Let's Work

"Let's Work" was the second single from the 1981 album, Controversy, by Prince.[1] The song originates from a dance called "the Rock" that local kids were doing at the time in Minneapolis. Prince responded quickly with a track called "Let's Rock", and wished to quickly release it as a single. Warner Bros. refused, and a disappointed Prince did not include the song on Controversy, saying the phase had passed. Instead, the song was updated with new lyrics and possibly new music and became "Let's Work"—one of his most popular dance numbers to date.

Not to be confused with Let's Work (Mick Jagger song).
"Let's Work"
US 7" single
Single by Prince
from the album Controversy
B-side
ReleasedJanuary 6, 1982
RecordedUptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981
GenrePop, funk, new wave
Length7" edit: 2:56
Album: 3:57
12": 8:02
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Controversy"
(1981)		 "Let's Work"
(1982)		 "Do Me, Baby"
(1982)
Prince (UK) singles chronology
"Controversy"
(1981)		 "Let's Work"
(1982)		 "1999"
(1982)
Prince (GER/JAP/AUS) singles chronology
"Controversy"
(1981)		 "Let's Work"
(1982)		 "Sexuality"
(1982)

Background

The song is based on a funky bass line and features a shouted title throughout the song and relies heavily on keyboards to create a sexy groove in the verses and quick solos for the choruses. The lyrics are a tease, equating "working" with having sex. The song was backed with "Ronnie, Talk to Russia", which precedes it on the Controversy album.

The extended remix features instrumental solos, Morris Day on drums samples from "Controversy" and "Annie Christian", two other songs from the same album, and extra, more insistent lyrics. Prince performed the extended version in concert during the Controversy and 1999 tours. This is the first US Prince single to include a non-album B-side (although it was previously released as a single in the UK). "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" was written on the Dirty Mind tour, and is consistent with the minimalist demo-like quality of that album.

Critical reception

Daphne A. Brooks of Pitchfork called the song "an exquisite, mid-tempo dance track with a sinuously insistent bass line that fuels the electric slide togetherness of the party."[2] Stephen Holden of Rolling Stone also described Let's Work as "a bright and squeaky dance song".[3]

Charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles 9
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 1
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References
  1. Prince – "Let's Work" single. discogs.com.
  2. A. Brooks, Daphne (April 29, 2016). "Prince: Controversy". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork.
  3. Holden, Stephen (January 21, 1982). "Controversy". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
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