Hello guys!

I hope I'm in the right place in posting this, but as of the past two months I've been slowly researching Sign o' the Times for an encyclopedia entry I'm writing and was wondering whether any of you have any resources, links, material or simply just thoughts on the album (for example - what to you defines this era, what can't I miss out?) Some of my internet research has led me to the .org on many occasions, and I've found that a lot of the printed sources are weak on certain areas that I have particular interest in, such as the album's production, recording, themes and release and reaction. Any material or thoughts that any of you have would be fantastic!

Best wishes,

Jenn

One big behind the scene story in connection with the Sign o the Times album is that most of the material comes from the unreleased Dream Factory album/project with the Revolution before the disbanding.

Also that Prince wanted the SOTT album to be a 3 disc album called Crystal Ball

Jenn2 said:

I've found that a lot of the printed sources are weak on certain areas that I have particular interest in, such as the album's production, recording, themes and release and reaction.

.

Says someone who's obviously not read any of Uptown's research.

BartVanHemelen said:

Jenn2 said:

I've found that a lot of the printed sources are weak on certain areas that I have particular interest in, such as the album's production, recording, themes and release and reaction.

.

Says someone who's obviously not read any of Uptown's research.

Some people weren't Prince fans 30 years ago and are 100 years old like u BART...

^ For the album:

http://www.princevault.co..._The_Times

The entry also has links to the work from which it evolved:

http://www.princevault.co...am_Factory
http://www.princevault.co...m:_Camille
http://www.princevault.co...m:_Camille

and also the individual songs.

There is also a link to details of the promotional tour that followed:

http://www.princevault.co...Times_Tour

and a page referencing the accompanying tour book:

http://www.princevault.co..._The_Times

There is currently no page for the film / home video.

There are pages for the three released promotional videos which accompany single releases:

http://www.princevault.co...sic_Videos

The site asks that it is referenced where use is made of the information, as a courtesy.

BartVanHemelen said:

Jenn2 said:

I've found that a lot of the printed sources are weak on certain areas that I have particular interest in, such as the album's production, recording, themes and release and reaction.

.

Says someone who's obviously not read any of Uptown's research.

I certainly haven't, could you direct me? To clarify, the printed sources I was referring to aren't anything on the org., they are biographies (mostly) by music writers that tend to focus heavily on Purple Rain and deal with events pre- and post-Under the Cherry Moon intermittently.

Jenn2 said:

BartVanHemelen said:

.

Says someone who's obviously not read any of Uptown's research.

I certainly haven't, could you direct me? To clarify, the printed sources I was referring to aren't anything on the org., they are biographies (mostly) by music writers that tend to focus heavily on Purple Rain and deal with events pre- and post-Under the Cherry Moon intermittently.

To start - Chapter 11 from 'DanceMusicSexRomance: Prince: The First Decade' by Per Nilsen.

Per Nilsen was editor of Uptown magazine which ceased publication long ago. If you are able to pick up old copies, there are articles on the album and its origins (Dream Factory, Camille, Crystall ball) e.g. issues 32 and 33.

NorthC said:

Okay, back on topic! I don't know how easy it is to find Per Nilsen's books these days, but Matt Thorne wrote an excellent book titled Prince that is still in print and will give you a lot of information. And we have Princevault of course. And as for personal stories, I remember Prince being all over the radio and tv in those days. He was a hype in Europe in the second half of the 80s, like Purple Rain was in America. I heared If I Was Your Girlfriend on the radio and didn't have a clue what he was on about. How can a man be someone's girlfriend? It's one of those songs that takes time to get it. Of all the 1980s superstars, he was surely the most fascinating.

A friend has also recommended Matt Thorne's book, it's one of a few biographies I haven't consulted as I was wondering if it may have been too general; now I have two recommendations, I'll be sure to pick it up somewhere! Your experience of IIWYG is a lot like most I've read: an utterly perplexing song which many regard as the album's centrepiece.

langebleu said:

Jenn2 said:

I certainly haven't, could you direct me? To clarify, the printed sources I was referring to aren't anything on the org., they are biographies (mostly) by music writers that tend to focus heavily on Purple Rain and deal with events pre- and post-Under the Cherry Moon intermittently.

