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Sign "O" The Times

I knew I wanted get a copy of Sign "O" The Times when I heard 'It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night' played in full on the radio. Up to then, I'd been in two minds: the title track had left me a bit cold (as it still does now), but 'U Got the Look' and 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' seemed to hold more promise. Most likely I didn't buy the cassette until the year after its release. By 1990, though, I had two copies - I think I must have lent out the first one, given it up as lost, and obtained a second - only for the original to be returned. When one of the students visiting my flat-mate from Košice asked if I might dub him a copy of the tape, it was my pleasure to just give him the spare one.

The only Prince CDs I ever bought were an unsatisfactory pressing of Purple Rain, and his Greatest Hits, but, soon after getting my first record player, I found a lightly-used vinyl copy of this album, which has since been joined by a few other of his classic '80s LPs. It is, of course, an embrarrasment of riches, and if there are a few tracks I like a little less, there must be ten I dearly love. 'Starfish & Coffee', 'U Got the Look', 'Strange Relationship' and 'I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man' in particular have all been clambering back into my mind unbidden on a regular basis for thirty-five years.

I saw the concert film too: it was screened at Earl's Court as part of some event there - possibly the Ideal Home Exhibition? In '88? I don't recall, but Sheila E's mesmerising drum solo in it certainly left a lasting impression.

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