Controversy is the only Prince album I've yet to buy, and reviews seem to be very scattered on it - Some good, but many average. So, seeing as I trust most of the members in the org with their album preferences, I figured I'd ask here. Go!

Certainly not his best piece of work, less consistent than Dirty Mind, but still an amazing album that is definately worth purchasing.

Controversy, Private Joy, Do Me Baby and Let's Work are all classics.
[Edited 1/29/06 10:55am]

It is essential. It's Prince becoming into his own really. He got his home studio built, he is learning to "freak" a slow jam (Do Me baby), his synth and new wave influence is hot. It's vintage Prince. His ulitmate song, Controversy, his manifesto. All summed up in a song and the rest of "him" in the rest of the songs. The rock, the religion, the ambuguity (Jack U Off), the ribald (Sexuality), the brilliant pop (Private Joy), the huh anti music (Annie Christian). Controversy is as important as Purple Rain or Sign Of The Times.

It may sound dated today..."may"..but so what.

Controversy in my book gets a solid 7 and a half. A great record.

I happen to think the Controversy is truly under-rated.

I love every song and I especially want to say that "Jack U Off" seems to be under-rated on the Org.

It's a great song because it sumed up all of Prince's mischievious nature.

It's quite overtly sexual but it's more fun that offensive.

I like it so much I've posted the lyrics... !

If U're looking for somewhere to go
Thought I'd take u to a movie show
Sittin' in the back and I'll jack u off
I can't give u everything u want
But I can take u to a restaurant
If u're not hungry
I'll jack u off

If your man ain't no good
Come on over to my neighborhood
We can jump in the sack and I'll jack u off

If u're tired of the masturbater
Little girl, we can go on a date
And if u like, I'll jack u off

I'll jack u off, jack u off
I'll jack u off, jack u off
I'll jack u off

I only do it for a worthy cause
Viriginity or menopause
U'll have an instant heart attack if I jack u off

If u really really want to be a star
We gotta do it in your momma's car
Naked in a Cadillac, I'll jack u off

If we can't find no place to go
Girl, I'll take u to a movie show, we can sit in the back
And I'll jack u off

I'll jack u off, jack u off
I'll jack u off, jack u off
I'll jack u off, yeah
Yeah, yeah, I'll jack u off

Alright say, we'll put some funk on here
I'll jack u off

If u ain't chicken baby, come here
If u're good I'll even let u steer
As a matter of fact, u can jack me off
Yeah, that's right

I'll jack u off, yeah
I'll jack u off

Controversy gets a solid 44,574,234.80719 out of 10 from me.

It's my favourite Prince record.

Ronnie Talk 2 Russia is the second greatest song in the entire Prince canon.

Following swiftly behind, we have the absolute unrivaled genius of Sexuality, Jack U Off and the title track.

Prince's ultimate ballad is found here: Do Me Baby. Prince's ultimate dance-funk stomper, Let's Work, and the blissful pop orgasm of Private Joy.

Annie Christian tops it off in a delicious bundle of prostate-stroking fabulousness.

Some critics label it not as raw as it's predecessor, Dirty Mind, and for this mark it down - but look at it from the other side - it's the raw, unpolished, quirky predecessor of Prince's crowning glory - 1999 - This is 1999 without the purple trench coat and hugs from MTV and Rolling Stone.

Also your collection is not complete without a copy on vinyl, and the Controversy shower poster in your posession. Bonus points for a home-made iron-on TV shirt of said poster image.




All of the above is, of course, simply my humble opinion.

I love it, but consider it his most dated album of his '80s output.

eccotides said:

its a fine album , I'm surprised that you're concerned about peoples reviews if youve got all his other stuff mind , I'm sure youve read lots of reviews / ratings of all his other albums by now that you dont necessarily agree with

Also I've read loads of reviews on Amazon and other opinion websites but I rarely see it rated highly.

I looked on Amazon.co.uk for some reviews of "Dirty Mind" (Just out of curiosity !) and there's about 9 and none are particularly WOW. (apart from mine, of course !!)

pepper7 said:

look again , of the 9 reviews on amazon 6 are 5 star reviews , it gets a solid 4.5 star rating over all.

One of my favorite P albums

Get's 4,5 of 5

Could have got 5 if the extended version of Let's Work had been included

moonshine said:

Ooops. Point taken.

Plus my review doesn't seem to be on there. Doh !

But c'mon only 9 reviews for such a fantastic album.....

There needs to be more...

I think it's one of his very best and you're mad if you dont run out and buy it now.

NouveauDance said:

Wow.

Im remember holding the CD in my hand wondering wether to buy it or not. Hmmm, the good ol' days of still having to buy some classic Prince albums!

Actually, I think this is one of those rare occasions where a record doesn't
quite work as well as the sum of it's parts. It definitely contains some
brilliant songs, but the sequencing just doesn't seem to work that well.
And I'm sorry but 'Ronnie Talk To Russia' should've been relegated to a
b-side (I'd rather listen to 'Wedding Feast' or 'Jughead'). The track
sequencing tries to hard to follow the template of Dirty Mind, when it
would've been better to change it round a little.

I agree 100%!

"Sexuality" is so ahead of it's time musically. It hints at Jungle and House music. The lyrics are pure trippy Prince worldview. "Let's Work" has such a killer bassline and is the archetype for purple funk. These two songs remind me why I love His Royal Purple Badness.

jdcxc said:

Amen and Amen! I was thinking the very same thing and was about to post when I read yours!
I was 13 years-old when Controversy came out (and was 12 when Dirty Mind truly molested my sexual mind) and I still don't know what hit me!
The poster in the shower didn't help either.
Lawd....

10 OF 10

Pondwater said:

!!!!!

love this record
every second of it...

AsTrAlTrAvElInHoTtiE said:

There should be a separate Post regarding the Princely influence on the sexuality of the fanbase who discovered him at the age of 12-13. When I was 12 my best friend snuck a cassette recording of Dirty Mind in the back of our Home Economics class. I've never been the same.

It was the first Prince album I bought that I was disappointed by. This was after I bought most of his 90s output. I had yet to get Emancipation and NPS.

I now think of it as one of the many purple gems I take for granted. I don't think I was ready for the... "Contro-vah-sy"






Anyways, my favorite song on the whole album is Jack U Off, followed by Sexuality, Private Joy, and Do Me Baby.

<- I'm the greatest record in Prince's history

jdcxc said:

Hear Hear!

Pondwater said:

and that's the truth!

Does anyone remember when WB released Dirty Mind and Controversy on the same cassette? That was one good tape.

8up said:

Yup. I had that one.

Though not solid, over-all still kix ass.

"Sexuality...
is all I ever I need..."

NouveauDance said:

Controversy is my favourite album behind Parade and Dirty Mind!
I just love it since the very first time I ever spinned my vinyl!!!
Every single track is amazing!!!

My rating: