3 Things to Know About Prince's Drum Sounds on Sign o' the Times

The Linn LM-1 drum machine provided most of the drum sounds on the album. Prince relied heavily on this machine for its crisp, punchy samples.

The Fairlight CMI synthesizer replaced other instruments in the drum mix. Prince used it to layer and substitute sounds, creating a unique, synthetic texture.

The result is one of the best-sounding drum albums of the 1980s. Despite being entirely machine-made, the drum tracks retain deep soul and groove.