The Time is a band with roots that extend back to the very beginnings of Prince's musical career. Prior to forming in 1981, many of the members of the Time — including Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jellybean Johnson, and Monte Moir — performed together at North Minneapolis Battle of the Bands showcases and concerts billed as Flyt Tyme (sometimes stylized as Flyte Tyme or Flyte Time), a band that would go head-to-head against Prince's first band, Grand Central. When Prince had the opportunity to produce a new project for Warner Bros., he recruited his musical rivals to form a band and tapped Morris Day, his drummer from Grand Central, to be the Time's new lead singer.
Jesse and Morris and Jerome and Jimmy and Terry had the makings of one of the greatest R&B bands in history.”
Prince, WHYT Radio, 1986
Although all of the Time’s founding members are credited on their debut album, The Time, including new guitarist Jesse Johnson, the album was almost entirely recorded by Prince alone (Morris Day would later overdub his lead vocals onto the tracks). The Time would eventually have the opportunity to record together in the studio, but their debut stands apart as an album that allowed Prince to keep exploring his funkier side, even as the solo material he released under his own name evolved to incorporate many other styles of music.
The Time Album Credits
Morris Day vocals, drums Prince all background vocals and instruments Dr. Fink synthesizers Lisa Coleman background vocals
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