Prince (musician)

Sign o' the Times is a useful point at which to watch Prince refuse a fixed identity after the enormous visibility of Purple Rain. The album moves between stark social observation, funk, intimate songs and exuberant pop, and the accompanying concert film gives that range a new stage language. A band led by musical director Sheila E. helps make the transformation physical. Choose the record and film together: reinvention here is a change in the whole performance world, not simply another striking outfit.