Controversy vinyl value
Prince — Controversy: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 NPG | 19439863711 | US | Reissue, 150 gram | from $30 |
9 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Warner Bros. | BSK 3601 | US | Specialty Pressing, Allied Plating |
| 1981 Warner Bros. | BSK 3601 | US | Reissue, Jacksonville Pressing |
| 1981 Warner Bros. | BSK 3601 | US | Specialty Pressing |
| 1981 Warner Bros. | BSK 3601 | US | Allied Pressing |
| 1981 Warner Bros. | BSK 3601 | US | Specialty Records Corporation Pressing |
| 2011 Warner Bros. | 8122-79777-6 | Europe | Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2011 Rhino | R1 3601 | US | Reissue, Remastered, 180 gram |
| 2020 Warner | R1 3601 | Europe | Reissue, 180g |
| Undated Warner Bros. | WB K 56 950 | Europe | Reissue |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
10 pressings tracked · catalog of 974,753 releases, August 2026
What separates the pressings
How to identify your copy
Three checks, in the order worth doing them.
- 1
Match the catalog number. It is printed on the spine and the record label. Check it together with the country against the pressings table above: the same number can appear in more than one country.
- 2
Read the runout. The code etched in the dead wax near the label names the exact pressing. On the 1981 US pressing it reads “BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S2 + SP. SLM + △ 9̶6̶4̶-̶X̶ ̶ 952 0-1 SM3-1” on side one and “BSK-2-3601-S2 + SP. SLM + △ 952-X 0-1 SM2-2” on side two. Sleeves migrate between copies over the years; the etching stays with the record.
- 3
Grade the condition. Condition multiplies the price: near mint can bring several times what a VG copy does. Vinyl and sleeve get separate grades; the scale is in our grading guide.
Discs and jackets part ways over the decades: a 1981 sleeve proves nothing about the record inside it. The runout etching and the label decide the pressing; the cover never does.
Questions
Which pressing of Controversy is worth the most?
The 1981 originals lead. Scarcer variants (the 2011 “Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered”) can beat an ordinary early copy. After that it is all condition: the gap between near mint and VG is usually larger than the gap between pressings.
How do I tell if I have a 1981 original?
Match the catalog number on the spine and label against the table above, check the country, then read the etched code in the runout groove. On the 1981 US pressing the runout reads “BSK-1-3601-(RE-1)-S2 + SP. SLM + △ 9̶6̶4̶-̶X̶ ̶ 952 0-1 SM3-1”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is Controversy worth today?
Sellers ask from $30 for the later pressings we have quotes on (eBay, Nov 1, 2026). The 1981 pressings have no quoted range right now. Sold prices usually close lower. Scan your copy in the app for the range on your exact pressing and condition.
Not sure which pressing you have? Photograph the label and RecordScout names it, then shows a current value range for its condition.
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