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On Time: A Princely Life in Funk
A memoir by Morris Day of The Time centering around his lifelong relationship and association with Prince.
To tell the story of Morris Day is to tell the story of Prince. Not because they were inseparable or because their paths never diverged, but because, even when their paths did diverge, they always intersected again. Each artist lifted the other up, pushing one another to be something bigger and better than they thought themselves capable of. There was plenty of one-upmanship and some (un)healthy competition, but the respect Day and Prince had for one another never wavered, from the time they met in junior high until His Royal Badness's untimely death in 2016.
In telling his own story and writing about Prince, Day turns Prince into the narrative's Greek chorus. Prince is there to protect his legacy, argue with Morris's interpretation of events, and continue the dialogue that started when both musicians were in their early teens. Because of their lifelong friendship emotional intimacy, the founder and still current leader of The Time is the one man who can pull this off, and in so doing shed a new light on Prince and the culture from which the Minneapolis funk scene was born.
On Time recounts Day's fight to overcome cocaine addiction, his search for meaning in both music and romance, and his subsequent second-act success by once again leading The Time, whose music is his lifeblood and soul. Day's book is a comprehensive, free-wheeling extension of his music--the ride is wild and the funk unfiltered.
To tell the story of Morris Day is to tell the story of Prince. Not because they were inseparable or because their paths never diverged, but because, even when their paths did diverge, they always intersected again. Each artist lifted the other up, pushing one another to be something bigger and better than they thought themselves capable of. There was plenty of one-upmanship and some (un)healthy competition, but the respect Day and Prince had for one another never wavered, from the time they met in junior high until His Royal Badness's untimely death in 2016.
In telling his own story and writing about Prince, Day turns Prince into the narrative's Greek chorus. Prince is there to protect his legacy, argue with Morris's interpretation of events, and continue the dialogue that started when both musicians were in their early teens. Because of their lifelong friendship emotional intimacy, the founder and still current leader of The Time is the one man who can pull this off, and in so doing shed a new light on Prince and the culture from which the Minneapolis funk scene was born.
On Time recounts Day's fight to overcome cocaine addiction, his search for meaning in both music and romance, and his subsequent second-act success by once again leading The Time, whose music is his lifeblood and soul. Day's book is a comprehensive, free-wheeling extension of his music--the ride is wild and the funk unfiltered.
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First published October 8, 2019
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About the author
Morris Day
1 book8 followersMorris E. Day is an American musician, composer, and actor. He is best known as the leader of legendary funk band the Time and for his role in the Prince film Purple Rain (1984).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
October 9, 2019
Many times over the years — most famously on the 1999 Tour, with Vanity 6 — the Time opened for Prince. Although Prince invented the Time, they always made him a little nervous. "You'd created a monster that suddenly had a chance of being bigger than you," Time frontman Morris Day writes to Prince in Day's new memoir On Time (written with David Ritz).
Wait, writes to Prince? Yep, exactly. Three years after Prince's death, Day has published a memoir that does exactly what his music did four decades ago: threatens to upstage Prince himself, whose unfinished memoir will be published on Oct. 29.
If you know who Morris Day is, that's because of Prince, and no one knows that better than Morris Day. Prince wrote, produced, and even largely performed many of the Time's best-known songs, and encouraged Day to take on the ultra-confident character who can still be seen to this day strutting across stages around the world.
Yet, Morris Day is an actual person; that's even his real name. He's a childhood friend and bandmate of Prince's, a talented musician who also had a strong hand in much of his own music even when he was closely collaborating with Prince. That's the man who wrote On Time, but in a daring and fascinating move, he also makes room in the book for Prince's voice — and for the voice of his own onstage character, who he calls "MD."
That may sound like a gimmick, but from the first page of On Time, it's clear that channeling Prince is in a sense the most honest way that Day could tell his own story. That's a voice he's been hearing in his head for half a century, and the list of people who know that voice better is very, very short indeed. As Day's interlocutor, Prince is prideful but also proud — of Day, one of his earliest musical collaborators and a lifelong foil. He calls Day out on his faults, from abusing substances to making his own book drag (it doesn't), but he also pushes Day to the heights Prince knows the Time singer can climb.
I reviewed On Time for The Current.
Wait, writes to Prince? Yep, exactly. Three years after Prince's death, Day has published a memoir that does exactly what his music did four decades ago: threatens to upstage Prince himself, whose unfinished memoir will be published on Oct. 29.
If you know who Morris Day is, that's because of Prince, and no one knows that better than Morris Day. Prince wrote, produced, and even largely performed many of the Time's best-known songs, and encouraged Day to take on the ultra-confident character who can still be seen to this day strutting across stages around the world.
Yet, Morris Day is an actual person; that's even his real name. He's a childhood friend and bandmate of Prince's, a talented musician who also had a strong hand in much of his own music even when he was closely collaborating with Prince. That's the man who wrote On Time, but in a daring and fascinating move, he also makes room in the book for Prince's voice — and for the voice of his own onstage character, who he calls "MD."
That may sound like a gimmick, but from the first page of On Time, it's clear that channeling Prince is in a sense the most honest way that Day could tell his own story. That's a voice he's been hearing in his head for half a century, and the list of people who know that voice better is very, very short indeed. As Day's interlocutor, Prince is prideful but also proud — of Day, one of his earliest musical collaborators and a lifelong foil. He calls Day out on his faults, from abusing substances to making his own book drag (it doesn't), but he also pushes Day to the heights Prince knows the Time singer can climb.
