| Prince:Artist Profile, 1958-2016 |
Born: Prince Rogers Nelson Date: June 7, 1958 Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota Died: April 21, 2016 – accidental fentanyl overdose Where: Chanhassen, Minnesota Known As: R&B singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Overview:Prince was born into music. His father was a jazz musician named John Lewis Nelson, who went by the stage name of Prince Rogers. As the product of a broken home, Prince found refuge in music early on. He mastered multiple instruments in his early teens and even fronting his first band, Grand Central. RH While rooted in R&B, he “made dance music that rocked and rock music that had a bristling, funky backbone.” RH His music and personality were “androgynous, sly, sexy and provocative. His colorful image and revolutionary music made Prince a figure comparable in paradigm-shifting impact to Little Richard, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and George Clinton.” RH He found his greatest success in the 1980s with 1999, Purple Rain and Sign ‘O’ the Times, but his “deep discography is full of funky treasure.” RH He was a prolific artist all the way up to his death in 2016, releasing 39 albums during his lifetime and reportedly recording from 500 to well over a thousand complete songs. WK He also wrote songs which were successful hits such as others, including “Nothing Compares 2 U” for SinĂ©ad O’Connor (#1, 1990), “Manic Monday” (#2, 1986) and Chaka Khan (“I Feel for You,” 1984). There are reportedly hundreds of unreleased songs in his vault. On the Web:
Lists:Spotify Podcast:Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Best of Prince, 1996-2016 based on this list. It debuts August 10, 2021 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database.
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Awards:
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The Studio Albums:Hover over an album for the name and year of release. Click to go to the album on this page for more details. Compilations:
Note: The Hits/The B-Sides was released as a 3-CD set, but The Hits 1 and The Hits 2 were also released as individual albums. The raised letter codes listed after songs indicate apperances on any of these compilations (see codes above). Appearing after song titles are, when relevant, the date the song was released as a single and its peaks on various charts. Click for codes to singles charts. Archives:
Live Albums:
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For YouPrince |
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Released: April 7, 1978 Peak: 138 US, 156 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.866 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:“A demo tape by the young prodigy resulted in major-label interest, and an 18-year-old Prince signed to Warner Bros., insisting on the right to self-produce. His first two albums, For You (1978) and Prince (1979), unveiled a budding genius and one-man band. For You included Soft and Wet, an early glimpse at Prince’s uncensored sexuality.” RH |
PrincePrince |
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Released: October 19, 1979 Peak: 22 US, 3 RB, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 1.5 US, 0.1 UK, 2.0 world (includes US + UK), 4.08 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.457 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Comments here.
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Dirty MindPrince |
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Released: October 8, 1980 Peak: 45 US, 7 RB, 61 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 1.2 US, -- UK, 2.0 world (includes US + UK), 2.28 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 4.033 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:“Interest in the youthful rising star was further kindled by Dirty Mind (1980), a provocative and sinuously funky album that appeared like a directional marker at the start of the Eighties. The jittery, New Wavish When You Were Mine became a club hit, yet Dirty Mind largely proved too hot to handle for radio. Still, the rising buzz about Prince continued when he opened for the Rolling Stones on their 1980-81 tour.” RH |
ControversyPrince |
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Released: October 14, 1981 Peak: 21 US, 3 RB, -- UK, -- CN, 55 AU Sales (in millions): 1.55 US, 0.06 UK, 2.65 world (includes US + UK), 3.12 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.703 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:“Prince’s fourth album, Controversy (1981), was highlighted by the pulsing title track.” RH |
1999Prince |
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Released: October 27, 1982 Peak: 7 US, 4 RB, 28 UK, 23 CN, 35 AU, 4 DF Sales (in millions): 4.32 US, 0.3 UK, 6.08 world (includes US + UK), 11.87 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 4.547 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
Total Running Time: 70:33 Other Songs from This Era:
About the Album:1999, a self-produced double album, proved to be Prince’s breakthrough. He “toned down, if not entirely tamed, the hardcore sexuality, and the longish, danceable tracks appealed to disco and New Wave fans alike. Whereas many saw divisions in the culture – in terms of everything from musical preferences to skin color – Prince forged a party-minded unity around the various audiences’ shared interests.” RH Critic Kurt Loder wrote that the album “marked the point at which Prince’s seamless fusion of white rock and roll and black dance-funk became commercially undeniable.” RH The album gave Prince his first two top-10 hits and the undeniable title cut. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.
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Purple Rain (soundtrack)Prince & the Revolution |
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Released: June 25, 1984 Peak: 124 US, 119 RB, 4 UK, 113 CN, 11 AU, 110 DF Sales (in millions): 14.48 US, 0.60 UK, 26.0 world (includes US + UK), 38.37 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 4.636 out of 5.00 (average of 36 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
Total Running Time: 43:51 Other Songs from This Era:
About the Album:Prince’s next project was the semi-autobiographical Purple Rain. The movie grossed $80 million and the accompanying album won an Oscar for Best Soundtrack. On its way toward 13 million in sales thanks to 4 top-10 hits, including the #1 hits When Doves Cry and Let’s Go Crazy, it established Prince as a superstar. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.
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Around the World in a DayPrince & the Revolution |
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Released: April 22, 1985 Peak: 13 US, 4 RB, 5 UK, 16 CN, 12 AU, 3 DF Sales (in millions): 2.85 US, 0.10 UK, 5.00 world (includes US + UK), 7.87 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.686 out of 5.00 (average of 26 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
All songs written by Prince unless noted otherwise. Other Songs from This Era:
Total Running Time: 42:33 About the Album:Not one to rest on his laurels, Prince already had another album ready to go in 1985. Around the World in a Day was his second consecutive #1 album and it gave him two more top-10 hits. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.
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Parade (soundtrack for “Under the Cherry Moon”)Prince & the Revolution |
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Released: March 31, 1986 Peak: 3 US, 2 RB, 4 UK, 11 CN, 8 AU Sales (in millions): 2.11 US, 0.30 UK, 4.50 world (includes US + UK), 9.99 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 4.090 out of 5.00 (average of 27 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
Written by Prince unless noted otherwise. Total Running Time: 40:57 Other Songs from This Era:
About the Album:In 1986, Prince released Parade, the soundtrack to the film Under the Cherry Moon, and landed another #1 hit with Kiss. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.
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Dream FactoryPrince & the Revolution |
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Intended Release: July 18, 1986 Peak: NA Sales (in millions): NA Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.346 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings)
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Tracks/About the Album:
There were three known configurations of this aborted 1986 project. Most of these songs ended up on the 1987 release Sign ‘O’ the Times and the 2020 super deluxe edition reissue of that album. See the DMDB page for Dream Factory to see the original track listings for all three configurations and where the songs ended up.CamillePrince |
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Intended Released: November 5, 1986 Peak: NA Sales (in millions): NA Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 1.956 out of 5.00 (average of 5 ratings)
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Tracks/About the Album:
This aborted project from 1986 eventually ballooned into Crystal Ball, a 3-disc collection rejected by the record company. It was whittled down to the 1987 release Sign ‘O’ the Times. See the DMDB page for Camille to see the original track listing and where the songs ended up.Crystal BallPrince |
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Intended Released: November 30, 1986 Peak: NA Sales (in millions): NA Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.109 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings)
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Tracks/About the Album:
The record company balked when Prince presented them with this 3-disc collection. It was whittled down to the 1987 Sign ‘O’ the Times album with other cuts appearing on future Prince releases, including the 1998 box set Crystal Ball. See the DMDB page for Crystal Ball to see the original track listing and where the songs ended up.Sign ‘O’ the TimesPrince |
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Released: March 30, 1987 Peak: 6 US, 4 RB, 4 UK, 27 CN, 20 AU, 7 DF Sales (in millions): 2.25 US, 0.30 UK, 4.03 world (includes US + UK), 8.23 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 4.673 out of 5.00 (average of 28 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks, Disc 1:
Tracks, Disc 2:
Total Running Time: 80:06 Tracks, Disc 3: Single Mixes & Edits Remastered (Super Deluxe Reissue):
Tracks, Disc 4: Vault Tracks I (Super Deluxe Edition):
Tracks, Disc 5: Vault Tracks II (Super Deluxe Edition)
Tracks, Disc 6: Vault Tracks III (Super Deluxe Edition):
The Super Deluxe Edition also included a two-disc live recording, Live in Utrecht, from June 20, 1987. Scroll down for more details. Other Tracks from the Era:
About the Album:The double album Sign ‘O’ the Times was Prince’s first since 1999 to not give the Revolution a co-credit. It was his “most musically expansive and lyrically incisive album,” RH often considered his best work by critics. “ On the sobering Sign ‘O’ the Times…Prince enumerated a catalog of social ills – AIDS, crack, gang violence – over a skeletal funk track.” RH That song and two others from the albums were top-10 hits.That same year, Prince opened “Paisley Park – a 65,000-square-foot multimedia production facility, with three studios and a soundstage.” RH A super deluxe edition was released in 2020 that included a disc of singles and B-sides, 3 discs of material from the vault, and a 2-disc live set. Scroll down to Live in Utrecht for more details on the live set. Much of the material from the vaults was originally slated for three different unreleased projects from 1986: Dream Factory (DF), Camille (CM), and Crystal Ball (CB1). Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.
