Parade (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Parade
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Prince and The Revolution


Released = March 31, 1986
Recorded = April – December 1985
Washington Avenue Warehouse, Minneapolis and Sunset Sound
Genre = Pop, Rock, Funk, Jazz
Length = 42:18
Label = Paisley Park
Warner Bros.
25395
Producer = Prince
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:46jveay04xh7~T1 link]
* Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=5121&name=Prince+and+the+Revolution link]

Last album = "Around the World in a Day"
(1985)
This album = "Parade"
(1986)
Next album = "Sign o' the Times"
(1987)

"Parade: Music from the Motion Picture "Under the Cherry Moon"" is a 1986 album by Prince and the Revolution. It was the follow-up to "Around the World in a Day" and the soundtrack to Prince's second film. The album sees Prince further diversifying musically, adding orchestrations to his music and presenting a very European feel. Prince also displayed a new image with "Parade": his trademark ruffled shirts, wild curly hair, and purple satin robes which defined his look from 1981's "Controversy" to 1985's "Around the World in a Day" gave way to slicked-back hair and dress suits. Even though the single, "Kiss," was a number one hit, the album as a whole was not well-received in the U.S. Europe, however, embraced the album, and for the first time in Prince's career, European album sales eclipsed those in the U.S. This was Prince's final album released with The Revolution.

Music

The first four tracks were recorded in sequence with Prince laying down the drum track to all four from memory. They can almost be considered a suite, having a very continuous feel and unusual instrumentation. "Girls & Boys" is the first funk track on the album. It features an unusual duck-like keyboard sound, saxophone by Eric Leeds, and a French-spoken monologue. It's also notable for the first known case pseudo-rapping by Prince. "Life Can Be So Nice" features drums by Sheila E., and cuts suddenly to the serene instrumental "Venus de Milo."

Side two starts with the lush "Mountains," and leads into the very unusual but very well-written "Do U Lie?" which sounds like something from a classic French street crooner. Next is the minimalist funk track "Kiss," the album's biggest hit. It immediately leads into "Anotherloverholenyohead," a funky dance track. The album finishes with the sad ballad, "Sometimes It Snows in April," which has become a fan favorite.

The album was, for the most part, a solo effort by Prince, aside for the full band's input on "Mountains." Wendy and Lisa are co-credited with writing the music for "Mountains" and "Sometimes It Snows in April," and background singing on many tracks. John L. Nelson, Prince's father, is credited as co-composer on "Christopher Tracy's Parade" and "Under The Cherry Moon." Several other contributions are also featured throughout the album. Clare Fischer composed and arranged the orchestra heard on many tracks. Eric Leeds and Sheila E. provide some instrumentation and/or singing on various tracks. Prince's then-fiancée Susannah Melvoin (twin sister of Wendy) provides backing vocals on several tracks, and their brother, the late Jonathan Melvoin plays the drums on "Do U Lie?" Prince's wardrobist, Marie France, provides the French vocals in "Girls & Boys."

Charts

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Prince; except where indicated

# "Christopher Tracy's Parade" (John L. Nelson, Prince) – 2:11
# "New Position" – 2:20
# "I Wonder U" – 1:39
# "Under the Cherry Moon" (Nelson, Prince) – 2:57
# "Girls & Boys" – 5:29
# "Life Can Be So Nice" – 3:13
# "Venus de Milo" – 1:55
# "Mountains" (lyrics by Prince; music by Wendy and Lisa) – 3:57
# "Do U Lie?" – 2:44
# "Kiss" (arranged by David Z) – 3:37
# "Anotherloverholenyohead" – 4:00
# "Sometimes It Snows in April" (lyrics by Prince; music by Wendy and Lisa) – 6:48

Personnel

*Sheila E - drums, cow bell, backing vocals
*Mico Weaver - rhythm guitar on "Mountains"
*Jonathan Melvoin - drums on "Do U Lie?"
*Eric Leeds - horns
*Atlanta Bliss - trumpet
*Wendy & Lisa - backing vocals on "Girls & Boys"
*Mazarati - backing vocals on "Kiss"
*Susannah Melvoin - backing vocals
*Marie France - French seduction voice on "Girls & Boys"

ingles and Hot 100 chart placings

* "Kiss" (#1 U.S., #1 R&B, #6 UK)
# "Kiss"
# "♥ or $"

* "Mountains" (#23 U.S., #15 R&B, #45 UK)
# "Mountains"
# "Alexa de Paris"

* "Girls & Boys" (#11 UK)
# "Girls & Boys"
# "Under the Cherry Moon"
# "Erotic City" — "12" version only"
# "She's Always In My Hair" — "double 7" version only"
# "17 Days" — "double 7" version only"

* "Anotherloverholenyohead" (#63 U.S., #18 R&B, #36 UK)
# "Anotherloverholenyohead"
# "Girls & Boys" — "U.S. version only"
# "I Wanna Be Your Lover" — "UK version only"

Trivia

* "Christopher Tracy's Parade" was originally titled "Little Girl Wendy's Parade" and is referenced in the song "Kiss".
* "New Position" was a 1982 track pulled from Prince's vault and re-recorded from scratch for "Parade".
* The album is Prince's first to use a full orchestra, featuring arrangements by jazz composer Clare Fischer.
* Several unreleased songs from the "Parade" sessions, including "Old Friends 4 Sale", "In All My Dreams" and "There's Others Here with Us", have become fan favorites. These tracks entered collector's hands via the very well known bootleg "Charade", which also includes other unreleased and unfinished recordings from the era.
* The song "Kiss" was given to the band Mazarati to "finish off". After hearing their rearrangement of the song, Prince reclaimed the track, made a few changes and had an instant hit. Prince retained Mazarati's backing vocals, for which they were given credit.
* While "Parade" is the last official release with The Revolution, a follow up called "Dream Factory" was recorded. Its release was canceled when Prince disbanded the group.

External links

* "Parade" [http://www.dtt-lyrics.com/albums/parade.html lyrics]