diff --git a/mopidy/backends/base/playback.py b/mopidy/backends/base/playback.py
index b3b9959e..197ba90e 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/base/playback.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/base/playback.py
@@ -1,8 +1,3 @@
-import time
-
-from mopidy.core.playback import PlaybackState
-
-
 class BasePlaybackProvider(object):
     """
     :param backend: the backend
@@ -14,9 +9,6 @@ class BasePlaybackProvider(object):
     def __init__(self, backend):
         self.backend = backend
 
-        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
-        self._play_time_started = 0
-
     def pause(self):
         """
         Pause playback.
@@ -103,40 +95,3 @@ class BasePlaybackProvider(object):
         :type volume: int [0..100]
         """
         self.backend.audio.set_volume(volume)
-
-    def wall_clock_based_time_position(self):
-        """
-        Helper method that tracks track time position using the wall clock.
-
-        To use this helper you must call the helper from your implementation of
-        :meth:`get_time_position` and return its return value.
-
-        :rtype: int
-        """
-        state = self.backend.playback.state
-        if state == PlaybackState.PLAYING:
-            time_since_started = (self._wall_time() -
-                self._play_time_started)
-            return self._play_time_accumulated + time_since_started
-        elif state == PlaybackState.PAUSED:
-            return self._play_time_accumulated
-        elif state == PlaybackState.STOPPED:
-            return 0
-
-    def update_play_time_on_play(self):
-        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
-        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
-
-    def update_play_time_on_pause(self):
-        time_since_started = self._wall_time() - self._play_time_started
-        self._play_time_accumulated += time_since_started
-
-    def update_play_time_on_resume(self):
-        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
-
-    def update_play_time_on_seek(self, time_position):
-        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
-        self._play_time_accumulated = time_position
-
-    def _wall_time(self):
-        return int(time.time() * 1000)
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py b/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py
index cd5b0689..61696bd8 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+import time
 
 from spotify import Link, SpotifyError
 
@@ -10,11 +11,25 @@ logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.backends.spotify.playback')
 
 
 class SpotifyPlaybackProvider(BasePlaybackProvider):
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(SpotifyPlaybackProvider, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
+        self._play_time_started = 0
+
+    def pause(self):
+        time_since_started = self._wall_time() - self._play_time_started
+        self._play_time_accumulated += time_since_started
+
+        return super(SpotifyPlaybackProvider, self).pause()
+
     def play(self, track):
-        if self.backend.playback.state == PlaybackState.PLAYING:
-            self.backend.spotify.session.play(0)
         if track.uri is None:
             return False
+
+        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
+        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
+
         try:
             self.backend.spotify.session.load(
                 Link.from_string(track.uri).as_track())
@@ -29,12 +44,17 @@ class SpotifyPlaybackProvider(BasePlaybackProvider):
             return False
 
     def resume(self):
+        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
         return self.seek(self.backend.playback.time_position)
 
     def seek(self, time_position):
+        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
+        self._play_time_accumulated = time_position
+
         self.backend.audio.prepare_change()
         self.backend.spotify.session.seek(time_position)
         self.backend.audio.start_playback()
+
         return True
 
     def stop(self):
@@ -46,4 +66,15 @@ class SpotifyPlaybackProvider(BasePlaybackProvider):
         # when used with the Spotify backend and GStreamer appsrc. If this can
         # be resolved, we no longer need to use a wall clock based time
         # position for Spotify playback.
-        return self.wall_clock_based_time_position()
+        state = self.backend.playback.state
+        if state == PlaybackState.PLAYING:
+            time_since_started = (self._wall_time() -
+                self._play_time_started)
+            return self._play_time_accumulated + time_since_started
+        elif state == PlaybackState.PAUSED:
+            return self._play_time_accumulated
+        elif state == PlaybackState.STOPPED:
+            return 0
+
+    def _wall_time(self):
+        return int(time.time() * 1000)
diff --git a/mopidy/core/playback.py b/mopidy/core/playback.py
index b32f5b62..82a11064 100644
--- a/mopidy/core/playback.py
+++ b/mopidy/core/playback.py
@@ -370,7 +370,6 @@ class PlaybackController(object):
         """Pause playback."""
         if self.provider.pause():
             self.state = PlaybackState.PAUSED
-            self.provider.update_play_time_on_pause()
             self._trigger_track_playback_paused()
 
     def play(self, cp_track=None, on_error_step=1):
@@ -413,7 +412,6 @@ class PlaybackController(object):
         if self.random and self.current_cp_track in self._shuffled:
             self._shuffled.remove(self.current_cp_track)
 
-        self.provider.update_play_time_on_play()
         self._trigger_track_playback_started()
 
     def previous(self):
@@ -430,7 +428,6 @@ class PlaybackController(object):
         """If paused, resume playing the current track."""
         if self.state == PlaybackState.PAUSED and self.provider.resume():
             self.state = PlaybackState.PLAYING
-            self.provider.update_play_time_on_resume()
             self._trigger_track_playback_resumed()
 
     def seek(self, time_position):
@@ -457,7 +454,6 @@ class PlaybackController(object):
 
         success = self.provider.seek(time_position)
         if success:
-            self.provider.update_play_time_on_seek(time_position)
             self._trigger_seeked(time_position)
         return success