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Live in UtrechtPrince |
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Recorded: 6/20/1987 Released: 9/25/2020 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk/pop Rating: 1.419 out of 5.00 (average of 3 ratings)
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Tracks, Disc 1: Live in Utrecth 6/20/87 (Super Deluxe Edition):(1) Sign ‘O’ the Times (2) Play in the Sunshine (3) Little Red Corvette (4) Housequake (5) Girls & Boys (6) Slow Love (7) Take the ‘A’ Train / Pacemaker / I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (8) Hot Thing (9) Four (with Sheila E. drum solo) (10) If I Was Your GirlfriendTracks, Disc 2: Live in Utrecth 6/20/87 (Super Deluxe Edition):(1) Let’s Go Crazy (2) When Doves Cry (3) Purple Rain (4) 1999 (5) Forever in My Life (6) Kiss (7) The Cross (8) It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful NightAbout the Album:This was released in 2020 as part of the super deluxe edition of Sign ‘O’ the Times. |
The Black AlbumPrince |
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Recorded: 1987 Released: November 22, 1994 Peak: 47 US, 18 RB, 36 UK, 48 CN, 15 AU Sales (in millions): 0.28 US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.448 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In addition to the double album Sign ‘O’ the Times, Prince also recorded The Black Album in 1987. The “controversial, hardcore set…was aborted shortly before its intended release” RH but eventually was made available in 1994. |
LovesexyPrince |
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Released: May 10, 1988 Peak: 11 US, 5 RB, 11 UK, 7 CN, 13 AU Sales (in millions): 0.96 US, 0.30 UK, 3.50 world (includes US + UK), 4.23 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.547 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:1988 saw the release of Lovesexy and another top-10 hit with Alphabet Street.
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Batman (soundtrack)Prince |
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Released: date Peak: 16 US, 5 RB, 11 UK, 11 CN, 4 AU, 8 DF Sales (in millions): 2.50 US, 0.30 UK, 6.0 world (includes US + UK), 7.73 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.505 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Prince found himself back at #1 again in 1989 with the soundtrack for Batman and its lead single, Batdance. “Prince’s dense, tangled funk meshed with film producer Tim Burton’s dark, gothic vision.” RH
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Graffiti Bridge (soundtrack)Prince et al |
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Released: August 20, 1990 Peak: 6 US, 6 RB, 11 UK, 22 CN, 10 AU, 3 DF Sales (in millions): 0.98 US, 0.10 UK, 2.31 world (includes US + UK), 3.06 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.506 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Prince made his own movie – his third – in 1990 with Graffiti Bridge. While the movie was a flop with critics and fans, the soundtrack was yet another top-10 success for Prince and featured the top-10 hit Thieves in the Temple.
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Diamonds and PearlsPrince & the New Power Generation |
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Released: October 1, 1991 Peak: 3 US, 11 RB, 2 UK, 8 CN, 11 AU, 2 DF Sales (in millions): 2.78 US, 0.90 UK, 9.0 world (includes US + UK), 9.89 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.685 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:For 1991’s Diamonds and Pearls, Prince assembled a new backing band, the New Power Generation. It was his “most accessible and hit-filled album since Purple Rain. Everything about it was elaborately conceived, including the holographic cover.” RH It gave him two more top-10 hits with the title cut and the #1 Cream.
