The Time (January 11, 1985) The Bird - Single 7"/12" US/UK/EU

The Time’s Funky Bird Dance — Morris Day’s final fling with the original lineup

RELEASE DETAILS

Date: January 11, 1985

Catalogue: 7-29045 (7") / 0-20315 (12") Format: 7" Single, 12" Maxi-Single Country: United States (with UK & Germany variants)

A-Side: “The Bird (Edit)” – 3:41 B-Side: “My Drawers (Edit)” – 3:42

THE STORY Released on January 11, 1985 as the third and final single from The Time’s third album Ice Cream Castle, “The Bird” was a high-energy funk track built around Morris Day’s charismatic lead vocals and the band’s signature Minneapolis sound. The 7" featured edited versions of both tracks, while the 12" included a longer remix of “The Bird.” The single sleeve credited “Morris Day & The Time” and featured a photo of the original band (including Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, but notably without Jerome Benton), while the labels simply read “The Time.”

CONTEXT & NOTES

This release came near the end of the original Time lineup before major changes (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis had already been fired by Prince). “The Bird” became a dancefloor favourite with its catchy “bawk-bawk” hook and party energy. The 12" remix extended the funk groove, making it popular in clubs. The single marked the final chapter for this incarnation of the band before Morris Day pursued solo work.

TRACK LIST

US 7" Single (7-29045)

A. The Bird (Edit) – 3:41

B. My Drawers (Edit) – 3:42

US 12" Maxi-Single (0-20315)

A. The Bird (Remix) – 6:25

B. My Drawers (Edit) – 3:42

INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS

Germany 7" (929094-7)

A. The Bird (Edit)

B. My Drawers (Edit)

CHART PERFORMANCE US Billboard Hot 100: Peak No. 36

US Billboard Black Singles: Peak No. 33

US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco: Peak No. 6

PERSONNEL

• Morris Day – lead vocals

• The Time – instruments and backing vocals

• Produced by Morris Day & The Time (with Prince’s influence)

PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS

• Iconic front sleeve with “Morris Day & The Time” credit and original band photo on building steps

• Bright yellow “Specially-Priced 2-Cut Maxi Single” back sleeve on 12" editions

WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS Sleeve features “Morris Day & The Time” credit with original band photo (minus Jerome Benton). Labels credit simply “The Time.” Classic mid-80s Warner Bros. design with bold typography and purple/pink accents.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Cool (Part I) / Cool (Part II) (Warner Bros. UK K 17920, 26 Feb 1982)

• Ice Cream Castles (edit.) / Tricky (Warner Bros. UK W 9247, 8 Jun 1984)

• Jerk Out (Edit) / Mo Jerk Out

For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

SOURCES Prince Vault • Discogs • Billboard charts

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

ARTIST — The Time

ARTIST CATEGORY — The Time Singles ARTIST ITEM — The Bird (Single) ARTIST ATTACHMENT — Warner Bros. Records ARTIST YEAR — 1985