Parade

Warner Bros. Records

What better time for a new baptism?

Parade is Prince’s third and final album co-credited with the Revolution. It was viewed as a return to the mainstream and therefore also a considerable improvement on their previous album Around The World In A Day, helped greatly by the inclusion of its highly recognisable lead single Kiss. Prince started work on Parade in the spring of 1985, at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, and completed it at his rented warehouse at 6953 Washington Avenue in Edina, Minneapolis. Its string sections, by an orchestra of 67, were added at Monterey Sound Studios in January 1986, arranged by Claire Fischer.

The accessibility of Parade seemed to lay to rest the fears that, after Purple Rain its succeeding album Around The World In A Day, suggested Prince had lost his magic touch and his often suggested downward spiral. Parade restored Prince’s commercial appeal, as despite Around The World In A Day selling well largely due to it riding in Purple Rain‘s wake, it had left the buying public largely disappointed. Being more mainstream, Parade sold 1.8 million units in the US (peaking at number 4 in Billboard’s charts) and 1.4 million elsewhere, it was certified Platinum by RIAA on 3 June 1986.

Parade forms the soundtrack for Prince’s second movie Under The Cherry Moon, which premiered three months after the release of the album. Its tracks follow the story of the lead character Christopher Tracy, played by Prince in the film.

The album’s promotional tour throughout the summer of 1986, was more stripped down compared to the previous tour, for Purple Rain. The US leg of the tour comprised of revue-style shows, announced at short-notice, whereas for Europe and Japan it followed a more conventional touring format. It was is first world tour, but it would bring the end to the Revolution. Creative disagreements between Prince and the band plagued the latter stages of the tour and on its conclusion that September, he disbanded the Revolution and renewed his career as a solo artist.

Parade is most recognised for its lead single Kiss, which won the Grammy in 1986 for Best R&B Vocal Performance. It was a song Prince originally intended to give to former bandmate Brown Mark for his solo album Mazarati. It also received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song. Yet despite its success, Prince was never entirely happy with the album version of Kiss, nor much of Parade, which he later admitted lacked inspiration and considered the whole project was rushed – NME, however, named it the best album of 1986.

Cover story

Parade ended up with two covers shortlisted. Both equally as good. Therefore, one was printed each side of the LP’s gatefold. When designing the album’s artwork, Laura LiPuma suggested to use an alternative shot from Jeff Katz’s photo session with Prince for the cover picture. The one chosen was Prince holding up his hands in a beckoning pose, but LiPuma’s preference was one with Prince pulling up his top. She came up with the idea to flip the images and join the two together, meeting them at Prince’s belly, positioned at the point of the fold. With the cover open the two photos make one seamless picture.

The Revolution

Vocals/Guitar

Prince

Drums

Bobby Z.

Guitar

Wendy Melvoin

Miko Weaver

Keyboards

Matt "Dr." Fink

Lisa Coleman

Bass Guitar

Brownmark

Vocals

Susannah Melvoin

Percussion

Shelia E.

Saxophone

Eric Leeds

Data

Production

Prince & the Revolution

Label

Paisley Park Records

Distribution

Warner Bros. Records

Cover/Design

Jeff Katz and Laura LiPuma

Released

35 years, 0 months ago on 31 March 1986

Running Time

40:59

US Chart Peak

3

UK Chart Peak

4

Prince Album

#8

Orig. Formats

Tracklist

1. Christopher Tracy's Parade (2:11)
2. New Position (2:21)
3. I Wonder U [sung by Wendy Melvoin] (1:40)
4. Under The Cherry Moon (2:57) ²
5. Girls & Boys [feat. Marie France] (5:30) ¹
6. Life Can Be So Nice [feat. Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin] (3:12)
7. Venus De Milo (1:54)
8. Mountains (3:58) ^{1 & 3}
9. Do U Lie? (2:43)
10. Kiss (3:38) ¹
11. Anotherloverholenyohead (3:58) ¹
12. Sometimes It Snows In April (6:50)

¹ Released as singles.
² Co-written with John L. Nelson.
³ Co-written with Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman.

