3121 (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = 3121
Type = Album
Artist = Prince


Released = March 21 2006
Recorded = 2004 - 2005
Genre = R&B/Funk/Rock/Experimental
Length = 53:42
Label = NPG
Universal
Producer = Prince
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:qdjp7i26g7xr link]
*"Blender" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3820 link]
*Okayplayer Rating|4|5 [http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/threeon/ link]
*Pitchfork (6.0/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21054/Prince_3121 link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|4|5
Last album = "Musicology"
(2004)
This album = "3121"
(2006)
Next album = "Ultimate"
(2006)

"3121" (said "thirty one twenty one") is a studio album of new material by Prince. The album, released March 21, 2006 in North America, is distributed through Universal Records.

Album information

The album's first single, "Te Amo Corazón", was released in the United States on December 13, 2005, and debuted at number twenty on the VH1 countdown; the second single, "Black Sweat", was released on February 2, 2006.

The title of the album was believed to be a reference to the address of Prince's rented Los Angeles mansion. A lawsuit filed against Prince by the landlord (NBA player Carlos Boozer) indicates an entirely different address (1235 Sierra Alta Way). [http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0320063prince4.html] However, Prince has repeatedly referred to the property as "3121"; indeed, the lawsuit alleges he painted 3121 on the exterior of the property, and the album's liner notes indicate that it was "recorded at Paisley Park Studios and 3121."

According to another explanation the album's title refers to a verse in the Bible (Proverbs 31:21). "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet."

Album sessions started in November 2004 with the recording of the song "3121" with Michael B and Sonny T.

Ostensibly inspired by the 1964 children's novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", Prince included a limited number of "purple tickets" with the album. Lucky winners who found tickets 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.

"3121" reinforced Prince's big comeback after the release of 2004's "Musicology". It became the first Prince album ever to debut at #1, with 183,436 sold in its first week. It knocked the big-selling soundtrack for "High School Musical" off the top spot, and became Prince's first #1 album since 1989's "Batman". Eventually it was certified Gold (for over 500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA.

Track listing

# "3121" – 4:31
# "Lolita" – 4:06
# "Te Amo Corazón" – 3:35
# "Black Sweat" – 3:12
# "Incense and Candles" – 4:04
# "Love" – 5:45
# "Satisfied" – 2:50
# "Fury" – 4:02
# "The Word" – 4:11
# "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed" (featuring Támar) – 5:43
# "The Dance" – 5:20
# "Get On the Boat" – 6:18

Credits

*Drums: Michael Bland (on "3121"), Cora Coleman Dunham (on "Te Amo Corazón", "Get On the Boat")
*Bass: Sonny T (on "3121"), Joshua Dunham (on "Te Amo Corazón", "Get On the Boat")
*Horn section: Maceo Parker, Candy Dulfer, Greg Boyer and Ray
*Percussion: Herbert Urena, Ricky Salas (on "Te Amo Corazón"), Sheila E. (on "Get On the Boat")
*Strings arrangement: Clare Fischer
*Additional vocals: The New Power Generation (shouts), Támar (and co-lead on "Beautiful, Loved and Blessed")
*All other instruments and voices: Prince
*Produced by Prince
*Photo: Afshin Shahidi
*Designer: Sam Jennings
*Recorded at Paisley Park Studios and 3121
*Engineered by Ian Boxill, L. Stu Young
*Assisted by Lisa Chamblee Hampton
*Mastered at Bernie Grundman

ingles

*"Te Amo Corazón" (#67 U.S. R&B)
*"Black Sweat" (#60 U.S., #43 UK)
*"Fury" (#60 UK)

External links

* [http://www.dtt-lyrics.com/albums/3121.html 3121 lyrics]
* [http://www.3121countdown.com/ 3121 countdown and contest details]

succession box
before = "High School Musical" Soundtrack
title = "Billboard" 200 number-one album
years = April 2 2006 - April 8 2006
after = "King" by T.I.