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 Summer 1981 at Prince's Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA (during the same session as Poppa Grooves and Tick, Tick, Bang). The album was completed at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA, between 14 and 23 August, 1981.
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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Summer 1981
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Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Initial tracking
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14 - 23 August, 1981
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Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA
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Overdubs, mixing
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Recording Personnel
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Studio version
Live In Hawaii version
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Versions
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Released Versions
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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Controversy
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7:14
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Controversy
Controversy single
Sexuality single
1999 single
Ultimate
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Studio
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Controversy (Edit)
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3:35
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Controversy single
Sexuality single
Strange Tales From The Rain promo
The Hits 2
The Hits / The B-Sides
Controversy single (1993 reissue)
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Edit
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Controversy (Edit)
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3:35
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Controversy promo
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Edit, mono version
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Controversy
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1:22
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NPG Ahdio Show # 4 mp3 (not available as a separate track)
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Live
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31 August, 1986, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, West Germany; in medley with A Love Bizarre
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Controversy (Live In Hawaii)
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6:06
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Musicology Download Store .wma
Controversy (Live In Hawaii) single
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Live
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16 December, 2003, Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
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Video Versions
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Broadcasts/streaming (only)
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Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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Controversy
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T.B.C.
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Live TV concert broadcast
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Live
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1 July, 1986, Holiday Inn Sheridan-Convention Center, Sheridan, WY, USA; Under The Cherry Moon premiere party broadcast on MTV
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Controversy
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T.B.C.
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Live concert TV broadcast
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Live
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7 June, 1986, Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI, USA
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Controversy
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T.B.C.
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Live concert radio broadcast
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Live
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22 July, 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain
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Controversy
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T.B.C.
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Delayed concert TV broadcast
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Live
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29 July, 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain
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Controversy
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T.B.C.
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Live concert TV broadcast
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Live
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21 September, 2007, The O2 Arena, London, England
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I Feel For You (intro) - Controversy
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T.B.C.
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Live performance TV broadcast
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Live
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14 October, 2009, Le Grand Journal, Studios Rive Gauche, Paris, France; includes All Day, All Night chants
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Controversy
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T.B.C.
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Live concert online stream
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Live
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10 May, 2015, Baltimore, MN, USA, Royal Farms Arena
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Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
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