"The Bird" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Time | ||||
from the album Ice Cream Castle | ||||
A-side | "The Bird" | |||
B-side | "My Drawers" | |||
Written | 1983 | |||
Published | 1984 | |||
Released | January 11, 1985 | |||
Recorded | October 4, 1983 | |||
Venue | First Avenue | |||
Genre | Pop, funk, funk rock | |||
Length | 7" edit: 3:41 Album: 7:40 Dance Remix: 6:25 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Composer(s) | Prince (as Jamie Starr), Morris Day, Jesse Johnson | |||
Lyricist(s) | Prince (as Jamie Starr) | |||
Producer(s) | Prince (as The Starr ★ Company) | |||
The Time singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Purple Rain singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"The Bird" is a song from The Time's third album, Ice Cream Castle . The song was initially recorded in the studio in 1983 with all instruments by Prince,except guitar,which was performed by Jesse Johnson. [1] This version was replaced by a live recording with the full band at the First Avenue on October 4,1983. This is the first Time song to be released both live and featuring The Time as a band,rather than primarily Prince with Morris Day on vocals. The song has become a signature number for the band and continues to be played in every Time concert to this day. In addition,two additional live versions have since been released:one on Prince's Rave Un2 the Year 2000 DVD and one recorded at the House of Blues in 1998 for Morris Day's 2004 album It's About Time .
The title of the upbeat number refers to a dance in which the arms are flapped,mimicking a bird's wings. Morris Day also squawks throughout the song. The song suggests that by "doing the bird",one can overcome their troubles. "The Bird" is a funk-rock offering,using both a drum machine and live drumming by Jellybean Johnson. Guitar takes the background for a funk effect,while keyboards play a dominant role in the song. After the main lyrics,there is an extended instrumental section to allow the band to dance. [2] A "Dance Remix" of the song was released as a 12" single. The B-side to the single was the rocker,"My Drawers".
John Leland of Spin said the song,"comes close enough to capturing the band's leopard-skin razzle-dazzle to give the overextended Kid a run for his considerable money. The best song from Purple Rain is the best slice of black rock on the market." [3]
Credits sourced from Duane Tudahl [4]
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100 [5] | 36 |
US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco [6] | 6 |
US Billboard Hot Black Singles [7] | 33 |
The Time,also known as Morris Day and the Time and The Original 7ven,is an American funk rock band founded in Minneapolis in 1981. They contributed to the development of the Minneapolis sound,an eclectic fusion of funk,R&B,new wave,synth-pop and dance. Led by singer-songwriter Morris Day,the band members are known for having been close associates of musician Prince,and are arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him,achieving success with singles such as "Get It Up","The Bird","Cool","777-9311","Jungle Love" and "Jerk Out".
"I Would Die 4 U" is a song by Prince and the Revolution,the fourth single in the US from their 1984 album,Purple Rain. The up-tempo dance song was a top 10 hit—the final one from the album—in the US,reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Purple Rain" is a song by the American musician Prince and his backing band the Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name,which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name starring Prince,and was released as the third single from the album. The song is a power ballad that combines rock,R&B,gospel,and orchestral music.
Ice Cream Castle is a 1984 album by The Time. Their third album,it consists of six tracks in the funk-pop or ballad genre,and it was produced and arranged by Prince as "The Starr ★Company".
"Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution,from the album Purple Rain. It is the opening track on both the album and the film Purple Rain. "Let's Go Crazy" was one of Prince's most popular songs,and was a staple for concert performances,often segueing into other hits. When released as a single,the song became Prince's second number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100,and also topped the two component charts,the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Dance Club Play charts,as well as becoming a UK Top 10 hit. The B-side was the lyrically controversial "Erotic City". In the UK,the song was released as a double A-side with "Take Me with U".
"Take Me with U" is a song by Prince and the Revolution,and the final US single released from their album,Purple Rain (1984).
