I really like it! I even don't mind the two typical Prince ballads in between that much, because there's lots of straight forward funk all over.

I agree that Prince's arrangement of "Data Bank" is much superior to the released one (overproduced!).

All in all I was quite surprised how good this album is in comparison to the Time tracks released on GB.

[Edited 10/9/11 5:38am]

I did the same thing. I gave Pandemonium a listen, while waiting for the new album. I also went back to the first album.

I like Pandemonium as is. Ballads and all. I love that Monte and Jesse got to contribute their songwriting talents alongside Prince, Jam and Lewis. I greatly prefer the production on the album, to the original tracks Prince came up with. Not saying Prince's demos (Jerk Out, Data Bank) were bad at all, but they just did not have that party flavor to them like the album does. They were not "fun".

I listened to "The Time" but I didn't really feel any satisfaction from that album like I used to. I think at this point I'm used to that broader sound you get from including the entire band. The first album sounds more like a homemade record than a studio product. It feels wrong to me.

funksterr said:

I did the same thing. I gave Pandemonium a listen, while waiting for the new album. I also went back to the first album.

I like Pandemonium as is. Ballads and all. I love that Monte and Jesse got to contribute their songwriting talents alongside Prince, Jam and Lewis. I greatly prefer the production on the album, to the original tracks Prince came up with. Not saying Prince's demos (Jerk Out, Data Bank) were bad at all, but they just did not have that party flavor to them like the album does. They were not "fun".

I listened to "The Time" but I didn't really feel any satisfaction from that album like I used to. I think at this point I'm used to that broader sound you get from including the entire band. The first album sounds more like a homemade record than a studio product. It feels wrong to me.

I agree with almost everything you said. Love the Jesse songs. Love the Jam & Lewis & Monte songs. "Data Bank" is the weakest song on the album and the intro is a little too long. Cut those two tracks out and the album is perfect. I don't care much for the Corporate World or Graffiti Bridge Time tracks.

The first Time album was Prince still finding out what the group was all about. He didn't refine their sound to what we all know as The Time today until the second album.

Pandemonium is the only real Time album because it's the only one where all the guys on the cover actually play on the tracks.

i was gona make a thread asking which album do fans prefer pandemonium or ice cream castle..

I have never considered Pandemonium a true The Time album. Other than Chocolate and Jerk Out, it all sounded more dated that Prince's 80's tracks included in it.

The only tracks that have stood the test of time are Jerk Out and Chocolate, the rest of the tracks should live and die forgotten in the 90's.

[Edited 10/9/11 19:29pm]

TrueFunkSoldier2 said:

i was gona make a thread asking which album do fans prefer pandemonium or ice cream castle..

Ice Cream Castle is the worst Time album. It's very lazy. Pandemonium is excellent--on par with What Time Is It and definitely better than the self titled first album.

V10LETBLUES said:

I have never considered Pandemonium a true The Time album. Other than Chocolate and Jerk Out, it all sounded more dated that Prince's 80's tracks included in it.

The only tracks that have stood the test of time are Jerk Out and Chocolate, the rest of the tracks should live and die forgotten in the 90's.

I remember Chocolate recieved little airplay on R&B radio where I live because people thought it was dated when it first came out. This was the era of New Jack Swing and Geto Boys though. Jerk Out had more of a rap cadence, so it was played. Bands weren't really in unless they had a hip hop/new jack influence like Tony! Toni! Tone'!. Most of the older acts that released New Jack Swing records weren't as successful (Bar Kays, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, etc.).

I still play The Time. It's raw, it's edgy, and it goes hard. It's a classic in my eyes. I'll be bumping that thing until I'm 80. It never gets old to me.

The beginning of Get It Up, The Stick, I feel the same way whenever I hear them, years later. Sick!

It gets more play than Pandemonium from me.

.........

[Edited 10/9/11 23:21pm]

I still think it is a fantastic album. I'd put Skillet and Blondie up against almost anything that was recorded by The Time. It shows their growth as well as their range. You couldn't release a greatest hits album without at least 4-5 tracks from that album (Blondie, Skillet, Chocolate, Pandemonium and Jerk Out), so I am always confused when it is being dismissed.

