We all know the story: Morris writes "Partyup" for his band Enterprise and Prince takes the song but in return forms the Time around Morris. I have no insider knowlege to offer but I can't help think there's a lot missing from the accepted version of this tale...

For starters why was it so important to Prince that he claim ownership of Partyup; first thought would be to simply give Morris writing credit (or at least co-writing credit) and be done -- more on that later. I've also heard he offered Morris money for the song, as much as $50,000 but that sounds like a LOT of $$ for one song in 1980, and at that stage in Prince's career did have access to $50k? Probably not...

Regarding Prince forming the band for Morris (another version of the story says the Prince & Andre together conceived The Time), it sounds like Prince had already taken a cue from "The Idolmaker" and used 4 members of the P-Funk inspired Flyte Tyme to create the The Time, having first considered Sue Ann Carwell, Cynthia Johnson and later Alexander O'neal to front the group. Supposedly O'Neal either didn't fit the image or wanted too much money so enter Morris Day. So, did Prince simply plug Morris into a concept that was already fully formed? (this is seems to be the story supported by the official "Morris Day and the Time" website). I wonder why Prince chose to return the favor by putting Morris in a band that wouldn't record a note in the studio for 10 years -- why not record a Morris Day solo album and have the Time as his backing band for live shows? (just an opinion)

I guess the biggest question is, why was Prince so in love with Partyup? Given, I like the song but come on! And if Prince this was the Jam of the Century why was it not a single or performed more often?

To further confuse things I found a post on the Org with Jellybean claiming Prince & Morris wrote Partyup together -- the vinyl re-release of Dirty Mind also lists Morris as co-writer; maybe this is the simple truth and all the rest falsified legend.

Now i'm giving myself a headache -- I'll hang up and listen to your comments...

Where on the vinyl remaster of Dirty Mind is Morris listed as a co-writer? Doctor Fink is listed as a co-writer on "Dirty Mind," but I don't see any references to Morris on the sleeve or the label. Also, Prince is still listed as the sole writer in the ASCAP database.

Prince must have liked the song since he chose it for his debut performance on SNL.

electricberet said:

Where on the vinyl remaster of Dirty Mind is Morris listed as a co-writer? Doctor Fink is listed as a co-writer on "Dirty Mind," but I don't see any references to Morris on the sleeve or the label. Also, Prince is still listed as the sole writer in the ASCAP database.

Saw it here:

http://www.vvinyl.com/v/p...-mind/1513

alphachannel said:

electricberet said:

Where on the vinyl remaster of Dirty Mind is Morris listed as a co-writer? Doctor Fink is listed as a co-writer on "Dirty Mind," but I don't see any references to Morris on the sleeve or the label. Also, Prince is still listed as the sole writer in the ASCAP database.

Saw it here:

http://www.vvinyl.com/v/p...-mind/1513

Interesting. I don't see a credit to Day anywhere on the actual album. Maybe whoever did that page just decided to add it.

electricberet said:

alphachannel said:

Saw it here:

http://www.vvinyl.com/v/p...-mind/1513

Interesting. I don't see a credit to Day anywhere on the actual album. Maybe whoever did that page just decided to add it.

Now that I think about it, they probably got it on Wikipedia. I'm starting to see holes in that story too.

Jboogiee said:

I don't see y one would doubt the "official" (actually unofficial) story.

Check Princevault: it was $10,000, which isn't much by the music industry's standards: Prince would get it back with the royalties he'd get instead of Morris.

Prince is known for making odd decisions and change plans at the last second, so I'm not surprised by anything in that story.

purpledoveuk said:

purpledoveuk said:

And now Alexander can be booked to sing at weddings...I shit you not

Jboogiee said:

Can't remember where I read it but years ago I read that Prince liked the song so much that he offered Morris money(50k wasn't the number,it was less) or he would build a band around him. As far as Alexander O Neal,there was a Rolling Stone interview where he said he was supposed to be the singer but him & Prince didn't gel ,cause he was the type to if he wanted to smoke a joint before the show he would & Prince wasn't down for that.

He'll probably mention it on his coming "Unsung" episode this month...

databank said:

When it comes to the musical history of Prince, I never know what to believe, I dont think any of what we know, to be complete, but I believe the statements that have been provided with facts and several witness accounts, to be closes to the truth. Prince is just a big ole mystery & i like it

As far as this story goes, Morris wrote it, Princed liked it, Prince bought it, Prince put Morris as The Time's lead=The End (That's all that can be proven, inless one of us here was there, or one of us some how found a way into P's mind, or built a time machine)

I guess we'll never really know. But I guess you can kinda hear Morris and The Time doing it had Prince not asked him to let him use it for Dirty Mind lol

i believe the story. And the reasoning, Prince wanted to maintain his "I write all my own songs" status

^ Yeah I think that, too. Giving co-credit to Fink for Dirty Mind had probably broken his heart so much that he couldn't give yet another co-writing credit

Timmy84 said:

Jboogiee said:

Timmy84 said:

He'll probably mention it on his coming "Unsung" episode this month...

I will be watching it.

What's this?

databank said:

Jboogiee said:

Timmy84 said: I will be watching it.

What's this?

http://www.tvoneonline.co...sp?sid=902

The show's new season starts next Monday with Deniece Williams. Alexander's episode will be on at a later date this month I believe.

Party Up appears to give Prince the structure for a lot of songs that came after, and he essentially is reprising elements of it on most of his jam breakdowns played during a good portion of his career. On the practice tapes with the Revolution where they're coming up with new songs, a similar groove is his fall back.

The Times new wave synth stabs are an exaggerated version of that same formula. It's different than Soft and Wet or Dirty Mind, but you do hear it on Head, and later Baby I'm a Star.

No idea what Morris Day's role was.