The Time: Prince's Funk Empire

Jimmy Jam (James Samuel Harris III) (born June 6, 1959) is an American keyboardist, songwriter, producer, and founding member of The Time. Known for his sophisticated synthesizer work, infectious grooves, and visionary production style, he became one of the most important architects of the Minneapolis Sound. PRINCE CONNECTION Prince personally recruited Jimmy Jam (along with Terry Lewis and other members of the band Flyte Tyme) in 1981 to form The Time. Jimmy served as the gr

Rhino Records celebrates Black Music Month with a premium Rhino Reserve reissue of The Time’s influential 1984 album Ice Cream Castle. This limited-edition 180g vinyl pressing faithfully reproduces the original Minneapolis Sound classic, featuring the smash hits “Jungle Love” and “The Bird”. RELEASE / PUBLICATION DETAILS Artist: The Time Title: Ice Cream Castle Date: June 3, 2026 Label: Warner Bros. Records / Rhino Reserve Format / Type: LP (180g Vinyl) Country: United States

The legendary Minneapolis funk band created, mentored, and largely controlled by Prince — one of the most successful and influential acts in the entire Paisley Park family. OVERVIEW The Time was a six-to-seven-piece R&B/funk band formed in Minneapolis in 1981. Known for their tight grooves, humorous lyrics, flashy stage presence, and the “Minneapolis Sound,” they became one of the most important groups of the 1980s funk scene. While officially led by Morris Day, the band was

Rhino and Warner Records deliver a vibrant 40th anniversary expanded reissue of The Time’s groundbreaking 1981 self-titled debut album. Pressed on limited-edition red and white vinyl, this double-LP set includes the original album plus all single edits, celebrating the explosive birth of the Minneapolis Sound. RELEASE / PUBLICATION DETAILS Artist: The Time Title: The Time Date: July 16, 2021 (Original: July 29, 1981) Label: Warner Records / Rhino Records Format / Type: 2xLP (

Concert review of Jesse Johnson’s Revue making their local debut at First Avenue in Minneapolis, following the breakup of The Time. PUBLICATION: Date: May 31, 1985 Country: United States Section / Pages: Entertainment / Review (Page 2C) Title: Johnson revue a bit short in local debut THE STORY Jon Bream reviews Jesse Johnson’s Revue performance at First Avenue. While noting Johnson’s charisma, strong backing band, and hits like “Be Your Man,” the review criticizes the show fo

A sharp, stylish debut that proves the Minneapolis Sound was never a one‑man universe — Jesse Johnson steps forward with authority.

The Time released “Ice Cream Castles” as the lead single from their third album on May 30, 1984 in the USA. It was issued with “Tricky” as the B-side, a track written and performed by Prince (uncredited). 7" Commercial Single (7-29247) A-Side RELEASE DETAILS Artist: The Time Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" Vinyl Single Country: USA Released: May 30, 1984 Genre: Funk, R&B, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Ice Cream Castles” Written by: Prince & The Time Produced by: Prince &

The Time released a rare variant of the “Ice Cream Castles” single in Brazil featuring a different B-side — “My Drawers” — instead of the usual “Tricky” found on all other releases. 7" Commercial Single (7-29247) Front RELEASE DETAILS Artist: The Time Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" Vinyl Single Country: Brazil Catalog Number: 16.269 Released: 1984 Genre: Funk, R&B, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Ice Cream Castles” Length: 4:20 B-Side: “My Drawers” Length: 3:55 TRACK LIS

A striking 1983 concert poster promoting Prince’s performance at the Rockford Metro Centre with special guests The Time and Vanity 6 — a classic example of the high-energy Minneapolis Sound package tours during the early 1980s, right before the Purple Rain explosion. Publication: Concert Poster Date: March 17, 1983 (7:30 PM) Country: United States Title: PRINCE (with Special Guest THE TIME and Vanity 6) The lime-green poster prominently displays a stylish black-and-white phot

A strutting Minneapolis funk parade — The Time on the label, Prince in the studio, delivering one of the sharpest cuts from What Time Is It?