Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

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babydoll
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Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by babydoll »

BleuPanda wrote:The basic idea is to rank the tracks off the album each week to see how each track compares to each other. It's an excuse to go back to classic albums and a way to gauge the best and worst tracks of the most acclaimed albums. Simply rank all the tracks from your favorite to your least.

I plan to go in cycles of decades with the 1950s and 2010s once every other cycle. I will go with the top album of each respective decade, but I might skip questionable albums (I doubt anyone wants to rank the tracks of 69 Love Songs, no matter how great the album is).


Also, if you missed an album that you want to rank, you can do so in this thread. Please keep it to 1 old album per week. I will update the results. Please don't bump previous threads. I'd like to keep everything in the current topic and the result topic.
AND NOW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES!

Image

Sign 'O' the Times (1987) tracklisting:
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
02 | Play in the Sunshine
03 | Housequake
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
05 | It
06 | Starfish and Coffee
07 | Slow Love
08 | Hot Thing
09 | Forever in My Life
10 | U Got the Look
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
12 | Strange Relationship
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
14 | The Cross
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16 | Adore

Sex Pistols' results will be up next Friday after my trip. I will say that Anarchy in the U.K. is leading.

Also get ready for be automatic for R.E.M. next time around!
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Maschine_Man
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Maschine_Man »

Not that the quality ever really fails on this record, but I feel like the second half doesn't quite live up to that first run of songs.

01 | It
02 | Starfish and Coffee
03 | Sign 'O' the Times

04 | Housequake
05 | U Got the Look
06 | Play in the Sunshine
07 | Hot Thing
08 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man

09 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
10 | Slow Love
11 | Forever in My Life
12 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
13 | The Cross
14 | Strange Relationship
15 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
16 | Adore
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Romain
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Romain »

After Sergent Peppers, another perfect album with only hits. Certainly THE album I listen the more in all the cars I have in my life. My brother buy this album when I'm 11 and I listen it thousands of time since.

Like:
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
14 | The Cross
08 | Hot Thing
05 | It
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
10 | U Got the Look
06 | Starfish and Coffee
09 | Forever in My Life
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
03 | Housequake
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
07 | Slow Love
12 | Strange Relationship
02 | Play in the Sunshine
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16 | Adore

Dislike :
Nothing.
deadpacifist
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by deadpacifist »

1. Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
2. Sign 'O' the Times
3. If I Was Your Girlfriend
4. It
5. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
6. Starfish and Coffee
7. Play in the Sunshine
8. Hot Thing
9. Forever in My Life
10. U Got the Look
11. The Cross
12. Adore
13. Strange Relationship
14. Slow Love
15. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16. Housequake
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Live in Phoenix
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Live in Phoenix »

I still think that two Sign 'O' the Times records don't equal one Purple Rain record... Not that the latter is unassailable, but with Sign I feel like I'm missing a massive single.

1. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
2. Sign 'O' the Times
3. If I Was Your Girlfriend
4. U Got the Look
5. Hot Thing
6. Strange Relationship
7. It
8. Slow Love
9. Play in the Sunshine
10. Forever in My Life
11. The Cross
12. Housequake
13. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
14. Starfish and Coffee
15. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
16. Adore
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whuntva
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by whuntva »

I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
Sign O the Times
Starfish and Coffee
Ballad of Dorothy Parker
It
If I was your Girlfriend
U Got the Look
Hot Thing
Forever in my Life
It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
Strange Relationship
Play in the Sunshine
Adore
HouseQuake
Slow Love
The Cross
" Ah, yes! Our meager restitution"
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Honorio
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Honorio »

01. Sign 'O' the Times
11. If I Was Your Girlfriend
06. Starfish and Coffee
14. The Cross
10. U Got the Look
04. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
08. Hot Thing
07. Slow Love
13. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
03. Housequake
16. Adore
12. Strange Relationship
09. Forever in My Life
05. It
15. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
02. Play in the Sunshine
Toni
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Toni »

One of the most difficult album rankings I've made. All the tracks are interchangeable among the top 7 and also between #8 to #14.