Personally I think it would have been a great double album with Corperate World on disk 2 as well as some of the stuff from Graffiti Bridge. Songs like Release It and Shake kick ass as well.

I agree, their ballads on Pandemonium are pretty lame, but that is the case whenever they do a ballad. I really don't think they were made for those types of songs. It isn't their strength.

sextonseven said:

Ice Cream Castle is the worst Time album. It's very lazy.

I agree.This album sounds like it was hastily thrown together.The title track doesn't 'fit' the Time's image...it's too serious,too laidback."Chili Sauce" is filler.The lone ballad "If The Kid Can't Make U Come" is silly and goes on too long."Jungle Love" and "The Bird" are decent but not outstanding.

The only song I really like is "My Drawers" which is fun and vibrant,like the best moments on What Time Is It?.

MickyDolenz said:

I remember Chocolate recieved little airplay on R&B radio where I live because people thought it was dated when it first came out. This was the era of New Jack Swing and Geto Boys though. Jerk Out had more of a rap cadence, so it was played. Bands weren't really in unless they had a hip hop/new jack influence like Tony! Toni! Tone'!. Most of the older acts that released New Jack Swing records weren't as successful (Bar Kays, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, etc.).

"Chocolate" was a poor choice for the second single.That song didn't stand a chance on R&B radio in 1990.A better choice would have been the title track,followed by "It's Your World" as the third single.

funksterr said:

I like Pandemonium as is. Ballads and all. I love that Monte and Jesse got to contribute their songwriting talents alongside Prince, Jam and Lewis. I greatly prefer the production on the album, to the original tracks Prince came up with. Not saying Prince's demos (Jerk Out, Data Bank) were bad at all, but they just did not have that party flavor to them like the album does. They were not "fun".

With the exception of "Jerkout",I'm not too thrilled with the songs that Prince gave them for this album."DataBank" and "My Summertime Thang" are weak songs."Chocolate" was old and dated."Donald Trump (Black Version)" is mediocre.

MickyDolenz said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I have never considered Pandemonium a true The Time album. Other than Chocolate and Jerk Out, it all sounded more dated that Prince's 80's tracks included in it.

The only tracks that have stood the test of time are Jerk Out and Chocolate, the rest of the tracks should live and die forgotten in the 90's.

I remember Chocolate recieved little airplay on R&B radio where I live because people thought it was dated when it first came out. This was the era of New Jack Swing and Geto Boys though. Jerk Out had more of a rap cadence, so it was played. Bands weren't really in unless they had a hip hop/new jack influence like Tony! Toni! Tone'!. Most of the older acts that released New Jack Swing records weren't as successful (Bar Kays, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, etc.).

But the thing is, all of the New Jack stuff sounds horribly dated TODAY. Skillet and Blondie sound like Winger or Motley Crew 80's b-sides

While Chocolate & Jerk Out still stand out TODAY. Originality never dates itself.

Chocolate & Jerk Out are the stand outs today and they will be the standouts 20 years from now. Whatever Prince was on during the 80's was timeless.

To me without those two tracks, no one would even be talking about this album, They were the singles for a reason. A very good reason.

[Edited 10/10/11 5:54am]

MickyDolenz said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I have never considered Pandemonium a true The Time album. Other than Chocolate and Jerk Out, it all sounded more dated that Prince's 80's tracks included in it.

The only tracks that have stood the test of time are Jerk Out and Chocolate, the rest of the tracks should live and die forgotten in the 90's.

I remember Chocolate recieved little airplay on R&B radio where I live because people thought it was dated when it first came out. This was the era of New Jack Swing and Geto Boys though. Jerk Out had more of a rap cadence, so it was played. Bands weren't really in unless they had a hip hop/new jack influence like Tony! Toni! Tone'!. Most of the older acts that released New Jack Swing records weren't as successful (Bar Kays, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, etc.).

I like "Chocolate" a lot, but I agree, it did not stand a chance on R&B radio at the time in the early 90s. I suspect WB knew this and released a promo video for the track that was of a more contemporary sounding remix. At least that was the only version of the video that I had ever seen.

sextonseven said:

TrueFunkSoldier2 said:

i was gona make a thread asking which album do fans prefer pandemonium or ice cream castle..

