Let's Work
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Let's Work" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| U.S. 7" single | ||
| Single by Prince | ||
| from the album Controversy | ||
| B-side(s) | "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" (US 12") |
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| Released | 6 January 1982 | |
| Format | 7" single 12" single |
|
| Recorded | Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981 | |
| Genre | Pop, Funk | |
| Length | 7 edit": 2:56 Album: 3:57 12": 8:02 |
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| Label | Warner Bros. Records | |
| Writer(s) | Prince | |
| Producer(s) | Prince | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| 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) |
"Let's Work" was the second single from the 1981 Controversy album by Prince. 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 past. 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. The song 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, samples from the album and extra 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. Before the song was released on The Hits/The B-Sides in 1993, the US 12" single was extremely valuable on the collectors market, often fetching US$100 or more.
"Let's Work" is also the name of an unreleated song by Mick Jagger, released on his 1987 album Primitive Cool.
[edit] External link
- "Let's Work" lyrics
