Song: Let's Work
Album: Controversy
Year: 1981
Follow me here . . . Waaaaaaaay back in 1979 it seems Prince took his backing band to Boulder, Colorado to record an album under the band name The Rebels. They recorded nine tracks, none of which have ever been released. One of those tracks, titled Let's Rock, derived it's name from a popular dance at the time called, what else, The Rock, which itself was influenced by an Edwin Starr song titled "It's Called the Rock". (I was unable to find a video of the dance itself, though if you'd like to see videos of Dwayne Johnson dancing those are readily available).
A couple years later Prince decided to re-record and re-title Let's Rock as Let's Work for his fourth album Controversy, an album which Allmusic rightly claims tries to bring funk to a rock audience and vice versa. This track does just that. To say it rocks would be a misnomer. To say it funks would be more appropriate, but that's just not a thing. To say it works is probably most accurate, though it seems like a vast understatement.
Having listened to this album, and both the album and extended recordings of this particular track, for 38 years now, I can definitively say that this is the Prince that I prefer. The one that drew me into his music to begin with. A hard driving funk/rock/soul beat, sweaty lyrics, cool synthesizer backing . . . it's all there. It expands the sound of his previous release Dirty Mind and sets the stage for the masterpiece that is 1999. (For what it's work, Dirty Mind and Controversy are also masterpieces). This is Prince at his best.
Verdict: 5/5 stars
Would I sing it at karaoke? Oh hell yeah!
Song: Diamond Dogs
Album: David Live
Year: 1974
While a fan of the Diamond Dogs album, both as a collection of songs and as a concept, I've never been that fond of this title track. It's OK. It just doesn't do much for me. It's a natural inclusion on the David Live album as Diamond Dogs was released the same year. It's fast-paced and rocking, but rather TOO much of a straight-forward rock song for it to spark any interest. The live performance doesn't try to alter or improve on the studio recording in any way. It's just meh.
Verdict: 3/5 stars
Would I sing it at karaoke? Meh
Winner: Let's Work
Running Score: Bowie 21, Prince 14
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