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, failing to top the chart due to tremendous success of 2 singles stuck in positions 1 and 2 for several weeks: "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" (Aretha Franklin & George Michael) and "Don’t Dream It’s Over" (Crowded House). It nevertheless reached 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.
Sign O’ The Times fared also very well on the clubs market, reaching position 2 on the Dance Disco - Club Play, and 12-Inch Single Sales.
In Europe, the single showed Prince consolidated as a sales force outside of the USA, as it topped charts top 10 in the United Kingdom (10), Ireland (6), Belgium (8), The Netherlands (7) and Norway (7). It did also well in New Zealand, reaching position 4 on the the Singles Top 50.
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Track listing
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7"
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12"
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A. Sign O’ The Times (Edit) (3:42)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (3:21)
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)
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A. Sign O’ The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)
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)
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- See individual tracks and related albums for credits.
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Other Formats
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7" Promo
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12" Promo
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A. Sign O’ The Times (Edit) (3:42)
B. Sign O’ The Times (Edit) (3:42)
7" 1989 Back To Back Hits Reissue
A. Sign O’ The Times (Edit) (3:42)
AA. U Got The Look (3:46)
Cassette 1989 Back To Back Hits Reissue
A. Sign O’ The Times (Edit) (3:42)
AA. U Got The Look (3:46)
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A. Sign O’ The Times (Edit) (3:42)
B. Sign O’ The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
A. Sign O’ The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)
12" 2007 Reissue
A. Sign O’ The Times (LP Version) (4:57)
B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) (10:32)
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Digital
- (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)
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