Prince’s Sign o’ the Times at 33 1/3
Mary Anne Hobbs celebrates Prince’s critically-acclaimed album Sign O’ The Times, 33 1/3 years after it was first released and plays the record out in full.
Our 33 1/3 celebrations explore iconic albums when they turn 33 and 1/3 years old, which also happens to be the speed that vinyl albums are played at.
Sign O’ The Times was released on the 30th March 1987 by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. It followed Parade, Prince’s final recording with The Revolution, and the commercial breakthroughs, 1999 (released in 1982) and Purple Rain (1984). Rolling Stone described it as ‘tough and inventive and exuberantly experimental’ while the New York Times said that ‘virtually all by himself’ Prince was ‘more versatile, more eclectic than ever.’
Across the show we’ll hear from Susan Rogers, who was right at the heart of the album's creation, and Duane Tudahl, senior researcher for the Prince Estate Archives, who knows many of the stories from behind the scenes. We will reflect on the incredible influence of the record across all four sides of the vinyl which embraces funk, pop, rock, gospel, dance music, slow jams and more and hear from some of the musicians who’ve been inspired by Prince.
In part shaped by the reception to his previous two projects, 1986’s Parade and the film Under The Cherry Moon, the stories surrounding Sign O The Times include smashed guitars, the dissolution of The Revolution, record label battles and happy accidents in the studio with engineer Susan Rogers.
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Music Played
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Prince & The Revolution
Let's Go Crazy
- Warner Bros.
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Wendy & Lisa
Song About
- Cherry Red Records.
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Earth, Wind & Fire
Shining Star
- Columbia.
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Lizzo
Cuz I Love You (6 Music Session, 19 Feb 2019)
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Monie Love
Born 2 B.R.E.E.D. (Paisley Park Radio Mix)
- In a Word or 2.
- Warner Bros.
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Purple Haze
- MCA.
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Prince
Sign 'O' The Times
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Play In The Sunshine
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Housequake
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
It
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Starfish And Coffee
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Slow Love
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Hot Thing
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Forever in My Life
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Funkadelic
Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
- Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On.
- Westbound Records.
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Prince
U Got The Look
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
If I Was Your Girlfriend
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Strange Relationship
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
The Cross
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
Adore
- Sign O' The Times.
- Paisley Park.
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Prince
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1979 Version)
- Sign Of The Times Boxset.
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Sheila E.
The Glamorous Life
- Disco Queens: The 80s.
- Warner Bros.
- 9.
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Miles Davis
Rubber Band Of Life (feat. Ledisi)
- Rubberband.
- Rhino / Warner Bros.
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Prince
Witness 4 The Prosecution
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Jungle Brothers
Black is Black
- Straight Out Of The Jungle.
- Universal-Island Records Limited.
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James Brown
Funky Drummer
- Polydor.
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Prince
Soft and Wet
- For You.
- Warner Music UK Limited.
- 3.
Broadcast
- Thu 30 Jul 2020 13:0091Èȱ¬ Radio 6 Music