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 (

The July 22, 1990 edition of the Star Tribune features a major article on The Time’s reunion and new album Pandemonium, highlighting Prince’s cryptic but significant involvement in the project. Publication: Star Tribune Date: July 22, 1990 Country: United States Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Section: Music / Entertainment THE STORY The article discusses The Time’s return after years apart, their new album Pandemonium, and Prince’s behind-the-scenes role. It notes that Pr

“Jerk Out” was released in Germany on July 13, 1990 as part of the international rollout for The Time’s album Pandemonium. The single featured Prince’s significant uncredited contributions as writer, producer, and performer. The German production was also used as the UK release. THE RELEASE WHAT THE LABEL / PACKAGING SHOWS Label: Paisley Park Records / Reprise Records Format: 7" Vinyl Single (also 12", CD) Country: Germany Catalogue: 5439-19750-7 (7"), 7599-21722-0 (12"), 759

The fourth studio album by The Time, released in conjunction with the band’s appearance in the movie Graffiti Bridge. Unlike previous albums, Pandemonium featured significant input from band members alongside Prince’s contributions. It became the group’s highest-charting album to date. RELEASE / PUBLICATION DETAILS Artist: The Time Title: Pandemonium Date: July 10, 1990 Label: Warner Bros. Records / Paisley Park Format / Type: LP / Cassette / CD Country: USA / Worldwide TRACK

“Jerk Out” was the lead single from The Time’s album Pandemonium. Released on June 28, 1990 in the USA, it featured major uncredited contributions from Prince and became one of the band’s biggest hits. THE RELEASE WHAT THE LABEL / PACKAGING SHOWS Label: Paisley Park Records / Reprise Records Format: 7" Vinyl Single (also 12", Cassette, 5" CD) Country: United States (main) Catalogue: Various (5439-19750-7, 9 21701-0, etc.) “Jerk Out” was the first single from Pandemonium. Prin

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 third studio album by The Time, released in conjunction with the band’s appearance in the movie Purple Rain. Largely written, recorded, and produced by Prince (under the pseudonym Jamie Starr), Ice Cream Castle features the hits “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” and marked the group’s biggest commercial success. Artist: The Time Title: Ice Cream Castle Date: July 2/9, 1984 Label: Warner Bros. Records Format / Type: LP / Cassette / CD Country: USA TRACK LIST LP / MC Side One Ic

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?

A bold promotional advert for The Time’s second album What Time Is It?, highlighting their rapid rise under Prince’s influence during the early Minneapolis Sound era. SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Billboard Magazine Date: August 1982 Country: United States Section / Pages: Full-page promotional advertisement THE STORY This striking advert declares: “Because of these men, more than half a million people are buying Time.” It promotes the album What Time Is It? and the new single

777-9311 was the first single to be released from The Time’s second album What Time Is It?. It was released four weeks prior to the album, in the USA and The Netherlands only. The b-side, Grace, was not included on any album. Prince largely wrote and performed both tracks, although his input on both tracks was uncredited. The single only reached number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, but reached number 2 on the Billboard Black Chart. COUNTRY VARIANTS Artist: The

A vibrant hometown showcase highlighting the rising power of the Minneapolis Sound, with standout performances by The Time and Vanity 6 under Prince’s creative influence SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Star Tribune Date: March 9, 1982 Country: United States Section / Pages: Concert Review / Entertainment Feature THE STORY Michael Anthony reviews a high-energy Met Center concert featuring Prince’s protégés The Time and Vanity 6. The Time deliver a tight, theatrical, and swagger-fi

A bold full-page hometown promotional advert announcing Prince’s major return to Minneapolis for a Met Center concert with The Time and the taping of a television special. SOURCE DETAILS Publication: Star Tribune Date: March 7, 1982 Country: United States Section / Pages: Full-page promotional advertisement THE STORY This eye-catching advert promotes two special events: Prince recording and taping material for an upcoming television special, and a full-scale concert at the Me

The debut studio album by The Time, largely written, performed, and produced by Prince (uncredited), marking the first full album project he was involved in outside his own work. Publication / Source: Warner Bros. Records Date: July 29, 1981 (US) Format: Vinyl LP - BSK 3598 THE ALBUM TRACKLIST The Time was the first album by The Time. Recorded at Prince’s Kiowa Trail Home Studio in April 1981 (with one track from earlier sessions). No songwriting credits are given, but Pri

The debut single from The Time, marking the first release by the group and the first single release involving Prince (uncredited on writing and performance). Publication / Source: Warner Bros. Records Date: June 26, 1981 (US) Format: 7" Vinyl Single THE SINGLE TRACKLIST The first single from The Time’s self-titled debut album. Prince largely wrote and performed “Get It Up” (uncredited), while “After Hi School” was written by Dez Dickerson with Prince performing most instrumen