2026 will mark 40 years since Prince dropped hrince dropped his album, "Parade" (his last "officially" with the Revolution) as well as his film, "Under The Cherry Moon", co-starring Jerome Benton and Kristin Scott Thomas. What are your memories of both the movie and album?

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JabarR74 said:

2026 will mark 40 years since Prince dropped hrince dropped his album, "Parade" (his last "officially" with the Revolution) as well as his film, "Under The Cherry Moon", co-starring Jerome Benton and Kristin Scott Thomas. What are your memories of both the movie and album?

[img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxg1qnVEkxEntduINdwhc--SdMYQoYDcI7Hw&s[/img]

[img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIVbtxKlli3jEuu2GlMfdZ_SMDhsagNMwL9Q&s[/img]

BOth the album and pictiure disc where day 1 purchases. First a bit dissappointed with the short tracks, but after a few listens it became one oif the favorites.
Teh movie didn't reach theatres here in Holland I think or at least not long enough for me to go and check it, so had to wait untill the VHS release. Even tho it flopped I still love it better than Purple Rain and that summer of 86 was ALL Prince and awesome.

[Edited 1/23/26 9:54am]

At first, I was quite disappointed that all songs didn't sound like "Kiss". And then I learnt to love that album, like many people. It's a masterpiece, of course. The movie? Well, let's not talk about it.

JabarR74, JorisE73: are you related?

Loved the album from day 1. Over the years its tied as my #1 fave with SOTT & PR.

The movie...sorry its still horrible. It has its moments but overall its just not good. Never could figure out why he insisted it be B&W. I get he loved the old movies...but the French Rivera?!? c'mon man...it deserves to be seen in color!!

olb99 said:

At first, I was quite disappointed that all songs didn't sound like "Kiss". And then I learnt to love that album, like many people. It's a masterpiece, of course. The movie? Well, let's not talk about it.

JabarR74, JorisE73: are you related?

I don't think so.

I have a spreadsheet (in desperate need of updating) with Prince album/singles release dates.

I found it ironic that:

Parade was released March 31, 1986.

SOTT was released March 31, 1987.
Even Syracuse was performed and aired a year before Parade.

I remember loving Parade a lot more than ATWIAD. That spartan, sparse sound sorta felt more organic and textured; realized on Parade. And frankly, it was funkier. I loved the black and white of it all, the scrapbook-ish artwork in the album, Side A and B being labeled "Intro" and "Outro." Just all the little nuances to it made it special.

For me, Parade is what broke him away from Purple Rain. Because ATWIAD was basically Purple Rain II with its album format, song structures, etc. "Raspberry Beret" being a sequel to "Take Me With You." "The Ladder" being the gospel anthem. "Temptation" being the "Darling Nikki." "Condition..." being the ballad third track like "The Beautiful Ones." etc etc.

But Parade was just upsdie down from all that. I still struggle with listening to "Life Can Be So Nice," but it is what it is. It's still one of my top 5 Prince albums, I think.

The songs I initially gravitated toward were "Anotherloverholenyohead" and "Girls and Boys."

jimino1 said:

I think I’m in the minority here, but even though I love most of the individual tracks, the album as a whole just isn’t my favorite

Mostly because the first three songs are so short — they feel more like segues than fully formed tracks to me. Wish they were longer.

Don’t get me wrong, I know they were intentionally recorded that way… but still!

Trufunksoulja said:

I think I’m in the minority here, but even though I love most of the individual tracks, the album as a whole just isn’t my favorite

Mostly because the first three songs are so short — they feel more like segues than fully formed tracks to me. Wish they were longer.

Don’t get me wrong, I know they were intentionally recorded that way… but still!

I had the exact same back in 86 when I bought the record, but after a couple of listens it grew on me and became easily one of my top 3 Prince records over time.

TrivialPursuit said:

I have a spreadsheet (in desperate need of updating) with Prince album/singles release dates.

I found it ironic that:

Parade was released March 31, 1986.

SOTT was released March 31, 1987.
Even Syracuse was performed and aired a year before Parade.

I remember loving Parade a lot more than ATWIAD. That spartan, sparse sound sorta felt more organic and textured; realized on Parade. And frankly, it was funkier. I loved the black and white of it all, the scrapbook-ish artwork in the album, Side A and B being labeled "Intro" and "Outro." Just all the little nuances to it made it special.

