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Controversy Album (October 14 1981)
Controversy is Prince’s fourth studio album. A bold, socially conscious, and sexually charged record, it further refined his unique blend of funk, rock, and new wave while tackling themes of religion, sex, politics, and identity
USA: Billboard Soul LPs #35
SINGLES RELEASED
“Controversy” (b/w “When You Were Mine”)
“Sexuality” (Germany, Australia, Japan only)
“Let’s Work” (b/w “Ronnie, Talk to Russia”)
“Do Me, Baby” (b/w “Private Joy”)
Prince (March 11, 1983) “Critic’s choice/Music” – Star Tribune
A hometown preview in the Star Tribune by Jon Bream enthusiastically promoting Prince’s upcoming concert at the Met Center, hailing the 24-year-old Minneapolis artist as a major force in popular music and the inspiration behind Vanity 6 and The Time. Publication: Star Tribune Date: Friday, March 11, 1983 Country: United States Section / Pages: Critic’s choice / Music Title: Critic’s choice/Music THE STORY Jon Bream praises Prince as Rolling Stone’s Artist of the Year for 1982
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Mar 11, 1983
Prince (August 2, 1982) Sexuality / I Wanna Be Your Lover – Single 7" AU
Prince released “Sexuality” as a single in Australia on August 2, 1982, backed with “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (unlike the German and Japanese releases which used “Controversy” as the B-side) RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" Vinyl Single Country: Australia Released: August 2, 1982 Genre: Funk, Rock, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Sexuality” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “I Wanna Be Your Lover” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prin
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Aug 2, 1982
Prince (July 16, 1982) Do Me, Baby / Private Joy – Single 7" US/PE
Prince released “Do Me, Baby” as the third and final single from the Controversy album in the USA on July 16, 1982, backed with “Private Joy”. It was also released in Peru with Spanish titles. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" / 12" Vinyl Single Country: United States Released: July 16, 1982 Genre: Funk, Soul, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Do Me, Baby” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Private Joy” Written by: Prince Produced by:
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Jul 16, 1982
Prince (April 14, 1982) Let's Work / Ronnie, Talk To Russia – Single 7" NL
Prince released “Let’s Work” as the second single from the Controversy album in the Netherlands on April 14, 1982. It was issued in both 7" and 12" commercial formats. Netherlands 7" Commercial Single RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" / 12" Vinyl Single Country: Netherlands Released: April 14, 1982 Genre: Funk, Rock, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Let’s Work” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Ronnie, Talk To Russia” Written by: P
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Apr 14, 1982
Prince (April 2, 1982) Let's Work / Ronnie, Talk To Russia – Single 7" UK
Prince released “Let’s Work” as the second single from the Controversy album in the UK on April 2, 1982. It was issued in both 7" and 12" picture sleeve formats, with some of the 12" marketed as a limited edition at the price of a 7". RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" / 12" Vinyl Single Country: United Kingdom Released: April 2, 1982 Genre: Funk, Rock, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Let’s Work” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Ro
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Apr 2, 1982
Prince (February 18, 1982) Let's Work / Ronnie, Talk To Russia – Single 7" DE
Prince released “Let’s Work” as the second single from the Controversy album in Germany on February 18, 1982. It was issued in both 7" and 12" formats, with the extended dance version appearing on the 12" maxi-single. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" / 12" Vinyl Single Country: Germany (West Germany) Released: February 18, 1982 Genre: Funk, Rock, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Let’s Work” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Ronnie,
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Feb 18, 1982
Prince (February 1982) Sexuality / Controversy – Single 7" JP
Prince released “Sexuality” as a 7" single in Japan in February 1982, backed with “Controversy”. It was issued in both commercial and promotional editions with picture/lyric inserts RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records / Warner-Pioneer Corporation Format: 7" Vinyl Single Country: Japan Released: February 1982 Genre: Funk, Rock, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Sexuality” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Controversy” Written by: Prince Produced b
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Feb 1, 1982
Prince (January 20, 1982) Let’s Work (Dance Remix) - 12" Single
Prince transforms a Minneapolis street dance into an 8‑minute funk marathon RELEASE DETAILS Date: January 20, 1982 Catalogue: DWBS 50028 (commercial) / PRO-A-1004 (promo) Format: 12" Single Country: United States A-Side: “Let’s Work (Dance Remix)” B-Side: “Gotta Stop (Messin’ About)” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince 12" Promo (US) (PRO-A-1004) A. Let’s Work (Dance Remix – Long Version) – 8:02 B. Let’s Work (7" Single Version) – 2:56 CHART PERFORMANCE US Billboard Disco
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Jan 20, 1982
Prince (January 6, 1982) Let’s Work - Single US
Prince’s dance‑floor command born from a local Minneapolis craze and reshaped into pure Controversy‑era funk RELEASE DETAILS Date: January 6, 1982 Catalogue: WBS 50002 (US) / WB 17922 Country: United States (also issued in Netherlands/Germany) A-Side: “Let’s Work” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Ronnie, Talk To Russia” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince THE STORY Released on January 6, 1982, “Let’s Work” was the second single from Prince’s album Controvers
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Jan 6, 1982
Prince (1982) Let's Work / Ronnie, Talk To Russia – Single 7" NZ
Prince released “Let’s Work” as a single in New Zealand in 1982, backed with “Ronnie, Talk To Russia”. It was issued in a generic WEA company sleeve with no picture sleeve. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Warner Bros. Records Format: 7" / 12" Vinyl Single Country: New Zealand Released: 1982 Genre: Funk, Rock, Minneapolis Sound A-Side: “Let’s Work” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Ronnie, Talk To Russia” Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince VARIANTS New
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Jan 1, 1982
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