I've never really thought Parade was all that great, to be honest. Then again, I've never actually taken the time to break down my impressions of each track. I think I'll do it now.

Christopher Tracy's Parade - For me, this is probably the weakest album opener of Prince's career. It's an OK song, but it really doesn't grab me and pull me in the way an opening song should. It has a cheesy vibe that I just can't get into, sort of like "Trust" on Batman.

New Position - Now this is more like it! Minimalist, and nasty funky. But it is CRIMINALLY brief! If ever there was a Prince track begging for an extended version, it's this one. I usually have to play it three times in a row to get the impression of a full-length song.

I Wonder U - There are only 2 songs in Prince's entire catalog that I genuinely dislike: Digital Garden and I Wonder U. Seriously, can this even be classified as a "song?!" Creepy drum sounds and dreary orchestration with a repetitive, three-phrase refrain? It's all quite pointless to my ears. Again, I ask, why didn't he just extend "New Position" if he needed to fill album space?

Under the Cherry Moon - Haunting and pretty, if a bit boring. Great piano styling, and not much else that stands out about it. It's a clear precursor to "The Question of U" (I know Prince actually wrote "? of U" before UTCM; I'm just talking in terms of how the released song sounds), so I'll give it props just based on that.

Girls & Boys - Funky and fun. Great vocal and great story in the lyrics. I'm a francophile, so the "Vous êtes très belle" line and the smattering of French dialogue are a treat to hear. This should be the album opener, IMO. Great energy and a great hook.

Life Can Be So Nice - Something about this song has always irked me (can't say what, exactly). It's always sounded too noisy and "busy" to my ears, especially at the choruses and toward the end. It's like being in a crowded bar where all these loud voices are reverberating off the walls and right into your skull like a migraine headache. Then you step outside and all is silent, but your ears are ringing and you're a little dizzy. That analogy's a bit extreme, but it's sort of what this song does to me. I always skip it, and I wish it were or $ instead.

Venus de Milo - If Prince wanted to include an instrumental piece on the album, then "Alexia de Paris" should have been his pick. It's MILES better that "Venus," and it NEVER lulls me to sleep!

Mountains - Brilliant! 'Nuff said.

Do U Lie - I can dig Prince wanting to capture the classic French vibe, but . He shortened "Mountains" for this? Completely unnecessary. Keep the previous track extended, and throw this one out.

Kiss - Funky pop at it's finest. Infectious groove, with an outstanding falsetto vocal. As much as I dig "Mountains," "Kiss" gets my vote for best song on the album. Prince was right to record his own version even though he had given it to Mazarati; it's too good of a song for them, and only Prince can do it justice. Also, it's the only P. song where I prefer the album version to the extended version.

Anotherlover... - Funky! Another great groove, with an awesome bassline. Another interesting, fun lyrical "story" told by Prince.

Sometimes It Snows In April - Beautiful, haunting, brilliant. A perfect album-closer.

So, I don't feel that Parade is a "bad" album, but it certainly isn't better than SOTT, and it's far from a masterpiece, IMO. As is, it falls in the middle of the pack for me. With a reconfiguration, I'd probably like it a lot more:

Girls & Boys
New Position (extended somehow)
or $
Alexia de Paris
Under the Cherry Moon
Mountains 12"
Kiss
Anotherlover... 12"
Old Friends 4 Sale (original) (I've never heard it but I'm guessing it fits?)
Sometimes It Snows In April

bluefish said:

(Errr, I also love 'Digitial Garden')

bluefish said:

OK, your analogy was perfect, but that's why I LOVE it!


.
[Edited 3/22/10 2:17am]

I Wonder U is absolutely brilliant. One of his best tracks ever. It's not a song, it's a piece of work. Marvellous.



And so is Life Can B So Nice. Absolutely fantastic, in the vein of I Would Die 4 U.



Parade is the perfect album.

funkyhead said:

I wonder did he say that as a result of criticism from certain people saying he left his funk or it wasn't 'black enough'

I skip nothing on Parade.

On SOTT 'It', 'Slow Love', 'U Got The Look' & 'Beautiful Night' regularly get skipped.

TheVoid said:

Me too.

lol I agree with U both: I Wonder U Life Can Be So Nice & Digital Garden are some of my favorites

I Wonder U is way too short, but it's steamy, funky & sexy -this is actually the sexist song on the album.

Life Can Be So Nice delivered live is awesome, and the band executes it perfectly. I like 2 listen 2 this song along with In A Large Room with No Lights


bluefish said: I Wonder U -

NouveauDance:(Errr, I also love 'Digitial Garden')

bluefish said:Life Can Be So Nice -

NouveauDance
OK, your analogy was perfect, but that's why I LOVE it!


