Parade

Warner Bros. Records

What better time for a new baptism?

Parade was Prince’s third and final album co-credited to The Revolution. It was seen as a considerable improvement to Prince’s previous album Around The World In A Day, helped greatly by the inclusion of its memorable lead single Kiss.

The accessibility of Parade put 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 herald his downward spiral. Parade restored Prince’s commercial appeal, as despite Around The World In A Day selling well this was largely due to it following Purple Rain, the buying public viewing that album as disappointed. Being more mainstream, Parade sold 1.8 million units in the US (peaking there at number 4 on Billboards charts) and 1.4 million elsewhere. It is certified Platinum by RIAA.

The album forms the soundtrack for Prince’s second movie Under The Cherry Moon, which was released three months after the album. Its songs follow the story of its lead character, Christopher Tracy, played by Prince in the film. An orchestra of 67 perform in the opening track. The lead single Kiss won the Grammy in 1986 for best R&B Vocal Performance, a song Prince originally intended to give to former bandmate Brown Mark for his solo album Mazarati. Despite its success, Prince was never entirely happy with the album version of Kiss nor much of Parade and he later admitted it lacked inspiration and considered the whole project rushed – NME, however, named it their best album of 1986.

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

Producer

Prince & the Revolution

Label

Paisley Park Records

Distribution

Warner Bros. Records

Cover Art/Photo

Jeff Katz and Laura LiPuma

Released

33 years ago, 31 March 1986

Running Time

40:59

US Chart Peak

3

UK Chart Peak

4

Prince Album

#8

Singles from Parade

Kiss

Paisley Park Records

Released

5 February 1986

US Chart Peak

1

UK Chart Peak

6

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

Mountains

Paisley Park Records

Released

7 May 1986

US Chart Peak

23

UK Chart Peak

45

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

Girls & Boys

Paisley Park Records

Released

4 August 1986

US Chart Peak

No Release

UK Chart Peak

11

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

Anotherloverholenyohead

Paisley Park Records

Released

20 October 1986

US Chart Peak

63

UK Chart Peak

36

1. Anotherloverholenyohead (3:23)
2. I Wanna Be Your Lover (3:27)

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

Related release

Under The Cherry Moon

Warner Bros. Pictures (1986)

About this release

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 admitted he had not have enough material to fill Parade, feeling it 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 reviewed by Goldies Parade.

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