I reviewed On Time for The Current.
November 6, 2019
two words. SCHIZOPHRENIC GOLD!!! 😹😹😹
Let’s start with the cover. YEEEESSSSSSS! Morris went ALL THE WAY THERE and I loved every bit of it, there were things that I never knew. I’m a fan of music FIRST & FOREMOST... I never really followed musicians and their life— we weren’t afforded that. There was an air, a mystery that I quite enjoyed!
Okay so, Morris decided to write a book that included the spirit of Prince which I think is genius cause how can we have one without the other?? I loved how he didn’t pull any punches or bite his tongue when it came to Prince or speaking on his life. But there were moments where he could have spoke up for his band, sure. I will not divulge any of that here cause you should definitely read/listen to it. It’s in my tops for sure and I hope Mr. Day continues to do what he loves— make music 💚💚💚.
Let’s start with the cover. YEEEESSSSSSS! Morris went ALL THE WAY THERE and I loved every bit of it, there were things that I never knew. I’m a fan of music FIRST & FOREMOST... I never really followed musicians and their life— we weren’t afforded that. There was an air, a mystery that I quite enjoyed!
Okay so, Morris decided to write a book that included the spirit of Prince which I think is genius cause how can we have one without the other?? I loved how he didn’t pull any punches or bite his tongue when it came to Prince or speaking on his life. But there were moments where he could have spoke up for his band, sure. I will not divulge any of that here cause you should definitely read/listen to it. It’s in my tops for sure and I hope Mr. Day continues to do what he loves— make music 💚💚💚.
February 26, 2020
The conceit of Morris Day having imaginary conversations with deceased Prince was definitely a bit odd. Ditto the running dialogue Day has throughout with his hedonistic alter-ego "MD." But overall this book was an entertaining read. My only quibble is that Day makes it seem like Prince was drug free. He died of a fentanyl overdose! I don't think it diminishes his legacy to admit the man was using drugs.
October 16, 2019
This is one of the most uniquely written books I’ve ever read. When I learned Morris Day was writing his memoir I thought it would be your typical book that would document the ups and downs of his life. But to my surprise this book is not quite that simple. Let me tell you why.
The book opens with, “PRINCE 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. I 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.” Now when I read this I thought it was cool of Morris to began his book giving props to Prince.
But then, Morris went on to say, “I’𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 P𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. I 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝. I 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦. A𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, I’𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮...H𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝.” From that moment on, the book is written by Morris Day and “the spirit of Prince” And this is where Morris lost me!
As a life long Prince supporter I didn’t feel it was right for Morris to write this book claiming to write for Prince from the other side. After all, Morris is essentially writing for Prince without him here to dispute anything that is written. I immediately thought...Gimmick🤦🏽♀️!
But, as I continued to read I found myself being pulled in. It wasn’t offensive. Instead it was like listening to two brothers have a conversation about past times. It was entertaining, enlightening and heartfelt. I got the sense that writing this book was very therapeutic for Morris.
By the time I reached the end of the book it all made sense. And if Morris chose to pen O𝖓 T𝖎𝖒𝖊 in this unique way to show the special relationship he shared with Prince, then I must say...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
The book opens with, “PRINCE 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. I 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.” Now when I read this I thought it was cool of Morris to began his book giving props to Prince.
But then, Morris went on to say, “I’𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 P𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. I 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝. I 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦. A𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, I’𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮...H𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝.” From that moment on, the book is written by Morris Day and “the spirit of Prince” And this is where Morris lost me!
As a life long Prince supporter I didn’t feel it was right for Morris to write this book claiming to write for Prince from the other side. After all, Morris is essentially writing for Prince without him here to dispute anything that is written. I immediately thought...Gimmick🤦🏽♀️!
But, as I continued to read I found myself being pulled in. It wasn’t offensive. Instead it was like listening to two brothers have a conversation about past times. It was entertaining, enlightening and heartfelt. I got the sense that writing this book was very therapeutic for Morris.
By the time I reached the end of the book it all made sense. And if Morris chose to pen O𝖓 T𝖎𝖒𝖊 in this unique way to show the special relationship he shared with Prince, then I must say...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
January 11, 2020
4 stars. I had the pleasure of seeing Morris Day and The Time in concert back in July of 2017 in Oklahoma. I was the youngest person there but let me tell you, you have not lived until you’ve seen women in their 50s shaking their asses and losing their minds over Morris Day. You just haven’t lived. It was quite the sight. He’s still got it and put on one hell of a show but I was equally as entertained by the middle aged women getting their entire lives in the aisle way. Fun times. You’re never too old to fan girl and don’t let society tell you other wise.
I digress, this was a fantastic read. I absolutely loved it. Day is a great story teller and I love how he did this. He’s having a conversation with Prince’s spirit throughout the entire book and while that might sound strange it surprisingly worked really well. It was very creative and beautifully done. You can tell that this was therapeutic for Day and a way for him to get some proper closure over Prince’s untimely death. I’m so happy that they were able to make up before he passed but you can tell there were still some things on the table between them so this book was made out of necessity. He and Prince had such a deep yet tumultuous friendship. Even when they were at each others throats or even on the outs and not speaking each other at all, they were still brothers. Nothing changed that bond and the love they had for one another and that’s how they kept finding each other over time.
This was definitely a story that I’ve wanted for a long time and I’m glad that Morris told it. He’s funny and yet raw and honest about everything that he’s been through whether that be his personal struggles with drugs and relationships, the music industry, and his friendship with Prince. He had no problem talking about it all which I appreciated. One of the most uniquely written memoirs I’ve ever read, I honestly can’t recommend it enough if you are a fan of Morris Day or Prince.
