Nice to see that 3121 is currently number 9 in the UK Album charts. I think his Brits performance helped his chart position, though there has been hardly any radio play or much publicity in the UK so far.

Black sweat is going to be released soon.. what do you think of its chances? to be really honest the only single on the 3121 album that might have a good chance in the UK single charts I think is going to be "Loloita".

Still nice to see Prince back in the UK charts..

I think Fury would do alright too.

Radio 2 keeps playing Beautiful Loved and Blessed.

mickyp said:

Fury sound much better Live (ie SNL, Brits). The Guitar levels on the album version sound too low. It should have been pump much higher....a la "Bambie" stylie.. kinda pissed off of this..

JamesS said:

Buts it sucks.. it kinda kills the album.. he should of left it off the album.. This song might put some fans off purchasing 3121 thinking that it to be the same old tripe as such albums as much of his output in the late 90s early 00s

parade2k said:

It's an ok song, nothing special. There are definitely better songs with which to promote the album.

Not sure Black Sweat would work on Radio 2 as it's borderline industrial, not very Radio 2 at all...

Fury would be better (even in flaccid-o mix).

I don't know about lack of publicity. You had the Brits, for one. The album has been reviewed in all the usual mags and newspapers (usually quite positively) there are posters on the tube, I saw a full page advert in Q magazine, the video to Black Sweat has been playing on music video channels for 2 weeks or more and was shown on the last TOTP - and then you just have the advert of seeing the album sitting on the shelves. The album was album of the week on Radio 2.

That's as much publicity as any pop act gets. The only things more lacking is a few more tv appearances (which of course Prince rarely does relatively speaking) and heavy rotation of the single on radio channels.

JamesS said:

I like BL&B but whoever came up with that radio edit needs to be slapped.
That has to be one of the worst edits of all time, it just seems to make the song lose all of its structure.

muirdo said:

Yeah I agree, sounds like they realise that on the radio too as the song keeps getting cut after the second chorus.

I am pretty disappointed about 3121 only debuting at #9 as I really did think it would be a bit higher, certainly top 5.

I am also surprised because in London at least (not sure about rest of UK) there has been moe publicity for 3121 than I have seen for a Prince album in years! Posters on the tube, billboards around town, papers and magazines with ads. Even seen TV ads running on C4 (now that's a first).

I think Universal have done some serious work.

Prince, once again, has not done quite enough. Sure seeing him on The Brits was fantastic but where are the other TV appearances? I mean for RUTJF he was on several TV shows over here!

The other thing is, The Brits audience is pretty young. I truly believe the *majority* of people buying 3121 will be in their 30s and they don't generally watch The Brits!

Anyhow, I really love the album (but it has taken several listens as initial impressions were disappointing!) so I am happy.

Now we just need a tour (with NPGMC front row tix, soundchecks and aftershows please)

Found this :

"Despite charting lower than many of its predecessors, 3121 was the most eagerly received new album by Prince in more than a decade, selling 37,130 copies last week to debut at number nine. Prince's last album of new material, 2004's Musicology, debuted at number three on sales of 32,945, while his 2001 Very Best Of set went one better, debuting at number two with 28,942 sales. Even his last number one album, Come, had lower first week sales than 3121, opening with 33,375 sales in 1994. 3121 is Prince's first Universal album, and means he has now released albums for all four current majors."Source: Music Week

That makes place 9 a little better
[Edited 3/28/06 12:01pm]

There is a very obvious reason 3121 failed to chart higher in the UK. It was the wrong week to release it. A week earlier and he would have had a good chance at number 1.

So what was wrong with 20/3?

Mothers Day!

Supermarket sales can make or break an album. They also sell more Mothers Day product than any other retailer, with Flowers and CDs topping the list as presents. Just look at the top ten. All the 8 albums that charted above Prince are big mothers day sellers:

Journey South
Andy Abraham
Corrine Bailey Mae
Russell Watson
Andrea Bocelli
Jack Johnson
David Essex
Vitorio Grigolo

Prince was never a mothers favourite!