Prince (September 2, 1981) Controversy / When You Were Mine – Single US
Updated: Aug 26
Controversy served as the lead single from Prince’s fourth studio album of the same name. Issued six weeks before the album’s release, it marked the beginning of a new era in his early‑1980s output, blending political commentary, personal myth‑making, and Minneapolis funk. The B‑side, When You Were Mine, originated from the previous album Dirty Mind, creating a bridge between the raw, punk‑funk aesthetic of 1980 and the more expansive, socially charged tone of 1981.
The single received worldwide release and quickly became one of Prince’s most visible early tracks. Although its performance on the Billboard Hot 100 was modest, it achieved major success on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and dominated the Billboard Disco Top 80 when paired with Let’s Work, holding the number‑one position for six consecutive weeks — the first time Prince‑penned songs achieved such status on that chart.
A later UK single release in 1993, tied to The Hits 2 and The Hits / The B‑Sides, featured different artwork and tracklisting and is therefore treated as a separate entry.
TRACK‑BY‑TRACK NOTES
• Controversy — The title track confronts speculation surrounding Prince’s identity, addressing questions about sexuality, gender, race, religion, and public perception. Built on a steady 4/4 drum pattern, synthesized bass, guitar, and keyboards, the song incorporates the full recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and a closing chant expressing desires for freedom from social rules and divisions.
• When You Were Mine — Originally from Dirty Mind, the track provides a contrasting emotional tone, pairing new‑wave‑inflected pop with a bittersweet narrative of romantic loss.
RELEASE HISTORY
Released in the USA on 2 September 1981, with a UK release following on 9 October 1981. The single formed the first commercial introduction to the Controversy album and was distributed globally across multiple formats, including commercial 7", promotional 7", and several 12" variants. Non‑album edits — Controversy (Edit) and Controversy (Edit) (Mono) — accompanied certain promotional issues.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
America
USA: Billboard Hot Soul Singles — Entry: 26 Sep. 1981 — Peak: 3 — Weeks: 20
USA: Billboard Disco Top 80 (with Let’s Work) — Entry: 3 Oct. 1981 — Peak: 1 (6 weeks) — Weeks: 30
USA: Billboard Hot 100 — Entry: 24 Oct. 1981 — Peak: 70 — Weeks: 9
Europe
Netherlands: Single Top 100 — Entry: 5 Dec. 1981 — Peak: 27 — Weeks: 4
France: Show Magazine Singles Chart — Entry: 5 Mar. 1982 — Peak: 47 — Weeks: 4
Artist: Prince
Title: Controversy
Label: Warner Bros.
Country: USA
Catalogue: WBS 49808
Date: 2 September 1981
Format: 7"
PERSONNEL
Prince — lead and backing vocals, Oberheim OB‑X, Oberheim OB‑SX, electric guitars, bass guitar, Pearl SY‑1 Syncussion, handclaps; possible drums Lisa Coleman — backing vocals
Morris Day — possible drums
CONTROVERSY VARIANTS TABLE (ALL FORMATS — US FIRST)
Variant | Details |
US 7" – WBS 49808 | A. Controversy (Edit) (3:35) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
US 7" Promo – WBS 49808 | A. Controversy (Edit) (Stereo) (3:35) B. Controversy (Edit) (Mono) (3:35) |
US 12" Promo – PRO‑A‑980 | A. Controversy (Edit) (3:35) B. Controversy (Long Version) (7:14) |
Bolivia 7" | WEA — 1981 |
Brazil 7" | Warner Bros. — 1981 |
Canada 7" | Warner Bros. — 1981 |
Ecuador 7" | Warner Bros. — 1981 |
France 7" – 17 866 | A. Controversy (Edit) (3:35) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
France 12" Promo – PRO 530 | A. Controversy (Edit) (3:39) B.Controversy (Edit) (3:39) |
Guatemala 7" | Warner Bros. — 1981 |
Netherlands 7" – WB 17866 | A. Controversy (Edit) (3:35) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
Netherlands 12" – WB 26195 | A. Controversy (7:14) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
Philippines 7" | Warner Bros. — 1981 |
UK 7" – K 17866 | A. Controversy (Edit) (3:35) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
UK 12" – K 17866T | A. Controversy (7:14) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
Australia 7" – MX213145‑6 | A. Controversy (Edit) (3:35) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
Australia 12" – MX213145‑6 | A. Controversy (7:14) B. When You Were Mine (3:44) |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2
All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
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