1. Starfish and Coffee
2. Sign 'O' the Times
3. Adore
4. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
5. The Cross
6. Slow Love
7. Housequake
8. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
9. Play in the Sunshine
10. If I Was Your Girlfriend
11. It
12. Hot Thing
13. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
14. U Got the Look
15. Strange Relationship
16. Forever in My Life
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Toni »

Ops, looks like I was writing my answer exactly while you were posting the results, Babydoll.
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babydoll
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by babydoll »

Toni wrote:Ops, looks like I was writing my answer exactly while you were posting the results, Babydoll.
It's fine. You can do it whenever. I'll just add your rankings to the result next week.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by antonius »

04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
06 | Starfish and Coffee
10 | U Got the Look
03 | Housequake
09 | Forever in My Life
12 | Strange Relationship
14 | The Cross
08 | Hot Thing
07 | Slow Love
02 | Play in the Sunshine
16 | Adore
05 | It
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Moonbeam »

14 | The Cross
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
06 | Starfish and Coffee
12 | Strange Relationship
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
02 | Play in the Sunshine
09 | Forever in My Life
10 | U Got the Look
05 | It
03 | Housequake
08 | Hot Thing
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
16 | Adore
07 | Slow Love
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babydoll
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by babydoll »

Moonbeam, are you back?! I was especially hoping you'd do this one. :D

By the way, dude, I found your review of 1999 on Amazon of all places.
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Listyguy
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Listyguy »

I haven't listened to this one recently enough to do a full ranking, but "The Cross" is phenomenal. It might be my second favorite by Prince, after "When Doves Cry". A stunning track, beautiful build up, and stellar lyrically.
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babydoll
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by babydoll »

Honorio left this link:
https://musicmp3.ru/artist_prince__albu ... uvO4vz2bcs

It works. I listened to Crystal Ball on there. You probably shouldn't buy anything from there though.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Toni »

Totally agree about "The Cross": huge track. In fact,the last 3 songs make for an ending as grand as the album deserves to have. I don't get why "Adore" is so unanimously considered the worst piece, even if all the rest is so good. The clearly forgettable track, for me, is "Forever in My Life". What's so special about it?
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Bruno »

01 | Sign 'O' the Times
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
10 | U Got the Look
14 | The Cross
08 | Hot Thing
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
05 | It
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16 | Adore
02 | Play in the Sunshine
03 | Housequake
06 | Starfish and Coffee
07 | Slow Love
09 | Forever in My Life
12 | Strange Relationship
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notbrianeno
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by notbrianeno »

The definition of a grower, as well as a shining example of what the double-disc format can do.

11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
14 | The Cross
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
05 | It
06 | Starfish and Coffee
03 | Housequake
16 | Adore
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
02 | Play in the Sunshine
10 | U Got the Look
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
08 | Hot Thing
07 | Slow Love
12 | Strange Relationship
09 | Forever in My Life
TimmyWing
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by TimmyWing »

Toni wrote:Totally agree about "The Cross": huge track. In fact,the last 3 songs make for an ending as grand as the album deserves to have. I don't get why "Adore" is so unanimously considered the worst piece, even if all the rest is so good. The clearly forgettable track, for me, is "Forever in My Life". What's so special about it?
"Forever in My Life" is actually one of my favourite examples of Prince's experimentation. On the face of it, it's a fairly standard love song, but as a continuation of what he did in "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss", the instrumentation is so bare you just have a really nice, catchy tune on top of the drum machine. I also love that the backing vocals are pushed back a bar behind the main vocal line. One thing I've always wanted to do is sync them back up together and see how they sound. Clearly too conventional for Prince, though. ;)

Might make a list myself. I'll mull it over.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by ordinaryperson »

01 | Sign ‘O’ the Times
02 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
03 | U Got the Look
04 | It
05 | Hot Thing
06 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
07 | Housequake
08 | Strange Relationship
09 | Play in the Sunshine
10 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
11 | Forever in My Life
12 | Slow Love
13 | Adore
14 | The Cross
15 | Starfish and Coffee
16 | It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by sonofsamiam »