I digress, this was a fantastic read. I absolutely loved it. Day is a great story teller and I love how he did this. He’s having a conversation with Prince’s spirit throughout the entire book and while that might sound strange it surprisingly worked really well. It was very creative and beautifully done. You can tell that this was therapeutic for Day and a way for him to get some proper closure over Prince’s untimely death. I’m so happy that they were able to make up before he passed but you can tell there were still some things on the table between them so this book was made out of necessity. He and Prince had such a deep yet tumultuous friendship. Even when they were at each others throats or even on the outs and not speaking each other at all, they were still brothers. Nothing changed that bond and the love they had for one another and that’s how they kept finding each other over time.
This was definitely a story that I’ve wanted for a long time and I’m glad that Morris told it. He’s funny and yet raw and honest about everything that he’s been through whether that be his personal struggles with drugs and relationships, the music industry, and his friendship with Prince. He had no problem talking about it all which I appreciated. One of the most uniquely written memoirs I’ve ever read, I honestly can’t recommend it enough if you are a fan of Morris Day or Prince.
October 22, 2019
Since Prince’s passing, there have been so many books by Prince-associates (ex-girlfriends, ex-wives, ex-bandmates, and loads of former photographers getting their pay days). Fans want everything that they can grab, and the people who once orbited in Prince’s universe are meeting the demand. To me it seems like everything Prince said in the “unreleased” mega-fan favorite “Old Friends 4 Sale.” And because of this I have been quite selective about what I have purchased (although I used my library to read what I refused to buy i.e. Mayte Garcia’s book).
When I heard Morris Day was writing his memoir (with help from David Ritz), I adamantly said I would not buy it. Then, the good reviews started pouring in. I bought it in audiobook form (narrated by Ron Butler) and I am so very grateful that I did.
This is one of the most creative memoirs that I have ever heard. Although everyone has various voices in their heads, most authors don’t let them show up on the pages of their memoir. Morris allowed Prince’s voice to intervene as well as his alter ego MD (who is the wisecracking womanizer that we know from the Prince movies). Prince’s voice, in particular, helps not only to move the narrative along but provides profound insights about both Morris and Prince.
The stories told in this book are not new. Everyone in the Purple community has heard most of the stories many times over, but Morris provides a different perspective. It is a perspective that adds even more depth to the mythology associated with Prince’s early years. Like all young people, young Prince and young Morris made many mistakes. For Morris, they were mostly in areas of failed relationships and his drug use. Mr. Day makes no excuses for his behavior and expresses regret without being melodramatic or whiny. His insights about young Prince’s mistreatment of his musicians were profound and different than any other portrayal. It is a well-known and well-documented fact that Prince did not pay his associated acts and bandmates well. (As he grew into the role of the older musical statesmen that changed and he righted his wrong with members of 3rd Eye Girl reporting that they were treated well although he pushed them as hard in practice as his earlier bands). I always cringe when I read some of the tales of Prince’s about intense drive and how he punished the people around him for not keeping up with his pace. Morris does a fabulous job explaining not only what it was like but why he endured it. He makes numerous mentions that being on the Prince train was better than not being on Prince train.
“On Time” is a thoughtful account providing a deeper dimension about an important time music history. Prince was a game changer and Morris got to be part of that. But Morris was also his own man and this book is his story too. Hearing about his mom, his siblings and the women in his life was intriguing. It challenged me to accept that the names associated with Prince are people too and have the right to tell their story. This is something that angered me because the hurt of Prince’s passing is still present for me, and I am not okay with anyone speaking ill of him. Morris tells the truth and gives Prince his props. And he does a great job.
I am so grateful that I listened to this thoughtful, entertaining and engaging memoir.
When I heard Morris Day was writing his memoir (with help from David Ritz), I adamantly said I would not buy it. Then, the good reviews started pouring in. I bought it in audiobook form (narrated by Ron Butler) and I am so very grateful that I did.
This is one of the most creative memoirs that I have ever heard. Although everyone has various voices in their heads, most authors don’t let them show up on the pages of their memoir. Morris allowed Prince’s voice to intervene as well as his alter ego MD (who is the wisecracking womanizer that we know from the Prince movies). Prince’s voice, in particular, helps not only to move the narrative along but provides profound insights about both Morris and Prince.
The stories told in this book are not new. Everyone in the Purple community has heard most of the stories many times over, but Morris provides a different perspective. It is a perspective that adds even more depth to the mythology associated with Prince’s early years. Like all young people, young Prince and young Morris made many mistakes. For Morris, they were mostly in areas of failed relationships and his drug use. Mr. Day makes no excuses for his behavior and expresses regret without being melodramatic or whiny. His insights about young Prince’s mistreatment of his musicians were profound and different than any other portrayal. It is a well-known and well-documented fact that Prince did not pay his associated acts and bandmates well. (As he grew into the role of the older musical statesmen that changed and he righted his wrong with members of 3rd Eye Girl reporting that they were treated well although he pushed them as hard in practice as his earlier bands). I always cringe when I read some of the tales of Prince’s about intense drive and how he punished the people around him for not keeping up with his pace. Morris does a fabulous job explaining not only what it was like but why he endured it. He makes numerous mentions that being on the Prince train was better than not being on Prince train.
