Sign o' the Times is Prince's ninth studio album, released on March 30, 1987. Originally conceived as a triple album project titled Crystal Ball, it was reduced to a double LP at Warner Bros.' insistence. The album stands out for its stylistic diversity, blending funk, rock, pop, soul, and psychedelia, and addressing social issues such as AIDS, poverty, and war.
The recording took place primarily at Prince's newly opened Paisley Park Studios, though it also included sessions in Los Angeles and London. Prince played most of the instruments, with contributions from his band The Revolution on some songs. The title track 'Sign o' the Times' was released as a single and became an international hit, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album received unanimous critical acclaim and is considered one of Prince's masterpieces. In 1987, Rolling Stone magazine named it the best album of the year, and in 2020 it ranked 45th on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.