OldFriends4Sale said:

^^^Damn! I have never seen that pic in color before - Great find!!! I love it... they look like some sort of "futuristic" gang from "The Warriors" or "Escape from New York." Thanks for sharing that!


The Warriors - Don't F with them.

Never noticed the paper before... too busy trying to read that graffiti! haha.

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

Aaron6 said:

Yeah, something about when someones style is 'street' or made up

OUTTAKES [and music recorded during the Controversy period]



Feel U Up
This outtake was recorded toward the end of 1981 and was taped in sequence with "Irresistible Bitch". Both songs were later re-recorded. The lyrics are very similar to to the released song although the vocals seem to have been recorded at a low level. "Feel U Up" was re-recorded in 1986 for the shelved Camille album and finally released in 1989 as the B-side to "Partyman".

The Second Coming
This prerecorded a cappella track by Prince opened the Controversy tour set. It concerns the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and a warning to all His children to learn how to love, in addition to gun control (a similar topic in "Annie Christian"). A film concept of the same name was considered by Prince to document the Controversy Tour but was eventually canceled.

Strange Relationship
This Sign 'O' The Times track was originally recorded in 1982, but updated in 1985 by Wendy and Lisa. They added backing vocals, a sitar-like sound and other ideas to the mix. The track was going to be used on the canceled Dream Factory project. Prince later updated the track with a new vocal and other changes for the Camille LP, and that recording survived through the editing of the Crystal Ball 3 LP into Sign 'O' The Times.

Tick, Tick, Bang
Recorded in the summer of 1981 at Prince's home studio, this original is faster in arrangement and instrumentation than the Graffiti Bridge version. This Controversy outtake contains Prince's falsetto vocals, which were similar in other songs from the sessions.

Tick Tick BangYeah, 1 2 3 4!

U're such a big tease
U get me all excited, all excited
And then U go home
I like 2 say "Please"
See my candle, wanna light it, wanna light it?
U like 2 say "No"

U're just a bombshell
If I ever get it, ever get it
There's no telling, no telling how long I'll last
Before I tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, bang all over U
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, bang, bang all over U
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, bang, bang, bang, tick, bang, bang!

Oh!
Oh yeah!

I can't concentrate
When I see your bang bang tick bang bang
I just wanna bang
I wanna masturbate
Baby girl, it ain't the same, it ain't the same
As the real thing

CHORUS:
U're such a bombshell
If I ever get it, ever get it
There's no telling, no telling how long I'll last
Before I tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, bang all over U
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, bang, bang all over U
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, bang, bang, bang, tick, bang, bang!

Ooh yeah!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Ow!

U're like a wet dream
No matter how I try 2 fight it, try 2 fight it
I just tick, bang
I scream
See my candle, wanna light it, wanna light it?
I just wanna bang

CHORUS
[Edited 2/26/10 11:35am]

OldFriends4Sale said:

[Edited 2/26/10 11:44am]

Released January 6, 1982

Let's Work" was the second single from the 1981 album, Controversy, by Prince.[1] The song originates from a dance called "the Rock" that local kids were doing at the time in Minneapolis. Prince responded quickly with a track called "Let's Rock", and wished to quickly release it as a single. Warner Bros. refused, and a disappointed Prince did not include the song on Controversy, saying the phase had passed. The song was updated with new lyrics and possibly new music and became "Let's Work" — one of his most popular dance numbers to date. The song is based on a funky bass line and features a shouted title throughout the song and relies heavily on keyboards to create a sexy groove in the verses and quick solos for the choruses. The lyrics are a tease, equating "working" with having sex. The song was backed with "Ronnie, Talk to Russia", which precedes it on the Controversy album.

The extended remix features instrumental solos, samples from "Controversy" and "Annie Christian", two other songs from the same album, and extra, more insistent lyrics. Prince performed the extended version in concert during the Controversy and 1999 tours. This is the first U.S. Prince single to include a non-album B-side (although it was previously released as a single in the UK). "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" was written on the Dirty Mind tour, and is consistent with the minimalist demo-like quality of that album.

Let's Work

1 2 3

Let's work {x2}

I've had my eyes on U
Ever since U walked in the room
Come on and take my hand
Don't try 2 understand

Oh baby, nothing can stop us now
I'm gonna show U how
Show U how 2 work
Come on, let's have some fun
We'll work till the morning comes
I wanna see U work, come on!

I'd love 2 turn U on
And work U all night long
If I could get U in the raw
Baby, I'd make U climb the walls

Oh yeah, nothing can stop us now
I'm gonna show U how, oh yeah
Show U how 2 work
Come on, let's have some fun
We'll work till the morning comes, baby
I wanna see U work, come on!

