When Murphy informed actor/comedian Richard Pryor that he was doing an album, Pryor offered him a $100,000 bet that Murphy wouldn't be able to do a purely musical album without jokes. In a 2023 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Murphy said that Pryor never paid him the money before his death in 2005.[3] The single was recorded at Rick James's home studio in Buffalo, New York. In addition to writing and producing the song, James also provided backup vocals.[1]
Reception
A reader in the Los Angeles Times, Barbara Bryson, criticized the song, characterizing it as "Gumby goes disco" (referring to the character parodied by Murphy on Saturday Night Live). The publication also placed the song at number one on "The Video Bottom 10" list.[4] Meanwhile, critic Scott Benarde in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel awarded the song his worst single for 1985, calling it a "catchy uptempo dance number" but asserting that "Murphy adds nothing but his ego to it. His voice is paper thin and buried in the mix. Anyone could have sung that tune the way it was produced. Murphy should stick to imitating Gumby."[5]
The song's music video won best urban contemporary video award at the American Video Awards in November 1985.[6]
In 2014, Gwyneth Paltrow covered the song in the Glee season 5 episode "New Directions".
Finnish stoner rock band Mangoo also covered the song on their 2017 album The Heat.[24]
In 2019, American progressive rock/metal band Thank You Scientist released a cover of the song, accompanied by a humorous music video.[25]
Guitarist Eric Calderone covered the song in 2022 on his YouTube channel.[26]
In 2023, American boy band Big Time Rush released their version of the song titled "I Just Want To (Party All the Time)" for their album Another Life.[27] Also in 2023 a remix by Hannah Laing and HVRR reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart.[28]
^Bryson, Barbara (February 6, 1986). "The Video Bottom 10". The Los Angeles Times. 1-"Party All the Time," Eddie Murphy. "Ye Gods-Gumby goes disco"-Barbara Bryson, L.A.
^Benarde, Scott (December 29, 1985). "WRITER MAKES PICKS OF TERRIFIC, TERRIBLE IN POP/ROCK MUSIC". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3.D.
^"The Boss takes two to top video awards". Montreal Gazette. November 22, 1985. p. D4.
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 212. ISBN0-646-11917-6.