Gotta Stop (Messin' About)

Infobox Single
Name = Gotta Stop (Messin' About)


Caption = UK 12" single cover
Artist = Prince
from Album =
B-side = "Uptown" (first release)
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" (re-release)
"Head" (12")
Released = 29 May, 1981
Format = 7" single
12" single
Recorded = Mpls., May–June, 1980
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:42
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Writer = Prince
Producer = Prince
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Dirty Mind"
(1980)
This single = …
Next single = "Controversy"
(1981)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = Prince (UK)
Type = singles
[ Background = #ffff00 ]
Last single = "Do It All Night"
(1981)
This single = "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)"
(1981)
Next single = "Controversy"
(1981)"Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" was the follow-up single in the UK to support Prince's third album, "Dirty Mind". Surprisingly, the single was not an album track, though it was written at the same time, and possessed a similar sound. This was the first time Prince released a non-album track, and would start a long tradition of releasing them throughout the 1980s.

The song is keyboard dominated, and the lyrics speak of a woman who's constantly "messin' about" with other men. The song contains familiar Prince themes of sexual frustration, masturbation and sexual metaphors. The track consists of two verses and multiple repeats of the chorus. It was played live on the "Dirty Mind" tour with an extended instrumental section at the end.

"Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" was released in the UK as two separate 7" singles, one with the "Dirty Mind" track "Uptown" as a B-side, and the other with "I Wanna Be Your Lover," from "Prince". Each single also had an accompanying 12" single, both with the same tracks as the 7" and both including the song "Head," from "Dirty Mind". Despite an extensive advertising campaign and promotion, and coinciding with Prince's first UK gig, neither issue of the single charted. The track would later be released in the U.S. as the B-side of the 12" Single for "Let's Work," and become a highly sought after collector's item. "Gotta Stop" was also later released on "The Hits/The B-Sides".

External links

* "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" [http://www.dtt-lyrics.com/albums/theB-Sides.html#stop lyrics]