Released: July 10, 1990

Featuring: Donnie Simpson

Songwriter: Prince

Producer: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

Hey, are y'all ready to party up in here?
I said are you ready to party up in here?
Then I want you to put yo' hands together
Come on, put yo' hands together and stomp yo' feet
And welcome to the stage Donnie Simpson
Come on y'all, bring it up. Make some noise!

Alright, how y'all doin' tonight?
Well, Popeye already asked if you ready to party and obviously you are
I can't hear you, are you ready to party?
Alright, I am so honored to be here to night
I've M.C.'d a lot of shows in my time
But a... this one is the most special ever
Because it gives me an opportunity to bring some guys together that I love
I mean they're like brothers to me. They really are
And they are the reason that I am here tonight
You know a lot of groups split up. It happens all the time
I think there should be a law against it
Especially when it's somebody like... THE TIME!
We've been talkin' about the reunion for a year now. It has finally happened
And what better place for it to happen than right here in Minneapolis
Give it up, my brothers: THE TIME!

What time is it?
.... Time to get down to the club. And you ain't gonna like what's happenin'
Oh Lord!

Ah, excuse me, excuse me
.... Morris, Morris!
Get these people out of my way
.... Would you please?
Yeah, I remember you baby, but excuse me
Jerome?
.... Morris?
Ain't this my club?
.... Your club, Morris
Fellas?
.... Yeah!
Ain't this my club?
.... Your club, Morris
What is this playin'? Somebody stop the music
Y'all really wanna dance?
.... Yeah!
Hit it!

​The Time

The Time grew from the seeds of the Minneapolis music scene in the early 1980’s, galvanized by the creative drive and commercial success of rock-soul juggernaut Prince. The band began as the fruit of a wager Prince made with band leader Morris Day over the song “Partyup” (originally by a band called Enterprise). After the song’s success, Prince agreed to help Morris put together a band.

The nucleus of The Time consisted of drummer Jellybean Johnson, keyboardists Jimmy Jam and Monte Moir, and bassist Terry Lewis, pulled from their local band Flyte Tyme. Guitar demigod Jesse Johnson endeavored to join Prince’s band, but that band didn’t need a guitarist, so he shuffled into The Time’s lineup. Jerome Benton was a promoter from the aforementioned band Enterprise, and was eventually brought on as a comic foil to Morris Day for their stage act.

The band’s debut self-titled album featured two Top 10 R&B hits with “Get It Up” and “Cool.” Their follow-up What Time Is It? delivered an even higher chart peak with “777-9311”. But the band truly hit their stride once featured in Prince’s blockbuster music film Purple Rain. Their songs “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” from the film would become huge R&B and dance hits and propel their third album Ice Cream Castle to #3 on the R&B charts.