Sign o' the Times
| Sign o' the Times | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Prince | ||||
| Released | March 30, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | March 1986 - January 1987 | |||
| Studio |
Various
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 79:52 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Prince | |||
| Prince chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Sign o' the Times | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  |
| Blender | |
| Chicago Sun-Times |  |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A+ |
| Entertainment Weekly | A |
| The Guardian | |
| Pitchfork | 10/10 |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 10/10 |
Sign o' the Times is the ninth studio album by American recording artist Prince, released on March 30, 1987, by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records. The album is the follow-up to Parade (1986) and is Prince's first album following his disbanding of the Revolution. The songs were largely recorded during 1986 to 1987 in sessions for albums Prince ultimately aborted: Dream Factory, Camille, and Crystal Ball. Initially intending to release a triple album culled from these sessions, Prince compromised with label executives and shortened the length of the release to a double album.
The album's music encompasses a varied range of styles, including funk, soul, psychedelic pop, electro, and rock. Its release was supported by several singles, among them the socially conscious title track and "If I Was Your Girlfriend"; in addition to a well-received concert film of the same name. Sign o' the Times was Prince's most acclaimed record, being voted 1987's best album in the Pazz & Jop critics poll and since being ranked as one of the greatest albums ever by several publications.
Prior to the disbanding of The Revolution, Prince was working on two separate projects: The Revolution album Dream Factory and a pseudonymous solo effort, Camille. Unlike the three previous band albums, Dream Factory included input from the band members and featured songs with lead vocals by Wendy & Lisa. The Camille project saw Prince create an androgynous persona primarily singing in a sped-up, female-sounding voice. With the dismissal of The Revolution, Prince consolidated material from both shelved albums, along with some new songs, into a three-LP album to be titled Crystal Ball. Warner Bros. forced Prince to trim the triple album to a double album.
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