Lafayette Afro-Rock Band – Soul Makossa
As poignant and meaningful now as it was back in 1987, Sign ☮︎ the Times was recorded during a period of transition and transformation for Prince: he had disbanded the Revolution, ended his engagement to Susannah Melvoin, and begun working on five separate albums at once (most would be abandoned and locked in the Paisley Park archives). In the late ’80s, the country was restless as well with the threat of war, drug epidemic, poverty, and the AIDS crisis making it feel like a dark cloud was constantly hanging over everyone’s heads. On the title track, Prince addresses the social and political climate almost as an apocalyptic newscaster, but shifts to a message of hope: love saves the day. “Sign o’ the times mess with your mind / Hurry before it’s too late / Let’s fall in love.”
Recommended – Full Listen
Tracklist:
A1 Sign “O” The Times
A2 Play In The Sunshine
A3 Housequake
A4 The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
B1 It
B2 Starfish And Coffee
B3 Slow Love
B4 Hot Thing
B5 Forever In My Life
C1 U Got The Look
C2 If I Was Your Girlfriend
C3 Strange Relationship
C4 I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
D1 The Cross
D2 It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
D3 Adore
Credits:
Arranged By [Strings Arranged By] – Claire Fischer* (tracks: B3)
Art Direction – Laura LiPuma
Drums, Percussion – Sheila E. (tracks: C1)
Engineer [Engineered By] – Coke Johnson, Prince, Susan Rogers
Guitar – Wendy* (tracks: B3)
Lead Guitar – Mico Weaver (tracks: D2)
Lead Vocals – Camille (3) (tracks: A3, C2, C3)
Lyrics By [Lyrics Co-written By] – Carol Davis* (tracks: B3), Susannah (tracks: B2)
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Music By [Co-written] – Dr. Fink (tracks: D2), Eric Leeds (tracks: D2)
Percussion, Rap [Transmississippirap] – Sheila E. (tracks: D2)
Photography By – Jeff Katz (2)
Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – Prince
Saxophone – Eric Leeds
Sitar, Flute [Wooden Flute] – Lisa* (tracks: C3)
Tambourine, Congas – Wendy* (tracks: C3)
Trumpet – Atlanta Bliss
Vocals – Camille (3) (tracks: C1), Sheena Easton (tracks: C1)
Voice [Background Voice] – Susannah (tracks: A2, B2)
Voice [Backing Voice] – Greg Brooks (tracks: D2), Jerome Benton (tracks: D2), Lisa* (tracks: B3), Wally Safford (tracks: D2), Wendy* (tracks: B3)
Voice [Co-lead Voice] – Jill Jones (tracks: D2), Susannah (tracks: D2)
