- Controversy (Prince album)
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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 [1]
Robert Christgau (A-)[2] Entertainment Weekly (B+)[3] Rhapsody (favorable)[4] Rolling Stone [5]
Rolling Stone [6]
Spin (8/10)[7] Virgin Encyclopedia [8]
Yahoo! Music (mixed)[9] 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 to date. The album was also an important stepping stone from his early works to the more mature song writing of the mid 1980s.
Contents
Track listing
All tracks composed and arranged by Prince
Side one
- "Controversy" – 7:15
- "Sexuality" – 4:21
- "Do Me, Baby" – 7:43
Side two
- "Private Joy" – 4:29
- "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" – 1:58
- "Let's Work" – 3:54
- "Annie Christian" – 4:22
- "Jack U Off" – 3:09
Charts
Chart (1981) Peak
positionU.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)
- "Controversy"
- "When You Were Mine"
- "Let's Work" (#104 U.S., #9 R&B)
- "Let's Work"
- "Ronnie, Talk 2 Russia"
- "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" (U.S. 12")
- "Do Me, Baby"
- "Private Joy"
- "Sexuality" (German/Japan/Australia single)
- "Sexuality"
- "Controversy" (DEU, JAP)
- "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (AUS)
Notes
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince: Controversy at Allmusic. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Prince". robertchristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=prince. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Browne, David (21 September 1990). "Purple Products". Entertainment Weekly (Time) (#32). ISSN 1049-0434. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318219,00.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Chennault, Sam. "Controversy: Prince". Rhapsody. http://www.rhapsody.com/prince/controversy. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (21 January 1982). "Prince: Controversy". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media) (RS 361). ISSN 0035-791X. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/controversy-19820121. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Hoard (2004), p. 655.
- ^ Weisbard, Eric (10 October 1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide (1st ed.). Vintage. ISBN 978-0679755746. http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A2799.htm. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise 4 ed.). Virgin Books. ISBN 978-1852279233. http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A2799.htm. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ "Controversy by Prince". Yahoo! Music. http://ca.music.yahoo.com/release/47860. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
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.
Prince Albums · Singles · VideosStudio albums For You · Prince · Dirty Mind · Controversy · 1999 · Around the World in a Day · Sign o' the Times · Lovesexy · Diamonds and Pearls · Love Symbol Album · Come · The Black Album · The Gold Experience · Chaos and Disorder · Emancipation · Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic · The Rainbow Children · N.E.W.S · Musicology · 3121 · Planet Earth · Lotusflow3r / MPLSound · 20TenSoundtrack albums Compilation albums The Hits/The B-Sides · The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale · Crystal Ball · The Very Best of Prince · Ultimate PrinceInternet-only releases Live albums Extended plays Concert tours Prince Tour · Dirty Mind Tour · Controversy Tour · 1999 Tour · Purple Rain Tour · Hit n Run – Parade Tour · Sign o' the Times Tour · Lovesexy World Tour · Nude Tour · Diamonds and Pearls Tour · Act I Tour · Act II Tour · The Ultimate Live Experience · Gold Tour · Love 4 One Another Charities Tour · Jam of the Year Tour · Newpower Soul Tour/Festival · Hit + Run Tour · A Celebration · One Nite Alone...Tour · 2003–2004 World Tour · Musicology Tour · 3121 Las Vegas Residency · Earth Tour · 20Ten Tour · Welcome 2...Filmography Video releases Prince and The Revolution: Live · Gett Off · Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection · The Hits Collection · The Undertaker · 3 Chains o' Gold · The Sacrifice of Victor · Rave Un2 the Year 2000 · Live at the Aladdin Las VegasRelated artists See also Unreleased projects (Dream Factory · Crystal Ball) · Paisley Park Records · NPG Records · NPG Music Club · Prince Interactive · Glam Slam Ulysses · Billboards · Minneapolis soundCategories:- 1981 albums
- Prince (musician) albums
- Albums produced by Prince (musician)
- Warner Bros. Records albums
- "Controversy"
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