"America" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It was the final US single from the group's 1985 album,Around the World in a Day.
"Sugar Walls" is the second single from Sheena Easton's 1984 album A Private Heaven. It spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States,nine of which were in the top 40. It reached number 9 on the Hot 100,number 3 on the R&B chart and number 1 on the Dance chart. The song did not chart in Easton's native UK. The music was credited to Alexander Nevermind,a pseudonym used by Prince.
"Darling Nikki" is a song produced,arranged,composed,and performed by American musician Prince,originally released on his sixth studio album Purple Rain (1984). Though the song was not released as a single,it gained wide notoriety after Tipper Gore pointed out its sexual lyrics—in particular an explicit reference to female masturbation—and was partly responsible for the creation of the infamous Parental Advisory sticker. The song tells the story of a "sex fiend" named Nikki who seduces the singer.
Jerome Benton is an American musical performer,backup dancer and comedic actor. He can be seen in music videos by Janet Jackson and Prince,but he is known for his association with Morris Day and The Time.
"Chocolate" is a song from The Time's 1990 album Pandemonium. The song was released as the second single from Pandemonium,and was written by usual band collaborator Prince. The song had been primarily recorded in April 1983 during the early sessions for the group's third album,Ice Cream Castle. The group's drummer,Jellybean Johnson,remarked on the notable James Brown influence that the track was channeling:"That's some great shit,that's just hard-core James sound. I loved it."
"Ice Cream Castles" is the opening track from The Time's third album,Ice Cream Castle. The track was one of the last songs recorded for the album,being cut in mid-January 1984,along with "My Drawers". The song was composed by Prince and Morris Day,with Prince writing the lyrics after recording the instrumental tracks. Day provided drums and lead vocals,while Jesse Johnson played electric guitars on the recording. Prince played all the other instruments.
"Gigolos Get Lonely Too" is the fifth track from the Time's six-song album,What Time Is It?. One of the first songs recorded for the album,it was produced,arranged,composed and performed by Prince with Morris Day later adding his lead vocals.
"The Walk" opens side two of the Time's second album,What Time Is It?. The song was produced,arranged,composed and performed by Prince with Morris Day later adding his lead vocals.
"Computer Blue" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. Released on June 25,1984,it is the fourth track on Prince's sixth album,Purple Rain,which also served as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. In the film,the song represents Prince's character's angst at the budding relationship between the characters played by Morris Day and Apollonia,the latter of whom he desires,and he performs it in front of the two during The Revolution's set at a nightclub with the aim of upsetting them. The song was composed by Prince with credit to his father,John L. Nelson,for the guitar solo based on a piano instrumental written by Nelson and Prince. He titled the instrumental piece "Father's Song" and recorded it on piano for the film,though onscreen it was portrayed as being played by Prince's character's father,played by Clarence Williams III. On the box-set Purple Rain Deluxe (2017),a different and longer recording of "Father's Song" was included.
Daydreaming is the second album by American R&B/pop singer Morris Day,released in 1987 on Warner Bros. Records. It is the follow-up to Day's debut album,Color of Success,featured are two collaborations with Day's former band,The Time minus Monte Moir. One of these was the hit "Fishnet",which was produced with Time members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
"Baby I'm a Star" is a song written and recorded by American musician Prince from his album Purple Rain. It is also the B-side on the "Take Me with U" single.
"The Beautiful Ones" is the third track on Prince and the Revolution's soundtrack album Purple Rain. It was one of three songs produced,arranged,composed,and performed by Prince,the other two being "When Doves Cry" and "Darling Nikki". The song was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles by Peggy Mac and David Leonard on September 20,1983. The song replaced "Electric Intercourse" on the Purple Rain album.
Jill Jones is the self-titled debut solo album from the artist of the same name;Jill Jones. The album was released in 1987 on Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records. It was produced by Jones and Prince.
"Jungle Love" is a song from The Time's third album,Ice Cream Castle.