Prince (February 18, 1987) Sign o’ the Times - Single 7"/12" US

GlamSlamEscape
Feb 18, 1987
2 min read

Prince strips everything back for a stark, electronic statement on global unrest

RELEASE DETAILS

Date: February 18, 1987

Catalogue: 7-28399 (7") / 0-20648 (12") Format: 7" Single, 12" Maxi-Single, Promo Country: United States

Album: Sign o’ the Times (1987)

A-Side: Sign o’ the Times (Edit) – 3:42

B-Side: La, La, La, He, He, Hee – 3:21

THE STORY Released in the US on February 18, 1987 as the lead single from the double album Sign o’ the Times, “Sign o’ the Times” marked a dramatic stylistic shift. Built almost entirely on the Fairlight CMI with Prince performing all vocals and instruments, the minimalist, electronic track addressed HIV/AIDS, gang violence, poverty, drug epidemics, natural disasters, and nuclear anxiety. The single became a major hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart.

CONTEXT & NOTES

Originally developed during the Dream Factory / Crystal Ball sessions, this song anchored the new era after the dissolution of The Revolution. Its sparse production and direct social commentary made it one of Prince’s most acclaimed and influential singles, later ranked among the greatest songs of all time.

TRACK LIST

US 7" Single

A. Sign o’ the Times (Edit) – 3:42

B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee – 3:21

US 12" Maxi-Single

A. Sign o’ the Times (LP Version) – 4:57

B. La, La, La, He, He, Hee (Highly Explosive) – 10:32

All US Variants

7" Commercial Single
7" Promo Single
12" Commercial Maxi-Single (0-20648)
12" Promo Single

CHART PERFORMANCE US Billboard Hot 100: Peak No. 3

US Hot Black Singles: Peak No. 1 UK Singles Chart: Peak No. 10

PERSONNEL

Prince – all vocals, instruments, production, arrangement

PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS

Front sleeve: Iconic image of Prince in a bright yellow suit
Back sleeve: Collage-style artwork with a female model (Cat Glover holding a large black heart on some editions)
Striking minimalist design with bold red typography

WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS Front cover features Prince in a vibrant yellow suit with hands in pockets. Back sleeve includes collage elements and track information. Labels display standard Paisley Park / Warner Bros. design with clear production credits.

RELATED MATERIAL

Kiss (February/March 1986)
Anotherloverholenyohead (October 20, 1986)
Mountains (May 21, 1986)
Parade (1986 album)

For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • Billboard charts

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.