Any ideas on exactly why The Time wasn't used in the studio, certainly for the second album? After this first tour surely they had proven what a tight band they were, so you'd think Prince would want to capture that on the next album. He's often said how good they were, and I read on The Org that Prince was trying to emulate Jesse on the "777-9311" solo. He let Sheila play, let The Rebels play, had App6/Vanity6 do their own vocals -- but other than Morris, literally no input from they guys? Sure they were on Pandemonium but only as a compromise to get more $$$ from Warner Bros.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear if anyone has some insider info on The Time's studio lock-out. Or (as a wildly crazy question) did he perhaps record them and decide his versions were better; wouldn't it be cool to hear the band's version of the "What Time Is It?" album?

Because he was usually in a hurry - and it was faster and easier for him to just record everything himself.

Next!

I could understand that conceptually, but I imagine it would be faster to have 5 musicians laying multiple tracks than one having to do each track individually...

alphachannel said:

I could understand that conceptually, but I imagine it would be faster to have 5 musicians laying multiple tracks than one having to do each track individually...

Not if they decide they want "input." Which they would have.

alphachannel said:

Any ideas on exactly why The Time wasn't used in the studio, certainly for the second album? After this first tour surely they had proven what a tight band they were, so you'd think Prince would want to capture that on the next album. He's often said how good they were, and I read on The Org that Prince was trying to emulate Jesse on the "777-9311" solo. He let Sheila play, let The Rebels play, had App6/Vanity6 do their own vocals -- but other than Morris, literally no input from they guys? Sure they were on Pandemonium but only as a compromise to get more $$$ from Warner Bros.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear if anyone has some insider info on The Time's studio lock-out. Or (as a wildly crazy question) did he perhaps record them and decide his versions were better; wouldn't it be cool to hear the band's version of the "What Time Is It?" album?

He used Jesse after the 2nd album at times

I believe the Time members had more studio time on Ice Cream Castles

Genesia said:

alphachannel said:

I could understand that conceptually, but I imagine it would be faster to have 5 musicians laying multiple tracks than one having to do each track individually...

Not if they decide they want "input." Which they would have.

Agreed

OldFriends4Sale said:

alphachannel said:

Any ideas on exactly why The Time wasn't used in the studio, certainly for the second album? After this first tour surely they had proven what a tight band they were, so you'd think Prince would want to capture that on the next album. He's often said how good they were, and I read on The Org that Prince was trying to emulate Jesse on the "777-9311" solo. He let Sheila play, let The Rebels play, had App6/Vanity6 do their own vocals -- but other than Morris, literally no input from they guys? Sure they were on Pandemonium but only as a compromise to get more $$$ from Warner Bros.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear if anyone has some insider info on The Time's studio lock-out. Or (as a wildly crazy question) did he perhaps record them and decide his versions were better; wouldn't it be cool to hear the band's version of the "What Time Is It?" album?

He used Jesse after the 2nd album at times

I believe the Time members had more studio time on Ice Cream Castles

From the interviews I've read from Jesse and Jimmy, that is true. The 1st 2 were all Prince. On ICC and Pandemonium, the other members contributed. You can tell because the other 2 albums are definitely feel different than the first 2.

daPrettyman said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

He used Jesse after the 2nd album at times

I believe the Time members had more studio time on Ice Cream Castles

From the interviews I've read from Jesse and Jimmy, that is true. The 1st 2 were all Prince. On ICC and Pandemonium, the other members contributed. You can tell because the other 2 albums are definitely feel different than the first 2.

yeah. they aren't very good

errant said:

daPrettyman said:

From the interviews I've read from Jesse and Jimmy, that is true. The 1st 2 were all Prince. On ICC and Pandemonium, the other members contributed. You can tell because the other 2 albums are definitely feel different than the first 2.

yeah. they aren't very good

errant said:

daPrettyman said:

From the interviews I've read from Jesse and Jimmy, that is true. The 1st 2 were all Prince. On ICC and Pandemonium, the other members contributed. You can tell because the other 2 albums are definitely feel different than the first 2.

yeah. they aren't very good

i agree

The Time was never to be anything other than a front for Prince's own work. Prince did those Time albums because Warner wouldn't release stuff under the name Prince any faster, not because he gave a damn about Flyte Time and wanted to showcase their talent.