Ice Cream Castle is the worst Time album. It's very lazy. Pandemonium is excellent--on par with What Time Is It and definitely better than the self titled first album.

Ice Cream Castle is ...meh...I dont listen to it often..probably the least listened to Time album. They dont really sound happy on it to be honest.

paisleypark4 said:

sextonseven said:

Ice Cream Castle is the worst Time album. It's very lazy. Pandemonium is excellent--on par with What Time Is It and definitely better than the self titled first album.

Ice Cream Castle is ...meh...I dont listen to it often..probably the least listened to Time album. They dont really sound happy on it to be honest.

Morris had quit the group before it was recorded just like Monte Moir and Jellybean Johnson had after Jam & Lewis were let go. Jellybean was persuaded to return. Morris had to return because he was under contract to do the movie. After it was done, he left for good. Prince wanted Jesse to front the group, but Jesse wasn't interested in not having any input, so he quit. So the leftovers were made into The Family. Jellybean still worked with Jimmy, Terry, & Monte at Flyte Tyme at the same time. I guess Prince had no problem with this.

I'll take Skillet over everything else on that record. I like their version of Databank, too.

MickyDolenz said:

paisleypark4 said:

Ice Cream Castle is ...meh...I dont listen to it often..probably the least listened to Time album. They dont really sound happy on it to be honest.

Morris had quit the group before it was recorded just like Monte Moir and Jellybean Johnson had after Jam & Lewis were let go. Jellybean was persuaded to return. Morris had to return because he was under contract to do the movie. After it was done, he left for good. Prince wanted Jesse to front the group, but Jesse wasn't interested in not having any input, so he quit. So the leftovers were made into The Family. Jellybean still worked with Jimmy, Terry, & Monte at Flyte Tyme at the same time. I guess Prince had no problem with this.

Yeah I figured it was because of the break up that the whole vibe of the album turned out to sound...dark and dreary. I mean yeah there are classics on it..but you can tell the free funky vibe of the previous two albums were all but gone. Heck, and the Family turned out to be a great album and a Prince cult band all on it's own as we see today. Everything happens for a reason.

There are a couple I would rather hear too, but not the whole album. Blondie, Pandemonium, Jerk Out, It's Your World and Chocolate rock hard...much much more than Ice Cream Castles.

[Edited 10/10/11 11:06am]

Funny how even with the Time, no one is more successful after leaving Paisley Park. With the exception of Jam and Lewis, no one made it bigger than they did while working with/for Prince. Attribute as much of that fact to Prince as you see fit - I am just making the observation. I mean, what dod Jellybean and Monte have lined up that was better than The Time? Is that why they both returned to Morris Day and the Time to play old school festivals at BBQs and fairs?

runawayslave said:

Funny how even with the Time, no one is more successful after leaving Paisley Park. With the exception of Jam and Lewis, no one made it bigger than they did while working with/for Prince.

Carmen Electra

runawayslave said:

Funny how even with the Time, no one is more successful after leaving Paisley Park. With the exception of Jam and Lewis, no one made it bigger than they did while working with/for Prince. Attribute as much of that fact to Prince as you see fit - I am just making the observation. I mean, what dod Jellybean and Monte have lined up that was better than The Time? Is that why they both returned to Morris Day and the Time to play old school festivals at BBQs and fairs?

Jesse Johnson's solo debut was very successful. At the time he had the biggest selling

solo debut for an r&b solo artist. His Can You Help Me 12 inch backed with Free World

which got a huge ton of airplay was huge too. His next album Shockadelica didn't quite

live up to his debut sales wise but was critically acclaimed. Jellybean and Monte had other

production products outside of the Time. Jellybean worked with Nona Hendryx and Mint

Condition on their debut album and Monte worked with Deja and Force MD's just to name

a few. Not criticizing you but i just don't get the point in trying to tear the Time down

in relation to their success with Prince just to get a point across. I wonder if these Prince

die hards actually believe music begins and ends with him.

runawayslave said:

Funny how even with the Time, no one is more successful after leaving Paisley Park. With the exception of Jam and Lewis, no one made it bigger than they did while working with/for Prince. Attribute as much of that fact to Prince as you see fit - I am just making the observation. I mean, what dod Jellybean and Monte have lined up that was better than The Time? Is that why they both returned to Morris Day and the Time to play old school festivals at BBQs and fairs?

