Description

Compilation – Party O The Times: A Tribute To Prince – Compact Disc

Party O’ The Times: A Tribute to Prince is a 1999 compilation album released by Cleopatra Records that gathers a wide array of artists from the alternative, new wave, synth-pop, and rock worlds to pay homage to one of the most influential, genre-defying musicians of all time: Prince. This tribute album doesn’t aim to replicate Prince’s iconic sound note-for-note. Instead, it showcases how his music resonates across genres by allowing each participating artist to interpret his songs through their own sonic lenses, resulting in a highly eclectic and often experimental collection. The album spans styles from industrial rock to goth-pop, electro, and dream pop—far from the Minneapolis funk but very much in the spirit of creative reinvention that Prince embodied.

Rather than featuring big-name pop stars, Party O’ The Times leans into the underground and alternative scene of the late ’90s. This approach gives the tribute a gritty, indie authenticity. It features performances from artists like Heaven 17, Information Society, and Dale Bozzio—figures who made their mark in the post-punk, synth-pop, industrial, and new romantic scenes. These musicians don’t attempt to mimic Prince’s voice or stage presence, but instead reinterpret his songs through their own distinctive filters, sometimes drastically altering their tone or tempo.

For example, Heaven 17 opens the compilation with a stylized, synth-laced version of “Sign ‘O’ the Times”, one of Prince’s most politically charged tracks. Their rendition keeps the socially conscious spirit alive while translating it into their own polished, electronic aesthetic. Information Society delivers a dancefloor-friendly take on “Controversy,” infused with their signature synth-heavy sound, turning the funky paranoia of the original into a pulsing techno groove.

One of the more striking interpretations comes from Dead or Alive’s Pete Burns, who tackles “Pop Life.” Burns, himself a flamboyant and androgynous icon, brings a theatrical flair to the performance that feels very much in line with Prince’s own fearless approach to identity and sensuality.

Throughout the compilation, you’ll find reinterpretations that range from faithful to radically transformative. Not every track hits the mark—some may feel like outliers in tone or energy—but the overall effect is a celebration of Prince’s genre-blurring genius. These artists may come from scenes vastly different from Prince’s musical starting point, but what unites them is admiration for his fearless artistry, sexual liberation, and revolutionary blend of funk, rock, soul, and electronic music.

Party O’ The Times received mixed reviews, largely because it was released during a period when tribute albums were flooding the market, and some saw Cleopatra’s tributes as opportunistic rather than curated labors of love. That said, for listeners who enjoy left-of-center takes on popular music—and for fans of the goth, synth-pop, and industrial scenes—it remains a cult favorite. It’s also notable for showing the reach of Prince’s influence, far beyond R&B, funk, or pop, into the heart of underground and alternative music culture.

Unlike slicker, more mainstream Prince tributes that focus on preservation and reverence, Party O’ The Times is about interpretation and transformation, channeling the rebellious spirit of Prince more than just his sound. It’s messy at times, daring at others, but always sincere. For those looking to understand how Prince’s music was perceived by artists in the periphery of the musical mainstream, this compilation offers fascinating insight—and some unexpectedly great covers.

Cleopatra Records 1999

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic but a promo hole in the bar code

Song List
Heaven 17 – Sign O’ The Times
Rebecca Romijn Stamos – Darling Nikki
Ice-T – Head
Dead Or Alive – Pop Life
Mellow Man Ace Featuring Geo – Irresistible Bitch
Gary Numan – U Got The Look
Loleatta Holoway – I Wanna Be Your Lover
Sigue Sigue Sputnik – I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Buddy Miles – Baby I’m A Star
Dale Bozzio – I Would Die 4 U (Keoki Remix)
Adeva – 1999
Information Society – Controversy
Meeks – Little Red Corvette