“On Time” is a thoughtful account providing a deeper dimension about an important time music history. Prince was a game changer and Morris got to be part of that. But Morris was also his own man and this book is his story too. Hearing about his mom, his siblings and the women in his life was intriguing. It challenged me to accept that the names associated with Prince are people too and have the right to tell their story. This is something that angered me because the hurt of Prince’s passing is still present for me, and I am not okay with anyone speaking ill of him. Morris tells the truth and gives Prince his props. And he does a great job.
I am so grateful that I listened to this thoughtful, entertaining and engaging memoir.
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February 29, 2024
In my grad school days I knew a guy who played backup for Prince during his later tours in the 2000s & 2010s and he spoke with awe of how "The man is a genius -- totally insane, but a genius." Another of my friends worked concerts in Brooklyn back in the 2000s and said Prince once strode onstage during someone else's performance, took the performer's guitar, played an amazing solo for a couple minutes, then handed back the guitar and just walked away. Prince wasn't supposed to be there. Nobody knew why he did it. But it made an impression. Day's work helps humanize that enigmatic figure, and works as an excellent companion to Mayte Garcia's The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince. But it's so much more than just that.
Morris Day's book is bittersweet, but bright. He presents the entire work as a dialogue between himself and the late Prince, with the voice of Day's stage-persona "M.D." chiming in after the point at which Morris & Prince created him. Throughout you can feel Morris's conflicted state -- aware that he owes his fame to a lifelong friend who treated him horribly, trying to contextualize his career within the career of a dead legend who abandoned Morris & repeatedly betrayed him. You can feel Morris's own confusion at the friendship that began in their childhood but waxed and waned, seemingly without rhyme or reason, and the horrible sense of loss he feels upon learning of Prince's death shortly after one of their various reconciliations. What more might they have done? What more might they have said? All lost.
You can feel Day's own disappointment at himself for failing to live up to his own ideals of what a father & husband should be -- especially after abandoning his longsuffering wife & children during a clear mid-life crisis and marrying a much younger woman. Something which, again, he and Prince kind of have in common (and which, to his credit, Day does not discuss here). Yet you can also feel the sheer joy, the childlike delight which Morris feels for music and performance -- a delight totally absent in the more famous Prince who instead epitomized the "tortured artist" and "temperamental genius" archetypes.
Morris Day's book is bittersweet, but bright. He presents the entire work as a dialogue between himself and the late Prince, with the voice of Day's stage-persona "M.D." chiming in after the point at which Morris & Prince created him. Throughout you can feel Morris's conflicted state -- aware that he owes his fame to a lifelong friend who treated him horribly, trying to contextualize his career within the career of a dead legend who abandoned Morris & repeatedly betrayed him. You can feel Morris's own confusion at the friendship that began in their childhood but waxed and waned, seemingly without rhyme or reason, and the horrible sense of loss he feels upon learning of Prince's death shortly after one of their various reconciliations. What more might they have done? What more might they have said? All lost.
You can feel Day's own disappointment at himself for failing to live up to his own ideals of what a father & husband should be -- especially after abandoning his longsuffering wife & children during a clear mid-life crisis and marrying a much younger woman. Something which, again, he and Prince kind of have in common (and which, to his credit, Day does not discuss here). Yet you can also feel the sheer joy, the childlike delight which Morris feels for music and performance -- a delight totally absent in the more famous Prince who instead epitomized the "tortured artist" and "temperamental genius" archetypes.
October 11, 2019
I have been a fan of The Time since I was a kid and have always wanted to know more about the relationships of the group with Prince. I enjoyed Morris Day's solo music and the solo music and other projects of the other members. So when I heard this book was coming out, I was very excited. I even read the ebook preview sent by Amazon to read while I waited for the book to arrive. The book arrived on the 8th (its release date) and I finished it today (the 11th) and for me that's really fast these days. I ate this book up like pudding and kept messaging one of my Prince friends about it the entire time. I'm surprised she didn't put me on ignore! I chattered on about it to people in real life whether they knew who Morris Day and The Time were or not.
What is great about this book is Morris's raw honesty. He actually tackles some topics that Prince fans have been arguing about for decades. He reveals details that fans probably did not know beforehand, and fleshes out the stories we have heard. (I recommend, by the way, watching The Time's episode of Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus before reading this book, as Morris references a few things that are represented in the episode and seeing it and then reading about it makes the experience more fleshed out.) He dares to mention that Kim Basinger was the Queen of Paisley Park, something I'm not sure he would have been allowed to even mention if Prince were still alive (word is that even saying her name after she left Prince would get the person fired). He actually talks about a couple instances when Prince full-on tried to force Morris and The Time to convert to become Jehovah's Witnesses, which backs up similar sorts of stories from other former associates. He calls Prince out for bulldozing his old homes, and I'm glad to see that someone who actually spent time in those homes was upset like I and many fans were.
However, there are curious silences in the book. We get pages about how Day admired Michael Jackson and how he was a genius, but there are black holes of info regarding the members of Vanity 6. It's as if Jill Jones never existed. While there's info about the making of Purple Rain, there is no info at all about how he felt about the new members being brought in or how they worked together. After some point in the book he doesn't even mention Andre Cymone anymore, even though Andre was his friend before Prince. He doesn't even talk about how the members of the group like Tori or Freeze became members. Among the pictures in the insert, we never get to see his amazing mom or four of his six kids. I'd like to see a picture of his first wife, Judith, too, because it was clear that he loved her very much. And while we may never know the reason for these silences and absences, my best guess is that in some respects he was protecting the memory of Denise Matthews and perhaps in other respects didn't want to reopen old wounds or salt some still open wounds with the people still around. Maybe he's being tactful.
