3121 (pronounced "thirty-one twenty-one") is the thirty-first studio album by American musician Prince. It was released on March 21, 2006 (or, on 3/21). 3121 was released by NPG Records and distributed, under a "one-album deal", by Universal Music.
3121 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 21, 2006 | |||
Recorded | November 2004 – early 2006[1] | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 53:42 | |||
Label | NPG, Universal | |||
Producer | Prince | |||
Prince chronology | ||||
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Singles from 3121 | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 69/100[2] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Blender | [4] |
Entertainment Weekly | C+[5] |
Los Angeles Times | [6] |
Newsday | A[7] |
Pitchfork | 6.0/10[8] |
Rolling Stone | [9] |
Spin | B[10] |
Stylus Magazine | A−[11] |
The Village Voice | A−[12] |
3121 reinforced Prince's big comeback after the critical success of Musicology (2004). It is the only Prince album ever to debut at number one (during his lifetime) on the Billboard 200, with over 180,000 copies sold in its first week.[13] It knocked the soundtrack for High School Musical off the top spot, and became Prince's first number one album since Batman in 1989.[14] Eventually it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[15]
The album's first single, "Te Amo Corazón", was released in the United States on December 13, 2005; the second single, "Black Sweat", was released on February 2, 2006.[16]
The album title refers to Prince's rental home at 3121 Antelo Rd, Los Angeles. [1][17] Later homes rented by Prince were colloquially referred to as "3121", including a home owned by professional basketball player Carlos Boozer.[18]
Album sessions started in November 2004 with the recording of the song "3121" at Paisley Park with Michael Bland and Sonny T.[19]
A limited number of albums included "purple tickets", whose finders were flown in from Europe, Asia, Mexico and the US to attend a semi-private performance (along with a long list of celebrities) at Prince's home in Los Angeles.[20]
Tickets for the Earth tour in 2007 in London's O2 arena were priced at £31.21, echoing the title of this album.[21]
All tracks are written by Prince
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "3121" | 4:31 |
2. | "Lolita" | 4:06 |
3. | "Te Amo Corazón" | 3:35 |
4. | "Black Sweat" | 3:12 |
5. | "Incense and Candles" | 4:04 |
6. | "Love" | 5:45 |
7. | "Satisfied" | 2:50 |
8. | "Fury" | 4:02 |
9. | "The Word" | 4:11 |
10. | "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed" (featuring Támar) | 5:43 |
11. | "The Dance" | 5:20 |
12. | "Get On the Boat" | 6:18 |
Technical
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[47] | Gold | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[49] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |