Controversy
Controversy is Prince’s fourth album. The album blends R&B and new wave with more electronic elements.
It was Prince's first album to be partially recorded at Sunset Sound, which would become Prince's preferred studio up until the construction of Paisley Park. Two songs feature drum machines for the first time, most significantly the Linn LM-1 on “Private Joy”. “Jack U Off” also includes the first full-band performance on a Prince album.
Prince toured the album from November 1981 to March 1982.
Prince Live
Equipment
Rig Diagram
Prince In The Studio
Controversy was recorded in the spring and summer of 1982. It was tracked at Prince's Kiowa Trail home studio, Hollywood Sound studios and Sunset Sound. The album was overdubbed and mixed at Sunset Sound. Dr Fink, Lisa Coleman and Bobby Z appear on the song “Jack U Off”, probably using their live rigs listed above.
References
- Brown, Jake. (2010) Prince 'in the Studio' 1975 - 1995.
- Michael Aubrecht. (2017) Exclusive Interview: Bobby Z. Offbeat.
- Prince's bass players over the years: in their own words. (2021) Bass Player.