One of the most controversial partnerships in either man's career was inaugurated the day and decided to make an album together. In the course of just three weeks together, the pair had written 15 new songs, described by as "some great f*ckin' music." And though the recording took somewhat longer, still emerged as an album that, while it certainly lives up to 's billing, can also be viewed as the most challenging record of both 's careers. Certainly, fans were absolutely taken aback by the widescreen wash that accompanied their idol's customary tones, and many hastened to complain about the almost unbridled sexuality and brutal voyeurism that replaced 's traditionally lighter touch -- as if the man who once rhymed "unmade bed" with "giving me head" was any stranger whatsoever to explicitness. It is also true that a cursory listen to the album suggests that the whole thing was simply a ragbag of crazy notions thrown into the air to see where they landed. Pay attention, however, and it quickly makes sense. The brawling bowls along, an echo-laden drinking song that invites everyone who hears it to join in with the so-perfectly timed of "won't you let me see...your naked body." meanwhile, swings on one of 's most seductive rhythm arrangements, while ' sax squalls behind and co-singer 's rambunctious duet; and anybody looking for a dance smash to sidle wholly out of left field could turn to a number that not only captured an almost irresistible edge, but also roped into its rambunctious backing chorus. himself has never been happy with the record -- 's mix, he complained, stripped "the guts out of the record," but when he suggested the producer have another go, his entreaties were ignored. Finally agreeing to write the album off as "an experiment that failed" and trust that his fans would be able to pick out its "real energizing capacities," allowed it to be released as left it -- and then effectively retired for the next five years. His judgment, and that most commonly passed down by history, has not been borne out by time. Alongside , represents the peak of 's first decade or so as a recording artist, both lyrically and stylistically stepping into wholly untapped musical directions -- and certainly setting the stage for the larger scale productions that would mark out his music following his return. It might even be his masterpiece. ~ Dave Thompson