Controversy (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Controversy
Type = Album
Artist = Prince


Released = October 14, 1981
Recorded = Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981
Genre =New Wave, Pop, Rock, Funk
Length = 36:54
Label = Warner Bros.
Producer = Prince
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:d9fpxqr5ldfe link]
*Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=prince link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/prince/albums/album/135391/review/5947026/controversy link] | Last album = "Dirty Mind"
(1980)
This album = "Controversy"
(1981)
Next album = "1999"
(1982)

"Controversy" is Prince's 4th album, released 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 and camp outbursts peppering the track. "Private Joy" is an upbeat, synthesizer romp layered with saucy innuendo. "Let's Work" is a highlight, with a stripped down synth-funk sound, foreshadowing Prince's next album, "1999". "Annie Christian" is an odd political number with sinister lyrics , about a rude Soviet woman. The album finishes with the rather crude 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.

Charts

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Prince

# "Controversy" – 7:14
# "Sexuality" – 4:20
# "Do Me, Baby" – 7:47
# "Private Joy" – 4:25
# "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" – 1:48
# "Let's Work" – 3:57
# "Annie Christian" – 4:21
# "Jack U Off" – 3:12

Personnel

*Prince - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums
*Bobby Z - drums on "Jack U Off"
*Lisa Coleman - backing vocals, keyboards on "Jack U Off"
*Dr. Fink - keyboards on "Jack U Off"

ingles and Hot 100 chart placings

*"Controversy" (#70 U.S., #3 U.S. R&B)
#"Controversy"
#"When You Were Mine"

*"Let's Work" (#9 R&B)
#"Let's Work"
#"Ronnie, Talk to Russia"
#"Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" (U.S. 12")

*"Do Me, Baby"
#"Do Me, Baby"
#"Private Joy"

*"Sexuality" (German/Japan/Australia single)
#"Sexuality"
#"Controversy" (DEU, JAP)
#"I Wanna Be Your Lover" (AUS)

External links

"Controversy" [http://www.dtt-lyrics.com/albums/controversy.html lyrics] .