Mention Morris Day and The Time to people who came of age as the mid-’80s set in and a trigger is pulled that releases memories of pop-funk fun, dapper attire, arm-flapping dance moves and a singer with a sense of humor fronting a band of tight-but-loose Minnesota musicians that eclipsed the vision of the Svengali sonic architect who cast them in Purple Rain. Day arrives in Vegas for a weekend of shows with drummer Jellybean Johnson and keyboardist Monte Moir from The Time’s original lineup.
The STRAT could become The Time’s new performance home now that Day has announced he’s retired from touring and recording. In November, Day released his final album, Last Call, featuring guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Tech N9ne, Big Daddy Kane and Billy Gibbons. While Day has clashed with the estate of the late Prince regarding use of the name The Time, those issues appear to have been resolved, and Day has been able to perform hits “The Bird” and “Jungle Love” as of late without legal interference.
Things may had turned out differently if Prince were still with us. He formed The Time out of the nucleus of existing band Flyte Time, whose members included Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Jesse Johnson. Day was a high school friend and former bandmate of Prince’s who was soon accompanied by Lewis’ brother Jerome Benton as a comic foil.
The Time made danceable, good-time funk with Top 40 appeal and a lightheartedness that didn’t fit Prince’s increasingly enigmatic persona. Appearing in 1984’s Purple Rain made The Time immortal on film, with Day channeling Little Richard’s flamboyance in contrast with Prince’s James Brown authoritarianism. The two acts parted ways and The Time disintegrated.
That was good for Janet Jackson, who became a superstar thanks to Jam and Lewis bringing their production skills to her camp. Day had a hit solo album with 1990’s Color of Success and would subsequently perform with the founding lineup of The Time as The Original 7ven. Now he’s writing the last chapter in the band’s history, with Las Vegas as the setting where the fans can come one more Time.
The STRAT, 8 p.m. Sept. 29-30, starting at $75 plus tax and fee. tickets.thestrat.com
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