Friday, July 30, 2021

Prince: Retrospective 1958-2016

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.

Awards:

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:

  • CB4 Crystal Ball (box set, recorded 1983-1996, released 1998)


Live Albums:

  • LU Live in Utrecht (live album recorded 6/20/87, released 2020 as part of Sign ‘O’ the Times super deluxe edition)

For You

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Soft and Wet (6/7/78, 92 US, 94 CB, 12 RB) H1,4E
  2. Just As Long As We’re Together (10/23/78, 91 RB)


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

Prince

Prince

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. I Wanna Be Your Lover (9/22/79, 11 US, 12 CB, 12 RB, 41 UK, 62 CN) H2,VB,U,4E
  2. Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? (1/23/80, 13 RB) H1,4E
  3. Still Waiting (3/25/80, 65 RB)
  4. I Feel for You H1


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

Comments here.

Dirty Mind

Prince

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. Uptown (9/10/80, 5 RB) H1,U,4E
  2. Head (10/11/80) H2,4E
  3. Dirty Mind (11/26/80, 65 RB) H2
  4. When You Were Mine (9/2/81, B-side of “Controversy”) H1,4E


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

Controversy

Prince

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. Controversy (9/2/81, 70 US, 72 CB, 3 RB, 5 UK, 15 AU) H2,U,4E
  2. Let’s Work (1/6/82, 9 RB) U,4E
  3. Do Me Baby (7/16/82) H2
  4. Sexuality (88 AU)


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

“Prince’s fourth album, Controversy (1981), was highlighted by the pulsing title track.” RH

1999

Prince

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. 1999 (9/24/82, 12 US, 14 CB, 12 RR, 33 A40, 4 RB, 15 CO, 2 UK, 6 CN, 2 AU) H1,VB,U,4E
  2. Little Red Corvette (2/9/83, 6 US, 6 CB, 5 RR, 11 RB, 17 AR, 2 UK, 5 CN, 8 AU) LU,H2,VB,U,4E
  3. Delirious (8/7/83, 8 US, 9 CB, 7 RR, 18 RB, 27 CN) H2,U,4E
  4. Let’s Pretend We’re Married (11/23/83, 52 US, 46 CB, 55 RB)
  5. D.M.S.R.
  6. Automatic
  7. Something in the Water Does Not Compute
  8. Free
  9. Lady Cab Driver
  10. All the Critics Love U in New York
  11. International Lover


Total Running Time: 70:33

Other Songs from This Era:

  1. How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore? (released 9/24/82, B-side of “1999”) B
  2. Horny Toad (released 8/17/83, B-side of “Delirious”) B
  3. Irresistible Bitch (released 11/23/83, B-side of “Let’s Pretend We’re Married”) B
  4. Cloreen Bacon Skin (recorded 1983) [15:37] CB4


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.

Purple Rain (soundtrack)

Prince & the Revolution

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. Let’s Go Crazy (Prince) [4:39] (7/18/84, 12 BB, 12 CB, 12 GR, 14 RR, 11 RB, 19 AR, 7 UK, 2 CN, 10 AU, 1 DF) LU,H1,VB,U,4E
  2. Take Me with U (Prince) [3:54] (with Apollonia, 1/25/85, 25 US, 27 CB, 16 GR, 17 RR, 40 RB, 7 UK, 10 DF)
  3. The Beautiful Ones (Prince) [5:13] (13 DF) 4E
  4. Computer Blue (Prince/John L. Nelson/Wendy & Lisa/Dr. Fink) [3:59] (11 DF)
  5. Darling Nikki (Prince) [4:14] (2 DF)
  6. When Doves Cry (Prince) [5:54] (5/16/84, 15 BB, 14 CB, 14 GR, 14 RR, 18 RB, 31 AR, 4 UK, 13 CN, 11 AU, 1 DF) LU,H1,VB,U,4E
  7. I Would Die 4 U (Prince) [2:49] (11/28/84, 8 US, 10 CB, 5 GR, 7 RR, 11 RB, 58 UK, 12 CN, 96 AU, 7 DF) H2,VB,U,4E
  8. Baby I’m a Star (Prince) [4:24] (7 DF)
  9. Purple Rain (Prince) [8:41] (9/21/84, 2 BB, 12 DG, 12 CB, 2 GR, 12 RR, 4 RB, 18 AR, 6 UK, 3 CN, 41 AU, 1 DF) LU,H2,VB,U,4E


