Single: Sign O' The Times

1986: Anotherloverholenyohead ◄

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► 1987: If I Was Your Girlfriend

Sign O' The Times

Single details Released: 18 February 1987 (US release) 2 March 1987 (UK release) Related album: Sign O' The Times Label(s): Warner Bros. / Paisley Park Records Non-Album track(s): La, La, La, He, He, Hee (3:21) La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32) Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) Charts, Certifications & Awards Charts America Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart USA: Billboard Hot 100 7 Mar. 1987 3 14 USA: Billboard Hot Black Singles 7 Mar. 1987 1(3) 14 USA: Billboard Hot Dance/Disco - Club Play 21 Mar. 1987 2(3) 11   Europe Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart Belgium: Ultratop Flanders 21 Mar. 1987 8 9 Ireland: IRMA Singles Chart 8 Mar. 1987 6 7 U.K.: Gallup Singles Chart 14 Mar. 1987 10 9   Pacific Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart Australia: ARIA Top 50 Singles 17 Apr. 1987 29 8 Certifications This single has not received any certifications in the USA Awards This single has not received any awards in the USA See also Sign O' The Times (music video) Sign O' The Times (sheet music)

Sign O' The Times was the first single to be released from Prince's ninth album Sign O' The Times, released six weeks before the album. The b-side, La, La, La, He, He, Hee, was previously-unreleased. The cover art depicted new bandmember Cat, with her face obscured by the heart she was holding. It is a common misconception that this was, in fact, Prince. Airplay The single was the most added in both Billboard "Radio Most Added" sections of Hot Black Singles Action and Hot 100 Singles Actions charts on 7 March 1987, with a total of respectively 53 and 115 new adds, showing that a large number of radio stations across the USA had added it to their playlists. Charts Billboard reviewed the single on 7 March 1987 (Vol. 99 N°10, page 77) in the Singles "Picks" section (Records with the greatest chart potential): "Preview and title track of his forthcoming album; reverse application of of the stark "Kiss" sound sketches the universal '80s quandary." The single reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and number 1 on the Billboard Top Black Singles Chart (marking his fifth number 1 on that chart, following I Wanna Be Your Lover, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy and Kiss. Track listing 7" 12" A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (3:21) Cat #: US/NZ: 7-28399 UK: W8399 JP: P-2241 DE/CA: 928 399-7 AU: MX213109-10 Cassette Single A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57) B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32) Cat #: US: 4-20648 A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57) B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32) Cat #: US/CAN: 0-20648 UK: W8399T DEU: 920 648-0 AUS: MX213113-4 12" Picture Disc A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57) B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32) Cat #: UK: W8399TP See individual tracks and related albums for credits. Other Formats 7" Promo 12" Promo (US: 7-28399) A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) B. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) 7" 1989 Back To Back Hits Reissue (US: 7-21938) A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) AA. U Got The Look (3:46) Cassette 1989 Back To Back Hits Reissue (US: 4-21938) A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) AA. U Got The Look (3:46) (US: PRO-A-2687) A. Sign O' The Times (Edit) (3:42) B. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57) (UK: SAM 349) A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57) B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32) 12" 2007 Reissue (UK: 920 648-0) A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57) B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32) (iTunes 2007 UK digital reissue / BPM) A. Sign O' The Times (LP Version) (4:57) B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)

Releases
7", 12", CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 This section is under construction Variants, Special Editions and Reissues Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2 This section is under construction

Additional Information Promotion (at time of release) Triva UK press advert published in Smash Hits: The single remained 11 weeks in the Billboard Hot Black Single Top 40 Chart and 7 weeks in the Gallup Top 40 UK chart. Single progression in Hot Black Singles chart (100 pos): Entry position 63 (7 Mar. 1987), ?? (14 Mar. 1987), ?? (21 Mar. 1987), ?? (28 Mar. 1987). Single progression in Hot 100 Singles chart (100 pos): Entry position 59 (7 Mar. 1987), ?? (14 Mar. 1987), ?? (21 Mar. 1987), ?? (28 Mar. 1987). Warner Bros. Records filed a suit on 12 March 1987 against US radio KIIS-L.A. for playing the single earlier than the scheduled airplay date provided with the advance copy of the single, asking $1 million in punitive damages. (Billboard Vol. 99 No.13 - 28 March 1987). References The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince by Per Nilsen & JooZt Mattheij, with the UPTOWN Staff (Uptown: 2004) ISBN 91-631-5482-X Billboard Vol. 99 N° 10 (7 March 1987). Chart(s): The Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-8230-8283-0) Top R&B Singles 1942 - 1999 by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-89820-136-5) Billboard Hot 100 Charts - The Eighties by Joel Whitburn (ISBN 0-89820-079-2) Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003 by Joel Withburn (ISBN 0-89820-156-X) British Hit Singles by Martin Roach (ISBN 978-0-7535-1537-2) The Official UK Charts Company / Prince

1986 Anotherloverholenyohead

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1987 If I Was Your Girlfriend