Controversy (album)

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Controversy
Studio album by Prince
Released	October 14, 1981
Recorded	Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981
Genre	New Wave, Pop, Rock, Funk
Length	36:54
Label	Warner Bros. Records
Producer(s)	Prince
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com Robert Christgau (A-) link Rolling Stone link
Prince chronology
Dirty Mind (1980)	Controversy (1981)	1999 (1982)

Controversy is Prince's 4th album, released October 14, 1981. For the most part, the album was an expansion of its predecesor, 1980's Dirty Mind. The title track is a funk workout, where Prince seems to be bored of the media attention he's 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 which clearly predicts the 1999 album. "Annie Christian" is an odd political number with sinister lyrics. 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.

Contents 1 Charts 2 Track listing 3 Singles and Hot 100 chart placings 4 External links

[edit] Charts

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

[edit] Track listing

(all tracks written by Prince)

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

[edit] 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" (#9 R&B)

1. "Let's Work"
2. "Ronnie, Talk to 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)

[edit] External links

Controversy lyrics.

v • d • e Prince
Studio albums (non-soundtrack)
For You • Prince • Dirty Mind • Controversy • 1999 • Around the World in a Day • Sign 'O' the Times • Lovesexy • Diamonds and Pearls • (Love Symbol) • Come • The Black Album • The Gold Experience • Chaos and Disorder • Emancipation • The Truth • Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic • The Rainbow Children • One Nite Alone... • Musicology • 3121
Soundtracks
Purple Rain • Parade • Batman • Graffiti Bridge • Girl 6 • "Song of the Heart"
Live albums
One Nite Alone... Live!
Instrumental albums
Kamasutra • Xpectation • N.E.W.S
Internet albums
Xpectation • The Chocolate Invasion • The Slaughterhouse
Hits collections and compilations
The Hits/The B-Sides • Crystal Ball • The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale • The Very Best of Prince • Ultimate
EPs
The Beautiful Experience • 1999: The New Master
Films
Purple Rain • Under the Cherry Moon • Sign 'O' the Times • Graffiti Bridge
Related articles
The Revolution • New Power Generation • The Time • Madhouse • Vanity 6 • Apollonia 6 • Mazarati • Unreleased Prince projects
Top 10 singles (U.S. Hot 100)
"Little Red Corvette" • "Delirious" • "When Doves Cry" • "Let's Go Crazy" • "Purple Rain" • "I Would Die 4 U" • "Raspberry Beret" • "Pop Life" • "Kiss" • "Sign 'O' the Times" • "U Got the Look" • "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" • "Alphabet St." • "Batdance" • "Thieves In the Temple" • "Cream" • "Diamonds and Pearls" • "7" • "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"