Studio Album · No. 9
Sign "☮" the Times Songwriting Credits by Prince
Produced by Prince · Engineered by Susan Rogers, Coke Johnson
Holds writing credit on 16 of 16 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 16 / 16 documented
Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Prince carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 2
Sign o' the Times was Prince's first solo album after disbanding the Revolution, and he produced, arranged, and performed nearly everything himself. He wrote all sixteen tracks except 'Starfish and Coffee,' co-written with Susannah Melvoin, and 'Slow Love,' co-written with Carole Davis. The double album drew on aborted projects including Dream Factory and the Camille persona, giving it a sprawling, self-contained quality that critics regard as the peak of his auteur control.
Sign 'O' the Times is the eighth studio album by Prince, released in March 1987 on Paisley Park Records / Warner Bros. Records and produced entirely by Prince. Widely considered his greatest album and one of the finest records ever made, the sprawling double LP ranges across funk, rock, pop, gospel, jazz, and psychedelia with a freedom and mastery that remains breathtaking. The title track addressed AIDS, drug addiction, gang violence, and natural disaster in a spare groove that conveyed moral gravity without preachiness. From the orchestral funk of 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' to the hard rock explosion of 'U Got the Look,' the album's stylistic range was matched only by the consistency of its songwriting. Sign 'O' the Times is a definitive document of Prince's genius and is routinely cited by critics as one of the greatest albums in the history of popular music.
Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sign 'O' the Times
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 2 |
Play in the Sunshine
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Sheila E. (Drums, Backing Vocals) |
| 3 |
Housequake
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 4 |
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 5 |
It
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Sheila E. (Backing Vocals) |
| 6 |
Starfish and Coffee
|
Prince Rogers NelsonSusannah Melvoin | Prince Rogers NelsonSusannah Melvoin | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Susannah Melvoin (Backing Vocals) |
| 7 |
Slow Love
|
Prince Rogers NelsonCarole Davis | Prince Rogers NelsonCarole Davis | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 8 |
Hot Thing
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Eric Leeds (Saxophone)Atlanta Bliss (Trumpet) |
| 9 |
Forever in My Life
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 10 |
U Got the Look
#2
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Sheena Easton (Duet Vocals) |
| 11 |
If I Was Your Girlfriend
#67
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 12 |
Strange Relationship
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 13 |
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
#10
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 14 |
The Cross
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 15 |
It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
|
Prince Rogers NelsonDoctor FinkEric Leeds | Prince Rogers NelsonDoctor FinkEric Leeds | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)Eric Leeds (Saxophone)Atlanta Bliss (Trumpet) |
| 16 |
Adore
|
Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince Rogers Nelson | Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist) |