Controversy - Prince Vault (2024)

Controversy is the first track on Prince’s fourth album Controversy, and, six weeks prior to the album’s release, Controversy was released as the album’s first single.

In 1982, the track was included as the b-side of the West German and Japanese versions of the Sexuality single. It was also included as the third track on the Australian 12" of 1999, the first single from Prince’s fifth album 1999.

In 1993, the track was included as the first track on Prince’s second compilation album The Hits 2 (also included as the second disc of The Hits / The B-Sides), and, three months after the album’s release, Controversy was released as a single.

In 2004, a 2003 live version was released as a download from the NPG Music Club’s Musicology Download Store (this same version was included on the Controversy (Live In Hawaii) single included in the Prince In Hawaii book). In 2006, the full-length studio version was included as the third track on the first disc of the compilation album Ultimate.

While specific recording dates are not known, the track was recorded in late Spring or Summer 1981 at Prince’s Kiowa Trail Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota (during the same session as Poppa Grooves and Tick, Tick, Bang). The album was completed at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, between 14 and 23 August 1981.