Come on, baby
Let's work {x2}

Let's work, alright, we're gonna work all night
Everybody work, that's right, everybody
Everybody work, alright, we're gonna work all night
Everybody work, that's right, everybody
Everybody (Work)

Nothing can stop us now
I'm gonna show U how (Let's work)
I'm gonna show U how, oh baby (Work)
Come on, let's have some fun
We'll work till the morning comes (Let's work)
We'll work till the morning comes (Work)

Nothing can stop us now (Ain't nothing gonna stop us) (Let's work)
I'm gonna show U how, oh yeah (Work)
Come on, let's have some fun, oh yeah (Let's work)
We'll work till the morning comes
Ooh, everybody say (Work)

We're gonna work all night, everybody work (Let's work)
That's right, everybody
Everybody work (Let's work)
© 1981 Controversy Music - ASCAP
[Edited 2/26/10 11:48am]

I always thought the trench coat was a great trademark!
Nobody rocked the coat like he did. I would have bought one if I found one with the studs on the shoulder.

YES!!!! THE BEST FU>kin ERA

dude should not have compared LotusFlow3r to the Controversy music, not that LotusFlow3r isn't good, but that Controversy is just such a crazy huge era...
It's like when he brought Sade & Bria in comparison

Controversy was such a sweety era coming right out of Dirty Mind and geared in2 1999

1980-1981 was all punk. Not the musical style necessarily but the attitude rather. Great photo of the Let's Work single, first time I've seen the cover.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Oh man, I love this gig!! This is one of my most played CDs.

"Never let it be said, white folks aint got no soul"

mostbeautifulboy said:

great era

CHRISLUV92 said:

Great pic, I've never seen this one before. Where is it from?

mostbeautifulboy said:

I could have sworn it was from the Minnesota Music Awards, but I don't think so, I have another picture tied to that show...but it could be

[Edited 3/1/10 6:55am]

Got it the 1982 Minneapolis Black Music Awards
[Edited 3/1/10 8:32am]

May 24.1982
Minnesota Music Awards


[Edited 3/5/10 19:43pm]

I love u baby,but not like I love my guitar






Jack U Off

Bobby Z. - drums on Jack U Off
Lisa Coleman - backing vocals, keyboards on Jack U Off
Dr. Fink - keyboards on Jack U Off

If U're looking 4 somewhere 2 go
Girl, I'll take U 2 a movie show
We can sit in the back and I'll jack U off

I can't give U everything U want
But I can take U 2 a restaurant
And if U're not hungry, I'll jack U off

If your man ain't no good
Come on over 2 my neighborhood
We can jump in the sack and I'll jack U off

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

CHORUS:
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 4 a worthy cause
Virginity or menopause
U'll have an instant heart attack if I jack U off

If U really really wanna be a star
We gotta do it in your mama's car
Naked in a Cadillac, I'll jack U off

If we can't find no place 2 go
Girl, I'll take U 2 a movie show
We can sit in the back and I'll jack U off

CHORUS

Yeah!
Yeah, yeah, I'll jack U off
Alright, say it
Get some, want some [head]
I'll jack U off

If U ain't a 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, hey
Yeah!
(Sometimes)
I'll jack U off!

Yeah, yeah, yeah...!

© 1981 Controversy Music - ASCAP



[Edited 3/5/10 19:48pm]
[Edited 3/8/10 8:49am]

BlackbeltJones said:[quote]

OldFriends4Sale said:

"hang on America!"

Yet another, mother-effin' reason I wish I had come of age in the 80s!

Awesome thread.Great pictures and info.Love it!

Cool

I got a penthouse in Manhattan
2 more in Malibu
I bought a '87 Cadillac Seville
Girl, I got a Mazerati 2
I wear diamonds on my fingers
I got a couple on my toes
I wear the finest perfume money can buy
It keeps me smellin' like a rose
If U wonder how I do it
There's just one simple rule
I'm just cool (Cool)
Oh oh - Honey, baby can't U see?
Girl, I'm so cool (Cool)
Ain't nobody bad like me, hey

(C-O-O-L) What's that spell?
(C-O-O-L)

I might dine in San Francisco
Dance all night in Rome
I go any freakin' place I want 2
And my lear jet brings me home (Listen darlin')
I got ladies by the dozens
I got money by the ton
Just ain't nobody better
Heaven knows that I'm the one

And it's all because of something
That I didn't learn in school
I'm just cool (Cool)
Cool - Honey, baby can't U see?
Girl, I'm so cool (Cool)
Cool - Ain't nobody bad like me

