Difference between revisions of "Sign O' The Times"

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|performer                = [[Prince]]
 
|performer                = [[Prince]]
 
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/February 18|18 February 1987]] - [[Single: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] single
 
|first released            = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/February 18|18 February 1987]] - [[Single: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] single
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]]<br>[[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]<br>[[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]<br>[[Album: The Very Best Of Prince|The Very Best Of Prince]]<br>[[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]<br>[[Album:_Prince_4ever|Prince 4ever]]
+
|album(s)                  = [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]]<br>
 +
[[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]]<br>
 +
[[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]<br>
 +
[[Album: The Very Best Of Prince|The Very Best Of Prince]]<br>
 +
[[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]<br>
 +
[[Album: 4Ever|4Ever]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
 
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]]
 
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
 
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]]
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In 1993, the single edit was included as the 15th track on [[Prince]]'s first compilation album [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] (also included as the first disc of [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]).
 
In 1993, the single edit was included as the 15th track on [[Prince]]'s first compilation album [[Album: The Hits 1|The Hits 1]] (also included as the first disc of [[Album: The Hits / The B-Sides|The Hits / The B-Sides]]).
  
 
+
Basic tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1986]] at [[Sunset Sound]] in Hollywood, California (the same day as the unreleased track [[Blanche]]).  
'''Recording process'''
+
 
+
Initial tracking took place on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1986]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA (the same day as the unreleased track [[Blanche]]).  
+
  
 
The track was initially included as the first track on the second disc on an [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]] configuration of [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]], and was kept for inclusion as the album developed into the triple-album [[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] (included as the fourth track on the third disc on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]] configuration), which was eventually pared down and became [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]].
 
The track was initially included as the first track on the second disc on an [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 18|18 July 1986]] configuration of [[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]], and was kept for inclusion as the album developed into the triple-album [[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] (included as the fourth track on the third disc on the [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/November 30|30 November 1986]] configuration), which was eventually pared down and became [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]].
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{{RecordingLine|
 
{{RecordingLine|
 
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1986]]
 
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 15|15 July 1986]]
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
+
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Initial tracking
+
|additional info          = Basic tracking
 
}}
 
}}
 
|recording personnel      =  
 
|recording personnel      =  
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[[Album: The Very Best Of Prince|The Very Best Of Prince]]<br>
 
[[Album: The Very Best Of Prince|The Very Best Of Prince]]<br>
 
[[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]<br>
 
[[Album: Ultimate|Ultimate]]<br>
[[Album:_Prince_4ever|Prince 4ever]]
+
[[Album: 4Ever|4Ever]]
 
|4= Edit
 
|4= Edit
 
|5=  
 
|5=  
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|1= '''Sign O' The Times'''  
 
|1= '''Sign O' The Times'''  
 
|2= 3:42
 
|2= 3:42
|3= [[Home Video: The Hits Video Collection|The Hits Video Collection]] VHS/DVD
+
|3= [[Home_Video: The Hits Collection|The Hits Collection]] VHS/DVD
 
|4= Promo video
 
|4= Promo video
 
|5= See [[Video: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] video for details
 
|5= See [[Video: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] video for details
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{{Songline|
 
{{Songline|
 
|1= '''Sign O' The Times'''  
 
|1= '''Sign O' The Times'''  
|2= T.B.C.
+
|2= 5:05
 
|3= [[Film: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] VHS/DVD
 
|3= [[Film: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] VHS/DVD
 
|4= Live
 
|4= Live
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}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
|first live appearance    = [[08 May 1987|8 May 1987: Isstadion, Johanneshov, Stockholm, Sweden]] <br>
+
|first live appearance    = [[06 September 1986|6 September 1986 : Osaka-jō Hall (大阪城ホール), Osaka, Japan]] (lyrics only during [[Pop Life]])
 +
* [[08 May 1987|8 May 1987: Isstadion, Johanneshov, Stockholm, Sweden]]<br>
 
* [[22 March 2016-am|22 March 2016 (a.m.): Muzique, Montreal, QC, Canada]] <small> (during sampler set) </small>
 
* [[22 March 2016-am|22 March 2016 (a.m.): Muzique, Montreal, QC, Canada]] <small> (during sampler set) </small>
 
|performed regularly on    = [[Sign O' The Times Tour]]
 
|performed regularly on    = [[Sign O' The Times Tour]]
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|see also                  = [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] album
 
|see also                  = [[Album: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] album
 
