A PUNK PROPHET OF SEXUAL ANARCHY

the era UPTOWN started to broaden an we see another part of uptown or should I say downtown via the Time. the work of Jamie Starr. Prince took his New Wave edge to another level & introduced the linn to us. another level of dangerous sexuality... Punk New Wave Funk Image already very much a strong combination with the music, your pulled into a real/imagined place called Uptown.

It's all about self-respect...to take pride in who you are, the way you dress and groom, and the way you walk & talk. -Morris Day

I'm still frightened of Prince allured by the promise, alarmed by the chintzy crud of his live routine, partially assuaged by this new "Controversy". -NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS November 14, 1981

October 14. 1981 rel

Controversy

1.Controversy
2.Sexuality
3.Do Me Baby
4.Private Joy
5.Ronnie, Talk To Russia
6.Let's Work
7.Annie Christian
8.Jack U Off

On the first The Time disc, the only stuff I ever played with any regularity was "Get it Up" and "The Stick"; especially the latter, which is my favorite song on there. I had no idea that Lisa wrote it.

armpit said:

On the first The Time disc, the only stuff I ever played with any regularity was "Get it Up" and "The Stick"; especially the latter, which is my favorite song on there. I had no idea that Lisa wrote it.

Probably 1 reason Prince called her Nasty

The stick was originally written by Lisa Coleman, but it was registered to Jamie Starr.

Matt Fink delivers synthesizer

Lisa Coleman (background vocals)

all other known instruments by Jamie Starr

Lead vocals by Morris Day

My stick, I just love my stick
Mmm, my stick, I just love my stick

Girl, your ride is bad but U can't compare
2 my baby black Cadillac, oh so rare
Take a vacation, I don't care
Cuz I can get some simulation anywhere

U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride
U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride

Girl, U come 2 quick, much, much 2 quick
Girl, U come 2 quick, I'll just work the stick

Offer me your body, I have 2 pass
Cuz every time we make love, U run out of gas
Girl, my car's so bad it runs on H2O (Oh)
No, U can't compete, it's got the cruise control (No)

U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride
U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride {x2}
Everybody
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride

Girl, U come 2 quick, much, much 2 quick
Girl, U come 2 quick, I have 2 work the stick

I've been drivin', baby, since the age of 13
I'm the baddest driver U've ever seen (Oh)
U know I like it fast and I like it slow
Sometimes I let the top down when I wanna let go
(Oh, everybody sing the song now)

U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride
Everybody
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride
Break down

What time is it?
(Well, your car's 2 slow, baby)
I said "What time is it?"
Oh
Band
Yeah, that's right
Oh
Oh no

U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick

Somebody bring me a mirror so I can uh...
What song we on?

U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride (Oh)

What time is it?
I'm just alright, oh no
Yeah ooh, oh
I don't need U, baby, I'll just work the stick in my ride, yeah ooh
I don't need your action, baby
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride
Sing it
Get a little satisfaction, work the stick in my ride
Everybody

U just come 2 quick, I'd rather work my stick

It's about time 2 go (No)
I said I don't need U girl, hey
Somebody bring me a mirror
So I can look at my stick, hey
Alright
U wanna see it?
Should I take it out?
Take it out, man
Hey
Later y'all

armpit said:

On the first The Time disc, the only stuff I ever played with any regularity was "Get it Up" and "The Stick"; especially the latter, which is my favorite song on there. I had no idea that Lisa wrote it.

You should really indulge in the ENTIRE album! Very funky, very short, and very concise. It's only improved upon by their second album!!

An absolutely awesome era and definate personal favourite...hearing the song controversy was what cemented me to being a Prince fan....

Excellent live shows which feels like a tipping point in Prince's career where things began to get bigger and better...

And now for some photos

MORE TO FOLLOW

My favorite song and album

During the summer of 1981, Prince wanted to release a non-album single titled "Let's Rock" named after a popular dance in night clubs. Unfortunately, WB didn't let it happen (the first conflict between them and Prince.) Prince later reworked the song and released it on Controversy as the song we all know "Let's Work."

