Time is the Key is the fourth album by the band Pierre Moerlen's Gong. It was released in late 1979 by Arista Records.

The album is notable for the prominent use of vibraphone, and features the English jazz keyboard player Peter Lemer on most tracks, their only album to do so, and Allmusic notes that there is also a progressive rock influence on the album, particularly on the first two tracks.

Track listing

Personnel

1. Pierre Moerlen's Gong

2. Pierre Moerlen – drums, vibraphone, gong, electravibe, marimba, glockenspiel, tympani, darbuka, synthesizers (7, 8)

3. Hansford Rowe – bass (3−11), acoustic guitar (5), bass synthesizer (11)

4. Bon Lozaga – guitar (3−11)

5. Former Pierre Moerlen's Gong

6. Allan Holdsworth – lead guitar (9−11)

7. Additional personnel

8. Darryl Way – violin (1)

9. Joe Kirby – double bass (1, 2)

10. Peter Lemer – keyboards (3−11), Polymoog (6−10)

11. Nico Ramsden – lead and rhythm guitar (8)

Produced by Pierre Moerlen

Production credits

• Engineering – John Rollo

• Mastering – Ray Staff at Trident

• Photography – Jay Myrdal and Sheila Rock

• Sleeve layout and design – Steve Ridgeway and Julie Harris

• Additional engineer – Brian Risner

• Studio co-ordination – Brian Risner

References

• Macan, E. L., Macan, E. (1997). Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture. Germany: Oxford University Press. p.243