Prince And The Revolution – Parade

Prince And The Revolution – Parade

Released in 1986 on Prince's Paisley Park label, Parade is one of the most inventive and musically adventurous albums of Prince's extraordinary career. Credited to Prince and The Revolution, it also served as the soundtrack to his second feature film, Under The Cherry Moon, and represents a fascinating departure from the expansive pop-rock sound of Purple Rain and the psychedelic influences of Around The World In A Day.

Blending funk, psychedelic pop, soul, jazz, baroque pop and experimental R&B, Parade is an album of striking contrasts, moving between infectious dancefloor grooves, delicate orchestral arrangements, playful songwriting and beautifully understated ballads. Prince's production is particularly distinctive, making adventurous use of unusual instrumentation, layered vocal arrangements and unexpected musical transitions.

The album opens with 'Christopher Tracy's Parade', a theatrical introduction that establishes the record's cinematic atmosphere. 'New Position' follows with an infectious, rhythmically playful funk arrangement, while 'I Wonder U', featuring Wendy Melvoin on lead vocals, offers a delicate and unconventional change of mood. The title track from the accompanying film, 'Under The Cherry Moon', is an elegant, piano-led composition that showcases Prince's more romantic and sophisticated songwriting.

One of the album's most memorable moments is 'Girls & Boys', a stylish blend of funk, pop and European influences featuring an irresistible groove and distinctive vocal arrangement. 'Life Can Be So Nice' moves into more experimental territory, with dense percussion and an unpredictable arrangement, before 'Venus De Milo' provides a brief, atmospheric instrumental interlude.

The second side opens with 'Mountains', a richly layered funk composition featuring prominent brass, intricate rhythms and the unmistakable musical interplay of The Revolution. 'Do U Lie?' introduces a playful, jazz-influenced arrangement, while 'Kiss' stands as one of Prince's greatest achievements. Originally conceived as a sparse acoustic demo, the track was transformed into a minimalist funk masterpiece, built around an instantly recognisable guitar figure, falsetto vocals and an incredibly economical arrangement. It became a major international hit and demonstrated Prince's ability to create something extraordinary from the simplest musical ingredients.

'Anotherloverholenyohead' brings the album back towards its more energetic funk and rock influences, before the closing track, 'Sometimes It Snows In April', delivers one of Prince's most affecting performances. Featuring beautifully restrained vocals and delicate acoustic instrumentation, it is a deeply moving finale that has become one of his most beloved compositions.

The Revolution play an important role throughout the album, with Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Brownmark, Matt Fink and Bobby Z contributing to its distinctive collective sound. Their musical chemistry, combined with Prince's increasingly adventurous production, gives Parade a unique identity within his catalogue.

An essential release for fans of Prince, Minneapolis funk, sophisticated pop, experimental soul and 1980s R&B, Parade remains a remarkable example of an artist operating at the height of his creative powers. Unpredictable, beautifully arranged and packed with unforgettable melodies, it is far more than a collection of soundtrack songs: it is one of the most distinctive albums of the decade.

Tracklist

Intro
A1. Christopher Tracy's Parade (2:11)
A2. New Position (2:21)
A3. I Wonder U (1:40)
A4. Under The Cherry Moon (2:57)
A5. Girls & Boys (5:30)
A6. Life Can Be So Nice (3:12)
A7. Venus De Milo (1:54)

End
B1. Mountains (3:58)
B2. Do U Lie? (2:43)
B3. Kiss (3:38)
B4. Anotherloverholenyohead (3:58)
B5. Sometimes It Snows In April (6:50)