Songoftheday 1/5/14 - I've been watching you I think I wanna know ya, said I'm a little dangerous girl I'd love to show ya...

The Time - "Jungle Love"
from the album Ice Cream Castle (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #20 (one week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 10

Today's Song of the Day is by the Minneapolis funk outfit The Time, who were put together by hometown hero Prince from a couple of local bands, including keyboardist Jimmy Jam, bassist Terry Lewis, and lead singer Morris Day (after big-voiced Alexander O'Neal balked at the deal). However, it would be Prince himself would recorded all the music on the "band"'s albums himself, with just Day singing lead over Prince's guide vocals. Their first single, "Get It Up", reached #6 on the R&B chart in 1981, and was a double-sided hit with R&B top-ten follow-up "Cool" (their first to make the pop chart at #90) to make the dance chart at #16. The next year, the second album under the Time name, What Time Is It?, sent first single "777-9311" to #2 on the soul chart and #88 pop. The band, who were accomplished musicians in their own right, would tour opening for Prince, and their live act is what brought fans to the party. However lack of support for doing their own music and fighting with the Purple One caused Jam and Lewis along with keyboardist Moir to leave the Time.

In 1984, with new replacements but with Prince still doing the work except for guitarist Jesse Johnson, The Time released their third album Ice Cream Castle in conjunction with their appearance in Prince's Purple Rain movie as his rival band. Two of the songs were featured in the movie, and the first single from the album, "Jungle Love" became their first big pop success...

"Jungle Love" became the Time's first Top-20 pop hit in February of 1985, while going to #6 on the R&B chart and #9 on Billboard's Dance Club list.

Meanwhile, departed members Jam & Lewis became one of the biggest production teams of the 80s with #1 hits for Janet Jackson and the Human League among others before re-joining the Time (as a real recording group this time) in 1990.

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Purple Rain wasn't the only movie "Jungle Love" was featured in, as the song rolled the credits for Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back in 2001..

 ...and here's Morris Day in concert from 2012...

Up tomorrow: New Jersey funk/disco group are pointed in the wrong direction.