I'm sure a lot of it had to do with control too.

formallypickles said:

errant said:

yeah. they aren't very good

i agree

I would have to disagree. As a musician, the first 2 albums sound rushed and for the most part the songs are half-baked.

Besides the very few classics that are on the first two time records, the last two are vastly superior.

jpnyc said:

The Time was never to be anything other than a front for Prince's own work. Prince did those Time albums because Warner wouldn't release stuff under the name Prince any faster, not because he gave a damn about Flyte Time and wanted to showcase their talent.

My understanding was that it was about throwing a bone to Morris for giving Prince "Partyup". Also, it's a place to get rid of his more embarrassing material without having to take the blame for it. I think conceptually the Time is a great, entertaining thing. If you take out the characters and show and you leave only the albums, they don't stand up. At least not the first two.

Prince never claimed it was about talent anymore than it was about talent with Vanity 6. None of those women could sing. Period. It was about generating the myth, true or not, and putting feathers in his successful producer hat. In other words, ego. You have to have a healthy ego to get into this business, anyway.

steakfinger said:

formallypickles said:

i agree

I would have to disagree. As a musician, the first 2 albums sound rushed and for the most part the songs are half-baked.

Besides the very few classics that are on the first two time records, the last two are vastly superior.

half baked? ICC is corny and has 2 tracks that are interludes stretched out over several minutes. Pandemonium is a hot mess and would have been more satisfying released as Corporate World.

I'm not bothering about commenting on the musicianship, because I have to enjoy the songs to even notice that quality of the musicianship.

Genesia said:

Because he was usually in a hurry - and it was faster and easier for him to just record everything himself.

Next!

Thanks for the quick, simple, obvious answer to the question

Wow, I had no idea Pandemonium was so unappreciated! Apart from My Summertime Thang, Databank, and the opening track (whose crowd cheering obviously came from another event), I think it's really good!

As for the OP's question, I agree - it was about speed, getting the music out there fast, and making more money for 'Jamie Starr'...

eyewishuheaven said:

Wow, I had no idea Pandemonium was so unappreciated! Apart from My Summertime Thang, Databank, and the opening track (whose crowd cheering obviously came from another event), I think it's really good!

As for the OP's question, I agree - it was about speed, getting the music out there fast, and making more money for 'Jamie Starr'...

I agree. I don't listen to any of The Time's work much, but when I do put on Pandemonium, I have to say I usually enjoy it. I really love "Blondie," "Donald Trump Black Version," "Sometimes I Get Lonely" (which should have been a really big hit), and "Jerk Out."

It's known as a fact that the ONLY member of The Time to be present for the actual recordings of their first two, more well-known albums, was Morris. Prince contributed to most of the instruments, background vocals (with exceptions) and compositions. Dr. Fink is uncredited on both albums. Morris played drums on the first two Time albums. We know Lisa Coleman sang co-backgrounds on "The Stick" and Vanity 6 was singing in the background of "Cool" or at least additional bg's. But other than that, it was all Prince. And yeah he did The Time albums to give Morris something after collaborating on "Partyup".

steakfinger said:

jpnyc said:

The Time was never to be anything other than a front for Prince's own work. Prince did those Time albums because Warner wouldn't release stuff under the name Prince any faster, not because he gave a damn about Flyte Time and wanted to showcase their talent.

My understanding was that it was about throwing a bone to Morris for giving Prince "Partyup". Also, it's a place to get rid of his more embarrassing material without having to take the blame for it. I think conceptually the Time is a great, entertaining thing. If you take out the characters and show and you leave only the albums, they don't stand up. At least not the first two.

Prince never claimed it was about talent anymore than it was about talent with Vanity 6. None of those women could sing. Period. It was about generating the myth, true or not, and putting feathers in his successful producer hat. In other words, ego. You have to have a healthy ego to get into this business, anyway.

WHAT???

What Time Is It? Is a solid album beginning 2 end. The Time was a starter project that was good. Ice Cream Castles has some good songs but the concept doesn't work like the other 2.

4 me the protege albums somehow also have to fit in with the PRince album of the moment.

The Time music works for the Controversy years & 1999. Ice Cream Castles doesn't work well 4 me with Purple Rain.

But What Time Is It is a hot album with the B sides

errant said:

steakfinger said:

I would have to disagree. As a musician, the first 2 albums sound rushed and for the most part the songs are half-baked.

