Controversy (Prince album)

Controversy
Studio album by Prince
Released	October 14, 1981
Recorded	Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981
Genre	Pop, rock, dance, funk, urban, New Wave
Length	37:15
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Prince
Prince chronology
Dirty Mind (1980) Controversy (1981) 1999 (1982)
Singles from Controversy
"Controversy" Released: September 2, 1981 "Let's Work" Released: January 6, 1982 "Do Me, Baby" Released: July 16, 1982 "Sexuality" Released: 1982

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	A−
Entertainment Weekly	B+
Rhapsody	(favorable)
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Spin	(8/10)
Virgin Encyclopedia
Yahoo! Music	(mixed)

Controversy is the fourth studio album by Prince, released on October 14, 1981. For the most part, the album was an expansion of its predecessor, 1980's Dirty Mind. The title track is a funk workout, where Prince seems to be bored of the media attention he was receiving. "Do Me, Baby" is a classic Prince ballad, with falsetto whoops peppering the track. "Private Joy" is an upbeat, synthesizer romp layered with innuendo. "Let's Work" is a highlight, based on a funky bass line with a stripped down synth-funk sound, foreshadowing Prince's next album, 1999. "Annie Christian" is an odd political number with sinister lyrics. The album finishes with the rockabilly ode to mutual masturbation, "Jack U Off". This record was considered to be his most political and controversial to date. The album was also an important stepping stone from his early works to the more mature song writing of the mid 1980s.

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Prince

Side one

1. "Controversy" – 7:15
2. "Sexuality" – 4:21
3. "Do Me, Baby" – 7:43

Side two

1. "Private Joy" – 4:29
2. "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" – 1:58
3. "Let's Work" – 3:54
4. "Annie Christian" – 4:22
5. "Jack U Off" – 3:09

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200	21
U.S. Billboard R&B Albums	3

Personnel

• Prince – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums
• Bobby Z. – drums on "Jack U Off"
• Brown Mark – bass guitar on "Let's Work"
• Lisa Coleman – backing vocals, keyboards on "Jack U Off"
• Dr. Fink – keyboards on "Jack U Off"
• Dez Dickerson – lead guitar

Singles and Hot 100 chart placings

• "Controversy" (#70 U.S., #3 U.S. R&B)

1. "Controversy"
2. "When You Were Mine"

• "Let's Work" (#104 U.S., #9 R&B)

1. "Let's Work"
2. "Ronnie, Talk 2 Russia"
3. "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" (U.S. 12")

• "Do Me, Baby"

1. "Do Me, Baby"
2. "Private Joy"

• "Sexuality" (German/Japan/Australia single)

1. "Sexuality"
2. "Controversy" (DEU, JAP)
3. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (AUS)

References

• Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.