Sing it, baby
(C-O-O-L) What's that spell?
(C-O-O-L) That spell cool

(Cool) Cool
Sweeter than sex
(Cool) That spell cool
(Cool) Cool
So what U think?
(Cool) Cool

What time is it? Ooh

Listen baby, it takes a lot of lovin' and a little money
2 be a friend of mine
But baby, if U know how 2 shake that thing
I'll try 2 squeeze a little time
Cuz I make love, love every mornin'
2 who's ever by my side
Well, U might say that I'm a nymphomaniac
But it keeps me satisfied

When I look into the mirror
It just tells me something I already know
I'm so cool (Cool)
Cool - Honey, baby can't U see?
Girl, I'm so cool (Cool)
Cool - Ain't nobody bad like me

Sing it
(C-O-O-L) What's that spell?
(C-O-O-L) What time is it?

More (Cool)
I'm so cool (Cool)
Cool (Cool)
And I'm so cool (Cool)
Band

(C-O-O-L) {x2}
Cool, that's right
I'm cooler than Santa Claus, baby
Oh, mm hmm
Ain't nobody bad like me
Somebody pinch me
I must be dreamin'
I know that's right, honey
Cuz there ain't nobody bad like me
What time is it?
Is it time 2 get my hair done yet?
I said, "What time is it?"
Time 2 just walk and shake my head
I'm cool 'til I'm dead
Enough has been said
Come on, baby, let's go 2 bed
Everybody
Walk, shake my head
Cool 'til I'm dead
Enough has been said
Let's go 2 bed

When I look into the mirror
It just tells me something I already know
I'm so cool (Cool)
Ain't nobody bad like me
Oh, I'm so cool (Cool)
I said ain't nobody bad like me

All 2gether now
(C-O-O-L) What's that spell?
(C-O-O-L)

Band? (Yes!)
Is anybody hot? (No!)
U know why? (Why?)
Cuz we're cool (Cool!)

Oh, I'm so cool


[Edited 3/31/10 6:23am]

On the back of the Controversy sleeve, one of the headlines reads:

"PRESIDENT DECLARES UPTOWN NEW U.S. CAPITOL"

Surely that should be CAPITAL?

O+>

Released September 2, 1981
Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981




Controversy" is the title track and lead single to the 1981 album by Prince.[1] One of his most respected classic funk songs, "Controversy" addresses certain speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality, religion and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity about him. The song has two main verses, a few choruses, with the title repeated throughout the track. Towards the middle he recites the Lord's Prayer in full, which fueled the fire for some to say the song was blasphemous. Toward the end is a repeating chant of doggerel: "People call me rude / I wish we all were nude / I wish there was no black and white / I wish there were no rules." The song is straight funk with a steady drumbeat, synthesized bass, "chicken grease" guitar and keyboards. The song was backed with "When You Were Mine", from his previous album, Dirty Mind.

Controversy

I just can't believe all the things people say (Controversy)
Am I black or white? Am I straight or gay? (Controversy)
Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me? Yeah (Controversy)

CHORUS:
Controversy
Controversy

I can't understand human curiosity (Controversy)
Was it good 4 U? Was I what U wanted me 2 be? (Controversy)
Do U get high? Does your daddy cry? (Controversy)

CHORUS

Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me? (Yeah, ooh yeah)
Some people wanna die so they can be free
I said, life is just a game, we're all just the same
Do U wanna play? (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

CHORUS {x3}

{Lord's Prayer}
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever

Love ya, love ya, baby

Listen...
People call me rude, I wish we were all nude
I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules
People call me rude, I wish we were all nude
I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were (was) no rules


Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me?
Let me tell U, some people wanna die so they can be free
I said life is just a game, we're all just the same
Don't U wanna play?
© 1981 Controversy Music - ASCAP

OldFriends4Sale said:

THis album was one that makes you know that all the digital format cause yo to miss something that you got with records. It goes back to my often quoted essay about the way people used to truly listen to music. I remember going to the record store and buying a 12" album with cover art, lyric sheet, liner notes, and sometimes - such as with the iconic Controversy album - a poster. YOu just get that with a download or even a CD.

Maybe there is some resurging demand for the old school packaging of an album. I was in Best Buy the other day and saw Purple Rain on vinyl for $25!

OldFriends4Sale said:

Always loved those white boots that Dez wore

Ernestsewell post a topic about this picture, sharing information that it was Lisa Coleman who took this picture then.
[Edited 3/10/10 7:45am]

the title track:Controversy has come to define Prince as much as Purple Rain has

played live just about in every album era of his,

Has he quoted the Our Father lines in recent shows?

tricky2 said:

3.7.1982 Met Center Bloomington

1.The Second Coming
2.Uptown
3.Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
4.When You Were Mine
5.Head