The Time “Ice Cream Castle” released on this date, July 2nd, 1984. Prince produced the album and wrote most of the tracks though a couple were collaborations by Prince and Time members Morris Day (vocals) and Jesse Johnson (guitar). Prince also probably played most of the instruments, except guitar, on the album. (This despite their contentious past: “A rivalry developed between The Time and Prince’s band during their 1982 Controversy Tour. Frustrated with their lack of input on the albums bearing their name and at being underpaid, The Time would take to the stage with the intent of showing up Prince. On the final night of the tour in Cincinnati, during The Time’s set, Prince and some of his band threw eggs at their supporting act from offstage. After The Time’s performance, guitarist Jesse Johnson was handcuffed to a wall-mounted coat rack. Prince demanded no interruptions during his performance, but as soon as he left the stage, a food fight erupted. When the battle continued at the hotel, Prince held Morris Day responsible and made him pay for all damages.”) The two hit singles from Ice Cream Castle, “Jungle Love” and “The Bird,” were both featured in Purple Rain, though by the time the movie came out, The Time had broken up (they regrouped in 1990). Ice Cream Castle made it to #24 on the US Billboard album chart and #3 on the Soul chart.

About a week ago I finally got to see a show at First Avenue in Minneapolis and the whole time I was picturing the videos for “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” which feature concert footage at First Avenue from Purple Rain. I wasn’t a huge Time fan in ‘84 but I really liked both songs, which hit #20 and #36 on the pop charts, respectively, in ‘84. The album’s title track, “Ice Cream Castles,” was also released as a single, and though it failed to crack the Top 100 it did hit #11 on the R&B chart. These three tracks are really the only great ones on the LP; Allmusic calls the remaining three songs (“My Drawers,” “Chili Sauce” and “If The Kid Can’t Make You Come”) “filler” and I totally agree.