Apparently, Prince recorded a lot of songs in 1981:

Alexander O’ Neal, pre The Time 1981
Rough #2

Home studio, early 1981
She’s Just A Baby #1 (4:44)
Broken (3:04)
Commercial #1
Hump You
Susan

The Time, home studio, April 1981 – album mixed in late April
- Lead vocal: Morris Day, backing vocals: Lisa Coleman, synth solo on “Get It Up” & “The Stick”: Matt Fink
Get It Up (9:05)*
Girl (5:34)*
After Hi School (4:20)* (Dez Dickerson)
Cool (10:06)* (Prince/Dez Dickerson)
Oh, Baby #2 (4:57)*
The Stick (8:23)* (Lisa Coleman/Prince)

Home studio, spring – summer 1981
Let’s Rock #1

Home studio, 1981
Dancin’ Flu (Prince/Dez Dickerson)
Dear Uncle George #1 (Private Joy was based on the music from this song)
Delivery Boy #1
Forever Mine (Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff) – cover of The O’Jays
Friction
Hard To Get #2
I Can’t Figure It Out (Dez Dickerson)
The Rain And You - ballad
Rain #1 – possibly a cappella

Controversy, home studio, summer 1981
Controversy (7:14)*
Sexuality (4:20)*
Ronnie, Talk To Russia #1
Annie Christian (4:21)*
Poppa Grooves (Instrumental) #1
There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool #1
Tick, Tick, Bang #1 (3:16)

Controversy, Hollywood Sound, June - August 1981
Delivery Boy #2
Do Me, Baby (7:47)*
Let’s Work #2 (3:57)* (previously “Let’s Rock”)
Ronnie, Talk To Russia #2 (1:48)*
Jack U Off (3:12)* (June) - Keyboards: Lisa Coleman & Matt Fink, drums: Bobby Z. Rivkin
Make U Mine (June) - Keyboards: Lisa Coleman & Matt Fink, drums: Bobby Z. Rivkin
There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool #2 (June)

Controversy, Sunset Sound, 14-16 August 1981 - album completed by mid-August
There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool #3 (14-15/8)
Private Joy #2 (4:25)* (16/8) (previously “Dear Uncle George”)

The Hookers, home studio, 1981 - Jamie Shoop & Susan Moonsie
I Need A Man #1 – lead vocal: Jamie Shoop
Make-up (2:39)*
Wet Dream #1
Jealous Girl #1 – offered to The Bangles in 1985
Pizza
Drive Me Wild (2:32)*

Unnamed project, home studio, 1981
See U Dead
Heart Attack
Kiss Me Quick
Strange Way Of Saying I Love You (2:09)
Gym Class

Home studio, autumn-winter 1981
The Second Coming (1:58) (autumn)
Baby I’m A Star #1 (autumn/winter)
Rearrange #1 (7/12)
Baby I’m A Star #2 (7-8/12)
Let’s Work (Dance Remix) (8:02)* (8/12)
Feel U Up #1 (6:38) – segued with
Irresistible Bitch #1 (4:36) (winter)
Jerk Out #1 (late 1981) (Prince/Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis/Morris Day)

And let's not forget the unreleased concert movie The Second Coming!

are all of these available out there?

December 2. 1981 Palladium [NYC]
(on the Controversy Tour)

Llanishenlad said:

March 8. 1982
First Avenue, Minneapolis

1.Bambi
2.All The Critics Love U In New York(premiered)
3.Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
4.Sexy Dancer
5.Head
6.Sexuality
7.Partyup

Replica said:

are all of these available out there?

Unfortunately not all, only the ones in red are available in Controversy, The Time, Vanity 6 and in various bootlegs:

Alexander O’ Neal, pre The Time 1981
Rough #2

Home studio, early 1981
She’s Just A Baby #1 (4:44)
Broken (3:04)
Commercial #1
Hump You
Susan

The Time, home studio, April 1981 – album mixed in late April
Get It Up (9:05)*
Girl (5:34)*
After Hi School (4:20)* (Dez Dickerson)
Cool (10:06)* (Prince/Dez Dickerson)
Oh, Baby #2 (4:57)*
The Stick (8:23)* (Lisa Coleman/Prince)

Home studio, spring – summer 1981
Let’s Rock #1

Home studio, 1981
Dancin’ Flu (Prince/Dez Dickerson)
Dear Uncle George #1 (Private Joy was based on the music from this song)
Delivery Boy #1
Forever Mine (Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff) – cover of The O’Jays
Friction
Hard To Get #2
I Can’t Figure It Out (Dez Dickerson)
The Rain And You - ballad
Rain #1 – possibly a cappella

Controversy, home studio, summer 1981
Controversy (7:14)*
Sexuality (4:20)*
Ronnie, Talk To Russia #1
Annie Christian (4:21)*
Poppa Grooves (Instrumental) #1
There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool #1
Tick, Tick, Bang #1 (3:16)

