10 Dark Horse Albums By Legendary Bands

By the mid-'80s, it was clear that the decade really belonged to Prince. After starting off strong with 1999, the Purple One's run through his opus Purple Rain led to one of the most impressive album streaks in history, which would come to a head on his mammoth double album Sign O the Times. When talking about these records though, why do people keep bringing up Parade as just a stop-gap?

Granted, the background behind the songs may have something to do with it. Looking to just repeat the magic he had with Purple Rain, Parade is a soundtrack to Prince's self produced movie Under the Cherry Moon, which turned into his first real dud at the box office. Aside from the weird story laced throughout the cinematic version of this, the soundtrack actually has some of the greatest lowlights of Prince's career, including one smash hit with Kiss.

On the other hand, there's also some amazing songs that work outside of the movie's context, from the amazing dance beat behind Girls and Boys to the soul-shredding closer Sometimes It Snows In April, which is so emotional it could actually give Purple Rain a run for its money. While the movie itself is entirely skippable in the grand scheme of things, it would be a crime if you didn't at least give the record proper a shot.