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Untitled (aka “Love Symbol” and “Androgyny”)Prince & the New Power Generation |
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Released: October 13, 1992 Peak: 5 US, 8 RB, 11 UK, 16 CN, 11 AU Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.30 UK, 3.50 world (includes US + UK), 4.03 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.882 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In 1992, Prince released what became known as The Love Symbol Album because of the symbol which was a fusion of the symbols for male and female. Prince would adopt the symbol as his name in 1993. The album gave him another top-10 hit with 7.In August of that year, Prince signed a contract extension with Warner Bros. for six more albums at $10 million apiece. However, that relationships would quickly sour.
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The Hits/The B SidesPrince |
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Recorded: 1978-1993 Released: September 14, 1993 Peak: 4 US, 6 RB, 4 UK, 4 AU, 67 CN, 12 DF Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.4 UK, 2.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B/funk/pop Rating: 4.504 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
The Hits 1: (1) When Doves Cry (2) Pop Life (3) Soft and Wet (4) I Feel for You (5) Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? (6) When You Were Mine (7) Uptown (8) Let’s Go Crazy (9) 1999 (10) I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (11) Nothing Compares 2 U (live) (12) Adore (13) Pink Cashmere (14) Alphabet Street (15) Sign ‘O’ the Times (16) Thieves in the Temple (17) Diamonds and Pearls (18) 7 The Hits 2: (1) Controversy (2) Dirty Mind (3) I Wanna Be Your Lover (4) Head (5) Do Me Baby (6) Delirious (7) Little Red Corvette (8) I Would Die 4 U (9) Raspberry Beret (10) If I Was Your Girlfriend (11) Kiss (12) Peach (13) U Got the Look (with Sheena Easton) (140 Sexy MF (15) Gett Off (16) Cream (17) Pope (18) Purple Rain The B-sides: (1) Hello (2) 200 Balloons (3) Escape (4) Gotta Step Messin’ About (5) Horny Toad (6) Feel U Up (7) Girl (8) I Love U in Me (9) Erotic City (10) Shockadelica (11) Irresistible Bitch (12) Scarlet Pussy (13) La La La He He Hee (14) She’s Always in My Hair (15) 17 Days (16) How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore? (17) Another Lonely Christmas (18) God (19) 4 the Tears in Your Eyes (20) Power Fantastic Total Running Time: 225:53 About the Album:The Hits/The B-Sides was Prince’s first compilation. The three-box set consisted of two discs known as The Hits 1 and The Hits 2, which were also sold as individual albums, and also packaged together with a third disc of B-sides. All three configurations went platinum with the three-pack reaching the highest chart peak (#19). While the majority of the important hits are present (#1 “Batdance” is noticeably absent), the non-chronological nature is distracting.In addition to being released as part of the 3-CD The Hits/The B-Sides collection, The Hits 1 and The Hits 2 were released as individual albums. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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The Very Best ofPrince |
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Records: 1979-1992 Released: July 31, 2001 Peak: 11 US, 2 UK, 2 AU, 11 CN, 11 DF Sales (in millions): 2.66 US, 0.6 UK, 3.75 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B/pop Rating: 4.535 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:(1) I Wanna Be Your Lover (2) 1999 (3) Little Red Corvette (4) When Doves Cry (5) Let’s Go Crazy (6) Purple Rain (7) I Would Die 4 U (8) Raspberry Beret (9) Kiss (10) Sign ‘O’ the Times (11) U Got the Look (12) Alphabet Street (13) Thieves in the Temple (14) Gett Off (15) Cream (16) Diamonds and Pearls (17) Money Don’t Matter 2 NightTotal Running Time: 73:18 About the Album:The Very Best of covered the same years as the previous The Hits/The B-Sides, but was a welcome addition to fans looking for a single-disc retrospective of Prince’s work. A few top tens are absent (“Delirious,” “Pop Life,” “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man,” “7”) and, once again, the #1 hit “Batdance.” Overall, though, this is an ideal starting point for someone looking for a quick overview. After Prince’s death in 2016, this collection skyrocketed back on the charts to #1. |
UltimateName of Act |
