777-9311

Infobox Single
Name = 777-9311


Caption = U.S. 12" single cover
Artist = The Time
from Album = What Time Is It?
B-side = "Grace" (7" single)
"The Walk" (12" single)
Released = 1982
Format = 7" single
12" single
Recorded = Minneapolis, Minnesota, May/June 1982
Genre = Funk, Rock
Length = 7" edit: 3:28
Album/12": 8:04
Label = Warner Bros.
Writer = Jamie Starr
Producer = The Starr ★ Company
Certification =
Last single = "Girl"
(1981)
This single = "777-9311"
(1982)
Next single = "The Walk"
(1982)
Misc =

"777-9311" is the second track and lead single off The Time's second album, "What Time Is It?". Recorded for the album at Prince's home studio in May/June 1982, the song was produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince with Morris Day later adding his lead vocals.

The funky song opens with a drum machine beat, adds guitar, live playing on the cymbals and finally the bass and keyboards. A similar extended version of this occurs after the main lyrics, but starts with the bass and also includes a lengthy rock guitar solo. The bass is truly the "star" of this song, and Prince has remarked that this is one of his signature basslines, remarking no one can play the line like himself. He also said the same about the bassline of "Let's Work". Despite the song being performed nearly entirely by Prince, Morris calls out "Terry" before the bass solo.

The U.S. 7" single was backed with a non-album track, "Grace", which is a mock-interview between a cocky Morris Day and an interviewer named Bridgette, who Morris keeps referring to as "Grace". Bridgette is played by Vanity. The 12" single was backed with "The Walk", where Morris also banters with Vanity and calls her "Grace", though it's not known if it is meant to be the reporter once again.

"777-9311" became the band's biggest single to date, reaching number two on the R&B charts and number eighty-eight on the pop charts. It is one of The Time's signature numbers and is played at nearly all of their concerts. A live version of the song recorded in concert, 1998 segues from "Get It Up" and was included on Morris Day's 2004 album, "It's About Time".

Miscellania

* "777-9311" was Dez Dickerson's actual telephone number at the time the song was written, causing his phone to ring off the hook until he had his number changed.

*Rapper Tupac Shakur sampled this song for his "What'z Ya Phone #", as featured on his 1996 effort All Eyez on Me.

*Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot's mid-80s single "Beepers" refers to this track; during a breakdown, a simulated SkyPager operator says "you wish to send message, 777-9311, enter numeric message or press the pound key now."