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Forums > Prince: Music and More > How The Family album gave birth to the Parade era and how those songs should have been the soundtrack to UTCM (opinion)
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Thread started 07/19/19 7:48pm

joyinrepetitio
n

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How The Family album gave birth to the Parade era and how those songs should have been the soundtrack to UTCM (opinion)

So after listening to "Originals" and NC2U(Cinematic Mix) and Gigilos Get Lonely Too, I always felt The Family album gave Prince the vision and imagery for creating UTCM. The silk pajamas and the songs

High Fashion, Mutiny, Screams Of Passion, NC2U, and Desire should have been part of the soundtrack, along with Gigilos Get Lonely Too reclaimed by Prince as an add on. (My opinion ...)

High Fashion could have been used in the scene when Mary brought the cash over and the went shopping.

Mutiny could have been used in the scene where Tricky gets drunk and throws Christopher under the bus.

Desire could have been used in the stable scene.

Screams Of Passion could have been used in the scene where Mary and Christopher made love in the grotto.

Gigilos Get Lonely Too could have been used in the scene when Christopher gets drunk and sees his old lover from the past.

Nothing Compares 2 U could have been used at the end of the movie (though I love Sometimes It Snows In April).

If these songs could have somehow been worked into the movie, it would have made an already great album (Parade) even better.

I remember an interview back in 1986 that mentioned how Prince was crying on the floor complaining to Susanah about he didn't have enough good material for Parade. Well, Prince gave a bunch of great material to The Family and probably realized "Damn, I need those songs back." but it was too late.

So, how do the rest of the Org family feel if these songs were added the the soundtrack for UTCM and Parade?

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2 words falling between the drops and the moans of his condition
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Reply #1 posted 07/19/19 8:43pm

TwiliteKid

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You get that Gigolos has nothing to do with the Family though, right
[Edited 7/19/19 20:44pm]
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Reply #2 posted 07/19/19 8:48pm

SoulAlive

I agree that “High Fashion” should have been saved for the UTCM movie.The lyrics fit perfectly into the storyline and it would have been a wonderful addition to the Parade album.Sung by Prince,of course.

.
[Edited 7/19/19 20:49pm]
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Reply #3 posted 07/19/19 10:11pm

joyinrepetitio
n

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TwiliteKid said:

You get that Gigolos has nothing to do with the Family though, right [Edited 7/19/19 20:44pm]

I know, just the title and lyrics fit so well with the theme of UTCM

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Reply #4 posted 07/19/19 11:28pm

PeteSilas

that would have been nice, sure, but the soundtrack wasn't a problem, it was brilliant, the script and the direction needed work. I know he didn't want to go back to purple rain but he should have done it then, with the same cast and crew. The dawn or whatever it was he was planning.

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Reply #5 posted 07/20/19 2:25am

VaultCurator

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I'd never considered this, but you are right. The album's theme and lyrics certainly fits the UTCM setting. Maybe The Family project provided some inspiration while writing the script. It's a shame that we can't get a copy of the film without the music channel playing, then we could have knocked up a fan edit ourselves to see what it would have been like.

If I was tasked with choosing the music for each scene however, I probably would arrange it a little differently...

High Fashion to replace Christopher Tracey's Parade. Have that playing during the opening where Christopher is strolling along, feeling like a million bucks, splashing cash around with the children playing basket ball.

Yes to replace New Position where Tricky is dancing at Mary's party.

Desire to replace Kiss during Christopher and Mary's love scene in their car

River Run Dry in the aftermath of Tricky drunkenly breaking up Christopher and Mary

Mutiny to replace Another Lover Hole In Your Head during the frantic driving sequence

Nothing Compares 2 U during Christopher's last scene after he's been shot and Mary is crying over him (I'm not spoiling this for anyone am I?).

Screams of Passion to replace Mountains as the closing number

Personally I love The Family album. I view it as a 'Prince by proxy' album rather than a side project, much like Camille or The Black Album. Just him finding a way to get more of his own music out without flooding the market with Prince records. I think ATWIAD was the album he was expected to make, whereas The Family was the album he actually wanted to make at that time. Such wonderful music.

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Reply #6 posted 07/21/19 4:51pm

SoulAlive

nod good idea

joyinrepetition said:

Gigilos Get Lonely Too could have been used in the scene when Christopher gets drunk and sees his old lover from the past.

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Reply #7 posted 07/21/19 5:05pm

SquirrelMeat

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The Family album is to Around The World In a Day, what Ice Cream Castles is to Purple Rain. Prince's alternative 'outlet'.

I don't link The Family (84) to Parade (85/86) at all. Maybe some feel its connected because of the overt use of Clare Fisher compared to ATWIAD.

.
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Reply #8 posted 07/21/19 8:08pm

SoulAlive

VaultCurator said:


Screams of Passion to replace Mountains as the closing number


hmmm a sexy song about lust and sex as the closing number? You sure about that? smile

I think the song "Heaven" would have been a perfect closing track to play over the credits.

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Reply #9 posted 07/22/19 8:29am

Genesia

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No. No no no no no.

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #10 posted 07/22/19 9:52am

OldFriends4Sal
e

No, the Family album is a whole different movie soundtrack

Yet, the band should have have been in the movie performing High Fashion at Mary Sharon's Birthday Party

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Reply #11 posted 07/22/19 8:16pm

SoulAlive

When Paul left the band,why didn’t Prince just simply replace him with another male vocalist and keep it moving?
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Reply #12 posted 07/22/19 8:21pm

PeteSilas

SoulAlive said:

When Paul left the band,why didn’t Prince just simply replace him with another male vocalist and keep it moving?

can't speak for the man but i do know he changed his mind on a dime, didn't have much follow through even with his own stuff.