For me, Parade is what broke him away from Purple Rain. Because ATWIAD was basically Purple Rain II with its album format, song structures, etc. "Raspberry Beret" being a sequel to "Take Me With You." "The Ladder" being the gospel anthem. "Temptation" being the "Darling Nikki." "Condition..." being the ballad third track like "The Beautiful Ones." etc etc.

But Parade was just upsdie down from all that. I still struggle with listening to "Life Can Be So Nice," but it is what it is. It's still one of my top 5 Prince albums, I think.

The songs I initially gravitated toward were "Anotherloverholenyohead" and "Girls and Boys."

How tastes can be different.

-

I wish Prince did an all album like the blasting wild funk of "Life Can Be So Nice" (my favourite of that album, or like "2 Niggs United 4 West Compton"), with the Parade" sound in Mind.

Like the second part of the extended version of "Kiss" - add that as well.

-

Maybe I should ask AI to create something like this.

I can hear the old MF's comments already here... LOL.

Prince is dead, and since we're not getting anything from the current unworthy in charge...

why the hell not.

-

By the way, I wonder if there's a longer version of "Life Can Be So Nice", since it so brilliantly was cut off on the album for that 'Venus De Milo' track.

-

Clare Fisher helped made this album so great, fitting the B&W theme so strongly in his masterful colourful arrangements; like that 1930-40's vibe. Just absolutely love it.

And to me, this whole album sounds today as fresh as ever.

-

Even over the years, I started to love UTCM, the movie. It's so cringe, that it is a spectacular take on cinema that only Prince could do.

Pastiche versus egomaniac-ism, humor versus bad taste, and a brotherhood carressing gayness, characters with no depth at all, but demanding your attention.

A movie made by Prince who finally had all the money and attention he could dream of, smelled for half an hour on a big murph-drag of fat dollars, getting dizzy and came up with all this? Possibly.

In tyhis movie, Prince is the most unimaginable gigolo ever, so bad, so unbelievable, so wrongly dressed too - don't get me wrong, I love every costume - but as a gigolo dressed like that? Naaaah.

Also knowing that it was the first big role for Scott Thomas as well! Amazing (how she could put up with Prince...) )))) !

What a complex idea of both movie and album altogther. The album is outstanding, the movie totally off this world, far way from that album.

(He easily could've put different music in this movie. whatever...)

-

The four-track opener is so fucking strong, it's worth an EP release alone.

Those four amazing UN-Prince songs (like you say, after PR & ATWIAD), and with the full arrangements by Clare Fisher, and on the other side with out them.

Hell that would be so great!

-

Even the b-sides of this whole project were so unbelievably good.

-

"Estate? Wake up! DO SOMETHING YOU LAZY MONEY GRABBIN' MOTHERFUNKERS. Pay tribute to the BIG man's talent and genius FFS!"

[Edited 1/28/26 14:59pm]

overrated album

lustmealways said:

overrated album

We all know you don't like it.

Come on now, you know we have to do it:

.

Christopher Tracey's Parade...7

New Position....9

I Wonder U...9

Under The Cherry Moon....10

Girls & Boys....7

Life Can Be So Nice...6

Venus De Milo....5

Mountains...9

Do U Lie?...1

Kiss....10

Anotherlover....7

Sometimes It Snows...10

Vannormal said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I have a spreadsheet (in desperate need of updating) with Prince album/singles release dates.

I found it ironic that:

Parade was released March 31, 1986.

SOTT was released March 31, 1987.
Even Syracuse was performed and aired a year before Parade.

I remember loving Parade a lot more than ATWIAD. That spartan, sparse sound sorta felt more organic and textured; realized on Parade. And frankly, it was funkier. I loved the black and white of it all, the scrapbook-ish artwork in the album, Side A and B being labeled "Intro" and "Outro." Just all the little nuances to it made it special.

For me, Parade is what broke him away from Purple Rain. Because ATWIAD was basically Purple Rain II with its album format, song structures, etc. "Raspberry Beret" being a sequel to "Take Me With You." "The Ladder" being the gospel anthem. "Temptation" being the "Darling Nikki." "Condition..." being the ballad third track like "The Beautiful Ones." etc etc.

