Prince — Sign O' The Times Rehearsal Sessions 1.0 (4-CD Set) | Sabotage Records SAB 166-169
Widely Regarded as the Best Sign O' The Times Rehearsal Set Ever Released
Released by Sabotage Records in 2002 under catalogue numbers SAB 166–169, Sign O' The Times Rehearsal Sessions 1.0 is one of the most respected and frequently praised Prince rehearsal compilations in collector circulation. Four discs covering two completely different Paisley Park rehearsals for two distinct legs of the Sign O' The Times tour — both sourced from soundboard recordings in EX to EX+ quality.
Why This Set Is Considered the Best of Its Kind
The 21st February 1987 rehearsal across Discs 1 and 2 is genuinely extraordinary. Captured in the early stages of preparation for the European leg of the tour, the soundboard clarity is so impressive you can hear band members and Prince talking between songs while away from their microphones. The setlist is striking — far more focused on the actual Sign O' The Times album content and notably hits-free, with a sublime retro Starfish and Coffee, a frantic U Got The Look that prefigures its Lovesexy tour version, and a Strange Relationship performed exactly as it appeared at the 21st March First Avenue show including the Squirrel Meat lyrics from Superfunkycalifragisexy. Loose, atmospheric, with the band laughing and joking throughout.
The 18th November 1987 rehearsal across Discs 3 and 4 captures preparation for the ill-fated US leg of the tour — referenced in Cat's promotional appearances at the time but ultimately never happening. The setlist diverges fascinatingly from the European leg, with an Erotic City beat kicking in mid Little Red Corvette, a full Do Me Baby into Adore, and the bizarre What's Your Name segue blending Love Or $ and Data Bank over a repeated Kiss guitar jangle. Sound quality is stunningly clear.
Each disc also includes rehearsal sessions from August-September 1987 where Prince works through 17 different takes of The Sex Of It and 14 different takes of Baby Go Go — fascinating documents of how Prince teaches band members and builds songs from the ground up, though the audio carries some hiss compared to the headline rehearsals.
Disc Breakdown
Disc 1 (64:23) — Paisley Park 21st February 1987: Sign O' The Times, Play In The Sunshine, Housequake, The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker, Slow Love, Starfish And Coffee, Hot Thing, Now's The Time, Sheila E. Drum Solo, If I Was Your Girlfriend, U Got The Look, Strange Relationship, I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Disc 2 (73:29) — Continued from 21st Feb 1987 (Forever In My Life, Kiss, The Cross, It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night) plus the Aug/Sep 1987 rehearsal with 17 different takes of The Sex Of It
Disc 3 (58:36) — Paisley Park 18th November 1987: Sign O' The Times, Play In The Sunshine, Little Red Corvette, Erotic City, Housequake, Slow Love, Do Me Baby, Adore, I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man, Hot Thing, What's Your Name / Love Or $ / Data Bank segue, Let's Pretend We're Married, Delirious, Jack U Off, If I Was Your Girlfriend, Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry
Disc 4 (71:55) — Continued from 18th Nov 1987 (Purple Rain, 1999, U Got The Look, Kiss, It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night) plus the Aug/Sep 1987 rehearsal with 14 different takes of Baby Go Go
A Note on the 1987 Rehearsals
The mid-1987 rehearsal recordings (Sex Of It & Baby Go Go takes) carry audible tape hiss compared to the pristine quality of the headline February and November rehearsals. This is a characteristic of the original source and should be expected. Additionally, the February 1987 rehearsal carries a slight pitch correction issue — Housequake in particular sounds slowed down due to incorrect pitch on the original transfer.
Product Details
| Format | 4-Disc CD Set (CD-R) |
| Label | Sabotage Records |
| Catalogue | SAB 166 / 167 / 168 / 169 |
| Original Release | 2002 |
| Source | Soundboard recordings throughout |
| Sound Quality | EX / EX+ |
| Disc Runtimes | 64:23 / 73:29 / 58:36 / 71:55 |
| Reputation | Considered the best SOTT rehearsal set available |
| Packaging | Plastic sleeves only — no physical case. Cover artwork emailed after purchase |
| Note | Unofficial collector's edition — not an official release |
Delivery Info
UK orders arrive in 2 working days. Europe in 5 days. Rest of the world approximately 8 days.