Controversy, Hollywood Sound, June - August 1981
Delivery Boy #2
Do Me, Baby (7:47)*
Let’s Work #2 (3:57)* (previously “Let’s Rock”)
Ronnie, Talk To Russia #2 (1:48)*
Jack U Off (3:12)* (June) - Keyboards: Lisa Coleman & Matt Fink, drums: Bobby Z. Rivkin
Make U Mine (June) - Keyboards: Lisa Coleman & Matt Fink, drums: Bobby Z. Rivkin
There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool #2 (June)

Controversy, Sunset Sound, 14-16 August 1981 - album completed by mid-August
There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool #3 (14-15/8)
Private Joy #2 (4:25)* (16/8) (previously “Dear Uncle George”)

The Hookers, home studio, 1981 - Jamie Shoop & Susan Moonsie
I Need A Man #1 – lead vocal: Jamie Shoop
Make-up (2:39)*
Wet Dream #1
Jealous Girl #1 – offered to The Bangles in 1985
Pizza
Drive Me Wild (2:32)*

Unnamed project, home studio, 1981
See U Dead
Heart Attack
Kiss Me Quick
Strange Way Of Saying I Love You (2:09)
Gym Class

Home studio, autumn-winter 1981
The Second Coming (1:58) (autumn)
Baby I’m A Star #1 (autumn/winter)
Rearrange #1 (7/12)
Baby I’m A Star #2 (7-8/12)
Let’s Work (Dance Remix) (8:02)* (8/12)
Feel U Up #1 (6:38) – segued with
Irresistible Bitch #1 (4:36) (winter)
Jerk Out #1 (late 1981) (Prince/Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis/Morris Day)

Prince had that edge that caught the eye of anyone who wanted to 'be bad' or just pretend to be bad.

Although they hadn't yet really played together as a group in the studio, in August 1981 THE TIME performed their first live appearance at a showcase for a small group of executives from Warner Bros. Records at the S.I.R. Studio in Los Angeles, with Prince overseeing the proceedings by the soundboard. During rehearsals for the upcoming "Controversy"-Tour with Prince, THE TIME incorporated Jerome Benton into their acts to be Morris Day's on-stage valet. The band warmed-up in autumn 1981 by playing a small number of low-key gigs around the Minneapolis aera.

THE TIME made their public live debut on 7th October 1981 at Sam's, a music club in Downtown, Minneapolis, with Prince digging the show back by the soundboard again. A few weeks later they embarked as the main supporting act on Prince's 1981/1982 "Controversy"-Tour.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Prince had that edge that caught the eye of anyone who wanted to 'be bad' or just pretend to be bad.

I've got this poster proudly displayed on the wall in my room! I bought the controversy vinyl JUST for the poster!

alexnvrmnd777 said:

armpit said:

On the first The Time disc, the only stuff I ever played with any regularity was "Get it Up" and "The Stick"; especially the latter, which is my favorite song on there. I had no idea that Lisa wrote it.

You should really indulge in the ENTIRE album! Very funky, very short, and very concise. It's only improved upon by their second album!!

I did try the rest of it, but none of the other songs really had an impact on me. That CD started and ended with a BANG .

armpit said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

You should really indulge in the ENTIRE album! Very funky, very short, and very concise. It's only improved upon by their second album!!

I did try the rest of it, but none of the other songs really had an impact on me. That CD started and ended with a BANG .

A good way to get into an album especially these earlier ones is to combine it with protege music bsides and outtakes and a few live renditions from that year

Check out backstage, live, photoshoots from that era and get a picture of Uptown from a Pop view point

1.Controversy

Cool
2.Sexuality

8.Jack U Off

Tick Tick Bang
3.Do Me Baby

Oh Baby

the Stick
4.Private Joy
5.Ronnie, Talk To Russia

3.After Hi School

Get It Up
6.Let's Work
7.Annie Christian

Broken

rudeboy4711 said:

Controversy tour was amazing! From the shows I've heard, he'd really improved since DM and it transitioned very nicely into 1999.

Houston and Monroe shows are 2 of my favorites.

armpit said:

On the first The Time disc, the only stuff I ever played with any regularity was "Get it Up" and "The Stick"; especially the latter, which is my favorite song on there. I had no idea that Lisa wrote it.

