Prince – Controversy
Genre:
Style:
Year:
Notes:
Prince's fourth album, first released in 1981.
Singles:
Controversy
Do Me, Baby
Let's Work
Sexuality
Related release:
Uptown / Controversy (Back To Back Hits from 1988)
Singles:
Controversy
Do Me, Baby
Let's Work
Sexuality
Related release:
Uptown / Controversy (Back To Back Hits from 1988)
Tracklist
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 |
Credits (7)
Versions (115)
Recommendations
Reviews Show All 13 Reviews
dnordquist
October 1, 2020
referencing Controversy, LP, Album, RE, RM, 180, R1 3601
My copy had skipping on A1 fresh out of the shrinkwrap - I've seen similar reviews on Amazon saying that this is common problem.
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dgxyz
April 27, 2020
referencing Controversy, LP, Album, P-11126W
Can somebody tell about the sound quality? Should I pay a little more for the US Orginal first press?
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rlittler1981
December 9, 2019
referencing Controversy, LP, Album, RE, RM, 180, 8122 797776, 8122797776
Love this album so much! Nothing beats a vinyl copy. Play it loud! Released the year I was born!
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valentingalea
February 25, 2018
edited over 3 years ago
referencing Controversy, LP, Album, RE, RM, 180, 8122 797776, 8122797776
referencing Controversy, LP, Album, RE, RM, 180, 8122 797776, 8122797776
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
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picdisc65
July 4, 2017
referencing Controversy, LP, Album, RE, Blu, XBS-3601
"Blue"? Blue what? Clearly not the vinyl judging by the pictures
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MusicNerdB52
July 21, 2016
referencing Controversy, Cass, Album, RE, 556180-4
...why? It's 2016 I know cassettes are starting to be cool again but this is ridiculous.
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Misty2k
July 19, 2016
referencing Controversy, CD, Album, RE, Tar, 3601-2, 256 950
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?
I have that version but I can't find it here. Should I add it?
isaacmusicman
January 11, 2015
referencing Controversy, LP, Album, BSK 3601
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!
Said_Head
October 15, 2009
referencing Controversy, CD, Album, RE, 7599-23601-2
Definitely Prince's more 'out there' releases from his early catalogue. While I'm glad he discontinued his funkier origins for a more anti-stereotypical blend of music (which the album's title track and others clearly present lyrically as well).
There's still a lot of funkiness to some of the tracks though, which mix into a great combination with the more sterile and abrasive synths of an early new wave sound; I think of this album as a pre-mature 1999, where Prince's signature 80's sound really starts to bloom. The one problem I have with 1999 is that Prince, in my opinion, kind abandoned potential for melody in exchange for pure electronics (take for instance the lengthy bouts of electronic percussion). Controversy, however, is all about clever melodies with a taste of funk and new strengths in his song-writing skills that his earlier 3 albums only hinted at.
There are a few dull moments for me though; some of the instrumentation gets a little predictable, and the long ballad 'Do Me, Baby' is one track I usually avoid. A lot of the album's finest moments for me are the more experimental ones, like, of course, the 7 minute title track, 'Ronnie, Talk To Russia', and 'Annie Christian'.
Controversy is definitely a favorite early Prince album of mine, and while I can't give it a perfect score, it's challenging nature is what really attracts me to it.
There's still a lot of funkiness to some of the tracks though, which mix into a great combination with the more sterile and abrasive synths of an early new wave sound; I think of this album as a pre-mature 1999, where Prince's signature 80's sound really starts to bloom. The one problem I have with 1999 is that Prince, in my opinion, kind abandoned potential for melody in exchange for pure electronics (take for instance the lengthy bouts of electronic percussion). Controversy, however, is all about clever melodies with a taste of funk and new strengths in his song-writing skills that his earlier 3 albums only hinted at.
There are a few dull moments for me though; some of the instrumentation gets a little predictable, and the long ballad 'Do Me, Baby' is one track I usually avoid. A lot of the album's finest moments for me are the more experimental ones, like, of course, the 7 minute title track, 'Ronnie, Talk To Russia', and 'Annie Christian'.
Controversy is definitely a favorite early Prince album of mine, and while I can't give it a perfect score, it's challenging nature is what really attracts me to it.
brandosoul
October 29, 2020