To start - Chapter 11 from 'DanceMusicSexRomance: Prince: The First Decade' by Per Nilsen

Thank you, and thank you for the links to the PrinceVault above!

BartVanHemelen said:

Jenn2 said:

I've found that a lot of the printed sources are weak on certain areas that I have particular interest in, such as the album's production, recording, themes and release and reaction.

.

Says someone who's obviously not read any of Uptown's research.

Helpful as ever

princevault.com

Annaestesia should be in this album, right after Sign O' The Times.

214 said:

I found this book to be very informative: http://www.amazon.com/Pri...0826415474

214 said:

aaroncanderson said:

I found this book to be very informative: http://www.amazon.com/Pri...0826415474

I may be thinking of something else, but I seem to recall this book wasn't too informative and focused more on the author's experience of the album and how it affected his life, as opposed to going indepth about the writing and production or providing any detailed analysis.

Militant said:

aaroncanderson said:

I found this book to be very informative: http://www.amazon.com/Pri...0826415474

I may be thinking of something else, but I seem to recall this book wasn't too informative and focused more on the author's experience of the album and how it affected his life, as opposed to going indepth about the writing and production or providing any detailed analysis.

You're right--while some aspects provide an overview, the book is restricted by focusing on the author's experience of Sign.

From http://prince.org/msg/7/3...?&pg=1 (Interview with recording engineer Susan Rogers):

http://daddyrockstar.tumblr.com/post/44079621006/susan-rogers-on-princes-sign-o-the-times-part-2

http://daddyrockstar.tumblr.com/post/44236225279/susan-rogers-on-princes-sign-o-the-times-part-3

It seems there is no part 1...

rusty1 said:

Prince's last great album

No Lovesexy was great! No Rainbow Children... No The Gold Experience... No AOA... No Planet Earth...

Opinions opinions...

Sign O' The Times is/was will be the LAST GREAT PRINCE ALBUM.

If you can find a copy of Dave Hill's long-out-of-print Prince: A Pop Life, pick it up. Published only a year or 2 after SOTT's release, it provides a pretty nuanced backdrop of events surrounding the album.

feeluupp said:

Jenn2 said:

Militant said:

I may be thinking of something else, but I seem to recall this book wasn't too informative and focused more on the author's experience of the album and how it affected his life, as opposed to going indepth about the writing and production or providing any detailed analysis.

You're right--while some aspects provide an overview, the book is restricted by focusing on the author's experience of Sign.

Restricted to rather than restricted by imho. I thought the personal stuff was really well written and gave it a great context for how people growing up in Minneapolis felt about Prince. It was less good when the author started spouting opinions like they were facts; e.g. "Starfish & Coffee, by far the worst song on the album" or dismissing entire albums later in his career for no decent reason... but that's probably for another thread!

NorthC said:

214 said:

Annaestesia should be in this album, right after Sign O' The Times.

But the problem is that it couldn't because: After SOTT was finished, he made the Black Album. He then had some sort of crisis that made him turn against that album. That inspired him to write AnnaStesia. [Edited 8/13/15 11:42am]

Yes, i know but i like how it sounds after SOTT the song.

NorthC said:

Okay, back on topic! I don't know how easy it is to find Per Nilsen's books these days, but Matt Thorne wrote an excellent book titled Prince

.

It's not excellent and it's pointless to bring it up here since Thorne's book rushes through the 1980s because he wants to prop up Prince's post-WBR output and of course documenting each and every gig of the 21 Nights in Londond.

214 said:

Annaestesia should be in this album, right after Sign O' The Times.

.

You love that song so much you made more than one spelling error.

.

Plus this is BS. This is your opinion and it makes little sense. Very little.

BartVanHemelen said: