' The Times is an amazing album, timeless proof of Prince's musical craftsmanship and diversity. But, I'm gonna say it, I think It and Housequake are not that good. They're average. Had these songs been switched with any number of other Prince songs, SOTT would've been even more amazing.

Naw, you're wrong on that one. Housequake is one of the funkiest songs ever and It is one of the sexiest songs that stripped down, barebones funk. Definately can't replace those two songs. If any two songs would be off the album for me, it would be "Play In The Sunshine" and "The Cross"

We all have our favourite and least favourite tracks on all the albums including the classic, Prince zenith, that is SOTT.

I agree that "It" is just an ok Prince song but I completely disagree with you about "Housequake."

"Slow Love"

And even though I love "Play in the Sunshine", I don't get why folks trip out over it.

joyinrepetition said:

I love Play In The Sunshine.

Imago said:

Yeah I forgot about "Slow Love". That would get the ax in my book too.

as always, if this thread goes on long enough people will show
up saying they hate this song and that song and in the end we
will have named all songs on the album.

IstenSzek said:

IstenSzek said:

My vote would go to It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night...and for awhile Strange Relationship did little for me. I've grown to absolutely LOVE that song, though. Beautiful Night, however, still remains a "commercial break" where I feel I can safely leave the room and not miss anything. And that tin-voiced "rap" in the middle of it is embarrassing lol...


...
[Edited 6/11/09 9:23am]

And Housequake absolutely smokes ...no way that song is "average".

Imago said:

NOMORECANDY4U!

IstenSzek said:

Fuck that shit.
You're my bitch.

This is easy Slow Love is boring to me the only skip on the CD. Otherwise this is a perfect CD

Its Gonna B a Beautiful Night

It's interesting, some say well, everybody's got different least favorites but statistically if SOTT is one of the most appreciated albums by Prince, it probably means that people are more on the same page with this albums than with most other albums.

"It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is the one track that I would describe as filler.It just seems out of place.

Filler? I love, love, love "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night."

Miko, hit me in the back with funk!
[Edited 6/11/09 11:19am]

IMO there is no real filler to be found on SOTT.

But when i should pick the two songs i have some doubts about, it are:

It:
I love how bleak it sounds, and how it shows that sexual desire can sometimes be an obsessive burden (its there mostly in his vocal delivery), but he has done that kind of thing before in a bit more ironic, playfull way (Tambourine) or hilarious over-the-top way (Temptation). Next to that the song drags on a bit too long, and sounds a bit dated nowadays.

It's gonna be a beautifull night:
Allthough its obviously overdubbed, the song surely shows that Prince can deliver an exciting jazz-funk jam live. But sometimes I feel it sounds a bit out of place on SOTT, and i have a tendency to skip it because of its length.

I love ALL songs on Sott!!!!

IstenSzek said:

That's true, so let's make it more interesting...Most of us are familiar with the ample outtakes from the Crystal Ball era, so what would you take off and what would you replace it with?

I love 'Sign' and am happy with it as is. But for the sake of argument, I would maybe swap out 'Slow Love' with 'Crucial' (although I get that he felt 'Crucial' was too similar to 'Adore' to include both) and 'It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night' with 'Rebirth of The Flesh' and 'Witness' (the rockier '86 version).

Anybody else?

renfield said:

ah yes, i like that idea!

always thought that it would have been cool if he'd swapped "beautiful night"
for "crystal ball". that would give "adore" even more of an impact, coming at
the heels of that nightmare/vision/prophecy and closing the album on a note
of conquering love.

i would also like to replace "slow love", just like you would, with "crucial",
simply because it's such a good track. i like slow love but i have to admit
that it's the one song on disc 1 that i don't care for too much.

and, although people are going to slaughter me for saying this, i have never
liked or cared about "u got the look". i would much rather take it off and
put "rebirth of the flesh" in it's place.

but, like you said, the album is just fine the way it is. it's not the most
unanimously agreed upon "best prince album" for nothing. but these games of
"what if" are the ones i like, lol.

IstenSzek said:

I think It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night is way better than Crystal Ball. Crystal Ball is too long and too unorganised.





U Got The Look, one his best in the 80s.

peter430044 said:

I don't get the hate for 'It' (because it's often cited as one of the weaker tracks). Maybe it's just being on THAT album that makes it seem so, but I've always loved it. It doesn't get any simpler, it's dark and claustrophobic and gospel even, feels really primal (not specifically in a sexual way). It's great, classic Prince.

'Slow Love', now that's the correct answer to the OP. Bleurgh.

SOTT is one of the gem in his crowning IMHO. I love Playing In The Sunshine and Housequake.

the stretch of "It," "Starfish And Coffee" and "Slow Love" has always been the weak spot for me, though on its own "Slow Love" has grown on me considerably.

IstenSzek said:

also, I'm ambivalent about the title track. love the guitar work, but the dated programming leaves me cold

IT

I actually think slow love is one of the best love songs ever written... nice touches everywhere... I am always shocked that people hate it!

I love the song "It" I like the hard,relentless beat and the cold,mechanical feel of it.This is one of the songs that I would have chosen as a single.Might have been a huge pop/rock hit.