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Recorded: 1978-1992 Released: March 14, 2006 Peak: 6 US, 3 UK, 6 AU, 12 CN Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.3 UK, 0.3 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B/pop Rating: 4.180 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Disc 1: (1) I Wanna Be Your Lover (2) Uptown (3) Controversy (4) 1999 (5) Delirious (6) When Doves Cry (7) I Would Die 4 U (8) Purple Rain (9) Sign ‘O’ the Times (10) I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (11) Alphabet Street (12) Diamonds and Pearls (13) Gett Off (14) Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (15) 7 (16) Nothing Compares 2 U (live) Disc 2 (remixes): (1) Let’s Go Crazy (2) Little Red Corvette (3) Let’s Work (4) Pop Life (5) She’s Always in My Hair (6) Raspberry Beret (7) Kiss (8) U Got the Look (9) Hot Thing (10) Thieves in the Temple (11) Cream Total Running Time: 2:36:20 About the Album:This two-disc compilation is a completely unnecessary and obvious cash grab. It still covers the same years as the previous collections, adding the unnecessary Purple Medley and a handful of minor hits which hadn’t been on previous collections (Let’s Work, Hot Thing, My Name Is Prince). With one disc focused on hits and the other on remixes, it is a disappointment for fans who just want the hits as they are familiar with them and it is a sleazy way to get Prince die-hards to plop down for a two-disc collection when they really just want the remixes.Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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4EverPrince |
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Recorded: 1978-1993 Released: November 22, 2016 Peak: 33 US, 4 RB, 21 UK, 36 AU, 40 CN, 12 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK, 0.1 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B/pop Rating: 4.451 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Disc 1: (1) 1999 (2) Little Red Corvette (3) When Doves Cry (4) Let’s Go Crazy (5) Raspberry Beret (6) I Wanna Be Your Lover (7) Soft and Wet (8) Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? (9) Uptown (10) When You Were Mine (11) Head (12) Gotta Stop Mesisn’ About (13) Controversy (14) Let’s Work (15) Delirious (16) I Would Die 4 U (17) Take Me with U (18) Paisley Park (19) Pop Life (20) Purple Rain Disc 2: (1) Kiss (2) Sign ‘O’ the Times (3) Alphabet Street (4) Batdance (5) Thieves in the Temple (6) Cream (7) Mountains (8) Girls & Boys (9) If I Was Your Girlfriend (10) U Got the Look (with Sheena Easton) (11) I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (12) Glam Slam (13) Moonbeam Levels (14) Diamonds and Pearls (15) Gett Off (16) Sexy MF (17) My Name Is Prince (18) 7 (19) Peach (20) Nothing Compares 2 U About the Album:This collection reeks of being another cash grab, considering it was released within a year of Prince’s death and covers the same years as the previous three collections. However, as a two-disc set, this is actually superior to The Hits, if you aren’t interested in the B-sides which come with the latter. Once again, we maddeningly get songs in non-chronological order, but we get eight songs never released on a previous Prince collection: Gotta Stop Messin’ About (1981 single-only), Moonbeam Levels (unreleased song from 1982), Take Me with U, Paisley Park, Mountains, Girls & Boys, Glam Slam, and, finally, Batdance.Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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ComePrince |
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Released: August 16, 1994 Peak: 15 US, 2 RB, 11 UK, 34 CN, 2 AU Sales (in millions): 0.50 US, 0.10 UK, 2.00 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.030 out of 5.00 (average of # ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In 1993, Prince changed his name to “an unpronounceable cipher: a hybrid of the symbols for male and female.” RH By his own suggestion, he was then referred to as “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.” In 1994, he released Come, an album of new material. |
The Gold ExperiencePrince |
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Released: September 26, 1995 Peak: 6 US, 2 RB, 4 UK, 35 CN, 13 AU Sales (in millions): 0.55 US, 0.10 UK, 1.50 world (includes US + UK), 2.49 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.794 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In 1994 Prince released his last top-10 hit, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. It was featured on the 1995 album The Gold Experience. |
Chaos and DisorderPrince |
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Recorded: 1993-1996 Released: July 9, 1996 Peak: 26 US, 14 UK, 43 CN, 54 AU Sales (in millions): 0.35 US, -- UK, 0.75 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.840 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:This was Prince’s last album with Warner Bros. He contended that the one-sided contract rendered him a slave. He was released from the contract. |
EmancipationPrince |
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Released: November 19, 1996 Peak: 11 US, 6 RB, 18 UK, 24 CN, 8 AU Sales (in millions): 0.70 US, -- UK, 3.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.571 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Without the restrictions of a label, Prince went on a spree. He followed the release of the single-disc Chaos and Disorder with the three-disc Emancipation. |
Crystal Ball (box set)Prince |
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Recorded: 1983-1996 Released: March 3, 1998 Peak: 62 US, 91 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.13 US, -- UK, 0.30 world (includes US and UK) Genre: R&B/funk/pop Rating: 3.024 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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Disc 1: (1) Crystal Ball (2) Dream Factory (3) Acknowledge Me (4) Ripopgozazippa (5) Love Sign (Shock G’s Silky Remix) (6) Hide the Bone (7) 2morrow (8) So Dark (9) Movie Star (10) Tell Me How U Wanna Be Done Disc 2: (1) Interactive (2) Da Bang (3) Calhoun Square (4) What’s My Name (5) Crucial (6) An Honest Man (7) Sexual Suicide (8) Cloreen Bacon Skin (9) Good Love (10) Strays of the World Disc 3: (1) Days of Wild (live) (2) Last Heart (3) Poom Poom (4) She Gave Her Angels (5) 18 & Over (6) The Ride (live) (7) Get Loose (8) P Control (remix) (9) Make Your Mama Happy (10) Goodbye Disc 4 (The Truth): See below. Total Running Time: 2:29:27 About the Album:After Prince got out of his contract with Warner Bros., he went on a tear, first releasing the three-disc album Emancipation and then following it with this collection that included three albums of archival material and a fourth album, The Truth, of new material.Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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The TruthPrince |
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Released: March 3, 1998 Peak: 62 US, 2 RB, 91 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.11 US, -- UK, 0.30 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.147 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In 1998, Prince released the five-CD set Crystal Ball which consisted of four discs of archival material and a new disc of material called The Truth. |
New Power SoulPrince |
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Released: June 30, 1998 Peak: 22 US, 9 RB, 38 UK, -- CN, 47 AU Sales (in millions): 0.23 US, -- UK, 0.50 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.271 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:At the end of 1998, Prince released New Power Soul, making for ten discs’ worth of material over three years, “much more material than most artists manage in a lifetime.” RH |
Rave Un2 the Joy FantasticPrince |
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Released: November 9, 1999 Peak: 18 US, 8, RB, 145 UK, 5 CN, 82 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.109 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In 1999, Prince signed a deal with Arista to distribute Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. He still retained ownership of the music, but had the benefit of major-label distribution. It was also the first time Prince reverted back to his name. |
The SlaughterhousePrince |
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Recorded: 1997-2000 Released: March 29, 2004 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.356 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Comments here. |
The Rainbow ChildrenPrince |
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Released: November 20, 2001 Peak: 109 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 0.18 US, -- UK, 0.50 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.074 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)
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Tracks:
Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In the early 2000s, Prince released a series of albums which were marketed primarily through his website. The Rainbow Children was “a mystical and spiritually themed suite.” RH |
The Chocolate InvasionPrince |
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Recorded: 2000-2001 Released: March 29, 2004 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.506 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Comments here. |
N.E.W.S.Prince |
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Released: July 22, 2003 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): 0.03 US, -- UK Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.002 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:“N.E.W.S. was a collection of “lengthy, jazz-funk instrumentals” RH released through Prince’s website. |
MusicologyPrince |
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Released: April 20, 2004 Peak: 3 US, 3 RB, 3 UK, 11 CN, 19 AU Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.10 UK, 4.0 world (includes US + UK), 2.89 EAS Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.688 out of 5.00 (average of 30 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:In 2004, Prince had his first top-10 album in nearly a decade with Musicology. |
3121Prince |
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Released: March 21, 2006 Peak: 11 US, 11 RB, 9 UK, 9 CN, 18 AU Sales (in millions): 1.8 US, 0.10 UK, 2.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.548 out of 5.00 (average of 26 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:The gold-selling 3121 was Prince’s first #1 album since 1989’s Batman soundtrack. |
Planet EarthPrince |
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Released: July 24, 2007 Peak: 3 US, 11 RB, 9 UK, 17 CN, 38 AU Sales (in millions): 0.98 US, -- UK, 2.80 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.297 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Comments here. |