Dave1992¤
I Wonder U is absolutely brilliant. One of his best tracks ever. It's not a song, it's a piece of work. Marvellous.

And so is Life Can B So Nice. Absolutely fantastic, in the vein of I Would Die 4 U.
Parade is the perfect album.

Marrk said:

Interesting
I have the patients for Sometimes It Snows In April, and just get pulled in
same with Venus de Milo
but listening to the track Sign o the Times is always a throw of the dice, yet I do like it. I seem to only be able to listen to IT in the Dream Factory configuration. It doesn't vibe right with me on SOTT. Forever In My Life is another that feels stripped like SOTT & It, I can listen to it easier if I create a playlist of Prince music that's about the same subject matter

Tremolina said:

I'd pick Dirty Mind over the Parade any day!

I agree that Parade is underrated (it is only my favorite album of all time). But I do not think "Sign" is overrated.

ArabianLamb said:

I love the Parade album a lot more then I like S.O.T.T. For one, S.O.T.T. is really Dream Factory and it's chopped up and the music of Wendy & Lisa is omitted. I would not say S.O.T.T. is "overrated" but from what I know of the history of that album, it does not sit well with me. I rarely listen to it.

bluefish said:

I strongly disagree with most of your assessment of Parade, but I do love when folks encapsulate their opinions track-by-track. Nice work.

I'll co-sign that New Position is waaaayyyy too short.

I think Parade is overrated by orgers, to be honest. I love it, and it is a really unique album in his catalog, but it's got nothing on SOTT.


Both are amazing in their own ways.

I love both, they are 10 / 10 masterpieces.

why not discuss and critisize Prince's bad albums, instead of the classics.

Sign, IMO, isn't really an album. It has always felt like a collection of songs more than an album with a great flow like Purple rain or Lovesexy or Parade.

But it's a very good collection of songs, and it has a pretty good flow despite what I just said

CuddlyBear said:

I so much prefer the apple

I dont visit either of these albums that often anymore. I guess the production is what lets them down for me. Especially SOTT. It sounds so poor these days.

REMASTERS most DEFINATELY required!

PurpleLove7 said:

I'm with U on that one

Not taking anything away from Prince, but when he put it out as a "Prince" album... it didn't seem right even before I knew the full history of SOTT.

This is an unpopular opinion but I was never all that crazy about 'Parade' I think it's overrated.

The first four songs sound rushed and unfinished....almost demo-like.It's as if he was trying to do too many things and didn't take the time to fully flesh out the songs."Life Can Be So Nice" is a chaotic mess.

When it's good,it's very good ("Kiss","Girls And Boys","Anotherloverholenyohead") but to be honest,in 1986 I was more impressed with the Mazarati album.

TheVoid said:

I like "Slow Love" but I agree,"It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" is filler.After listening to the Dream Factory/Camille/Crystal Ball outtakes,I have to wonder....why did he include a mediocre live recording instead of one of the amazing leftover tracks that he could have used??

SoulAlive said:

You are awesome!

SoulAlive said:

SOTT is a teaser of unreleased albums:the Dream Factory the Flesh project the Camille album and Crystal Ball

Parade is a fantastic Wendy & Lisa album.

GirlBrother said:

gotta give credit where credit is due

Kiss is David Z,BrownMark & Mazarati

I'll probably lose the nanogram of respect I never had in here, but for me, having the super-extended maxi-video UTCM (you know, with Tricky and them? ) actually ADDED to my love for Parade. Flawless album. Still have the cassette that I ordered for a penny ...

NouveauDance said:

nouveaudance: I like both as well! Especially Life can be so nice.

-Although Sign is not overrated and Parade is not underrated. They both are Prince classics period.

bluefish said:

For me it really all depends on what kind of mood your in. Like if you want the funky distorted yet tight parade sound then thats the album for you to listen to. And lately ive been listening to that, i think its the way the songs sequence into each other that serves for a nice easy listen

I mean it really is all up to opnion which is why the thread was made obiously But i think with every prince album its all in the mood and approach you take to it.

So in turn i think Parade is underrated considering the only major single from it was kiss and people just kinda skipped over it. But i dont believe SOTT is overrated considering it contains some of Princes best work and lots of planning.

I once said that somewhere around here and did not get much friendship about it :

SOTT is a great album, excellent songwritings and ideas BUT its "sound" is awfull, lacks of strength, depth and width, regarding to the chronologically closest Parade or Lovesexy !

Just listen today to Box O' Chocolate -> I wish the guys who made this re-did the mixing on SOTT !
[Edited 3/27/10 3:11am]

I am taken a back by the sheer style of Parade. It's a bold and daring album. I regard SOTT as Prince's best. I love every track and love the concert film.