ntroduced Prince as a 21‑year‑old multi‑instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and chart‑regular • Highlighted his rapid ascent: debut in 1978, gold certification by 1979, and the release of Controversy in October 1981 • Positioned Prince as both a rock musician and a socially conscious lyricist • Emphasised his use of provocative stage effects to raise awareness

Recorded in April 1979, this early demo predates the polished Controversy version by two years. Stripped back and emotionally exposed, the recording highlights Prince’s vocal vulnerability, melodic instinct and sensual phrasing long before the song became one of his signature slow jams.

Prince transforms a Minneapolis dance craze into an 8‑minute funk marathon — the definitive “Let’s Work” experience.

A Minneapolis dance‑floor command born from a local craze and reshaped into pure Controversy‑era funk ✦ Summary Let’s Work was released in the United States on January 6, 1982 as a 7-inch vinyl single on Warner Bros. Records (WBS 50002), backed with Ronnie, Talk To Russia. Originally conceived as Let’s Rock — inspired by a Minneapolis dance craze known as “the Rock” — Prince intended to rush‑release the track, but Warner Bros. declined. By the time the label reconsidered, Pri

A synth‑funk rebellion — Prince’s boldest political, sexual, and spiritual statement before the 1999 breakthrough.

Released October 14, 1981, Controversy pushed Prince into sharper political, sexual, and social territory. Blending synth‑funk, new wave, and Minneapolis minimalism, it marked a bold evolution from Dirty Mind and set the stage for the breakthrough of 1999.