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Ahead of Mary Anne Hobbs' Sign O The Times special on @bbc6music tomorrow here's a Handpicked playlist of songs: half of them inspired Prince to make the record, the other half are artists inspired by him/the albumhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08m208k @bbcsounds
HERE FOLLOWS A TRACKLIST THREAD
(a sort of guide to why each song's included, with a few links/connections/quotes etc. A bit like sleevenotes. But for a mix. Look just go with it alright??)
Track 1: Prince - Sign O The Times
Because where else am I gonna start?
(a sort of guide to why each song's included, with a few links/connections/quotes etc. A bit like sleevenotes. But for a mix. Look just go with it alright??)
Track 1: Prince - Sign O The Times
Because where else am I gonna start?
Track 2: Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
On SOTT Prince wanted to reflect the socio-economic climate of 1987, very clearly and unequivocally influenced by this bit of golden age hip hop. It's a dark statement to make from the off, and so he follows up..
On SOTT Prince wanted to reflect the socio-economic climate of 1987, very clearly and unequivocally influenced by this bit of golden age hip hop. It's a dark statement to make from the off, and so he follows up..
Track 3: Lizzo - Worship
...with the hot funk strut double of Play in the Sunshine & Housequake. Ooof. SHUT UP ALREADY. Worship samples 'quake and on Lizzo's 2016 debut EP.
Lizzo, 2018: "Prince taught me to perpetuate positivity, and also [that] art is forever. Be eternal"
...with the hot funk strut double of Play in the Sunshine & Housequake. Ooof. SHUT UP ALREADY. Worship samples 'quake and on Lizzo's 2016 debut EP.
Lizzo, 2018: "Prince taught me to perpetuate positivity, and also [that] art is forever. Be eternal"
Track 4: Sly & The Family Stone - You Can Make It If You Try
P was notoriously cagey when it came to revealing influences, esp in the 80s often denying he listened to anything or anyone else at all (!). Prince's blending of voices/harmonies are Sly all over.
Also: LARRY GRAHAM
P was notoriously cagey when it came to revealing influences, esp in the 80s often denying he listened to anything or anyone else at all (!). Prince's blending of voices/harmonies are Sly all over.
Also: LARRY GRAHAM
Track 5: Outkast - Dracula's Wedding ft Kelis
Speakerboxx / The Love Below obviously wouldn't exist if it weren't for SOTT. (The best double album of the 2000s???) This one's big on those Sly/Prince falsetto vibes, off Andre's uber-Princey half.
Speakerboxx / The Love Below obviously wouldn't exist if it weren't for SOTT. (The best double album of the 2000s???) This one's big on those Sly/Prince falsetto vibes, off Andre's uber-Princey half.
Track 6: Joni Mitchell - Help Me
Obv Help Me gets a shout in The Ballad of Dorothy Parker (rrrrring
). In 2004 Prince said âI love all Joniâs music ... it should be taught in school"
But what I really wanna know is, have YOU ever taken a bubble bath with your pants on?
Obv Help Me gets a shout in The Ballad of Dorothy Parker (rrrrring
). In 2004 Prince said âI love all Joniâs music ... it should be taught in school"But what I really wanna know is, have YOU ever taken a bubble bath with your pants on?
Track 7: Lianne La Havas - Read My Mind
Lianne, who became actual real life friends with Prince (!), said recently: "I wish that I could have sent him this new album, because I feel like thatâs what he was always wanting me to do: make something that I was really proud ofâ
Lianne, who became actual real life friends with Prince (!), said recently: "I wish that I could have sent him this new album, because I feel like thatâs what he was always wanting me to do: make something that I was really proud ofâ
Track 8 - Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
According to engineer Susan Rogers, Prince listened to Cloudbusting A LOT when he was making SOTT. P and Bush's collab Why Should I Love You (off the Red Shoes) is loved/hated equally, but I think it's aged quite well actually.