I felt like the Prince voice rushed him through his childhood to get to the part where he met Prince, and I'm sorry for that. As much of a fan as I've always been of Prince, I'm immensely interested in what people's lives were like growing up and I would have loved more anecdotes about Morris and his siblings.
Although Morris hated every minute of the couple's therapy Judith forced him to attend, I believe it had a great affect on him and his ability to analyze himself and Prince. His honesty about how he hated working retail, how he fell into drugs, how he destroyed his relationships with Jennifer, the mother of his eldest child, and his wife, Judith, were really refreshing. He is deeply apologetic to his kids for not being a good parent, and I think he's sincere.
It was great to read about his musical influences and how much he loves drumming. He tells the story of how he got into Grand Central a little bit differently from the way Andre told it in an interview, but it's cool to see how the stories connect.
It was clear that Morris actually followed Prince's music after he left the Prince camp and wasn't just faking the funk for the book. However, there was one minor error, in which he says that "Rock 'n' Roll Is Alive (And It Lives in Minneapolis)" is on Prince's Gold album, when he really meant the Gold single. I just felt I should point this out to be fair, because I was all over the errors in another memoir and will probably nitpick any further memoirs I read.
And as a Prince fan, I truly appreciate how he stands up for Prince and Prince's memory in this book. I think how he addresses his shock at Prince's death shows how he was a real friend to Prince despite the years they were angry with each other and weren't in touch. And while I am sad that real friends weren't able to stick by Prince and stop the wallbuilding and glomming-on of yesmen and yeswomen, not able to get through to Prince before the train left the station leading to his demise, I am sure that Morris and the others who truly loved Prince are thousands of times more sorry about it all and will always have regrets.
I would highly recommend this book, and I would welcome biographies by more people from the early Prince camp. What, for instance, would the other members of The Time have to say? Or Andre? Or Jill?
What is great about this book is Morris's raw honesty. He actually tackles some topics that Prince fans have been arguing about for decades. He reveals details that fans probably did not know beforehand, and fleshes out the stories we have heard. (I recommend, by the way, watching The Time's episode of Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus before reading this book, as Morris references a few things that are represented in the episode and seeing it and then reading about it makes the experience more fleshed out.) He dares to mention that Kim Basinger was the Queen of Paisley Park, something I'm not sure he would have been allowed to even mention if Prince were still alive (word is that even saying her name after she left Prince would get the person fired). He actually talks about a couple instances when Prince full-on tried to force Morris and The Time to convert to become Jehovah's Witnesses, which backs up similar sorts of stories from other former associates. He calls Prince out for bulldozing his old homes, and I'm glad to see that someone who actually spent time in those homes was upset like I and many fans were.
However, there are curious silences in the book. We get pages about how Day admired Michael Jackson and how he was a genius, but there are black holes of info regarding the members of Vanity 6. It's as if Jill Jones never existed. While there's info about the making of Purple Rain, there is no info at all about how he felt about the new members being brought in or how they worked together. After some point in the book he doesn't even mention Andre Cymone anymore, even though Andre was his friend before Prince. He doesn't even talk about how the members of the group like Tori or Freeze became members. Among the pictures in the insert, we never get to see his amazing mom or four of his six kids. I'd like to see a picture of his first wife, Judith, too, because it was clear that he loved her very much. And while we may never know the reason for these silences and absences, my best guess is that in some respects he was protecting the memory of Denise Matthews and perhaps in other respects didn't want to reopen old wounds or salt some still open wounds with the people still around. Maybe he's being tactful.
I felt like the Prince voice rushed him through his childhood to get to the part where he met Prince, and I'm sorry for that. As much of a fan as I've always been of Prince, I'm immensely interested in what people's lives were like growing up and I would have loved more anecdotes about Morris and his siblings.
Although Morris hated every minute of the couple's therapy Judith forced him to attend, I believe it had a great affect on him and his ability to analyze himself and Prince. His honesty about how he hated working retail, how he fell into drugs, how he destroyed his relationships with Jennifer, the mother of his eldest child, and his wife, Judith, were really refreshing. He is deeply apologetic to his kids for not being a good parent, and I think he's sincere.
It was great to read about his musical influences and how much he loves drumming. He tells the story of how he got into Grand Central a little bit differently from the way Andre told it in an interview, but it's cool to see how the stories connect.
It was clear that Morris actually followed Prince's music after he left the Prince camp and wasn't just faking the funk for the book. However, there was one minor error, in which he says that "Rock 'n' Roll Is Alive (And It Lives in Minneapolis)" is on Prince's Gold album, when he really meant the Gold single. I just felt I should point this out to be fair, because I was all over the errors in another memoir and will probably nitpick any further memoirs I read.
And as a Prince fan, I truly appreciate how he stands up for Prince and Prince's memory in this book. I think how he addresses his shock at Prince's death shows how he was a real friend to Prince despite the years they were angry with each other and weren't in touch. And while I am sad that real friends weren't able to stick by Prince and stop the wallbuilding and glomming-on of yesmen and yeswomen, not able to get through to Prince before the train left the station leading to his demise, I am sure that Morris and the others who truly loved Prince are thousands of times more sorry about it all and will always have regrets.
I would highly recommend this book, and I would welcome biographies by more people from the early Prince camp. What, for instance, would the other members of The Time have to say? Or Andre? Or Jill?