Besides the very few classics that are on the first two time records, the last two are vastly superior.

half baked? ICC is corny and has 2 tracks that are interludes stretched out over several minutes. Pandemonium is a hot mess and would have been more satisfying released as Corporate World.

I'm not bothering about commenting on the musicianship, because I have to enjoy the songs to even notice that quality of the musicianship.

I agree.For me,only the first two Time albums are essential.I rarely listen to the other two albums.

Ice Cream Castles isn't nearly as powerful as 'What Time Is It'.'Pandemonium' has a few great tracks and alot of filler.

Jboogiee said:

Shitttt...Prince is The Time.

thats been a known fact since the beginning so y do people wanna give prince grieve about these groups using the name when the music has always been prince.

Jboogiee said:

Shitttt...Prince is The Time.

Pretty much.

cbarnes3121 said:

Jboogiee said:

Shitttt...Prince is The Time.

thats been a known fact since the beginning so y do people wanna give prince grieve about these groups using the name when the music has always been prince.

the concept is mostly Prince, a lot of the music is Prince, the frontman is not Prince: Morris Vanity Sheila Eric Leeds Jill Jones St Paul/Susannah

During the 1999 years Prince had more members in the studio with him.

Jesse Johnson was with Morris & Prince more often during the What Time Is It Sessions

And the Time did more work on the Ice Cream Castles album

Seems like there's disagreement regarding how much Morris, Jesse Johnson, and others contributed to The Time albums. Are there interviews with any of The Time's members regarding their input on the first three albums?

It always seemed curious to me that the keyboard & guitar solos on songs like Get It Up and The Stick are so much more fluid & technically impressive than the solos on Prince's own albums at that time. Why would he record better (imho) solos on a side project than on his own albums?

controversy99 said:

Seems like there's disagreement regarding how much Morris, Jesse Johnson, and others contributed to The Time albums. Are there interviews with any of The Time's members regarding their input on the first three albums?

It always seemed curious to me that the keyboard & guitar solos on songs like Get It Up and The Stick are so much more fluid & technically impressive than the solos on Prince's own albums at that time. Why would he record better (imho) solos on a side project than on his own albums?

The audience was different. The Time's songs were long, extended funk jams geared towards the black charts whereas Prince's music had crossed over into pop.

controversy99 said:

Seems like there's disagreement regarding how much Morris, Jesse Johnson, and others contributed to The Time albums. Are there interviews with any of The Time's members regarding their input on the first three albums?

It always seemed curious to me that the keyboard & guitar solos on songs like Get It Up and The Stick are so much more fluid & technically impressive than the solos on Prince's own albums at that time. Why would he record better (imho) solos on a side project than on his own albums?

If you hear the first two albums, you can definitely tell, despite some vocals from the actual group in the WTII album, that they were mostly Prince affairs that used Morris Day as a Prince doppleganger.

Morris played drums on those albums, including ICC. Dr. Fink provided the synthesizers (but was uncredited for some reason), Prince played on everything else and provided background vocals (with Vanity and Lisa Coleman also adding in additional background vocals). I do think The Time sang in the background of 777-9311, Wide Loose, The Walk and Gigolos Get Lonely Too but Prince again was the majority background vocalist.

The Time had more input in both ICC and Pandemomium but Prince was still somewhere in the mix. Jesse Johnson definitely played guitar on Jungle Love but Prince played guitar on 777-9311.

controversy99 said:

Seems like there's disagreement regarding how much Morris, Jesse Johnson, and others contributed to The Time albums. Are there interviews with any of The Time's members regarding their input on the first three albums?

It always seemed curious to me that the keyboard & guitar solos on songs like Get It Up and The Stick are so much more fluid & technically impressive than the solos on Prince's own albums at that time. Why would he record better (imho) solos on a side project than on his own albums?

We'll probably never know the whole story on who exactly did what on those albums. Might destroy what's left of that purple "mystique" .

Prince feared being pigeonholed as just another black r&b/funk artist. He joked around and said he should've kept a couple of those songs for himself....well, probably half-joked . Probably regrets it a little bit.

As for interviews, Jimmy Jam and another member, I don't know if it was Terry or Monte, but they agreed that Prince played most of the instruments on the first two Time albums.