[What Time Is It?] -- The Time, or Morris Day and the Time, was probably the most successful of the artists associated with Prince. And by "associated with," I'm referring to an agreement Prince had with Warner Bros. This agreement was specified by a contractual clause giving Prince a unique arrangement whereby he could bring other artists under his purple wings, so to speak. After recruiting the artists, Prince mentored them, recording and producing them for WB.
And on 8/25/1982, forty years ago this week, The Time released What Time Is It?, their second studio album under Prince's tutelage. On the record, members of The Time were given writing and performing credits. However, all the tracks were written by Prince, and he most likely also played all the instruments. The Time's own front man, Morris Day, did record lead vocals. I guess songwriting and studio work were part of Prince's mentorship. (And, really, at the time, who wouldn't have wanted Prince to write and record for them?)
The album's title was something Morris Day often exclaimed during stage shows, so much so that it was something of his trademark. This record was brief, having only six tracks and totaling a little over half an hour of music, but it reached #26 and #2 on the US Billboard 200 and the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts respectively. The album's three singles -- "777-9311," "The Walk," and "Gigolos Get Lonely Too" -- all charted on the R&B charts as well as the US Disco Top 80 chart.
Flashback: What Time Is It? (August 25, 1982)
That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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