March 13, 2022
This was so much better than I expected. At first, I was skeptical about the book’s format (it’s basically a conversation between Prince’s spirit and Morris’ alter ego and stage persona MD). It could have been in bad taste, but the complicated yet tender brotherhood between Morris Day and Prince was deeply felt throughout. It didn’t feel like a cash grab to make $ off of Prince’s death at all but as a therapeutic way for him to cope with his grief, love, and past resentments. It’s a cautionary tale filled with the usual traps of fame: drugs, sex, and giant sized egos.
December 23, 2019
I like the way this Reads
May 1, 2023
I was really excited about getting this, looked forward to reading it because, well, I'm old. I grew up on EARLY Prince, The Time, Sheila E, Apollonia 6, the Mary Jane Girls as well as Rick James, Cameo, Dazz Band, Gap Band, etc. (That doesn't take into account other music of that era including the Police, Van Halen, Rush, the Clash, Go-Gos, B-52's, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Bauhaus, the Cure, early REM -- when you couldn't understand Michael Stipe -- and so on. U2 came to my city and opened for the J Geils Band, with their first album under their belt. Same night as Rod Stewart.) I saw KISS, Lionel Richie, Foreigner, Rush, Tina Turner, Kool & the Gang, Dazz Band, Chicago, Foreigner, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top and so many more. Later in the decade, I'd see many other great concerts, shows, bands, some many times over. I liked 60s music, loved 70s music, loved 80s music (so diverse), tolerated 90s music, enjoyed the first five years of this century with new rock, and have hated most all music since. Yep, I'm one of those.
The point is, Morris Day had serious charisma! Unique look and sound, strutting around calling for Jerome, screeching "What Time Is It?" He was a great foil to Prince (& the Revolution) in Prince's film, Purple Rain. I didn't expect it to be the best book I've read or even the best biography, but when I started reading it I knew I was mistaken and I wouldn't like it and felt really let down. And the kicker was, it wasn't the biography really, nor his story and life -- it was the way the damn book was written! I assume he probably had a co-author or ghost writer (though I don't know, but most celebrities do) and the tactic employed by the writer(s) was so damn annoying that I just couldn't continue and simply stopped fairly early in. And what is that, you ask? Sadly, it's quite late, I've had almost no sleep in a week and it'd take too long to explain it, but I'd be interested if anyone who sees this has read it or will read it and what you think. Please feel free to comment. Meanwhile I'm going to go ahead and recommend it despite my lousy rating because it was my own subjective personal taste regarding the writing and others may feel fine with it and enjoy the content.
The point is, Morris Day had serious charisma! Unique look and sound, strutting around calling for Jerome, screeching "What Time Is It?" He was a great foil to Prince (& the Revolution) in Prince's film, Purple Rain. I didn't expect it to be the best book I've read or even the best biography, but when I started reading it I knew I was mistaken and I wouldn't like it and felt really let down. And the kicker was, it wasn't the biography really, nor his story and life -- it was the way the damn book was written! I assume he probably had a co-author or ghost writer (though I don't know, but most celebrities do) and the tactic employed by the writer(s) was so damn annoying that I just couldn't continue and simply stopped fairly early in. And what is that, you ask? Sadly, it's quite late, I've had almost no sleep in a week and it'd take too long to explain it, but I'd be interested if anyone who sees this has read it or will read it and what you think. Please feel free to comment. Meanwhile I'm going to go ahead and recommend it despite my lousy rating because it was my own subjective personal taste regarding the writing and others may feel fine with it and enjoy the content.
November 12, 2020
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.com/2020/11...
This is another memoir that is written in a unique style. In this one, the story is (thankfully) told in chronological order. There are three “voices” in the book, though – Morris, Prince, and MD (who is Morris’ onstage persona). Obviously, they were all written by Morris, but he uses these voices to kind of argue with himself on certain points where there are conflicts or confusion.
Morris started out as a drummer. He met Prince in high school, and became the drummer for the Purple One’s band. There were several other funk outfits going at the time, and he admired certain players and singers in some of them. He was constantly in search of a good groove.
He did have some successful albums, both with the band and as a solo artist. He feels he had an ongoing struggle between MD, who wanted all the fabulousness of being a celebrity, and Morris, who wanted a family and to just play good music. But his other lifelong struggle was with Prince. He wanted to get out of Prince’s shadow at some points, but also knew that Prince was a genius.
This is a fun and easy read, especially if you like music. The hardcover edition comes in at just over 200 pages, and the conversational tone is easy to digest.
This is another memoir that is written in a unique style. In this one, the story is (thankfully) told in chronological order. There are three “voices” in the book, though – Morris, Prince, and MD (who is Morris’ onstage persona). Obviously, they were all written by Morris, but he uses these voices to kind of argue with himself on certain points where there are conflicts or confusion.
Morris started out as a drummer. He met Prince in high school, and became the drummer for the Purple One’s band. There were several other funk outfits going at the time, and he admired certain players and singers in some of them. He was constantly in search of a good groove.
He did have some successful albums, both with the band and as a solo artist. He feels he had an ongoing struggle between MD, who wanted all the fabulousness of being a celebrity, and Morris, who wanted a family and to just play good music. But his other lifelong struggle was with Prince. He wanted to get out of Prince’s shadow at some points, but also knew that Prince was a genius.
This is a fun and easy read, especially if you like music. The hardcover edition comes in at just over 200 pages, and the conversational tone is easy to digest.
