Prince ‎– Controversy

If Dirty Mind was Prince's uncompromising departure from the coming-of-age pains and obsessions that were captured in 1978's For You and 1979's Prince, 1981's Controversy was the cerebral and slightly darker expansion of the brave template that he laid out for Dirty Mind. I can't fathom why it doesn't get many accolades as Dirty Mind. In fact, it's seen as a lesser work in the stunning pre-Purple Rain trifecta that began with Dirty Mind and concluded with 1982's double-opus 1999. It's clearly the misunderstood middle child of the masterstrokes that bookend it, but there's more to it. It solidified the unpredictable world of this unpredictable wunderkind, who was set to become one of the definitive post-modern visionaries of the Eighties. Proof of this fact is found on its grand first side in which its three songs perfectly illustrate Prince's game plan not only in the narratives of his unparalleled Eighties-period work, but for the trajectory of his entire career. The title track begins with a scathing denouncement to his critics, and boldly juxtaposes his message with a religious awakening when he recites 'The Lord's Prayer.' It was probably the first instance of religion in his work. Then, he reaffirms the utopian sexual liberation he covered in 'Dirty Mind''s "Uptown" for "Sexuality." Only this time, sexual expression is positioned with the call for societal uprising to incite anti-conservativism. Of all of Prince's early ballads, "Do Me, Baby" is inarguably his first great slow jam that set the pace for his future classic bedroom burners—the lustful drama, the exhilarating climax with its eccentric come-on monologue, and Prince's impassioned vocal delivery. And this was only the first side, mind you. In the second half, political affairs, funk, and even more sex took on more adventurous extremes. Prince was onto something, and soon he would rule the rest of the era at every cost. A transitional classic for the ages,

My copy had skipping on A1 fresh out of the shrinkwrap - I've seen similar reviews on Amazon saying that this is common problem.

Can somebody tell about the sound quality? Should I pay a little more for the US Orginal first press?

Love this album so much! Nothing beats a vinyl copy. Play it loud! Released the year I was born!

Excellent repress, really compliments the sparse and clean arrangement, making the synth bass shine. Title track is a killer and makes the album worth just on its own

I see there is a note to say "Not to be confused with: Prince - Controversy ('Polygram' is not present on the disc: the line reads only 'Made in West Germany')..."
I have that version but I can't find it here. Should I add it?

Before I decided to clean up my act, I wore this album out! Like "Dirty Mind", I had to sneak it into the house (I was only 10). The title track saved me for years from getting caught with it, it was the cleanest song on the album, it also was the funkiest. You P fans know about the rest, it was pure sexuality at work, something P would revisit over, and over again! A PRINCE CLASSIC!