Prince (Part 2)

More about the specific people referenced on Prince's albums in the list below:

7. Around the World in a Day (1985): The referenced individual is not listed in the song title, but you will find a woman named "Electra" who loved a king in the song "the Ladder". Also, in "Condition of the Heart", there is a story of a "woman whom he sent a letter to / hoping she would answer back". The woman remains nameless, though. As much as this might hurt the validity of my theory, I reserve the right to note that this album does showcase a specific place, "Paisley Park", which became the name of Prince's studio and boutique record label. This album was Prince's first to feature the swirling "Paisley Park" logo.

8. Parade/Music from the Motion Picture "Under the Cherry Moon" (1986): This, like "Purple Rain", is a soundtrack. "Parade" is a fantastically eclectic album, even more so than Prince's usual throw-in-the-kitchen-sink approach. The movie features a playboy named Christopher Tracy, and that's the specific reference for the album in songs like "Christopher Tracy's Parade" and the heartbreaking album closer, "Sometimes It Snows In April" (he begins, "Tracy died soon after a long fought civil war").

9. Sign O The Times (1987): Hailed by some, including this writer, as Prince's masterpiece, it features "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker". Doesn't seem to be about the real life Dorothy Parker but whatever, it's still a named person, so there.

10. The Black Album (1994): This album was intended to follow "Sign O the Times" but it was shelved, heavily bootlegged, and then released in 1994. Features the song "Cincy C.", about a model. It also features a trippy, malevolently executed (slowed down vocals) song called "Bob George". I'm thinking "Bob George" is a manager. The lead vocal asks, "What's he do for a living? Manage rock stars! Who? Prince? Ain't that a b*tch? That skinny motherf*cka with the high voice?"

11. LoveSexy (1988): This album contains the timeless jam "Anna Stesia". In "Dance On", some dude named "Little Talk Johnny" managed to mess up "the big score", for which "the gang nailed his feet to a wooden floor." Hmmm.... Also, the overall theme of this album is one of those good/bad, heaven/hell dichotomies, wherein "LoveSexy" represents the good and the godly and "Spooky Electric" represents the bad and the bawdy. "LoveSexy" vs. "Spooky Electric" references show up all over this LP.

12. Batman (1989): Yes, this is a soundtrack for the Batman movie so the songs are pretty much geared toward the movie characters. Prince makes it so each song has lead vocals "by" a particular character, whether it's Batman, Bruce Wayne, Joker, or Vicki Vale. "Partyman", featured in the movie, is by Joker. "Vicki Waiting" laments the Batman/Bruce Wayne mind state that keeps love at bay in favor of crime fighting. Deep stuff, in my opinion, and taken as a whole I don't think this album gets half of the recognition it deserves.



Peace & Paisley Park in your heart!