Singles from Parade

Kiss

Paisley Park Records

Released

5 February 1986

US Chart Peak

1

UK Chart Peak

6

Format

1. Kiss [Edit] (3:45)
2. ♥ or $ (3:57)

Kiss [Maxi Single]

Paisley Park Records

Released

5 March 1986

US Chart Peak

1

UK Chart Peak

6

Format

1. Kiss [Extended Version] (7:16)
2. ♥ or $ [Extended Version] (6:49)

Mountains

Paisley Park Records

Released

7 May 1986

US Chart Peak

23

UK Chart Peak

45

Format

1. Mountains (3:58)
2. Alexa De Paris (3:20)

Mountains [Maxi Single]

Paisley Park Records

Released

21 May 1986

US Chart Peak

23

UK Chart Peak

45

Format

1. Girls & Boys [Edit] (9:56)
2. Alexa De Paris [Extended Version] (4:54)

Girls & Boys

Paisley Park Records

Released

4 August 1986

US Chart Peak

No Release

UK Chart Peak

11

Format

1. Girls & Boys [Edit] [feat. Marie France] (3:27)
2. Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)

Girls & Boys [Maxi Single]

Paisley Park Records

Released

4 August 1986

US Chart Peak

No Release

UK Chart Peak

11

Format

1. Girls & Boys (5:30)
2. Erotic City (Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive) (7:24)

Anotherloverholenyohead

Paisley Park Records

Released

2 July 1986

US Chart Peak

63

UK Chart Peak

No Release

Format

1. Anotherloverholenyohead [Edit] (3:23)
2. Girls & Boys [Edit] (3:27)

Anotherloverholenyohead [Maxi Single]

Paisley Park Records

Released

30 July 1986

US Chart Peak

63

UK Chart Peak

No Release

Format

1. Anotherloverholenyohead [Extended Version] (7:52)
2. Girls & Boys (5:30)

Anotherloverholenyohead

Paisley Park Records

Released

20 October 1986

US Chart Peak

No Release

UK Chart Peak

36

Format

1. Anotherloverholenyohead [Edit] (3:23)
2. I Wanna Be Your Lover [Edit] (2:57)

Anotherloverholenyohead [Maxi Single]

Paisley Park Records

Released

20 October 1986

US Chart Peak

No Release

UK Chart Peak

36

Format

1. Anotherloverholenyohead [Extended Version] (7:52)
2. I Wanna Be Your Lover (5:47)

Supporting tour

Parade Tour

1986

• Hit And Run Tour (USA & Canada)
  11 shows from 3 March to 3 August, 1986
• Parade Tour (Europe & Japan)
  19 shows from 12 August to 9 September, 1986

Parade – review

Parade marks Prince’s first foray into artful music. With fame and confidence heightened by the success of Purple Rain and if a little rattled by Around The World In A Day, Prince spreads the Revolution’s wings for what was to be their third and final collaboration together. But here is an admission for you, I don’t actually like Kiss and although it is the most well known track on the album it is, thankfully, not its best. Staying on subject, even Prince conceded he had not enough material to fill Parade – feeling that the project was rushed, under prepared and lacking clout. If there was ever a candidate for re-recording a Prince would love to get his teeth into Parade once more. But don’t think Parade is a lesser album for quality. It was his best production up to that date and kicks off with the sweeping overture Christopher Tracy’s Parade then sliding effortlessly into New Position after which to slow down with the moody I Wonder U and Under The Cherry Moon. Parade is artful storytelling and picks up again to the point of masterful with the often overlooked Girls & Boys and Do U Lie? These lead us into some of the best tracks on the album: Life Can Be So Nice and the sweeping Mountains. But it is the longest title in history, Anotherloverholonyohead, that names the standout track on Parade, its chorus the best, and the best cure to writers block anyone can get.

Parade is rated 4 out of 5 by Goldies Parade.

Related release

Under The Cherry Moon

Warner Bros. Pictures (1986)

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