The Time (November 3, 1982) – What Time Is It? Album USA: LP
Released: August 25, 1982
On November 3, 1982, The Time’s second studio album, What Time Is It?, was certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 copies in the United States. Released only months earlier, the album continued the close creative relationship between The Time and Prince, who was responsible for most of the writing, recording and production.
BACKGROUND | RECORDING |
What Time Is It? was the second full-length studio album by The Time, following their self-titled debut by thirteen months. Although presented as a group record, the project was largely created by Prince with Morris Day providing the principal lead vocals. Four of the six songs were officially credited to The Time and two to Morris Day. The supplied information identifies Prince as the writer of all six compositions, with Dez Dickerson contributing lyrics to Wild And Loose. On November 3, 1982, the album achieved RIAA Gold status in the United States for 500,000 copies. | Recording took place in two principal periods. Gigolos Get Lonely Too, The Walk and Wild And Loose date from mid-January 1982, while 777-9311, Onedayi’mgonnabesomebody and I Don’t Wanna Leave You were recorded during May or June 1982. Sessions took place at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, credited as "Hollywood Sound", and Prince's Kiowa Trail home studio in Chanhassen, credited as "Starr Studios". Prince supplied background vocals and the majority of the instrumental performances, while Morris Day handled the principal vocals and played drums on three tracks. Material considered during the wider sessions included Jerk Out, International Lover, Bold Generation and Colleen. |
STYLE & THEMES | RELEASE HISTORY |
The six extended recordings develop the tightly constructed funk approach established on The Time's debut while placing Morris Day's vocal personality at the centre of the presentation. The album's lengthy arrangements are particularly apparent in The Walk at 9:30, 777-9311 at 7:57 and Wild And Loose at 7:32. The record runs for 38:36 despite containing only six tracks. Commercially, the album reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Billboard Soul LP's chart. | Warner Bros. released What Time Is It? on August 25, 1982. Three singles were drawn from the album: 777-9311, The Walk and Gigolos Get Lonely Too. The Time subsequently supported the album while appearing as one of the opening acts on Prince's 1999 Tour beginning in November 1982, alongside Vanity 6. The Time also provided musical backing for Vanity 6. On July 22, 2015, the album received a digitally remastered Japanese reissue as part of the Warner 80's Soul Classics Best Collection 1000 Series. The original six-track programme was retained without additional material. |
PERSONNEL | PRODUCTION |
Morris Day — lead vocals; drums on Wild And Loose, The Walk and Gigolos Get Lonely Too Prince — background vocals and all instruments, uncredited Jesse Johnson — credited with guitar and vocals; likely background vocals on Wild And Loose and guitar on Gigolos Get Lonely Too Jellybean Johnson — credited with drums and percussion; likely background vocals only Terry Lewis — credited with bass, co-lead and background vocals; likely background vocals on Wild And Loose and 777-9311 Jimmy Jam — credited with keyboards and vocals; likely background vocals on Wild And Loose Monte Moir — credited with keyboards and vocals; likely background vocals on Wild And Loose Susan Moonsie — assumed, uncredited background vocals on Wild And Loose Kim Upsher — assumed, uncredited background vocals on Wild And Loose Vanity — spoken vocals on The Walk, credited as Vanity 6 | Produced and arranged by Prince as The Starr Company, credited to Morris Day and The Starr Company Recording and mixing by Prince as Jamie Starr Recording and mixing by Don Batts Recording and mixing by Peggy McCreary as Peggy M. Mastered by Bernie Grundman Photography by Al Beaulieu Label: Warner Bros. Release Date: August 25, 1982 Format: LP Running Time: 38:36 Recorded At: Sunset Sound, Hollywood / Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen |
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Cat No. | Date | Format |
The Time | What Time Is It? | Warner Bros. | USA | — | August 25, 1982 | LP |
The Time | What Time Is It? | Warner Bros. | Japan | — | July 22, 2015 | Digitally Remastered Reissue |
TRACKLIST TABLE
ORIGINAL LP
SIDE A | SIDE B |
• Wild And Loose — 7:32 • 777-9311 — 7:57 • Onedayi’mgonnabesomebody — 2:27 | • The Walk — 9:30 • Gigolos Get Lonely Too — 4:40 • I Don’t Wanna Leave You — 6:30 |
CD
DISC 1 – TRACKS 1–3 | DISC 1 – TRACKS 4–6 |
• Wild And Loose — 7:32 • 777-9311 — 7:57 • Onedayi’mgonnabesomebody — 2:27 | • The Walk — 9:30 • Gigolos Get Lonely Too — 4:40 • I Don’t Wanna Leave You — 6:30 |
CHART PERFORMANCE | NOTES |
USA – BILLBOARD 200 Entry: September 25, 1982 Peak: No. 26 Weeks: 33 USA – BILLBOARD SOUL LP'S Entry: September 18, 1982 Peak: No. 2 Weeks: 38 CERTIFICATION RIAA Gold — November 3, 1982 — 500,000 copies | • November 3, 1982 is the RIAA Gold certification date rather than the album's original release date. • Original album released August 25, 1982. • All six songs are identified in the supplied material as Prince compositions, although the original credits attributed four to The Time and two to Morris Day. • Dez Dickerson contributed lyrics to Wild And Loose. • Prince's instrumental and background-vocal performances were uncredited. • Brenda Bennett and Susan Moonsie received spoken-vocal credits for The Walk as part of Vanity 6 but are identified in the supplied information as not participating in that performance. • The 2015 Japanese remaster contained no additional tracks. • Three singles were released: 777-9311 backed with Grace; The Walk backed with Onedayi’mgonnabesomebody; and Gigolos Get Lonely Too backed with I Don't Wanna Leave You. • The Jamie Starr name was used in registrations connected with Prince's authorship, but did not appear in the individual songwriting credits on the album. |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault.
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