The Original 7ven – Condensate

Fantastic album. Musicianship is solid. "Toast To The Party Girl" alone is worth the ride.
This really needs a vinyl release.

THE ORIGINAL 7VEN / CONDENSATE

All Original Members of
the legendary Minneapolis funk band
formerly known as The Time
Record Together For First Time in 21 Years,
--- Morris Day, Jesse Johnson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jellybean Johnson, Jerome Benton, and Monte Moir revitalize the classic Minneapolis sound on their first new album together in 21 years. Condensate features tracks New by the band formerly known as The Time. From their origins in the early ‘80s as Prince’s first protégés led by the dynamic Morris Day, this group continues to deliver funk-rock grooves.

Now, for the first time since the ‘90s, all the original members of the band formerly known as The Time have reunited in the studio as The Original 7ven to deliver an authentic and unapologetically funky album of instant classics! The album name Condensate is taken from Morris Day’s tongue-in-cheek comment, “I don’t sweat, I condensate.” 30 years ago, The Original 7ven musicians left crowds stunned and screaming for more when they took their funk/rock/pop sound on the road, led by the marvelously charismatic frontman Morris Day. Formed in 1981, Morris Day, Jesse Johnson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jellybean Johnson, Jerome Benton, and Monte Moir were legendary for enhancing their exciting funk/rock/pop Minneapolis Sound

• Lead vocalist Morris Day is a triple threat performer of Stage, Screen, and Television. He is also an accomplished drummer who played on many of The Time’s biggest hits. His singing career includes four albums with The Time as well as four solo albums. Day wrote and produced the smash dance hit “The Oak Tree” and followed that up with the #1 hit “Fishnet” with fellow alums Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Day continues to perform wildly popular concerts with Moir and Jellybean Johnson.

• World-class Guitarist Jesse Johnson, who co-wrote The Time’s smash “Jungle Love,” also found critical and commercial success as a songwriter/producer working with Janet Jackson, After 7, Paula Abdul, and Chaka Khan. Johnson also contributed music for film soundtracks including “The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink”, “The 5 Heartbeats”, and “A Time To Kill”. His solo projects include Jesse Johnson’s Revue 1985, Shockadelica 1986, Every Shade of Love 1988, Bare My Naked Soul 1996, and the critically acclaimed Verbal Penetration 2009.

• Keyboardist Jimmy Jam and Bassist Terry Lewis are five-time Grammy award winners who have more Billboard Hot 100 #1’s than any songwriting/production duo in music history. Recognized as one of the most innovative and successful production teams in music, Jam & Lewis are responsible for an entire era of music including Janet Jackson’s string of hits, as well as recent songs by Usher, Mariah Carey, and Keyshia Cole.

• Keyboardist Monte Moir is a songwriter, singer, producer, and classically trained musician who has written and produced a number of hits including Janet Jackson’s #1 smash “The Pleasure Principle” as well as Alexander O’Neal’s classic “If You Were Here Tonight”. Other notable artists Moir has worked with include Gladys Knight, Thelma Houston, Deniece Williams, and Patti Austin.

• Drummer Jellybean Johnson has contributed his songwriting/producing and Guitar skills on numerous hits. Most notably with Janet Jackson to create the #1 rock-driven anthem “Black Cat”. Johnson also scored top-charting hits with artists including New Edition (“Crucial”), Alexander O’Neal (“Criticize”), Nona Hendrix (“Why Should I Cry”) and Mint Condition’s #1 smash “Breakin My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)”.

• Mirror & Percussionist Jerome Benton, (the half brother of Terry Lewis) is an audience favorite for his playful interaction and delightful chemistry with Morris Day onstage. As an actor, he starred in Prince’s films “Purple Rain” and “Under the Cherry Moon” and stole scenes in music videos with Prince, Janet Jackson, Herb Alpert, and most notably when he performed with The Time. Benton was also a member of the group The Family and has written several scripts for the stage and screen.

Decent comeback album for The Time. No contributions by Prince here, but Jam & Lewis pretty much wrote everything. For this reason, I expected it to be stronger.
Cannot believe the current asking price for this cd. (And this one doesn't even have the dvd)

Great for the DVD--which the band members share stories of the glory days. The new album? just OK (at best)...Did Jam & Lewis REALLY write/produce this? Sounds more like Justin Timberlake than THE TIME.