Total Running Time: 43:51

Other Songs from This Era:

  1. 17 Days (5/16/84, B-side of “When Doves Cry”) B
  2. Erotic City (7/18/84, B-side of “Let’s Go Crazy”) B
  3. God (9/26/84, B-side of “Purple Rain”) B
  4. Another Lonely Christmas (11/28/84, B-side of “I Would Die 4 U”) B


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.

Around the World in a Day

Prince & the Revolution

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. Around the World in a Day [3:28] (Prince, John L. Nelson, David Coleman)
  2. Paisley Park [4:42] (5/25/85, 18 UK) 4E
  3. Condition of the Heart [6:48]
  4. Raspberry Beret [3:33] (5/10/85, 2 US, 11 CB, 12 RB, 40 AR, 25 UK, 8 CN, 13 AU) H2,VB,U,4E
  5. Tamborine [2:47]
  6. America [3:42] (10/19/85, 46 US, 35 RB)
  7. Pop Life [3:43] (7/27/85, 7 US, 4a RB, 60 UK) H1,U,4E
  8. The Ladder [5:29] (Prince, John L. Nelson)
  9. Temptation [8:18]

All songs written by Prince unless noted otherwise.

Other Songs from This Era:

  1. Dream Factory (recorded 1985) [3:07] DF,CB4,A
  2. Sexual Suicide (recorded 1985) [3:40] DF,CB4
  3. An Honest Man (recorded 1985) [1:13] CB4
  4. 4 the Tears in Your Eyes (live, studio version released on We Are the World, 1985) B
  5. She’s Always in My Hair (released 5/15/85, B-side of “Raspberry Beret”) B, U
  6. Hello (released 7/10/85, B-side of “Pop Life”) B
  7. Girl (released 10/2/85, B-side of “America”) B


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.

Parade (soundtrack for “Under the Cherry Moon”)

Prince & the Revolution

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. Christopher Tracy’s Parade [2:11] (Prince, John L. Nelson)
  2. New Position [2:20]
  3. I Wonder U [1:39]
  4. Under the Cherry Moon [2:57] (Prince, Nelson)
  5. Girls & Boys [5:29] (8/4/86, 11 UK) LU,4E
  6. Life Can Be So Nice [3:13]
  7. Venus de Milo [1:55]
  8. Mountains [3:57] (Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman) (5/7/86, 23 US, 19 CB, 21 RR, 15 RB, 45 UK, 45 AU) 4E
  9. Do U Lie? [2:44]
  10. Kiss [3:37] (Prince, arranged by David Z) (2/5/86, 12 US, 12 CB, 11 RR, 14 RB, 6 UK, 4 CN, 2 AU) LU,H2,VB,U,4E
  11. Anotherloverholenyohead [4:00] (7/2/86, 63 US, 74 CB, 18 RB, 36 UK)
  12. Sometimes It Snows in April [6:48] (Prince, Melvoin, Coleman)

Written by Prince unless noted otherwise.


Total Running Time: 40:57

Other Songs from This Era:

  1. Crystal Ball (recorded 1986) [10:28] DF,C1,CB4
  2. Good Love (recorded 1986) [4:55] CM,CB1,CB4
  3. Last Heart (recorded 1986) [3:01] DF,CB4
  4. Movie Star (recorded 1986) [4:26] DF,CB4
  5. Crucial (recorded 1986) [5:06] CB4,A
  6. Make Your Mama Happy (recorded 1986) [4:01] CB4


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.

Dream Factory

Prince & the Revolution

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)


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.