April 3, 2023
I picked this up on a recommendation from a friend. We were discussing Bono’s autobiography Surrender, and he said On Time was another rock memoir worth reading. I wasn’t a Morris Day fan, and The Time was never really on my radar, so I wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise. I’m glad I did. It’s a history I didn’t think I knew, but kind of did tangentially. It’s a fun history of the Minnesota funk sound, that partially rooted in synth that compensated for not having a horn section.
Morris Day’s fame comes from Prince. Day went to high school with him, played in the same band Grand Central, and when the Purple One made it big, Day became his videographer. When Prince formed the Time as another creative conduit, Day became the band’s lead singer.
What’s fun about On Time is that Day uses Prince’s ghost as a foil. A lot of the narrative is interrupted by Prince’s voice in Day’s head, like this:
But our fights & fallings-out left deep wounds.
Wounds that need to heal.
Or not b reopened.
They were already open when you turned me into your archenemy in your movie. You made me your foil.
Purple Rain made u famous.
Day’s memoir describes excess, jealousy, admiration, and regret. It’s a messy life, and you don’t have to be a fan of Day, the Time, or Prince to enjoy it. (I had to keep turning to YouTube to catch up on some of his references.)
READ IT IF: If you’re a fan of Minnesota funk. Or just want a fun rock bio.
Morris Day’s fame comes from Prince. Day went to high school with him, played in the same band Grand Central, and when the Purple One made it big, Day became his videographer. When Prince formed the Time as another creative conduit, Day became the band’s lead singer.
What’s fun about On Time is that Day uses Prince’s ghost as a foil. A lot of the narrative is interrupted by Prince’s voice in Day’s head, like this:
But our fights & fallings-out left deep wounds.
Wounds that need to heal.
Or not b reopened.
They were already open when you turned me into your archenemy in your movie. You made me your foil.
Purple Rain made u famous.
Day’s memoir describes excess, jealousy, admiration, and regret. It’s a messy life, and you don’t have to be a fan of Day, the Time, or Prince to enjoy it. (I had to keep turning to YouTube to catch up on some of his references.)
READ IT IF: If you’re a fan of Minnesota funk. Or just want a fun rock bio.
January 31, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not really a huge non-fiction fan however, this read like a fiction book. I was so intrigued by the relationship/friendship between Morris and Prince. I've never known much about Morris Day except the infamous "mirror" that he has in his shows. I've always loved his energy when watching him perform. After reading this book, I feel like I know him a little bit better and I know Prince a little bit better. I would definitely recommend this book!
June 12, 2020
Man, l gobbled this up in the course of a few hours. Way better then I expected. I was worried that the "interjections" would grow tiresome, but quite the opposite. This hit me hard emotionally and rejuvenated my love for Morris. Nicely done, sirs! Highly recommended and one of the better Prince-related books out there, imo. A few real bombshells in here too amongst the many jewels of nerdy info and incredible stories. Fantastic.
June 14, 2020
Very similar to Prince's ex wife book.
January 21, 2021
One part deep-emotional grief-trawl, one party petty-grudge clearing, I rather enjoyed this pool-skim of a memoir.
March 10, 2021
Color me impressed. Definitely for the Prince and Morris fans. So much insight. The format is weird at first, but it works. Never feels gimmicky.
February 15, 2020
This was an awesome read and these two Writers worked well together. Having grown up with Prince and the Revolution it was always a
Wild Ride and even while it was going on I always wanted to know how it would end and this book answered all my questions. This was the Era when Sex and Drugs ruled the World and I always thought Prince indulged heavily but now I realized he was just eccentric and it makes sense. Its good to see Morris Day still out here doing his thing and the word that stuck heavily through this book was his loyalty to his childhood friend. I was shocked to the core by the way Prince left this earth and I still think of him as the "Greatest of All Time" but now I know that he was the epitome of a Man who tried just alittle too hard. I saw Morris recently in concert and trust me when I say "He still got it".
Wild Ride and even while it was going on I always wanted to know how it would end and this book answered all my questions. This was the Era when Sex and Drugs ruled the World and I always thought Prince indulged heavily but now I realized he was just eccentric and it makes sense. Its good to see Morris Day still out here doing his thing and the word that stuck heavily through this book was his loyalty to his childhood friend. I was shocked to the core by the way Prince left this earth and I still think of him as the "Greatest of All Time" but now I know that he was the epitome of a Man who tried just alittle too hard. I saw Morris recently in concert and trust me when I say "He still got it".
January 9, 2022
I have long admired and enjoyed Morris as the larger-than-life charismatic leader for The Time. I appreciated this fun and poignant memoir that reveals the sensitive side of Morris, a man who has grappled with various addictions and depression. I was intrigued by having Prince as an additional narrator but it added to the tenderness that surrounds Morris' complicated feelings about his mentor and friend. Definitely a must for Prince and The Time fans but also recommended if you love 80s funk as Morris and his band have been underrated.
December 7, 2019
I had no expectations for this memoir yet I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky experience. Morris with the help of David Ritz managed to deliver in this unusual memoir his turbulent life and career. The writing style is quite unconventional; Morris is having some sort of dialogue with Prince’s spirit from the other side. He inserts a make-believe commentaries on Prince's behalf. Eccentric? Absolutely. Offensive? Not really. It's written with respect and appreciation. At first I was taken aback thinking it's inappropriate that he writes on Prince's behalf but it grew on me especially without intended offense. It's his own letter to Prince; the words he never got the courage to say to him. An interesting read indeed that uses emphasis that time is essence and we've got to live it carefully. There are many aspects for this memoir and I've like all of them.
February 1, 2023
Bless you, Morris Day. This book was perfectly your own story with the velvet voice of Prince in your ear. Get it on Audible. You’re welcome.
January 7, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It was quite honest and open, and it helped to clear some of the questions I had about Morris and Prince's relationship through the years. I have seen some people complain about Prince having a "voice" in this book. I had no problem with that. Morris and Prince were friends and brothers, whereas I have been a fan of both for most of my life. I think he had earned the right to do so. And if it helped him sell a few more books, then good for him! This is coming from a die hard fan of Prince. Keep the funk going Morris!
December 20, 2019
I struggled a bit with this book. I'm a Prince fan first, and have obviously followed Morris for a while. I am genuinely interested in Morris' life, and it would have been interesting and worthwhile to get a in-depth understanding of Morris' life. While this biography is genuine, and I felt that Morris injected his true emotions into the book. However, parts of it are quite odd.
Obviously, the concept of the book (without spoilers) is very unique. However, it can be a distraction at times. In addition, there are times that the version of history told by Morris doesn't completely jive with the stories told by others about certain Prince-related events. For example, in the book Morris played up his role of convincing Prince to go back onstage for a second night of opening for the Rolling Stones after the disastrous first night. However, most Prince-historians feel it was more Andre Cymone and Mick Jagger who convinced him to come back the next night. Morris' biography didn't even mention that Prince had flown back to Minneapolis after the first night. This type of error (or failings of memory) raises questions about the accuracy of some of the other events relayed in the book.
However, if you accept the book as Morris' side of the story (and his own memories, even when they are flawed), this is an interesting and worthwhile book. However, it felt like it was missing some of Morris' own story - there is very little on his marriages, his relationship with his children, and his life outside of the Prince world. While I know this was meant to be only about his 'Time' with Prince, I felt like I was missing part of his life story.
Obviously, the concept of the book (without spoilers) is very unique. However, it can be a distraction at times. In addition, there are times that the version of history told by Morris doesn't completely jive with the stories told by others about certain Prince-related events. For example, in the book Morris played up his role of convincing Prince to go back onstage for a second night of opening for the Rolling Stones after the disastrous first night. However, most Prince-historians feel it was more Andre Cymone and Mick Jagger who convinced him to come back the next night. Morris' biography didn't even mention that Prince had flown back to Minneapolis after the first night. This type of error (or failings of memory) raises questions about the accuracy of some of the other events relayed in the book.
However, if you accept the book as Morris' side of the story (and his own memories, even when they are flawed), this is an interesting and worthwhile book. However, it felt like it was missing some of Morris' own story - there is very little on his marriages, his relationship with his children, and his life outside of the Prince world. While I know this was meant to be only about his 'Time' with Prince, I felt like I was missing part of his life story.
September 12, 2025
I didn't know
I didn't know Prince was heavily involved in Morris Day career. According to the movie Purple Rain, they were portrayed as "rivals." That wasn't the case. I learned this while reading this book. I also enjoyed The Time music 🎶 after watching Purple Rain. After reading about Morris Day, I see why Prince and he were intertwined. Prince put him on the "map" when it came to the music world.
I didn't know Prince was heavily involved in Morris Day career. According to the movie Purple Rain, they were portrayed as "rivals." That wasn't the case. I learned this while reading this book. I also enjoyed The Time music 🎶 after watching Purple Rain. After reading about Morris Day, I see why Prince and he were intertwined. Prince put him on the "map" when it came to the music world.
July 8, 2024
The premise might sound weird, but read it anyway if you're a fan at all. I liked it!
December 28, 2019
**audiobook review **
Didn’t know who the author was when I got the audiobook. He quickly makes sure you know (Prince’s drummer), and too often reminds you.
The Reader does NOT change voices for the Prince comments/voice, so each time Prince interrupts, I’m thrown off as to what’s going on with the narrative, and then the bickering back & forth goes on too long. And there are way, way, wayyyy too many Prince interruptions.
DNF.
I guess the editor convinced the author NO one would read his book if he didn’t have Prince in it, but I got the book (from the library) without knowing and the constant Prince reminders turned me off. To each, their own.
Didn’t know who the author was when I got the audiobook. He quickly makes sure you know (Prince’s drummer), and too often reminds you.
The Reader does NOT change voices for the Prince comments/voice, so each time Prince interrupts, I’m thrown off as to what’s going on with the narrative, and then the bickering back & forth goes on too long. And there are way, way, wayyyy too many Prince interruptions.
DNF.
I guess the editor convinced the author NO one would read his book if he didn’t have Prince in it, but I got the book (from the library) without knowing and the constant Prince reminders turned me off. To each, their own.
January 19, 2020
An odd book, but not bad for what it is. Prince is summoned via seance, Charles Hamilton-style, to provide commentary on Morris' remarks. I imagine the purpose of this was both to pad out the length and to appeal to Prince fans/consumers. Morris is admirably candid in some of his remarks on Prince but not so much in his analysis of himself, as you might expect.
January 29, 2022
The first half is a unique and intimate take on the Minneapolis funk scene. Stuff new to me. The Electrfying Mojo makes a critical appearance. The author's imaginary conversations with Prince were a ok story device, but once he started interviewing his own ego, it proved too much to bear.
August 2, 2024
This memior is excellent! It reads like a two-way conversation between Morris Day and Prince. I learned so much that was publicized but never knew.
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