Let's Work

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Let's Work (Mick Jagger song).
"Let's Work"
Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Controversy"
(1981) 		"Let's Work"
(1982) 		"Do Me, Baby"
(1982)

"Let's Work" is a song by Prince, released as the second single from his 1981 album Controversy.[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.

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

minimalist
demo-like quality of that album.

Critical reception

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]

Cashbox said "Undoubtedly, this will get a good workout in the clubs and on B/C lists, and crossover is a strong possibility."[4]

Personnel

Credits sourced from Benoît Clerc, Guitarcloud, Morris Day and David Ritz.[5][6][7]

Charts

Chart performance for "Let's Work"
Chart (1982) Peak
position
US Billboard
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles[8]
 4
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[9] 9
US Billboard
Hot Dance Club Songs[10]
 1

References

  1. ^ Prince – "Let's Work" single. discogs.com.
  2. ^ A. Brooks, Daphne (April 29, 2016). "Prince: Controversy". pitchfork.com.
  3. ^ Holden, Stephen (January 21, 1982). "Controversy". rollingstone.com.
  4. Cash Box
    . January 23, 1981. p. 9. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  5. ISBN 9781784728816
    .
  6. ^ "Controversy". guitarcloud.org. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  7. ISBN 9780306922206
    .
  8. ISBN 0-89820-082-2
    .
  9. ^ "Prince Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "Prince Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
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