Camille

Prince

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)


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 Ball

Prince

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)


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 Times

Prince

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks, Disc 1:

  1. Sign ‘O’ the Times [5:02] (2/18/87, 3 BB, 4 CB, 4 GR, 6 RR, 1 RB, 10 UK, 5 CN, 29 AU, 3 DF) DF,CB1,LU, H1,VB,U,4E
  2. Play in the Sunshine [5:05] (39 DF) CB1,LU
  3. Housequake [4:38] (7/14/87, 31 DF) CM,CB1,LU
  4. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker [4:04] (30 DF) DF,CB1
  5. It [5:10] DF,CB1
  6. Starfish and Coffee [2:51] (Prince and Susannah Melvoin) (31 DF) DF,CB1
  7. Slow Love (Prince and Carole Davis) [4:18] DF,CB1,LU
  8. Hot Thing [5:39] (11/14/87, 63 BB, 10a RB, 30 DF) CB1,LU,U
  9. Forever in My Life [3:38] CB1,LU

Tracks, Disc 2:

  1. U Got the Look (with Sheena Easton) [3:58] (7/14/87, 2 BB, 3 CB, 4 GR, 3 RR, 11 RB, 11 UK, 22 CN, 90 AU, 7 DF) H2,VB,U,4E
  2. If I Was Your Girlfriend [4:54] (5/6/87, 67 BB, 78 CB, 9a RB, 20 UK, 15 DF) CM,CB1,LU,H2,4E
  3. Strange Relationship [4:04] (37 DF) DF,CM,CB1
  4. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man [6:31] (11/3/87, 10 BB, 10 CB, 7 GR, 9 RR, 29 UK, 33 CN, 1 DF) DF,CB1,LU,H1,U,4E
  5. The Cross [4:46] (16 DF) DF,CB1,LU
  6. It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night [8:59] (37 DF) CB1,LU
  7. Adore [6:29] CB1,H1


Total Running Time: 80:06

Tracks, Disc 3: Single Mixes & Edits Remastered (Super Deluxe Reissue):

  1. Sign ‘O’ the Times (edit) [3:41]
  2. La La La He He Hee [3:22] (2/18/87, B-side of “Sign ‘O’ the Times”) B
  3. La La La He He Hee (Highly Explosive) [10:47]
  4. If I Was Your Girlfriend (edit) [3:47]
  5. Shockadelica [3:31]
  6. Shockadelica (12” long version) [6:13] CM,CB1
  7. U Got the Look (Long Look) [6:41]
  8. Housequake (edit) [3:22]
  9. Housequake (7 Minutes MoQuake) [7:12]
  10. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (fade) [3:39]
  11. Hot Thing (edit) [3:41]
  12. Hot Thing (extended remix) [8:32]
  13. Hot Thing (dub version) [6:53]

Tracks, Disc 4: Vault Tracks I (Super Deluxe Edition):

  1. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (1979 version) [3:13]
  2. Teacher Teacher (1985 version) [3:08] DF
  3. All My Dreams [7:24] DF
  4. Can I Play with U? (with Miles Davis) [6:40]
  5. Wonderful Day (original version) [3:48] DF
  6. Strange Relationship (original version) [6:42]
  7. Visions [2:19] (Lisa Coleman) DF
  8. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker (with horns) [4:56]
  9. Witness for the Prosecution (version 1) [4:56] (8/14/20, --) DF
  10. Power Fantastic (live in studio, recorded 3/19/86) (Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman) [7:18] DF,B
  11. And That Says What? [1:50] DF
  12. Love and Sex [4:12]
  13. A Place in Heaven (Prince vocal) [2:58] DF
  14. Colors (aka “Wendy”) (Wendy Melvoin) [1:01] DF
  15. Crystal Ball (7” mix) [3:30]
  16. Big Tall Wall (version 1) [5:59] DF
  17. Nevahe ni Ecalp A [2:33]
  18. In a Large Room with No Light (Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman) [3:28] DF

Tracks, Disc 5: Vault Tracks II (Super Deluxe Edition)

