Parade (album)

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Parade
Soundtrack by Prince
Released	March 31, 1986
Recorded	Washington Avenue Warehouse (Mpls.) and Sunset Sound; April – December 1985
Genre	Pop, Rock, Funk, Jazz
Length	42:18
Label	Paisley Park Records
Producer(s)	Prince
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com
Prince chronology
Around the World in a Day (1985)	Parade (1986)	Sign "O" the Times (1987)

Parade: Music from the Motion Picture "Under the Cherry Moon" was Prince's 1986 follow-up to Around the World in a Day and the soundtrack to his 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, although a followup called Dream Factory was recorded and slated to be a "Revolution" album, but was unreleased.

The first four tracks were actually recorded in sequence with Prince laying down the drum track to all four in order simply 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 2 starts with the lush "Mountains" and leads into the very unusual "Do U Lie?", sounding like a 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 from Prince aside for the full band's input on "Mountains" (music credited to Wendy and Lisa); but with several contributions throughout the album. Wendy and Lisa sang backup on many tracks, while Susannah Melvoin (from The Family) actually sings lead on "I Wonder U". The also play and sing on "Sometimes It Snows in April" and Prince gave them co-credit on the song. Clare Fischer composed and arranged the orchestra heard on many tracks. Prince's father, John L. Nelson is co-credited for "Venus de Milo" and "Under the Cherry Moon". Eric Leeds and Sheila E. provide some instrumentation and/or singing on various tracks. Prince's girlfriend and Wendy's twin sister, Susannah Melvoin provides backing vocals on a few tracks and their brother, Jonathan Melvoin plays the drums on "Do U Lie?" Prince's wardrobist, Marie France provides the French vocals in "Girls & Boys".

Contents 1 Charts 2 Track listing 3 Singles and Hot 100 chart placings 4 Miscellanea 5 External links

[edit] Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	3
U.S. Billboard R&B Albums	2
UK Albums Chart	4

[edit] Track listing

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

[edit] Singles and Hot 100 chart placings

• "Kiss" (#1 U.S., #1 R&B, #6 UK)

1. "Kiss"
2. "♥ or $"

• "Mountains" (#23 U.S., #15 R&B, #45 UK)

1. "Mountains"
2. "Alexa de Paris"

• "Girls & Boys" (#11 UK)

1. "Girls & Boys"
2. "Under the Cherry Moon"
3. "Erotic City" — 12" version only
4. "She's Always In My Hair" — double 7" version only
5. "17 Days" — double 7" version only

• "Anotherloverholenyohead" (#63 U.S., #18 R&B, #36 UK)

1. "Anotherloverholenyohead"
2. "Girls & Boys" — U.S. version only
3. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" — UK version only

[edit] Miscellanea

• "Chistopher Tracy's Parade" was originally called "Little Girl Wendy's Parade" (perhaps before it was intended to be in the movie?) and the earlier song 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 a simple demo given to the band Mazarati for their debut album. 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.

[edit] External links

• Parade lyrics

v • d • e Prince
Studio albums (non-soundtrack)
For You • Prince • Dirty Mind • Controversy • 1999 • Around the World in a Day • Sign 'O' the Times • Lovesexy • Diamonds and Pearls • (Love Symbol) • Come • The Black Album • The Gold Experience • Chaos and Disorder • Emancipation • The Truth • Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic • The Rainbow Children • One Nite Alone... • Musicology • 3121
Soundtracks
Purple Rain • Parade • Batman • Graffiti Bridge • Girl 6 • "Song of the Heart"
Live albums
One Nite Alone... Live!
Instrumental albums
Kamasutra • Xpectation • N.E.W.S
Internet albums
Xpectation • The Chocolate Invasion • The Slaughterhouse
Hits collections and compilations
The Hits/The B-Sides • Crystal Ball • The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale • The Very Best of Prince • Ultimate
EPs
The Beautiful Experience • 1999: The New Master
Films
Purple Rain • Under the Cherry Moon • Sign 'O' the Times • Graffiti Bridge
Related articles
The Revolution • New Power Generation • The Time • Madhouse • Vanity 6 • Apollonia 6 • Mazarati • Unreleased Prince projects
Top 10 singles (U.S. Hot 100)
"Little Red Corvette" • "Delirious" • "When Doves Cry" • "Let's Go Crazy" • "Purple Rain" • "I Would Die 4 U" • "Raspberry Beret" • "Pop Life" • "Kiss" • "Sign 'O' the Times" • "U Got the Look" • "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" • "Alphabet St." • "Batdance" • "Thieves In the Temple" • "Cream" • "Diamonds and Pearls" • "7" • "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"