Both Morris and Jesse had some R&B success with solo albums. Jesse stopped recording because his label wanted him to do New Jack Swing and he wasn't interested in that. Morris 1st solo album is still in print, so it must get catalog sales. For the most part, after Diamonds and Pearls, none of Prince's albums were really popular either. Today Prince no different than The Stones, Bon Jovi, or Paul McCartney, basically an oldies act. Prince is a concert draw like them, but not many people are buying his new stuff.

[Edited 10/10/11 14:32pm]

MickyDolenz said:

paisleypark4 said:

Ice Cream Castle is ...meh...I dont listen to it often..probably the least listened to Time album. They dont really sound happy on it to be honest.

Morris had quit the group before it was recorded just like Monte Moir and Jellybean Johnson had after Jam & Lewis were let go. Jellybean was persuaded to return. Morris had to return because he was under contract to do the movie. After it was done, he left for good. Prince wanted Jesse to front the group, but Jesse wasn't interested in not having any input, so he quit. So the leftovers were made into The Family. Jellybean still worked with Jimmy, Terry, & Monte at Flyte Tyme at the same time. I guess Prince had no problem with this.

and Gerry Hubbard (bass) + Mark Cardenas (keyboards) became part of Jesse's Revue

phunkdaddy said:

runawayslave said:

Funny how even with the Time, no one is more successful after leaving Paisley Park. With the exception of Jam and Lewis, no one made it bigger than they did while working with/for Prince. Attribute as much of that fact to Prince as you see fit - I am just making the observation. I mean, what dod Jellybean and Monte have lined up that was better than The Time? Is that why they both returned to Morris Day and the Time to play old school festivals at BBQs and fairs?

Jesse Johnson's solo debut was very successful. At the time he had the biggest selling

solo debut for an r&b solo artist. His Can You Help Me 12 inch backed with Free World

which got a huge ton of airplay was huge too. His next album Shockadelica didn't quite

live up to his debut sales wise but was critically acclaimed. Jellybean and Monte had other

production products outside of the Time. Jellybean worked with Nona Hendryx and Mint

Condition on their debut album and Monte worked with Deja and Force MD's just to name

a few. Not criticizing you but i just don't get the point in trying to tear the Time down

in relation to their success with Prince just to get a point across. I wonder if these Prince

die hards actually believe music begins and ends with him.

+ Andre Cymone's production for Jody Watley was going solid as well

MickyDolenz said:

runawayslave said:

Funny how even with the Time, no one is more successful after leaving Paisley Park. With the exception of Jam and Lewis, no one made it bigger than they did while working with/for Prince. Attribute as much of that fact to Prince as you see fit - I am just making the observation. I mean, what dod Jellybean and Monte have lined up that was better than The Time? Is that why they both returned to Morris Day and the Time to play old school festivals at BBQs and fairs?

Both Morris and Jesse had some R&B success with solo albums. Jesse stopped recording because his label wanted him to do New Jack Swing and he wasn't interested in that. Morris 1st solo album is still in print, so it must get catalog sales. For the most part, after Diamonds and Pearls, none of Prince's albums were really popular either. Today, Prince is no different than The Stones, Bon Jovi, or Paul McCartney, basically an oldies act. Prince is a concert draw like them, but not many people are buying his new stuff.

Exactly! It's crazy when people diss the Time members,saying that they're not successful these days when Prince himself hasn't had a hit album since Diamonds And Pearls.I don't see why some fans have to put other musicians down,just to make Prince look better.

I still have my "Pandemonium" cassette tape!!!! I remember my parents bought it for me when the album came out...I think I was about 8 yrs old but I loved the album. My favorites are:

Skillet

Chocolate

Databank