Christopher Tracy’s Parade

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Christopher Tracy’s Parade

from the album Parade Song details Performer: Prince and the Revolution First Released: 31 March 1986 - Parade album Album(s): Parade Writer(s): Prince and John L. Nelson Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the Revolution) Live Appearances First and last live appearance: 3 March 1986: First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 9 September 1986: Yokohama Stadium (横浜スタジアム), Yokohama, Japan Performed regularly on tour: Parade Tour Performed occasionally in shows: 1986

Christopher Tracy’s Parade (a.k.a. Wendy’s Parade) is the first track on Prince’s eighth album Parade, the third to be credited to Prince and the Revolution. The track is also played in Prince’s second feature film, Under The Cherry Moon, and is named after his character in the movie, Christopher Tracy. Basic tracking (as Wendy’s Parade) took place on 17 April 1985 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, with Prince recording the drum track in sequence of Wendy’s Parade, New Position, I Wonder U and Under The Cherry Moon, all in one take. He then layered other instruments over all four tracks. The song was named after Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin. Clare Fischer arranged and recorded orchestration for the song in early July 1985 at Monterey Sound Studios in Glendale, California. Recording dates for the revised vocals of Christopher Tracy’s Parade are not known, although it is likely these were recorded after September 1985. Prince’s father, John L. Nelson, receives co-writing credit, although his input is uncertain. Of note is that the title and lyrics of the track were changed to match Prince’s character in the Under The Cherry Moon movie. The original lyrics referenced Little girl Wendy’s guitar -- which rhymes with evil car in the next line. In the released version this line is replaced by Christopher Tracy’s piano, which doesn’t rhyme. Also, the album version of Kiss contains Prince saying the phrase "Little girl Wendy’s parade" to introduce a guitar solo (actually played by Prince himself). Recording Information Recording Sessions Date Studio Additional info 17 April 1985-19 April 1985 Sunset Sound- Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA Tracking (17th); overdubs (18th); overdubs and mix (19th) (as Wendy’s Parade) 22 April 1985-24 April 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA Wendy & Lisa vocal overdubs, mix (22nd); overdubs, mix (23rd); overdubs (John Liotine, Steve Madaio, Carleton Smith), mix (24th) July 1985 (estimate) Monterey Sound Studios, Glendale, CA, USA Orchestra recording by Clare Fischer 11 or 12 November 1985 (estimate) Advision Studios, London, England Mix 18 November 1985 (estimate) Pumacrest Mobile Recording Unit (from Advision Studios) in Nice, France Mix (Wendy & Lisa, probably with Prince) 16 December 1985 Sunset Sound - Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA Mix and strings only mix December 1985 or January 1986 Sunset Sound - Studio 3, Hollywood, CA, USA (assumed) Vocal overdubs (as Christopher Tracy’s Parade) Recording Personnel Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted Lisa Coleman - background vocals Wendy Melvoin - background vocals Susannah Melvoin - background vocals Clare Fischer Orchestral Players: Violins - Isabelle Daskoff, Francine Walsh, Mari Botnik, Pam Gates, Janice Gower, Karen Jones, Betty Moor, Irma Neumann, Assa Drori, Bill Hymanson, Oscar Chasow, Ron Clark, Henry Ferber, Erne Granat, Ed Green, Bill Hybel, Reggie Hill, Pat Johnson, Don Palmer, Sheldon Sanov, Joe Schonbrun, Terry Schonbrun and Harold Wolf Violas - Pam Goldsmith, Margot Maclaine, Carol Mukagawa, Myer Bello, Alan Deverich, Norman Forrest, Alan Harshman, Jorge Moraga and David Stock Cellos - Jim Arkatoff, Ray Kelley, Ray Kramer and Fred Seykora Basses - Chuck Dominico and Arni Egilsson. Woodwinds - Gene Cipriano, Don Ashworth, John Clarke, Dave Edwards, Gary Foster, Jim Kanter, John Lowe, Dick Mitchell, Jack Nimitz, Joe Soldo and Bob Tricarico Trumpets - Ray Brown, Rich Cooper, Bob Findley, Larry Ford, Bob O’Donnell and Al Vizutti Trombones - Garnett Brown, Charles Loper, Morris Repass and Bill Watrous French Horns - Marni Johnson, David Duke, Joe Myer, Brian O’Connor, Calvin Smith and Jim Thatcher Tuba - Tommy Johnson Tympani and percussion - Brent Fischer Omitted from released version John Liotine - trumpet Steve Madaio - saxophone Carleton Smith - horns Versions Released Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Christopher Tracy’s Parade 2:11 Parade Studio Christopher Tracy’s Parade 1:44 NPG Ahdio Show # 4 mp3 (not available as a separate track) Live 31 August 1986, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, West Germany Video Versions Title Length Released Version Additional info Christopher Tracy’s Parade T.B.C. Live concert TV broadcast Live 7 June 1986, Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI, USA Christopher Tracy’s Parade 2:23 Under The Cherry Moon film Studio Studio version with an extra-bridge not included on the Parade album. Released on VHS and DVD. Unreleased Versions Title Version Additional Info Wendy’s Parade studio Original 1985 track before lyric changes Christopher Tracy’s Parade studio Track before orchestral overdubs Christopher Tracy’s Parade studio Strings only mix

Additional Information See also Trivia Parade album Under The Cherry Moon movie The {Bizarre!} sample used in this song is originally from 'Our Bizarre Relationship' by Frank Zappa (from Uncle Meat 1969). It was one of the preset samples in the Fairlight CMI sample-synthesizer and Prince took it from there. It was utilized in quite a few songs recorded between 1985 and 1987: All My Dreams, Bob George, Christopher Tracy’s Parade, Lovesexy, and Madhouse songs Nine and 6 (The End Of The World Mix) all contain this sample. References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) Prince and the Parade/Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986, Duane Tudahl (2021)

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