Controversy is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter and musician Prince, released on October 14, 1981, by Warner Bros. Records. With the exception of one track, it was written and produced entirely by Prince. He also performed most of the instruments on its recording.

Controversy reached number three on the Billboard R&B Albums chart and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was voted the eighth best album of the year in the 1981 Pazz & Jop, an annual critics poll run by The Village Voice.

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2score =

| rev3 = Chicago Sun-Times

| rev3score =

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = B+

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5score =

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 9.0/10

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score =

| rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev8score =

| rev9 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

| rev9score = 8/10

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = A−

In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone, music critic Stephen Holden wrote that "Prince's first three records were so erotically self-absorbed that they suggested the reveries of a licentious young libertine. On Controversy, that libertine proclaims unfettered sexuality as the fundamental condition of a new, more loving society than the bellicose, overtechnologized America of Ronald Reagan." He went on to say, "Despite all the contradictions and hyperbole in Prince's playboy philosophy, I still find his message refreshingly relevant."

Track listing

All songs written by Prince.

Personnel

Adapted from Benoît Clerc, Liz Raiss, and Guitarcloud

Musicians

  • Prince – lead and backing vocals , electric guitar , bass , drums , Linn LM-1 , claps , Pearl SY-1 Syncussion , Korg Mini Pops SR-120 , ARP Omni , Oberheim OB-X , Oberheim OB-SX , Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano
  • Morris Day – possible drums
  • Lisa Coleman – backing vocals , Oberheim OB-SX
  • Doctor Fink – Oberheim OB-X
  • Bobby Z. – drums , Pearl SY-1 Syncussion

Technical

  • Prince – producer
  • Bob Mockler, Mick Guzauski, Ross Pallone – recording engineers
  • Peggy McCreary – recording engineer
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering (A&M Studios)
  • Allen Beaulieu – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Weekly chart performance for Controversy

! scope="col"| Chart (1981)

! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums Chart

| 55

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums Chart

| 50

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200

| 21

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

| 3

|}

Year-end charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+Year-end chart performance for Controversy

! scope="col"| Chart (1982)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Pop Albums

|59

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

|15

|}

Certifications

See also

  • Ronald Reagan in music

Notes

References

Works cited

  • Controversy at Discogs