Yes, but by his fans and music critics, not buy the general public... because there thought on classic albums are only based on recored sales and 3121 isnt doing all that. I feel this is the first "classic" in sense of that most of his fans pretty much all are really digging 3121, which wasnt true about other albums he has reasled recently

Buttox said:

It depends on what follows. If it is more dismal CD's like GB, or Batman, than yes it will be a classic. If a killer like PR or SOTT follows, it will go down in history like GE... a good CD but not a classic

OK, Like other people here I wished that 3121 were more..erm..ground breaking. But what ground does Prince need to break?


Personally, I think it's just as good as many so-called classics, if a bit restrained.

It's the first Prince album in ages that is completely listenable from beginning to end, and one that I can listen to at least once a week.

Probably not. Lets see if there are any huge hits off of it. Remember that without KISS, Parade might not have been as big of a hit. MOUNTAINS did ok (#23) and ANOTHERLOVERHOLENYOHEAD did even less (#68?), but KISS was what makes that album a classic in some fan's eyes. KISS even made up for it being attached to a crap movie.

That said, Parade only hit #3... even with KISS as the lead off single. I don't think that 3121 will be seen in the same catagory as PARADE, which had mixed reviews at the time... even though it hit #1.

Moonbeam said:

Hehehe, I am not used yet to having YOU back, mr 1999. Sure, 1999 is a classic, but I tried to list a few albums that gave him a bigger audience. Even though it includes hits like 1999 and Little Red Corvette, the 1999 album did not expose him to another audience. So there. You know I love that double album to bits...

HamsterHuey said:

1999 most certainly did expose him to another audience: MTV. The first Prince videos played were from that album, and I've read that his concerts became more racially mixed with the airplay and video play for "Little Red Corvette"!

Yes, on the level of Gold - i.e. a "Prince" classic, not a generally accepted one.

Moonbeam said:

Yeah, in the US...

He had only played a lil' 1980 European tour at that time. So. I was talking GLOBALLY, sorry. The 1999 hits scored under the radar here in Europe, only minor dance hit for 1999, minor pop hit for Little Red Corvette. Both songs certainly did not propel him into global mega stardom. That was Purple Rain.

Dirty Mind I added because it was such a radical departure from his previous soul/disco outings as a whole. It certainly exposed his to a different audience, as this was his cross over album, put the focus on funk-rock.

Parade is on there because it gave two solid hits and has such a broad scope. Nothing he did after, not even SOTT had him playing around with musical styles as much as did album.

And Sign The Times does not need ANY explanation... it has the range of song writing I still pine for when I hear his voice. You know what I mean...

I love it, but *I'M* a Prince fan. No, it will not be considered a classic by anyone other than Prince fans. (if that)

no...

no not a classic. It's a nice continuation from "Musicology" that's all. I really like the album though

HamsterHuey said:

The U.S. is one of his most important markets! 1999 made him a household name.

Moonbeam said:

Of course, him being from the US makes that kinda redundant. But people OUT of the States often see a different perspective on stuff. People GREAT there are just deemed silly here and vice versa.

I present you; Kylie! To just name one. And it's not like we are willing to buy into Britney longer than her first mini skirt...

I really don't see how it could. It isn't even in Prince's top 15 albums.
It's basically a space filler. There's a few songs that are okay but nothing that could be considered a classic.

Buttox said:

it's a classic

3 great songs, 2 good , 5 ok songs and 2 turkeys...

does not make a classic lp

classic Prince lps:

dirty mind
1999
purple rain
sign o the times
gold experience
rainbow children

It's no classic but it's his healthiest set of songs since The Truth.

Good album.

Depends on how you look at it. . .

compared to the string of 80s albums. . .no

compared to everything after, I would rank it very close to The Gold Experience, which in my book would make it close to classic.

It's the first new Prince album I can listen to over and over again since Gold.

I doubt it will be considered a classic Prince album. It's very enjoyable, yes, but it's not up there with 1999, Purple Rain, Parade, Sign of The Times, Lovesexy, The Gold Experience, or TRC. (those I consider the strongest, make you do a double take, type albums). For me this album is like Emancipation, Prince, Controversy, The Symbol album, The Truth, Batman, ATWIAD, D&P and Graffiti Bridge-- that is, albums I like a lot but know aren't quite as good as the former group. Some people may be blinded by their personal tastes-- Chaos and Disorder and the Truth are my personal favorites but I know they aren't "classics" per se-- but I think we all know this album isn't as strong as his best albums.
[Edited 5/29/06 11:17am]

I can't and won't speak for the Prince community but for ME, it is a classic. I haven't loved a Prince CD the way that I do since The Gold Experience. Any album that gets me excited everytime I play it is a classic. To me, there are a few singles on this CD and if the world heard them, they'd love the songs too. I still think it's too early to say if it's a classic in the scheme of all Prince albums. Come back to me a year from now.

origmnd said:

ME TOO - i so love that song

livewire said:

It's a classic 4 me 2... I really enjoying 3121.. I play it manny times everyday I cant get tired of it.. It groves all the time on me..

Nay overall when you compare to essential classics like Dirty Mind, 1999, Parade, Sign, Diamonds and Pearls, but yay for the 2000s, its the best album since 1995s gold experience. And even though 3121 was a bit of a commercial flop, it was a critical and fan pleasing success, hey it isnt our fault if the public dont realise how great this alum is. But overall Nay

purplecam said:

Same here,I haven't played an album as much,at home but even more in my car,
since TGE.I usely skip 3121 and BLB and will stop be4 Get on the boat,but
the rest of the CD is very good.I also skip songs on other Prince CD's,so..

Sure,SOTT,Lovesexy,1999 and Purple Rain are considered as his classic albums,
but MY classic albums also include TGE and D&P(yes indeed ).

And,as someone already said,no matter how good his music is,he'll never be that popular again,or he has 2 hire a producer 2 write his songs and deliver a lame record as Madonna.?Does the new Bruce Springsteen get a lot of airplay?Is he back on top?No.But it could be a good album,no?

3121 is classic Prince!
[Edited 5/30/06 3:54am]

Not a hope in hell.

For me, its a big big yes. I only turned on to Prince a few months ago, and its because of 3121 that I grew to love him. Its got great songs, and is an album I can truly listen to from beginning to end without wanting to skip a song, and it deserves a lot of credit from me because of that.