Lotus Flow3rPrince |
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Released: March 29, 2009 Peak: 2 US, 11 RB, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.070 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:The albums Lotus Flow3r and MPL Sound were simultaneously released. Both reached the top 10 on the Billboard album chart. |
MPL SoundPrince |
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Released: March 29, 2009 Peak: 2 US, 11 RB, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK) Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.961 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:The albums Lotus Flow3r and MPL Sound were simultaneously released. Both reached the top 10 on the Billboard album chart. |
20 TenPrince |
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Released: July 10, 2014 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 1.914 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Comments here. |
Anthology 1995-2010Prince |
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Recorded: 1995-2010 Released: August 17, 2018 Peak: 12 DF Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/pop Rating: 3.517 out of 5.00 (average of 12 ratings)
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Awards:(Click on award to learn more). |
Tracks:(1) Emancipation (2) Black Sweat (3) P. Control (4) Crucial (5) The Love We Make (6) I Hate U (7) The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (8) I Love U, But I Don’t Trust U Anymore (9) Gold (10) Guitar (11) Dream Factory (12) The Work, Pt. 1 (13) Call My Name (14) Strays of the World (15) Shhh (16) Dreamer (17) Chaos and Disorder (18) Endorphinmachine (19) Musicology (20) Northside (21) When I Lay My Hands on U (22) Beautiful Strange (23) Future Soul Song (24) 3rd Eye (25) U’re Gonna C Me (27) Dinner with Delores (28) Ol’ Skool Company (29) 4ever (30) West (31) Xpedition (32) Muse 2 the Pharaoh (33) Somewhere Here on Earth (34) U Make My Sun Shine (35) 1+1+1 Is 3 (36) Chelsea Rodgers (37) We MarchAbout the Album:This was the second compilation released by Prince’s estate after his death. It was only made available digitally. It was released at the same time as his latter period albums were made available via stream platforms other than Tidal. The most notable omission was “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” because of a long-running copyright dispute.Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:
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Welcome 2 AmericaPrince |
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Recorded: 2010 Released: July 30, 2021 Peak: 4 US, 2 RB, 5 UK, 26 CN, 5 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk/pop Rating: 3.378 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:Comments here. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album. |
Art Official AgePrince |
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Released: September 30, 2014 Peak: 5 US, 11 RB, 8 UK, 21 CN, 15 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.169 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:After simultaneously releasing MPL Sound and Lotus Flow3r, Prince came back with another pair of albums (Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum) in 2014. Like their predecessors, they were also top-10 albums. In between his 2009 and 2014 album releases, Prince released a series of singles through is website. Some of those songs also showed up on his 2015 releases Hit N Run Phase One and Hit N Run Phase Two. |
Plectrum ElectrumPrince |
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Released: September 30, 2014 Peak: 8 US, 11 UK, -- CN, 33 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.973 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:After simultaneously releasing MPL Sound and Lotus Flow3r, Prince came back with another pair of albums (Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum) in 2014. Like their predecessors, they were also top-10 albums. In between his 2009 and 2014 album releases, Prince released a series of singles through is website. Some of those songs also showed up on his 2015 releases Hit N Run Phase One and Hit N Run Phase Two. |
Hit N Run Phase OnePrince |
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Released: September 7, 2015 Peak: 48 US, 4 RB, 50 UK, -- CN, 50 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 2.635 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:This was followed by Hit N Run Phase Two, released three months later. |
Hit N Run Phase TwoPrince |
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Released: December 12, 2015 Peak: 116 US, 5 RB, 101 UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: R&B/funk Rating: 3.247 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)
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Total Running Time: -- About the Album:This ended up being the last album released during Prince’s lifetime. |
Resources and Related Links:
First posted 7/1/2008; last updated 7/3/2025. |