14 | The Cross
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
06 | Starfish and Coffee
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
16 | Adore
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
02 | Play in the Sunshine
05 | It
03 | Housequake
10 | U Got the Look
08 | Hot Thing
09 | Forever in My Life
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
07 | Slow Love
12 | Strange Relationship
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by EmilienDelRey »

14 | The Cross
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
10 | U Got the Look
08 | Hot Thing
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
06 | Starfish and Coffee
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
05 | It
03 | Housequake
12 | Strange Relationship
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
02 | Play in the Sunshine
07 | Slow Love
09 | Forever in My Life
16 | Adore
Last edited by EmilienDelRey on Sat Mar 18, 2017 11:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by stone37 »

01- U Got the Look
02- I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
03- If I Was Your Girlfriend
04- The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
05- Starfish and Coffee
06- Forever in My Life
07- Play in the Sunshine
08- Adore
09- Hot Thing
10- Housequake
11- The Cross
12- Sign 'O' the Times
13- Slow Love
14- Strange Relationship
15- It
16- It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
jamieW
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by jamieW »

Many consider this Prince's best album, but I prefer "Purple Rain," "1999," "Around the World in a Day," "Controversy" and "Dirty Mind" (though this one is still quite good). "It" is the only song I'd give an 8, but there are a bunch of really good 7s.

05 | It*
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
12 | Strange Relationship
10 | U Got the Look
08 | Hot Thing
03 | Housequake
14 | The Cross
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
02 | Play in the Sunshine
07 | Slow Love
06 | Starfish and Coffee
09 | Forever in My Life
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16 | Adore

Personal favorites *
Overall album rating: 6.44
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bootsy
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by bootsy »

01 | Sign 'O' the Times
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
05 | It
08 | Hot Thing
06 | Starfish and Coffee
09 | Forever in My Life
10 | U Got the Look
16 | Adore
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
02 | Play in the Sunshine
07 | Slow Love
14 | The Cross
03 | Housequake
12 | Strange Relationship
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by krendler »

13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
14 | The Cross
05 | It
12 | Strange Relationship
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
03 | Housequake
06 | Starfish and Coffee
10 | U Got the Look
16 | Adore
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
07 | Slow Love
02 | Play in the Sunshine
08 | Hot Thing
09 | Forever in My Life
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by Listyguy »

14 | The Cross
01 | Sign 'O' the Times
08 | Hot Thing
02 | Play in the Sunshine
10 | U Got the Look
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
05 | It
09 | Forever in My Life
06 | Starfish and Coffee
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
12 | Strange Relationship
03 | Housequake
16 | Adore
07 | Slow Love
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by bonnielaurel »

01 | Sign 'O' the Times
11 | If I Was Your Girlfriend
10 | U Got the Look
02 | Play in the Sunshine
04 | The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
07 | Slow Love
13 | I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
15 | It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
14 | The Cross
16 | Adore
12 | Strange Relationship
08 | Hot Thing
06 | Starfish and Coffee
09 | Forever in My Life
05 | It
03 | Housequake
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by mileswide »

01| Sign 'O' the Times
12| Strange Relationship
06| Starfish and Coffee
14| The Cross
07| Slow Love
05| It
09| Forever in My Life
04| The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
02| Play in the Sunshine
11| If I Was Your Girlfriend
08| Hot Thing
10| U Got the Look
03| Housequake
15| It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
16| Adore
13| I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Prince's Sign 'O' the Times

Post by saqm7 »

1. If I Was Your Girlfriend
2. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
3. Sign 'O' The Times
4. I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man
5. Adore
6. Strange Relationship
7. U Got The Look
8. Housequake
9. Play In The Sunshine
10. Forever In My Life
11. Hot Thing
12. Starfish & Coffee
13. It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night
14. It
15. Slow Love
16. The Cross
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