Flyte Brothers XXVIII: Morris Day’s “Fishnet”

Last year, I joined Popdose‘s Jeff Giles and Robert Cass for a column called “‘Face Time,” in which we discussed essential (and some non-essential) cuts in the catalog of Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, one of the most prolific singer/songwriters of the ’80s and ’90s. ‘Face and his partner Antonio “L.A.” Reid were one of the big 3 production teams that ruled pop and R&B during that era. There was also Teddy Riley and his New Jack Swing camp, and perhaps most notably, Minneapolis’s James “Jimmy Jam” Harris III and Terry Lewis. The former members of Prince offshoot band The Time turned out to be legends in their own right, composing and producing hits for a who’s-who of the music industry and proving to be as (if not more) influential than their purple-clad benefactor.

So in 2014, Jeff, Robert and I (along two new team members, fellow Popdose editor/Popblerd podcast co-host Michael Parr, along with badass co-conspirator Dr. Z) are back to talk all things Flyte Tyme.

Morris Day | “Fishnet” (from Daydreaming, 1987) | (written and produced by Jam & Lewis) | #23 pop, #1 R&B

*this was Dr. Z’s pick*

Dr. Z: Even though the single did well, I feel like the significance of this track got lost in the shuffle. While The Time disintigrated after Purple Rain, you have to keep in mind that even that was The Time 2.0, swapping out three of the band’s original members. So  “Fishnet” (and “Love is a Game”) didn’t just bring The Time back together on wax, but brought back the original lineup – including Jam and Lewis – and to great effect, I’d say. Day’s first solo outing (1985’s Color of Success) tried to replicate The Time’s sound with varied results; Daydreaming is overall a stronger album, anchored by two Jam/Lewis productions. It’s also perhaps the first chance that we had to hear The Time completely independent of Prince’s velvety fist.

MJ: “velvety fist”-sounds like the title of a very classy porn movie.
“Fishnet” is not one of my favorite songs–it sounds to me like The Time on Auto-Pilot. It’s a pleasant enough song, but it doesn’t grab me like Janet’s stuff, or New Edition’s stuff or even The Time’s first two albums.

Jeff Giles: I’m with you. There are a number of Jam/Lewis productions from the era that begin in a perfectly pleasant place and then don’t go much of anywhere once they get started, and I’d put “Fishnet” squarely in that camp. I feel like you could end this song after 45 seconds and not miss anything.

Z: I guess I’m in the minority here. I certainly don’t think “Fishnet” is up there in the top tier of Time material, but I like it quite a bit. Maybe that’s partially because I tend to approach more from the Morris Day/Time angle than the Jam/Lewis angle. Part of it might also just be that fishnets are hot.On the real, I just think it fits well within the Morris persona and the Time oeuvre. That said, I can’t dispute what Jeff and Big Money have said – that essentially Jam and Lewis had evolved past this particular mold, and were doing more artistically compelling work elsewhere by 1987.

Michael Parr: I actually fall in line with Z on this one. “Fishnet” has that indelible ‘thing’ that only The Time could bring.Robert Cass: It’s no “Jerk Out,” but I like it, even though it’s obvious the Time aren’t concerned about promoting the virtues of dolphin-safe tuna, which upsets me. Not all tuna is the same, fellas!

Z: Jesse is on “Fishnet” and “Love is a Game,” but is on background vocals only. Jellybean took over guitar duties, while Morris is behind the kit.

MJ: That’s odd. Jesse is one of the baddest guitarists in existence. Why relegate him to background vocals?

Which brings up a bigger (to me) question: why did Jesse, Jam & Lewis not work together in the late ’80s prior to the Pandemonium reunion? Janet was on A&M, Jesse was on A&M, it seems like such an obvious thing.

RC: Jesse was working with Sly Stone for a spell in ’86, and by “working” I mean he was probably sitting around for hours on end waiting for Sly to show up. Waiting can make a man tired, which means no time for bandmates from the Time.

MP: We should ask Jesse, he’s pretty active on social media. (Seriously, if you aren’t following the man, he posts crazy details about his life and times, as well as great tunes.)

MJ: Here’s another question: shouldn’t Morris have been a bigger star? If not as a singer, then certainly as an actor. Guy even had a sitcom role at one point.

JG: Oh, definitely. Loads of charisma. You think maybe some people higher up didn’t necessarily want him to break out on his own?

MJ: I don’t know. Maybe Morris needs to write a book.

Shit, someone from that camp needs to write a book. I don’t know if Prince has them all under gags or what.

Z: The Man with the Mirror: A Life by Jerome Benton. I would read it, for sure. Especially to hear him take on “fake Jerome.¹”

MP: I would absolutely read a Jerome Benton book. Hell, I’d read a Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis book (fellas, how’s about it?)

RC: I just listened to my favorite new song again, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk,” and realized it’s very much in the vein of the Time’s hits. Besides, aren’t Morris, Bruno, and Prince all about five feet tall? You can practically hear Jam & Lewis in the background shouts of “Hot damn!”

MP: I’m of the opinion that Mr. Ronson owes Jam & Lewis some royalties on that joint.

JG: I’m pretty sure Ronson and co. were aiming further back than the Time when they cut that.

MP: Sure, common influences prevail, but if you end up in pretty much the same space, that says what?

JG: That you’ve got to give it to ’em on the one?

RC: If a cranked-out Bruno ends up in a high-speed car chase with South Carolina’s finest, then I’ll give it to you on the one, Jeff. Promise.

JG: Gonna kiss myself.

MP: YOUNT!

JG: Gonna kiss myself.

RC: Jeff is refusing to hit it and quit it! Call the po-lice and the fireman — TOO HOT!

¹-Our friend Pete had the unfortunate experience of going to a Morris Day show and encountering a “replacement Jerome.”