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Reply #13 posted 07/23/19 6:40am

OldFriends4Sal
e

SoulAlive said:

When Paul left the band,why didn’t Prince just simply replace him with another male vocalist and keep it moving?

I'll look it up, but Prince was asked that, and gave an answer.

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Reply #14 posted 07/23/19 6:53am

OldFriends4Sal
e

joyinrepetition said:

So after listening to "Originals" and NC2U(Cinematic Mix) and Gigilos Get Lonely Too, I always felt The Family album gave Prince the vision and imagery for creating UTCM. The silk pajamas and the songs

High Fashion, Mutiny, Screams Of Passion, NC2U, and Desire should have been part of the soundtrack, along with Gigilos Get Lonely Too reclaimed by Prince as an add on. (My opinion ...)

High Fashion could have been used in the scene when Mary brought the cash over and the went shopping.

Mutiny could have been used in the scene where Tricky gets drunk and throws Christopher under the bus.

Desire could have been used in the stable scene.

Screams Of Passion could have been used in the scene where Mary and Christopher made love in the grotto.

Gigilos Get Lonely Too could have been used in the scene when Christopher gets drunk and sees his old lover from the past.

Nothing Compares 2 U could have been used at the end of the movie (though I love Sometimes It Snows In April).

If these songs could have somehow been worked into the movie, it would have made an already great album (Parade) even better.

I remember an interview back in 1986 that mentioned how Prince was crying on the floor complaining to Susanah about he didn't have enough good material for Parade. Well, Prince gave a bunch of great material to The Family and probably realized "Damn, I need those songs back." but it was too late.

So, how do the rest of the Org family feel if these songs were added the the soundtrack for UTCM and Parade?

Gigolos Get Lonely Too(What Time Is It? 1982 song)

I agree to some degree that what was happening in 1985 gave way to Parade. And I'm so glad it did. I just wish Prince didn't rush Under the Cherry Moon, and also not focus on getting the Family active.

I think these songs are too intimate for Christopher. High Fashion and Mutiny could work in the movie. Old Friends 4 Sale is musically in the movie, but not recognizable. The lyrics 'Old friends 4 sale, get em while...' would have worked.

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Reply #15 posted 07/23/19 9:04am

TheLotus

I have to say thanks to the OP for this thread. For some reason, it made me take the time to listen to this album again after who knows how many years. I'm thinking not since 1986-1987... somewhere in there. I know I still have it... on cassette, but I don't think I have a cassette player any more. Altho thinking about it, there might be one in my attic that I've forgotten about also.

.

I had listened to High Fashion, Screams of Passion, and Mutiny more recently. But none of the other tracks. Each one (except NC2U) happened like this: Can't remember what this is... oh yeah! I loved this song!

.

Strange that I didn't remember, but I listened to this album all the time. When the songs started playing, the lyrics started flowing thru my mind like I'd heard the songs yesterday.

.

Some thoughts:

.

High Fashion always seemed like a song that was meant for The Time, at least to me.

.

NC2U by the Family was better than I remembered. I never liked it very much back then in that percussion-free form. And when they released Prince's original version last year, that confirmed that stance for me. I still can't figure out why Prince let that one go.

.

Desire is one of those songs that just drips Prince. Loved that one. It made me look for a Prince version, since that's a thing now. Of course, I found it. Not as strong as I thought it would be. Sometimes on those guide versions, I think he knew he was giving the song away so he just carried the tune.

[Edited 7/23/19 9:05am]

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Reply #16 posted 07/26/19 4:24am

RODSERLING

I love River Run Dry, but frankly it s just a rip off from When Doves Cry. It s not even written by Prince anyway.
.
I love Parade, every songs on it. But objectively it s just an average album, and for the non fans it just sounds like garbage and unfinished business ( especially the first side).
The songs are really bad exploited in the movie, it never works ( except maybe with Girls and Boys, briefly).
Once again I love the movie for what it is, but from a non fan point of view it s just cringe worthy and pure nonsense.
The death of Tracy is wasted on screen, when it should have been the emotional climax of the movie. Sometimes it snows in April is barely heard, what a shame.
.
If there was a true artistic director other than Prince for the overall project (album/ movie/choreography, etc.) It could have been a great Hollywood/Oscar/ Grammy/sales success.
.
Frankly, if Prince really gave up Kiss to Mazarati, lol, it would have been an all time flop.
Even the b sides and extended versions were uninspired.
.
Overall, I think Prince should have mixed the best songs from ATWIAD, maybe yes the family album too and Parade to make a great and memorable album in 1986
[Edited 7/26/19 4:27am]
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Reply #17 posted 07/26/19 6:00am

jaawwnn

Parade for me is Prince's absolute peak. He's stretching himself in ways he never really would again. Sure he doesn't always necessarily reach the heights he's going for, but as someone who is already on board with the whole Prince thing that's what I want to hear. My only complaint is that it should have been a double album.

SOTT or Purple Rain might be more "perfect" albums, and certainly I enjoy hearing someone just being absolutely amazing start to finish as you do on them, but sometimes what I want from art is seeing the artist outside their comfort zone. The joy is in the experiment, not in the perfection.

The film is, uh, less good. It's fun as a fan but doesn't exactly transcend its limitations in the way Purple Rain does.





[Edited 7/26/19 6:02am]

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Forums > Prince: Music and More > How The Family album gave birth to the Parade era and how those songs should have been the soundtrack to UTCM (opinion)