"The Stick" is the hottest song on the record no doubt- SHoulda been a hit single- To this day one of my all time favorites.

armpit said:

On the first The Time disc, the only stuff I ever played with any regularity was "Get it Up" and "The Stick"; especially the latter, which is my favorite song on there. I had no idea that Lisa wrote it.

That makes sense, because if you imagine a woman singing the song, you could tell the lyrics were referring to an "intimate bedroom aid"

Woah, his band doesn't look much taller than he does, and they're wearing heels too.

treehouse said:

Woah, his band doesn't look much taller than he does, and they're wearing heels too.

I don't know how they did that but BrownMark & Bobby Z are taller

Another great thread OldFriend!!!!

OldFriends4Sale said:

ALways thought this would have been an awesome album cover!

There was a thread on this several years back. Blackguitarist who used to frequent the org, would give you the details on any and everything of Prince, especially this era. Prince was so avante garde and unique for the era, that looking at this through 2011 eyes, we would not understand the impact he had on the era of pop music.

OldFriends: Great threads and your passion is truly appreciated by me and other orgers...

This is my favorite era. Everything about it. The Time, the Revolution, all of it. Crazy, gritty, funky, coy, and snarky all in one.

Once upon a time ... exactly in April 1981 [Prince] creates THE TIME as an outlet for some of his most funky and danceable R&B material. The project was made possible when he signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records, that allowed him to develop and record other acts. After the considerable success the record company had achieved with his 1979 album "Prince" and the hit-single "I wanna be your lover" (which sold more than 1 million copies and hit #1 at the R&B Charts and #11 at the Pop-Charts) in the black marketplace, the record company was very interested when [Prince] presented them with more of the same. By creating THE TIME, [Prince] was able to continue on the path of his 1980 album "Dirty Mind" and explore other musical genres that would not label him as a R&B artist. His ideas about creating an alter-ego group was reinforced by a 1980 motion picture entitled "The Idolmaker". Directed by Taylor Hackford, this movie is a revealing and entertaining glimpse of the process behind the invention of pop stars. It was based on the career of Bob Marcucci, who pulled the strings for Fabian and Frankie Avalon in the '50s.

Sue Ann Carwell did a stint as lead singer before getting a solo contract, and also Alexander O'Neal took over. He was [Prince]'s first choice as lead singer for THE TIME, but he finally declined his offer by saying "If there isn't going to be a bunch of money, then I'm not in.". Alexander O'Neil later released more than 10 albums and collected three gold records - THE TIME released only 4 albums but got three gold and one platinum.

Finally [Prince] envisioned THE TIME as a cool, street-wise funk band, with [Morris Day] as the lead singer. The songs [Prince] tailored for the band were unpretentious and well humored, mostly concerned with love, sex, style, attitude, partying and money. Containing none of the spiritual or socio-political concerns that he dealt with on his own albums. Part of [Prince]'s incentive for involving [Morris Day] in THE TIME was to repay him for the use of his track "Partyup" on [Prince]'s 1980 album "Dirty Mind".

THE TIME's further line-up was basically created around a Minneapolis funk band called Flyte Tyme. This band, named after a song by jazz artist Donald Byrd, was founded by [Jellybean Johnson] (drums) and [Terry Lewis] (bass) and had exist in different incarnations since around 1973. [Monte Moir] and [Jimmy Jam] (both keyboards) had also played with Flyte Tyme many times ago. [Jesse Johnson] (guitar) was finally enlisted by [Morris Day], who remembered him from an audition for his former band Enterprise. Cynthia Johnson was one of Flyte Tyme's early lead singers until she left to sing with Lipps Inc., who had a huge hit with "Funkytown" in 1980.

Andre Cymone, who played bass in [Prince]'s band, had been very involved in THE TIME project from the beginning. He was also assembling a girl group, called "The Girls", and saw the side projects as an opportunity to supplement his relatively small income from being a band member only. Andre claimed that he came up with many of the ideas for THE TIME before being muscled out of the project, wich led into falling out with [Prince]. The relationship between Andre Cymone and [Prince] had been deteriorating for some time. Andre felt, that he didn't receive enough credits for his input into [Prince]'s music and stage act, even accusing [Prince] of knowing stealing his ideas. He decided to leave [Prince]'s band and embark a solo-career. He accepted to participate in the upcoming european tour, but he left the band immediately afterwards.

Lisa Coleman later also reported, that [Prince] pulled stunts like turning home studio jams with [Morris Day] and her into material for THE TIME and another side-project, Vanity 6.