  1. Train [4:22] DF
  2. It Ain’t Over ‘Til the Fat Lady Sings [2:22]
  3. Eggplant (original Prince vocal) [5:19]
  4. Everybody Want What They Don’t Got [2:09]
  5. Blanche [5:37]
  6. Soul Psychodelicide (1986 master) [12:37]
  7. The Ball [4:34] CB1
  8. Adonis and Bathsheba [5:28]
  9. Forever in My Life (early vocal run-through) [6:25]
  10. Crucial (alternate lyrics) [6:15]
  11. The Cocoa Boys [6:06]
  12. When the Dawn of the Morning Comes [5:03]
  13. It Be’s Like That Sometimes [3:19]

Tracks, Disc 6: Vault Tracks III (Super Deluxe Edition):

  1. Emotional Pump [4:59]
  2. Rebirth of the Flesh (original outro) [5:28] CM,CB1
  3. Cosmic Day [5:39]
  4. Walkin’ in Glory [5:14]
  5. Wally [4:45]
  6. I Need a Man [5:33]
  7. Promise to Be True [3:38]
  8. Jealous Girl (version 2) [4:52]
  9. There’s Something I Like About Being Your Fool [3:49]
  10. Big Tall Wall (version 2) [5:46]
  11. A Place in Heaven (Lisa vocal) [2:46]
  12. Wonderful Day (12” mix) [7:34]
  13. Strange Relationship (1987 Shep Pettibone club mix) [7:08]

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:

  • Nevaeh Ni Ecalp A DF
  • Rock Hard in a Funky Place [4:30] (Prince/Eric Leeds) CM,CB1
  • Joy in Repetition [4:59] CB1
  • Feel U Up [6:27] CM


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.

Live in Utrecht

Prince


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)

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 Girlfriend

Tracks, 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 Night


About the Album:

This was released in 2020 as part of the super deluxe edition of Sign ‘O’ the Times.

The Black Album

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. When 2 R in Love (11/28/89, --)


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.

Lovesexy

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Alphabet Street (4/23/88, 8 US, 9 CB, 3 RB, 9 UK, 14 CN, 20 AU) H1,VB,U,4E
  2. Glam Slam (7/11/88, 44 RB, 29 UK) 4E
  3. I Wish U Heaven (10/15/88, 18 RB, 24 UK)


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

1988 saw the release of Lovesexy and another top-10 hit with Alphabet Street.

Batman (soundtrack)

Prince

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. Batdance (6/8/89, 11 US, 13 CB, 11 RB, 18 MR, 2 UK, 11 CN, 2 AU) 4E
  2. Partyman (8/25/89, 18 US, 15 CB, 16 RR, 5 RB, 14 UK, CN 31, 38 AU)
  3. The Arms of Orion (with Sheena Easton) (10/16/89, 36 US, 33 CB, 29 RR, 21 AC, 27 UK)
  4. Scandalous (11/28/89, 5 RB, 95 AU)
  5. The Future (5/18/90, --)


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

Graffiti Bridge (soundtrack)

Prince et al

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)

Tracks:

  1. Thieves in the Temple (7/17/90, 6 US, 11 CB, 11 RB, 7 UK, 5 CN, 16 AU) H1,VB,U,4E
  2. New Power Generation (10/20/90, 64 US, 54 CB, 27 RB, 26 UK, 91 AU)


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.

Diamonds and Pearls

Prince & the New Power Generation

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)

Tracks:

  1. Gett Off (6/7/91, 21 US, 6 RB, 4 UK, 25 CN, 8 AU) H2,VB,U,4E
  2. Cream (9/9/91, 12 US, 12 CB, 15 UK, 2 CN, 2 AU) H2,VB,U,4E
  3. Insatiable (11/4/91, 77 US, 3 RB)
  4. Diamonds and Pearls (11/25/91, 3 US, 11 CB, 40 AC, 11 RB, 25 UK, 5 CN, 13 AU) H1,VB,U,4E
  5. Money Don’t Matter 2 Night (3/3/92, 23 US, 20 CB, 4 RB, 19 UK, 19 CN, 18 AU) VB,U
  6. Thunder (6/15/92, 28 UK)
  7. Strollin’ (7/18/92, 4 UK)


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.