But Parade was just upsdie down from all that. I still struggle with listening to "Life Can Be So Nice," but it is what it is. It's still one of my top 5 Prince albums, I think.

The songs I initially gravitated toward were "Anotherloverholenyohead" and "Girls and Boys."

How tastes can be different.

-

I wish Prince did an all album like the blasting wild funk of "Life Can Be So Nice" (my favourite of that album, or like "2 Niggs United 4 West Compton"), with the Parade" sound in Mind.

Like the second part of the extended version of "Kiss" - add that as well.

-

Maybe I should ask AI to create something like this.

I can hear the old MF's comments already here... LOL.

Prince is dead, and since we're not getting anything from the current unworthy in charge...

why the hell not.

-

By the way, I wonder if there's a longer version of "Life Can Be So Nice", since it so brilliantly was cut off on the album for that 'Venus De Milo' track.

-

Clare Fisher helped made this album so great, fitting the B&W theme so strongly in his masterful colourful arrangements; like that 1930-40's vibe. Just absolutely love it.

And to me, this whole album sounds today as fresh as ever.

-

Even over the years, I started to love UTCM, the movie. It's so cringe, that it is a spectacular take on cinema that only Prince could do.

Pastiche versus egomaniac-ism, humor versus bad taste, and a brotherhood carressing gayness, characters with no depth at all, but demanding your attention.

A movie made by Prince who finally had all the money and attention he could dream of, smelled for half an hour on a big murph-drag of fat dollars, getting dizzy and came up with all this? Possibly.

In tyhis movie, Prince is the most unimaginable gigolo ever, so bad, so unbelievable, so wrongly dressed too - don't get me wrong, I love every costume - but as a gigolo dressed like that? Naaaah.

Also knowing that it was the first big role for Scott Thomas as well! Amazing (how she could put up with Prince...) )))) !

What a complex idea of both movie and album altogther. The album is outstanding, the movie totally off this world, far way from that album.

(He easily could've put different music in this movie. whatever...)

-

The four-track opener is so fucking strong, it's worth an EP release alone.

Those four amazing UN-Prince songs (like you say, after PR & ATWIAD), and with the full arrangements by Clare Fisher, and on the other side with out them.

Hell that would be so great!

-

Even the b-sides of this whole project were so unbelievably good.

-

"Estate? Wake up! DO SOMETHING YOU LAZY MONEY GRABBIN' MOTHERFUNKERS. Pay tribute to the BIG man's talent and genius FFS!"

[Edited 1/28/26 14:59pm]

AnotherLover brought me to the album but Life Can Be So Nice is what sodified this album as a masterpiece for me. Of course the flow of the first 3 tracks is perfection. This album feels so light and free. ATWIAD helped Prince break away from the expectations of Purple Rain and Parade is the result of that creative freedom. The movie shares that same spirit. Unfortunately, it ultimately falls a little-some would say well- short of the album. Prince was a musician after all, not a filmmaker.

TrivialPursuit said:

I have a spreadsheet (in desperate need of updating) with Prince album/singles release dates.

I found it ironic that:

Parade was released March 31, 1986.

SOTT was released March 31, 1987.
Even Syracuse was performed and aired a year before Parade.

I remember loving Parade a lot more than ATWIAD. That spartan, sparse sound sorta felt more organic and textured; realized on Parade. And frankly, it was funkier. I loved the black and white of it all, the scrapbook-ish artwork in the album, Side A and B being labeled "Intro" and "Outro." Just all the little nuances to it made it special.

For me, Parade is what broke him away from Purple Rain. Because ATWIAD was basically Purple Rain II with its album format, song structures, etc. "Raspberry Beret" being a sequel to "Take Me With You." "The Ladder" being the gospel anthem. "Temptation" being the "Darling Nikki." "Condition..." being the ballad third track like "The Beautiful Ones." etc etc.

But Parade was just upsdie down from all that. I still struggle with listening to "Life Can Be So Nice," but it is what it is. It's still one of my top 5 Prince albums, I think.

The songs I initially gravitated toward were "Anotherloverholenyohead" and "Girls and Boys."

Life Can Be So Nice is one of my faves on the album. Always has been. Love how it abrutply ends, and the gorgeous Venus De Milo starts...sooooo good.

I usually love the ones everyone else dump on.