*[[Single: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] single
 
*[[Single: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] single
*[[Film: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]]
+
*[[Film: Sign O' The Times|Sign O' The Times]] film
 
*[[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] unreleased album
 
*[[Album: Dream Factory|Dream Factory]] unreleased album
 
*[[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] unreleased album
 
*[[Album: Crystal Ball 1986|Crystal Ball]] unreleased album
 +
*[[Album: Sign O' The Times Deluxe|Sign O' The Times ''Deluxe'']]
 
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]] ''
 
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]] ''
|categories                = [[Category:1987]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Recorded 1986]]
+
|categories                = [[Category:1987]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Recorded 1985]][[Category:Recorded 1986]]
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 08:20, 18 July 2020

Shy   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Silicon
Sign O' The Times

Sott.jpg
from the album Sign O' The Times
Signothetimes single.jpg
single art for Sign O' The Times
Song details
Performer: Prince
First Released: 18 February 1987 - Sign O' The Times single
Album(s): Sign O' The Times

The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
The Very Best Of Prince
Ultimate
4Ever

Writer(s): Prince
Producer(s): Prince
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

Sign O' The Times is the first track on the first disc of Prince's ninth album Sign O' The Times, and, six weeks before the album's release, Sign O' The Times was released as the album's first single.

In 1987, a live version was included as the opening track of the concert movie Sign O' The Times, and an instrumental studio version was played over the movie's credits.

In 1993, the single edit was included as the 15th track on Prince's first compilation album The Hits 1 (also included as the first disc of The Hits / The B-Sides).

Basic tracking took place on 15 July 1986 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the same day as the unreleased track Blanche).

The track was initially included as the first track on the second disc on an 18 July 1986 configuration of Dream Factory, and was kept for inclusion as the album developed into the triple-album Crystal Ball (included as the fourth track on the third disc on the 30 November 1986 configuration), which was eventually pared down and became Sign O' The Times.

Released ahead of the Sign O' The Times album, Sign O' The Times was the first track released with a credit of "Prince" (rather than "Prince and the Revolution") since When Doves Cry.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
15 July 1986 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
Basic tracking
Recording Personnel
  • Prince - all vocals and instruments

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Sign O' The Times 5:02 Sign O' The Times

Sign O' The Times single

Studio
Sign O' The Times (Edit) 3:42 Sign O' The Times single

The Crown Jewels promo
The Hits 1
The Hits / The B-Sides
The Very Best Of Prince
Ultimate
4Ever

Edit
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Sign O' The Times 3:42 The Hits Collection VHS/DVD Promo video See Sign O' The Times video for details
Sign O' The Times 5:05 Sign O' The Times VHS/DVD Live See Sign O' The Times for details
Sign O' The Times T.B.C. Sign O' The Times VHS/DVD Instrumental Instrumental studio version played over movie credits
Sign O' The Times 0:58 Interactive CD-ROM Live excerpt 11 September 1987, 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA, USA
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Sign O' The Times T.B.C. Live awards show performance TV broadcast Live 11 September 1987, 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA, USA
Sign O' The Times T.B.C. Delayed awards show performance TV broadcast Live 15 March 2004, 19th Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, Waldorf Astoria, New York, NY, USA
Sign O' The Times T.B.C. Live concert online stream Live 10 May 2015, Baltimore, MN, USA, Royal Farms Arena; sampler set version
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
Musicology 4:26 Musicology Studio Brief clip heard 'on radio' during segue following Musicology
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Sign O' The Times Alternate mix Shorter than the released version, with slightly alternate ending
Sign O' The Times Instrumental Full instrumental version, as heard on Sign O' The Times
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • On 12 May 1988, Prince was given an award for R&B/Bands: R&B Composition (for Sign O' The Times and U Got The Look) during the same ceremony where Prince also received nine other awards: Rock/Individuals: Male; Rock/Recording: Mainstream and Rock/Composition: Mainstream (for Sign O' The Times); R&B/Individuals: Male Vocalist; R&B/Individuals: Guitarist; R&B/Bands: Performing Band; R&B/Bands: Recording; Production/Movie/Theatrical (for Sign O' The Times) and Production/Multi Media Scores.

References
Shy   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Silicon