Pandemonium

Reprise Records

The best funk band of the 80s.

After separating in the wake of their previous album Ice Cream Castle, in 1985, some members of the band had splintered off to work on a new album named Corporate World which was again all written by Prince, and was due for release under Warner Bros. on 14 November 1989, but the label insisted The Time reunite as the original line-up for the movie Graffiti Bridge. They recorded a new album which was Pandemonium, their fourth and final project as the ‘original seven’.

Unlike their three previous albums, Pandemonium features performances by The Time, on which a total of five Prince songs and four co-written with The Time appear in this album. Four other songs also intended for Corporate World were transferred and form The Time’s contribution for the Graffiti Bridge album. One of which was Jerk Out, the band’s most successful single, which hit number 1 on the R&B charts and certified Gold by RIAA, was written by Prince originally for Mazarati. The Time’s contribution to the album was recorded at Paisley Park Studios between 1989 and 1990, all of the songs being credited to The Time and have no mention of Prince’s input. Pandemonium is The Time’s only album which was released on Prince’s Warner Bros. imprint Paisley Park Records.

One interesting track is Donald Trump (Black Version), which Prince wrote and performed many of the instruments. It’s about an egotistical, rich black man who buys and objectifies women. As it turns out, Donald Trump is a Prince fan and attended a concert on the Welcome 2 America Tour performed at New York’s Madison Square Gardens, 18 January 2011, as well as a much earlier gig at Paisley Park Studios.

Pandemonium is certified Gold by RIAA on 10 July 1990, and climbed to 9 in Billboard’s R&B charts. The Time’s reunion was short-lived and disbanded soon after the album’s release.

Cover story

For the cover photo, the band actually do stand in a gigantic frying pan, it was not superimposed in afterwards.

The Time

Vocals

Morris Day

Drums

Jellybean Johnson

Guitar

Jesse Johnson

Bass Guitar

Terry Lewis

Keyboards

Jimmy Jam

Keyboards

Monte Moir

Percussion

Jerome Benton

Data

Production

Prince and The Time

Label

Paisley Park Records

Distribution

Reprise Records

Cover/Design

Jeff Katz and Deborah Norcross

Released

30 years, 9 months ago on 10 July 1990

Running Time

65:28

US Chart Peak

66

UK Chart Peak

18

Orig. Formats

Tracklist

1. Dreamland (3:08)
2. Pandemonium (4:11) ^{1 & 3}
3. Sexy Socialites (0:23)
4. Jerk Out [feat. Prince] (6:49) ^{1 & 2}
5. Yount (0:22)
6. Blondie (6:27)
7. Donald Trump (Black Version) [feat. Prince] (4:33) ^{1 & 3}
8. Chocolate [feat. Prince] (7:31) ^{1 & 2}
9. Cooking Class (0:42)
10. Skillet (6:11)
11. It's Your World (5:25)
12. Sometimes I Get Lonely (6:15)
13. Data Bank [feat. Prince] (5:36) ^{1 & 3}
14. My Summertime Thang [feat. Prince] (6:52) ^{1 & 3}
15. Pretty Little Women (0:46)

¹ Written, produced and performed by Prince.
² Released as singles.
³ Originally intended for the aborted album Corporate World.

Singles from Pandemonium

Jerk Out

Reprise Records

Released

28 June 1990

US Chart Peak

-

UK Chart Peak

-

1. Jerk Out [Sexy Mix] (8:51)
2. Jerk Out [Sexy Edit] (4:32)
3. Jerk Out [A Cappella] (2:23)
4. Jerk Out {Sexy Dub] (7:09)
5. Jerk Out [Sexy Instrumental] (7:01)

Chocolate

Reprise Records

Released

1 October 1990

US Chart Peak

-

UK Chart Peak

-

1. Chocolate [7" Remix / Edit] (4:33)
2. Chocolate [12" Remix] (7:56)
3. Chocolate [Tootsie Roll Club Mix] (6:09)
4. Chocolate [Instrumental] (7:27)
5. Chocolate [Percapella] (7:19)
6. My Drawers (4:04)

Pandemonium – review

The Time were the band who could closest rival Prince. Little wonder Prince felt them looming over his shoulder, yet he still plied the project with great material. After their four-year split, the band was reunited for its fourth and final album Pandemonium. Unlike their previous albums, which carried no more than nine songs apiece, Pandemonium was by far their longest and most varied. And it showed they still had plenty to offer left in the tank, as this album keeps relentless pace. Opening with Morris awakened from his dream, the album launches into the fantastic thumping title track. The Time meet the 90’s in characteristic form, despite Prince paring down his involvement to just six of the album’s fifteen tracks, including the singles Jerk Out and Chocolate, it is the slowed down Donald Trump (Black Version) and Sometimes I Get Lonely that end Prince’s best side-project’s run, on brilliant form.

Pandemonium is rated 4.5 out of 5 by Goldies Parade.

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