According to engineer Susan Rogers, Prince listened to Cloudbusting A LOT when he was making SOTT. P and Bush's collab Why Should I Love You (off the Red Shoes) is loved/hated equally, but I think it's aged quite well actually.
(if you think I'm stopping now you're so wrong)
Track 9: Robyn - Be Mine!
Robyn once said âI always try to write a song that maybe Prince would likeâ
Make sure you listen to this new Three Minute Epiphany about her relationship with King P's music https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08m2f36
Track 9: Robyn - Be Mine!
Robyn once said âI always try to write a song that maybe Prince would likeâ
Make sure you listen to this new Three Minute Epiphany about her relationship with King P's music https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08m2f36
10: Shuggie Otis - Happy House
If I'm honest, this was a last minute bridger to get from Robyn into Kendrick (but doesn't it work well..?!). But the parallels between Prince and Shug are undeniable. (drum machines/'Purple', 'Prince Wunnerful') And just LISTEN to it.
If I'm honest, this was a last minute bridger to get from Robyn into Kendrick (but doesn't it work well..?!). But the parallels between Prince and Shug are undeniable. (drum machines/'Purple', 'Prince Wunnerful') And just LISTEN to it.
11: Kendrick Lamar - Complexion (A Zulu Love) (ft Rapsody)
Prince was a big fan and famously almost appeared on this track, singing the hook even, but the collab 'ran out of time'. Prince apparently gave K advice on taking control over all aspects of his music/career.
Prince was a big fan and famously almost appeared on this track, singing the hook even, but the collab 'ran out of time'. Prince apparently gave K advice on taking control over all aspects of his music/career.
12: Curtis Mayfield - The Other Side of Town
It's plain - CM is a mega influence on P in endless ways: arrangements, strings/horns, ballads (Adore!) socio-economics, falsetto etc
(And, if I may, HOW good does the harp intro of TOSoT sound out of Kendrick's Complexion??!!
)
It's plain - CM is a mega influence on P in endless ways: arrangements, strings/horns, ballads (Adore!) socio-economics, falsetto etc
(And, if I may, HOW good does the harp intro of TOSoT sound out of Kendrick's Complexion??!!
)
13: D'Angelo & The Vanguard - Another Life
I mean, Slow Love?! D'Angelo: "My brothers told me - "he plays everything, he writes everything, heâs singing everythingâ and I was hooked... I learned how to play every song on that album, note for note, at five years old" (!!)
I mean, Slow Love?! D'Angelo: "My brothers told me - "he plays everything, he writes everything, heâs singing everythingâ and I was hooked... I learned how to play every song on that album, note for note, at five years old" (!!)
14: Santana - Batuka
Earlier up there
I said how Prince, esp in the 80s, rarely admitted influences. (denying infl of The Beatles/Hendrix especially). As far as the guitar goes, Prince always credited Carlos as The One. He often played a medley of his songs, incl Batuka
Earlier up there
I said how Prince, esp in the 80s, rarely admitted influences. (denying infl of The Beatles/Hendrix especially). As far as the guitar goes, Prince always credited Carlos as The One. He often played a medley of his songs, incl Batuka
15: Beck - Mixed Bizniss
There are distinct traces of Prince throughout Midnite Vultures (what a horribly clinical way of putting it). Both B and P share an exploratory and revisionist musical obsession. And look at them hug awkwardly at the Grammy's
There are distinct traces of Prince throughout Midnite Vultures (what a horribly clinical way of putting it). Both B and P share an exploratory and revisionist musical obsession. And look at them hug awkwardly at the Grammy's
16: Funkadelic - Super Stupid
I wanted to put Maggot Brain on the playlist tbh, but at over 10 mins it would have knocked the sequence out a bit. But, like Santana, Eddie Hazel's another of Prince's absolute axe gurus. Super Stupid is AAAAARRRRGGGGHHH good
I wanted to put Maggot Brain on the playlist tbh, but at over 10 mins it would have knocked the sequence out a bit. But, like Santana, Eddie Hazel's another of Prince's absolute axe gurus. Super Stupid is AAAAARRRRGGGGHHH good
17: Frank Ocean - Self Control
After Prince died in 2016, Frank posted a moving tribute on his (now removed) tumblr page, saying that 'When You Were Mine', is his favourite song of all time. You can hear SOTT Prince all over Blonde. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/frank-ocean-im-a-proud-prince-fan-stan-for-life-169712/
After Prince died in 2016, Frank posted a moving tribute on his (now removed) tumblr page, saying that 'When You Were Mine', is his favourite song of all time. You can hear SOTT Prince all over Blonde. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/frank-ocean-im-a-proud-prince-fan-stan-for-life-169712/
18: The Staple Singers - When Will We Be Paid?
