It's a darn fine album for sure. One of my favorites.

I can get behind this.

I want this to be the next Super Deluxe Edition.It's a superb album.I remember in late '81 when I first got this album,I was instantly hooked on the song "Private Joy" listened to that song over and over and over,lol

It's really really good, with a great 1-2 opening punch but some of the self indulgence drags it down a notch. I like some of the punk sensibility present in it, a holdover from Dirty Mind (which I think is the better record), that gives it a raw edge and mixes well with the funk/rock.

Do Me Baby and Annie Christian are WAY too long for one thing. Ronnie Talk to Russia is a corny throwaway and Jack U Off is a little goofy. Those tracks drag it down a notch for me but the rest is amazing - Let's Work, Sexuality, Private Joy and the title track would make a five star EP. For You and Prince are naive and cute. With Dirty Mind and Controversy, we can hear an artist maturing and narrowing and sharpening his vision; getting closer. You can really hear him building to something here, like the escalating moments before an orgasm that ultimately exploded with 1999 and Purple Rain.

But no way is it his best album, at least to my ears.

1999 is Prince's best album.

I have no problem with someone making the declaration that this is the greatest Prince album, it is absolutely superb BUT... I don't agree. I won't even bother making an arguement against it because I can totally understand if not agree with the ops point. It was absolutely mind blowing to hear the Controversy album when it first dropped. I can honestly say it changed how I listened to music but then again Prince did that for me over and over again.

Damn... I miss our friend.

No, it's not. It's Dirty Mind. Without Dirty Mind, there is no Controversy.

eugenius said:

Without Dirty Mind, there is no Controversy.

YOU are correct.

BalladofPeterParker said:

High-level 2nd tier Prince album (which is no mean feat considering the company it keeps). Definitely slept on. I can enjoy it as much as Dirty Mind for example. Controversy, Sexuality, Annie Christian are my favorite tracks on that album along with the jaw droppingly good Private Joy "I strangled Valentino, you've been mine ever since, if anyone asks you belong to Prince.". So much fun stuff there too ronnie talk to russia, and the people pleasing jack u off. A bridge between Dirty Mind and 1999 somewhere betwixt the two.

[Edited 10/19/19 13:40pm]

[Edited 10/20/19 16:19pm]

herb4 said:

1999 is Prince's best album.

this I agree with

soladeo1 said:

BEST PRINCE ALBUMS

PURPLE RAIN

SIGN O THE TIMES

1999

In that order. There I said it.

Romeoblu said:

Nah. Ronnie Talk to Russa and Annie Christian make the second side too patchy for my tastes.

And as much as I love love love the title track, putting the prayer in there is a total turnoff.

feeluupp said:

I don't think it's his best album, but I do think its under appreciated for the reason its the first time he cemented the 'Minneapolis sound'.

The three albums before seem to be build ups. Dirty Mind may have given us the controversial Prince, but Controvery is the first album to give us 7 minute+ jams, the first commitment to the lower vocal range and or course the first use of the Linn drum, not to mention the first really chicken scatch guitar.

SquirrelMeat said:

I don't think it's his best album, but I do think its under appreciated for the reason its the first time he cemented the 'Minneapolis sound'.

The three albums before seem to be build ups. Dirty Mind may have given us the controversial Prince, but Controvery is the first album to give us 7 minute+ jams, the first commitment to the lower vocal range and or course the first use of the Linn drum, not to mention the first really chicken scatch guitar.

Yes to everything in your second paragraph. That plus several outstanding songs makes Controversy a hell of an album. You can probably guess from my username that I rank it high. It's among his best, but I can't say it's the tip top. Reasons?

The Good: (1) Let's Work. Super funky, good lyrics, and a strong melody. This is an under appreciated jam that fills the dance the floor. (2) One-two punch of Controversy and Sexuality. I don't have to say much here, so I'll just mention that one night, a few years ago, my roomate, some of her friends, and I were hanging out in our apartment. Sexuality came on. As it got near the end, this guy who never heard it before, said something like "wow, wow, i love this song. it's so prince. only prince could do this." (3) Annie Christian. I love how experimental it is. (4) Private Joy. The Lynn, 'nuff said. (5) Do Me Baby. Fantastic song ... for about 5 minutes (see below).

The Average (not bad). (1) Ronnie Talk to Russia. It's kind of enjoyable in it's complete 1980s-ness, but it's not one of his best political songs. Just average. (2) For its last 2+ minutes, Do Me Baby goes off the rails. This is what really deflates the album for me. I can't say Controversy is his best with this on it. (3) Jack U Off. Like Ronnie, it's just average. The lyrics are interesting in their male-female reversal of sorts, but overall it's not a strong closer. But it's still a great album.

Controversy, in Prince's top 5 for sure!

Yeah! One of his best title tracks. I used to think "Do Me, Baby" was corny and too long, but I've grown to really love the last half of the song with its ice cold synthesizers. It's a real 1999 precursor.

FunkJam said:

Pretty CONTROVERSIAL viewpoint. I’ve always found this album OK over all, but you’re gonna like what you like. “Annie Christian” is nice. Personally, I’m leaning towards Diamonds & Pearls being the best album!

How can an album that has JUGHEAD on it be considered his VERY BEST..

SoulAlive said:

MIRvmn said:

SoulAlive said:

I want this to be the next Super Deluxe Edition.It's a superb album.I remember in late '81 when I first got this album,I was instantly hooked on the song "Private Joy" listened to that song over and over and over,lol

Private Joy is one of Prince's best songs and my favorite on Controversy

it's an amazing song.

feeluupp said:

The album's sound is pretty poor though. Flat, bleak and tinny.

FunkJam said:

feeluupp said:

How can an album that has JUGHEAD on it be considered his VERY BEST..

Well, Jughead is really the only trash bin-worthy track. Thunder, Daddy Pop, D&P, Cream, Willing and Able, and Live 4 Love are top notch! And I really like the others except Gett Off; just don’t find it that interesting for the most part.

You think Diamonds and Pearls is his best album but Gett Off isn't a good track?


Well you've got an original take on things, i'll give you that.