Untitled (aka “Love Symbol” and “Androgyny”)

Prince & the New Power Generation

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)

Tracks:

  1. Sexy M.F. (6/30/92, 66 US, 55 CB, 76 RB, 4 UK, 11 CN, 5 AU) H2,4E
  2. My Name Is Prince (9/29/92, 36 US, 20 CB, 25 RB, 7 UK, 5 CN, 9 AU) U,4E
  3. 7 (11/17/92, 7 US, 6 CB, 61 RB, 27 UK, 3 CN, 25 AU) H1,U,4E
  4. The Morning Papers (3/13/93, 44 US, 35 CB, 7 RR, 68 RB, 52 UK, 8 CN, 87 AU)
  5. Damn U (12/12/93, 32 RB)


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.

The Hits/The B Sides

Prince


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)

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:

  • Gotta Stop Messin’ About (5/29/81 single-only release) B, 4E
  • Escape (7/11/88, B-side of “Glam Slam”) B
  • Scarlet Pussy (9/20/88, B-side of “I Wish U Heaven”) B
  • 200 Balloons (6/8/89, B-side of “Batdance”) B
  • Feel U Up (9/15/89, B-side of “Partyman”) B
  • I Love U in Me (10/16/89, B-side of “The Arms of Orion”) B
  • Pink Cashmere (8/31/93, 50 US, 33 CB, 14 RB, 7 CN, 87 AU) H1
  • Peach (10/16/93, 14 UK, 28 AU) H2,4E
  • Nothing Compares 2 U (live, 12/18/93, 62 RB) H1,U,4E
  • Pope H2

The Very Best of

Prince


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)

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 Night


Total 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.

Ultimate

Name of Act


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)

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:

  • Purple Medley (3/14/95, 84 US, 74 RB, 33 UK, 40 AU) U

4Ever

Prince


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)

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:

  • Moonbeam Levels (recorded 7/6/1982, released 2016) 4E

Come

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Letitgo (8/9/94, 31 US, 17 CB, 16 RR, 10 RB, 30 UK, 20 CN, 22 AU)
  2. Space (11/1/94, 71 RB, 91 AU)


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 Experience

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (2/24/94, 3 US, 15 CB, 12 RR, 25 AC, 2 RB, 12 UK, 6 CN, 12 AU, sales: 0.57 million)
  2. Shhh (7/2/94, 62 RB) A
  3. I Hate U (9/8/95, 12 US, 13 CB, 36 RR, 3 RB, 20 UK, 25 CN, 33 AU) A
  4. Gold (11/18/95, 88 US, 54 CB, 39 RR, 92 RB, 10 UK, 39 CN, 94 AU) A
  5. P. Control A
  6. We March A
  7. Endorphinmachine A


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 Disorder

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Dinner with Delores (6/12/96, 36 UK) A
  2. Chaos and Disorder A


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.

Emancipation

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Betcha by Golly Wow! (11/13/96, 31 US, 16 RR, 38 A40, 10 RB, 11 UK, 9 CN, 18 AU)
  2. Jam of the Year (1/11/97, --)
  3. The Holy River (1/13/97, 58 US, 15 RR, 31 A40, 19 UK, 31 CN)
  4. Somebody’s Somebody (1/13/97, 15 RB)
  5. Emancipation A
  6. The Love We Make A


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


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)

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:

  • Tell Me How U Wanna Be Done (recorded 1992) [3:16] CB4
  • Acknowledge Me (recorded 1993) [5:27] CB4
  • Ripopgozazippa (recorded 1993) [4:39] CB4
  • Hide the Bone (recorded 1993) [5:04] CB4
  • Interactive (recorded 1993) [3:04] CB4
  • Calhoun Square (recorded 1993) [4:47] CB4
  • What’s My Name (recorded 1993) [3:04] CB4
  • Strays of the World (recorded 1993) [5:07] CB4,A
  • P Control (remix) (recorded 1993) [6:00] CB4
  • Love Sign (Shock G’s Silky Remix) (recorded 1994) [3:53] CB4
  • So Dark (recorded 1994) [5:14] CB4
  • 18 & Over (recorded 1994) [5:40] CB4
  • Get Loose (recorded 1994) [3:31] CB4
  • Goodbye (recorded 1994) [4:35] CB4
  • Da Bang (recorded 1995) [3:20] CB4
  • Days of Wild (live) (recorded 1995) [9:19] CB4
  • The Ride (live) (recorded 1995) [5:14] CB4
  • 2morrow (recorded 1996) [4:14] CB4
  • Poom Poom (recorded 1996) [4:32] CB4
  • She Gave Her Angels (recorded 1996) [3:53] CB4

