Prince: Controversy Album US: 1981

The Controversy That Jacked Off

Prince’s album Controversy, released in the US on October 14, 1981, on Warner Bros. Records (catalogue: BSK 3601), was his fourth studio album. Produced/arranged/composed/performed by Prince at Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Hollywood Sound, and Sunset Sound, this 8-track synth-funk/new wave opus—featuring Lisa Coleman and Bobby Z.—explored sexuality, politics, and identity. Peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard 200 for 32 weeks and No. 3 on Soul LPs for 35 weeks (8 at peak), it earned BPI Silver (60,000 UK). Issued in 8 vinyl pressings (Allied, Jacksonville, Winchester with poster, Specialty), cassette (7 variants), 8-track (2 club/standard), with singles charting modestly, it’s a pivotal pre-1999 statement.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: Warner Bros. Records (US).

Formats: Vinyl LP (8 variants), cassette (7 variants), 8-track (2 variants).

℗ & ©: 1981 Warner Bros. Records Inc. Engineered by Mic Guzauski, Bob Mockler, Ross Pallone. Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios.

Notes: Published by Controversy Music.

US Release Formats and Track Listings

Vinyl Album LP (Catalogue: BSK 3601):

Side A:

Controversy (7:14) – Backing Vocals – Lisa

Sexuality (4:20)

Do Me, Baby (7:47)

Side B:

Private Joy (4:25)

Ronnie, Talk To Russia (1:48) – Backing Vocals – Lisa

Let's Work (3:57)

Annie Christian (4:21)

Jack U Off (3:12) – Backing Vocals – Lisa – Keyboards – Lisa, Fink

Personnel

Musicians

Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted

Dr. Fink - keyboards on Jack U Off

Lisa Coleman - background vocals on Controversy, Ronnie, Talk To Russia and Jack U Off, keyboards on Jack U Off

Bobby Z. - drums on Jack U Off

Morris Day - drums (uncredited, possible involvement) on Controversy

Production

Prince - producer and arranger

Mic Guzauski - engineer

Bob Mockler - engineer

Ross Pallone - engineer

Peggy McCreary - engineer (uncredited)

Bernie Grundman - mastering (A&M Studios)

Allen Beaulieu - photography (credited on rear of album cover as 'Al Beaulieu')

Bob Cavallo - personal management

Joe Ruffalo - personal management

Steve Fargnoli - personal management

Thanks

"Special thanks to God and U."

Packaging: Purple hype sticker: “Contains the Hit Single ‘Controversy’ plus Limited Edition Color Poster.”

Cassette Album (Catalogue: WB M5-3601):

Side A:

Controversy (7:14) – Backing Vocals – Lisa

Sexuality (4:20)

Do Me, Baby (7:47)

Side B:

Private Joy (4:25)

Ronnie, Talk To Russia (1:48) – Backing Vocals – Lisa

Let's Work (3:57)

Annie Christian (4:21)

Jack U Off (3:12) – Backing Vocals, Keyboards – Lisa – Keyboards – Fink

8-Track Cartridge, Album (Catalogue: WB M8 3601):

Program 1: Controversy / Do Me Baby (Beg.)

Program 2: Do Me Baby (Concl.) / Jack U Off

Program 3: Private Joy / Ronnie Talk To Russia / Sexuality (Beg.)

Program 4: Sexuality (Concl.) / Annie Christian

US (Warner Bros. BSK 3601): Released October 14, 1981. Vinyl (8 variants), cassette (7 variants), 8-track (2).

Production and Context

Produced/Arranged/Composed/Performed by Prince. Musicians: Prince (vocals/instruments), Lisa Coleman (background vocals on Controversy/Ronnie/Jack U Off, keyboards on Jack U Off), Bobby Z. (drums). Engineered by Mic Guzauski, Bob Mockler, Ross Pallone. Recorded August 14–23, 1981. Controversy was Prince’s synth-driven bridge from Dirty Mind to 1999. Released amid Reagan era, it competed with Human League and Soft Cell.

Singles Released and Chart Performance

Controversy spawned four singles:

Controversy (September 2, 1981).

Sexuality (October 1981, EU/JP/AU).

Let's Work (January 6, 1982).

Do Me, Baby (July 16, 1982, US/PE).

Album Chart Performance

Controversy charted internationally:

USA (Billboard 200): 21 (32 weeks)

USA (Soul LPs): 3 (35 weeks, 8 at peak)

USA (Billboard 200 re-entry): ?? (31 weeks, August 25, 1984)

USA (Billboard 200 re-entry): ?? (1 week)

USA (Billboard 200 re-entry): 55 (2 weeks, May 14, 2016)

The Netherlands (Nationale Hitparade LP Top 50): 50 (1 week)

Certification: BPI Silver (UK, 60,000, November 17, 1989)

Legacy and Collectibility

Controversy is Prince’s synth-funk provocation, with Do Me, Baby and Jack U Off enduring. Original US vinyls Verify catalogue BSK 3601.

Streams on Spotify via reissues preserve the analog edge. This LP is a must-have for Prince fans and ‘80s synth collectors.

Do you have Controversy in your vinyl stack? Which track controversies you? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube

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