~ 
Credits:
Net links:
YouTube links:
45 RPM front cover
cover photo by Jeff Katz
On February 18, 1987, Prince released Sign "O" The Times, the first single of his newest album by the same name a month before the album was released. The single's cover features band member Cat Glover
posing with a large heart covering her face; on the back cover she is
seen posing with Prince's guitar. A popular rumor insisted that the
front cover showed Prince in drag. All photo images for Sign "O" The Times, including tour book, were photographed by Jeff Katz.
Sign "O" The Times is a fantastic dance song, unfortunately, the lyrics are a withering comment on the negative state of our world as it really is.
Sign "O" The Times lyrics
[Intro]
Oh, yeah
[Verse 1]
In France, a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name
By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same
At home, there are seventeen-year-old boys and their idea of fun is being in a gang called The Disciples, high on crack, totin' a machine gun
Time
Times
[Verse 2]
Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling off a church and killed everyone inside
You turn on the telly and every other story is tellin' you somebody died
Sister killed her baby 'cause she couldn't afford to feed it
And we're sending people to the moon
In September, my cousin tried reefer for the very first time
Now he's doing horse; it's June
Times
Times
[Chorus]
It's silly, no?
When a rocket ship explodes
And everybody still wants to fly
Some say a man ain't happy
Unless a man truly dies
Oh, why?
Time
Time
[Verse 3]
Baby, make a speech, star wars fly
Neighbors just shine it on
But if a night falls and a bomb falls
Will anybody see the dawn
Time
Times
[Chorus]
Is it silly, no?
When a rocket blows up
And everybody still wants to fly
Some say man ain't happy, truly
Until a man truly dies
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
Sign o' the times
Time
Times
[Outro]
Sign o' the times mess with your mind
Hurry before it's too late
Let's fall in love, get married, have a baby
We'll call him Nate if it's a boy
Time, times
Times, time
Oh, yeah
[Verse 1]
In France, a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name
By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same
At home, there are seventeen-year-old boys and their idea of fun is being in a gang called The Disciples, high on crack, totin' a machine gun
Time
Times
[Verse 2]
Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling off a church and killed everyone inside
You turn on the telly and every other story is tellin' you somebody died
Sister killed her baby 'cause she couldn't afford to feed it
And we're sending people to the moon
In September, my cousin tried reefer for the very first time
Now he's doing horse; it's June
Times
Times
[Chorus]
It's silly, no?
When a rocket ship explodes
And everybody still wants to fly
Some say a man ain't happy
Unless a man truly dies
Oh, why?
Time
Time
[Verse 3]
Baby, make a speech, star wars fly
Neighbors just shine it on
But if a night falls and a bomb falls
Will anybody see the dawn
Time
Times
[Chorus]
Is it silly, no?
When a rocket blows up
And everybody still wants to fly
Some say man ain't happy, truly
Until a man truly dies
Oh, why?
Oh, why?
Sign o' the times
Time
Times
[Outro]
Sign o' the times mess with your mind
Hurry before it's too late
Let's fall in love, get married, have a baby
We'll call him Nate if it's a boy
Time, times
Times, time
45 RPM back cover
back cover photo by Jeff Katz
photo of back cover by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A - Sign "O" The Times (Edit), Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – Prince - 3:44
Side 2:
B - La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Edit), Lyrics By [Co-Written By] – Sheena Easton - 3:20
Companies, etc.
Side 1:
A - Sign "O" The Times (Edit), Producer, Arranged By, Composed By, Performer – Prince - 3:44
Side 2:
B - La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Edit), Lyrics By [Co-Written By] – Sheena Easton - 3:20
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Warner Communications
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Published By – Controversy Music
Published By – Sticky Black Publishing
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation
Manufactured By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Distributed By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Published By – Controversy Music
Published By – Sticky Black Publishing
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation
Manufactured By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Distributed By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Credits:
Photography By – Jeff Katz (2)
Notes:
Picture sleeve:
From the 4th-coming double album Sign "O" The Times available on the Paisley Park LP, Cassette and Compact disc (1/4/2-2277)
© 1987 Warner Bros Records Inc. for the US and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the US ℗ 1987 Warner Bros Records Inc. for the US and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the US. Made in the USA. 9 28399-7
Labels:
7-28399
℗ 1987 Warner Bros Records Inc. for the US
Side A, label:
Edited from the 4th-coming double album Sign "O" The Times on Paisley Park Records (1-25577)
Side B, label:
Edited from the Prince maxi single Sign "O" The Times on Paisley Park Records (0-20648)
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Picture sleeve:
From the 4th-coming double album Sign "O" The Times available on the Paisley Park LP, Cassette and Compact disc (1/4/2-2277)
© 1987 Warner Bros Records Inc. for the US and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the US ℗ 1987 Warner Bros Records Inc. for the US and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the US. Made in the USA. 9 28399-7
Labels:
7-28399
℗ 1987 Warner Bros Records Inc. for the US
Side A, label:
Edited from the 4th-coming double album Sign "O" The Times on Paisley Park Records (1-25577)
Side B, label:
Edited from the Prince maxi single Sign "O" The Times on Paisley Park Records (0-20648)
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode (Text): 0 7599-28399-7
Barcode (Scanned): 075992839976
Rights Society: ASCAP
Rights Society (Side B): BMI
Pressing Plant ID (Runout stamp): [SRC logo]
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 1): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR3
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 1): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 2): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 2): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 3): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR2
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 3): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 4): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR3 1-1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 4): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1 1-1
Barcode (Scanned): 075992839976
Rights Society: ASCAP
Rights Society (Side B): BMI
Pressing Plant ID (Runout stamp): [SRC logo]
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 1): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR3
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 1): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 2): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 2): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 3): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR2
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 3): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 4): [SRC logo] 7-28399-A-SR3 1-1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 4): [SRC logo] 7-28399-B-SR1 1-1
Prince – Sign "O" The Times
Label: Paisley Park – 9 28399-7, Paisley Park – 7-28399
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Specialty Records Corporation Pressing
Country: US
Released: Feb 1987
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Funk
Label: Paisley Park – 9 28399-7, Paisley Park – 7-28399
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Specialty Records Corporation Pressing
Country: US
Released: Feb 1987
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Funk
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Styrous® ~ Tuesday, February 18, 2025
