Controversy cover art

  Studio Album · No. 4

Controversy Songwriting Credits by Prince

1981 Warner Bros. Records 8 tracks 37 min

Produced by Prince  ·  Engineered by Bob Mockler, Don Batts, Ross Pallone

Warner Bros. Records FunkNew WavePopRockR&B
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 8 of 8 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 8 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 8 tracks with documented writers, by whether Prince carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
8 trackswritten by Prince 0 tracksoutside writers
Prince's roles on this album

Share of the 8 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

8
Tracks
1
Lyricists
1
Producers
2.3 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1981
Released
Data Insight

Prince wrote and produced essentially all of Controversy and played most of the instruments himself, including vocals, guitar, bass, drums and synthesizers. The album extended his self-contained Minneapolis sound while sharpening its political and sexual provocations on tracks like the title cut and 'Ronnie, Talk to Russia.' Outside studio input was limited to engineering and mixing hands rather than writing or performance.

Controversy is the fourth studio album by Prince, released in October 1981 on Warner Bros. Records and produced entirely by Prince. Building on the spare funk of Dirty Mind while incorporating more pop and new wave influences, the album addressed themes of race, sexuality, religion, and identity with a directness that was both provocative and oddly vulnerable. The title track 'Controversy' distilled Prince's enigmatic persona into a defiant two-chord groove, while 'Private Joy' and 'Do Me, Baby' extended his mastery of intimate funk balladry. The album reached number three on the R&B chart and further expanded Prince's audience beyond cult status. Controversy is a transitional album that shows Prince synthesizing the underground energy of Dirty Mind with a broader commercial ambition that would fully flower on 1999.

Track Listing & Credits 8 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Controversy
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)
2
Sexuality
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)
3
Do Me, Baby
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)
4
Private Joy
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)
5
Ronnie, Talk to Russia
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)
6
Let's Work
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)
7
Annie Christian
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)
8
Jack U Off
Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince Rogers Nelson Prince (Lead Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 2 contributors

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Frequently Asked Questions Controversy

Did Prince write Controversy himself?
Yes. Prince wrote and produced essentially the entire Controversy album and performed most of the instruments himself, including vocals, guitar, bass, drums and synthesizers.
Who wrote the song Controversy by Prince?
Prince wrote, produced and performed 'Controversy' himself. The title track addressed the rumors and questions surrounding his identity and was the album's lead single.
Did any singles from Prince's Controversy reach the Billboard Hot 100?
No. None of the singles from Controversy, including 'Controversy' and 'Let's Work,' charted on the Billboard Hot 100, though several performed well on the R&B and dance charts. The album itself reached number 21 on the Billboard 200.
Is Do Me, Baby on Prince's Controversy album?
Yes. 'Do Me, Baby' is a slow-jam ballad on Controversy that was released as a single in 1982. Prince wrote and performed it himself.
Is Controversy certified Platinum?
Yes. Controversy was certified Platinum by the RIAA for one million US units and Gold by the BPI in the UK. Worldwide sales are estimated at around 2.3 million copies.
When was Prince's Controversy released?
Controversy was released on October 14, 1981, on Warner Bros. Records. It was Prince's fourth studio album.

Sources