Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1987…
#9 – Sign O’ the Times – Prince
If I tried to be totally objective, this album would be in the top five of this list, and possibly even at #1. It’s the magnum opus of one of music’s most startlingly original and creative talents — a funk, R&B and art pop masterpiece.
I’m not denying any of that by putting it at #9. It’s just that Prince isn’t a personal favorite of mine. I appreciate the hell out of his work, and love a lot of it, but I’ve never felt the personal connection I do with some other artists.
That disclaimer out of the way, allow me to sing the praises of Sign O’ the Times. Its 16 tracks, spread thoughtfully across four sides, allow Prince to dip into multiple modes: political, sexual, religious, and romantic. Musically, he takes us to a sweaty house party and then takes us to church.
If you like your Prince playful (‘Starfish and Coffee’) or profound (‘The Cross’), funky (‘Housequake’) or horny (pretty much every other song), Sign O’ the Times gets the job done. It’s a sonic and lyrical blast, and as much of a cinematic journey as Purple Rain, Prince’s other masterpiece.
Dorothy was a waitress on the promenade
She worked the night shift
Dishwater blonde, tall and fine
She got a lot of tips
[Verse 2]
Well, earlier, I’d been talkin’ stuff in a violent room
Fightin’ with lovers past
I needed someone with a quicker wit than mine
Dorothy was fast
[Verse 3]
Well, I ordered (“Yeah, let me get a fruit cocktail… I ain’t too hungry”)
Dorothy laughed
She said, “Sound like a real man to me”
(“You’re kinda cute”)
“You’re kinda cute, you wanna take a bath?”
(“Do you wanna, do you wanna?”)
[Verse 4]
“…Bath? Oh” – I said, “Cool,
But I’m leavin’ my pants on” (“What’d you say?”)
“‘Cause I’m kinda goin’ with someone”
She said, “Sound like a real man to me
Mind if I turn on the radio?”
“Oh! My favorite song,” she said
And it was Joni singing (“Help me, I think I’m falling”)
*Drring* The phone rang, and she said,
“Whoever’s calling – can’t be as cute as you”
Right then and there, I knew I was through
(Dorothy Parker was cool)
Well
[Verse 5]
My pants were wet, they came off
But she didn’t see the movie ’cause she hadn’t read the book first
Instead, she pretended she was blind
An affliction brought on by a witch’s curse
Dorothy made me laugh (Ha-ha, ha-ha)
I felt much better, so I went back – to the violent room
(Tell us what you did, what you did)
Let me tell you what I did
[Chorus]
I took another bubble bath with my pants on
All the fightin’ stopped
Next time, I’ll do it sooner
This is the ballad of Dorothy Parker
(Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker…)
Swee-eet, hee, hee, hoo-ooh
(Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker…)
[Outro]
Well
Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker
Well
Oh
