Ok....I suppose I know the answer to this old question but everytime I listen to the guitar solo in this song I have to ask...was it really Prince or was it Jesse?
[Edited 8/16/05 18:19pm]

Well, according to this site
http://www.purplemusic.my..._time.html

it was Prince who played all instruments, and I believe it´s really him. We know he played the bass (he said so), so it would have been very easy for him to record that solo. Great song, great solo by the way.

Courtesy of http://www.purplemusic.my...ords1.html

777-9311 (8:04) [lyrics]
recorded May/June 1982 by [Prince] at his home studio [1] • performed by [Prince] (all instruments and vocals) with [Morris Day] (additional lead vocals) • final mixing 20th-21st July 1982 at Sunset Sound [7]
written by [Prince] (uncredited) • registered to [Prince] (as Jamie Starr)
finally released 1982 on the album [What Time Is It?] • 1982 on the promo 12"-single [777-9311] • 1982 on the 12"-single [777-9311] • 1995 on the sampler [Planet Funk] • 1997 on the sampler [Phat Trax]

777-9311 (edit) (3:28)
finally released 1982 on the 7"-single [777-9311] • 1982 on the 7"-single [The walk]

They say that Jesse Johnson didn't really play on a time album until icecream castles.

thedog said:

I don't think anybody did except Prince and maybe Dez and Lisa.

doeineffect said:

but didnt prince just play pretty much what jesse had recorded? in jesse's style?

Prince played the guitar in one of his own styles. Jesse had to imitate that style at the live shows. That's one of the reasons he became more and more frustrated as a member of THE TIME. That's also one of the reasons he finally leave the band (or get fired - whatever you want).
Jesse is really interested to play with the guys again, but he didn't like to play the old songs Prince has written for them. He likes to play other / new stuff. And I have to say that I would like to hear some new songs from the masters of cool...

Peace

Purple Music

As some orgers on here know, I had the experience in recording with Morris and Andre Cymone back in 95. I recorded a guitar solo for Morris on a song called "Skirt". This was recorded at Andre's loft in L.A. Anyway, I had the chance to talk to Andre and Morris about all kinds if things. This was a specific thing that I asked them, was it Prince who played the lead on 777-9311. They both said yes, that it was DEFINATELY P on lead. I said that I thought that it was, but because of the wah-wah effect and the bar, which P never used at that time, made me wonder. Morris said that Prince recorded it that way cuz that's what Jessie always used when they played live and he wanted to record it that way to show Jessie that he could do it too. There was a compettition thing from the start between P and Jessie, so that had a lot to do with it.

doeineffect said:

True. Jessie went off with "Jungle Love".

One of those uptown books had a story that prince when to the Times rehersal one time and threw Jesse a tape and said here is your new album. it was the what time is it album.

Rhastus said:

Yep. He also went on to say "Hey Jessie, you play great guitar." Refering to "777".

blackguitaristz said:

Man, i would love to pick your brain on that Andre/Morris experience. I am going to see The Time next month. I heard Jesse has been showing up for some gigs. Do you know about that?

hey they stole my phone #

blackguitaristz said:

That's fucked up.

blackguitaristz said:

Damn, that song is off da hook, been listening to the live version lately on the "Its about time" cd. Prince wrote it, he played it, jesse can play it too, but who wrote it? Prince. He is the man. W/out him, the Time would not be what it became, and without him, they may have been more...He was as good for them as he was bad..maybe...

thepope2the9s said:

No truer words.

squirrelgrease said:

Cool...that's pretty much what I had read somewhere as well. That solo is a BEAST! As his short guitar solo on The Walk.

blackguitaristz said:

Fascinating!

SteamForest said:

Agreed. I wish I could seperate it out from the rest of the song.

whodknee said:

lmao!Prince is a muthafucka


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[Edited 8/27/05 9:41am]

heckaslammin said:

Jesse has only played one show with the time in the last 15 years. That was new years eve last year