Prince signed Mavis Staples to Paisley Park, and covered this song (with a few tweaks) in 2000.
Mavis S, in 2016: "Oh, Lord, I miss Prince so much. I can hardly listen to him yet without breaking down."
Prince signed Mavis Staples to Paisley Park, and covered this song (with a few tweaks) in 2000.
Mavis S, in 2016: "Oh, Lord, I miss Prince so much. I can hardly listen to him yet without breaking down."
19. Janelle Monae - Pynk (ft Grimes)
Man I love this song. Reflects Prince in so many ways, not least in its humour. P was somewhat of a mentor, and friend, to Monae. When she first sent him Dirty Computer, he said "Thatâs what yâall need to be doingâ
Man I love this song. Reflects Prince in so many ways, not least in its humour. P was somewhat of a mentor, and friend, to Monae. When she first sent him Dirty Computer, he said "Thatâs what yâall need to be doingâ
20: James Brown & The Famous Flames - Licking Stick - Licking Stick
Story goes that Prince cycled to his local record store as a kid to buy this on 45. Here's Prince talking about the influence of James Brown (and dancing girls, apples, oranges (?):
Story goes that Prince cycled to his local record store as a kid to buy this on 45. Here's Prince talking about the influence of James Brown (and dancing girls, apples, oranges (?):
21: Hot Chip - Down With Prince
Sign O The Times is apparently Felix of Hot Chip's favourite album. He was apparently "shocked by the lyrics" when he first heard it (like me when I first heard Down With Prince in 2004). Here's an Under The Radar article http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/my_favorite_album_alexis_taylor_of_hot_chip_on_princes_sign_o_the_times/
Sign O The Times is apparently Felix of Hot Chip's favourite album. He was apparently "shocked by the lyrics" when he first heard it (like me when I first heard Down With Prince in 2004). Here's an Under The Radar article http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/my_favorite_album_alexis_taylor_of_hot_chip_on_princes_sign_o_the_times/
(okay, tired now)
22: Solange - Weary
The bold tone and tension that runs through Seat at the Table nods to Sign O The Times in a big way. Solange delivered a keynote speech on the legacy of Prince (and Bowie) at Yale in 2017. (sadly no longer online)
22: Solange - Weary
The bold tone and tension that runs through Seat at the Table nods to Sign O The Times in a big way. Solange delivered a keynote speech on the legacy of Prince (and Bowie) at Yale in 2017. (sadly no longer online)
23: Shirley Brown - Stay With Me Baby
In 2013, when he heard there was an episode of New Girl being made which included a Prince party in a plot, he sent over this list of songs from his *actual* parties.
The ultimate insight, and a *killer* playlist. https://boingboing.net/2016/04/25/listen-to-princes-personal-p.html
In 2013, when he heard there was an episode of New Girl being made which included a Prince party in a plot, he sent over this list of songs from his *actual* parties.
The ultimate insight, and a *killer* playlist. https://boingboing.net/2016/04/25/listen-to-princes-personal-p.html
