Let's Work Single: 1982

released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the US by Warner Bros. Records Prince’s "Let's Work" backed with "Ronnie, Talk to Russia", (catalog number WBS 50002) on January 6, 1982. The song has its roots in a dance known as "the Rock" that local kids in Minneapolis were doing at the time.

Prince quickly responded with a track titled "Let's Rock" and wanted to release it as a single immediately. However, Warner Bros. declined, and a disappointed Prince chose not to include the song on the album Controversy, stating that the trend had passed. Instead, the song was revised with new lyrics and possibly new music, transforming into "Let's Work"—one of his most popular dance tracks.

The single peaked at number 104 on the US Billboard Pop Chart but climbed to number 9 on the Billboard Soul Chart. Alongside Controversy, Let’s Work also secured the number 1 spot for six consecutive weeks on the Billboard Disco Top 80 in late 1981.

The song is built on a funky bass line and features a repeated title throughout, heavily relying on keyboards to create a seductive groove in the verses and quick solos in the choruses. The lyrics playfully equate "working" with having sex. The song was paired with "Ronnie, Talk to Russia," which comes before it on the Controversy album.

The extended remix includes instrumental solos, Morris Day on drums, samples from "Controversy" and "Annie Christian"—two other tracks from the same album—and additional, more insistent lyrics. Prince performed this extended version live during the Controversy and 1999 tours. It marks the first US Prince single to feature a non-album B-side, although it was earlier released as a single in the UK. "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" was composed during the Dirty Mind tour and aligns with the minimalist, demo-like quality of that album.

Daphne A. Brooks from Pitchfork described the song as "an exquisite, mid-tempo dance track with a sinuously insistent bass line that fuels the electric slide togetherness of the party." Stephen Holden from Rolling Stone also characterized "Let's Work" as "a bright and squeaky dance song."

Cashbox stated, "This will definitely be popular in clubs and on B/C lists, with a strong chance of crossing over."

7"

A. Let’s Work (Edit) (2:56)

B. Ronnie, Talk To Russia (1:48)

Cat #: US/CA/NZ: WBS 50002

NL/DE: WB 17922