The Truth

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. The Truth (2/14/97, --)
  2. 3rd Eye A


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 Soul

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. The One (6/20/98, 44 RB)
  2. Come On (11/21/98, 65 UK)


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 Fantastic

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. The Greatest Romance Ever Sold (10/5/99, 63 US, 65 UK) A
  2. I Love U, But I Don’t Trust U A


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 Slaughterhouse

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Northside A


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

Comments here.

The Rainbow Children

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. The Work Part 1 (4/10/01, --) A
  2. Muse 2 the Pharaoh A
  3. 1+1+1 Is 3 A


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 Invasion

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. U Make My Sun Shine (with Angie Stone) (4/10/01, --) A
  2. Supercute (4/14/01, --)
  3. When I Lay My Hands on U A


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

Comments here.

N.E.W.S.

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. West A


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

N.E.W.S. was a collection of “lengthy, jazz-funk instrumentals” RH released through Prince’s website.

Musicology

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Musicology (4/10/04, 44 RB, 29 AU) A
  2. Call My Name (5/29/04, 75 US, 27 RB) A
  3. Cinnamon Girl (9/6/04, 43 UK)


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

In 2004, Prince had his first top-10 album in nearly a decade with Musicology.

3121

Prince

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)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

Tracks:

  1. Te Amo Corazon (12/20/05, 67 RB, 7 CN)
  2. Black Sweat (3/11/06, 60 US, 83 RB, 43 UK, 2 CN) A
  3. Fury (6/27/06, 70 RB, 60 UK)
  4. Satisfied (8/12/06, --)


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

The gold-selling 3121 was Prince’s first #1 album since 1989’s Batman soundtrack.

Planet Earth

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Guitar (7/9/07, 81 UK) A
  2. Chelsea Rodgers (8/6/07, --) A
  3. Somewhere Here on Earth A


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

Comments here.

Lotus Flow3r

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Dreamer A
  2. 4ever A


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 Sound

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. U’re Gonna C Me (10/09) A
  2. Ol’ Skool Company A
  3. Dance 4 Me (2009, --)


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 Ten

Prince

Released: July 10, 2014


Peak: --


Sales (in millions): --


Genre: R&B/funk


Rating:

1.914 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. Future Soul Song A


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

Comments here.

Anthology 1995-2010

Prince


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)

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 March


About 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:

  • Empty Room (1992) A
  • Beautiful Strange (2001) A
  • Xpedition (2003) A

Welcome 2 America

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Welcome 2 America (2021, --)


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

Comments here. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Art Official Age

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Breakfast Can Wait (2/5/13, --)
  2. Breakdown (4/18/14, --)
  3. Clouds (8/25/14, --)


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 Electrum

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Fix Ur Life Up (4/14/13, --)
  2. Pretzel Body Logic (1/28/14, 90 UK)


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 One

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Fall in Love 2 Nite (with Zooey Deschanel) (3/14/14, 50 RR)
  2. Hard Rock Lover (2015, --)
  3. This Could B Us (2015, --)


Total Running Time: --


About the Album:

This was followed by Hit N Run Phase Two, released three months later.

Hit N Run Phase Two

Prince

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)

Tracks:

  1. Extraloveable (with Andy Allo) (11/23/11, --)
  2. Rock and Roll Love Affair (10/6/12, 22 AC)
  3. Screwdriver (1/22/13, --)
  4. Groovy Potential (8/13/13, --)
  5. Baltimore (2015, --)


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.