http://www.billboard.com/...1002273762

Prince Nets First No. 1 Album Debut With '3121'

March 29, 2006, 11:25 AM ET

Katie Hasty, N.Y.

Prince achieves his first career No. 1 debut on The Billboard 200 this week with his new NPG Music/Universal album, "3121." The set sold 183,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, to open at No. 1 on the big list, as well as on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally.

Prince last topped the R&B/Hip-Hop chart with 1991's "Diamonds & Pearls." On The Billboard 200, he now has four No. 1s, including 1989's "Batman," 1985's "Around the World in a Day" and 1984's "Purple Rain."

The Prince set leads a charge of debuts this week as new titles from B.G., Ben Harper and Teddy Geiger all bow inside the top 10.

The soundtrack to Disney's "High School Musical" continued with strong sales, although its 7% increase to 152,000 was not enough to stay in front of Prince, so the set falls 1-2 on The Billboard 200. James Blunt's Atlantic release "Back to Bedlam" drops 2-3 with 111,000 (-12%), but crowns the Top Rock Albums chart for a fourth, non-consecutive week.

*additional chart placings snipped*

Peace, David