Around the World in a Day did NOT debut at #1. If memory serves, it debuted at #14 and then jumped to #1 the next week. In those days, albums very RARELY debuted at #1.

I'm not sure where Batman debuted, but I doubt it was #1.

Musicology may be the highest debut of his career.

JonSnow said:

i don't know about atwiad but i have the issue of rolling stone from the week the batman soundtrack debuted on the charts. it did debut at 1.

JonSnow said:

i don't know about atwiad but i have the issue of rolling stone from the week the batman soundtrack debuted on the charts. it did debut at 1.

SassyBritches said:

Rolling Stone was not listing the Billboard album charts at that time. Batman did NOT debut at no.1. It eventually went to no.1 for 6 weeks, but Prince has never had an album DEBUT at no.1. Musicology is his highest debuting album ever on the Billboard album charts. Before Soundscan in 1991, only 6 albums entered at no.1: 2 Elton John albums and a Stevie Wonder record in the 70s, and albums from Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Bruce Springsteen in the 80s.

Purple Rain entered at no.11 and ATWIAD at no.14. I don't remember Batman's debut number, but it was not at no.1. All of his post-Soundscan albums debuted where they peaked, except Diamonds & Pearls, which entered at no.5 and climbed to no.3 the next week.

renfield said:

Good analysis, but to tell the truth, I could have sworn ATWIAD debuted in the top 5 and was No. 1 for some time, on the strength of Raspberry Beret. As a matter of fact, this site claims the album was No. 1 for 3 weeks.

http://princetext.tripod....lbums.html
[This message was edited Tue Apr 27 21:24:59 2004 by namepeace]

ATWIAD DEBUTED AT #1 .

Rolling Stone was not listing the Billboard album charts at that time. Batman did NOT debut at no.1.

What charts were they listing? I know Rolling Stone has had charts since I started reading in 1987. Was the calculation method different then, based on radio airplay or something else?

The diminutive funk rocker will take over five
channels at once Wednesday, when MTV, MTV2, BET, VH1
and VH1 Classic simultaneously broadcast a 30-minute
concert special taped live last week before an
audience in New York.


The concert features songs from Prince's latest album,
Musicology, plus some of his classic hits.


"This historic broadcast, going out simultaneously
over the five most influential music networks, is a
tribute to the music and artistry of one of the most
singular talents of our time," said Columbia Records
exec Will Botwin. "With a fast-paced combination of
brilliant performances and compelling interviews, this
show will be remembered as one of the most special
entertainment events of the year."


Though each of Viacom-owned networks will air the same
musical lineup, the broadcasts will feature different
interviews with the singer--giving true fans a reason
to test the limits of their TiVos.


"The support for Musicology is wonderful," Prince said
in a statement. "We're pleased to broadcast the
Musicology special throughout the Viacom music
channels. It is great to see audiences around the
country embracing music again."


The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is currently on his
first major arena tour in six years, promoting
Musicology, as well as reportedly performing his
best-known body of work live for the last time.


That's right--after the tour, the funk legend is
reportedly shelving classic hits such as "Purple
Rain," "Little Red Corvette," "Raspberry Beret"...and
the list goes on. The rationale? He claims he's been
"wanting to make room for new music."


He wants his fans to make room for new music as
well--to that end he's giving each concertgoer a copy
of Musicology at the door.


Originally touted by the singer as a free CD, tour
promoters have revealed that the cost of the album was
actually factored into the price of each concert
ticket--which ranged in cost from $47 to $75 in most
cities.


Fans who want to see the show are therefore given no
choice about buying the album (albeit at a discounted
price). However, judging by strong ticket sales and
positive tour reviews, it seems that most are okay
with ponying up for the CD.


However, some music industry insiders' feathers were
ruffled by Nielsen SoundScan's decision last week to
count each album passed out as a sold CD.


"These were presented to the public as being free CDs,
they are handed to people who had no choice in buying
them, and that really shouldn't be recognized as the
same as the other albums on the chart," one record
label executive told the Los Angeles Times last week.


The "free" CD strategy is expected to add 400,000 to
Prince's sales tally--just 100,000 short of certified
gold--and that's not counting the albums he sells at
retail.


To date, the Grammy-winning artist has sold more than
100 million records over his 20-year career.


He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
last month in his first year of eligibility, where his
electrifying opening performance proved he's ready to
party like it's 2004.

Kinda sad that he couldn't beat Mario Winans with all this promotion and "free" sales from the concerts...Usher is understandable...but MARIO WINANS?

mkaye8 said:

NO IT DID NOT!

ATWIAD arrived in stores with no single, no video, and no interviews. Remember, "Raspberry Beret" was released a few weeks after the album, because Prince initially didn't want any singles released. It arrived AT NUMBER FOURTEEN on the album chart, and jumped to no.1 shortly after. It was there for three weeks before the 'We Are The World' album bumped it. Guys, this is not "something I kinda remember," it's the facts as they happened. PRINCE HAS NEVER HAD AN ALBUM DEBUT AT NUMBER ONE.

around the world in day debuted at number 1 and stayed there 3 weeks

batman did the same #1 stayed there 6 weeks..

parade # 3
grafiti bridge #3
sign o the times #6
lovesexy # 11
diamonds and pearls #3
symbol # 5
gold experience # 6

"Purple Rain" debuted at number 11 back in '84 on Billboard Chart, its chart on the top 10 was: 11 - 3 - 2 - * 1 * (for 24 weeks) - 2 - 3 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 7 and then 11

for "Around The World In A Day" it was :
debut: 14 followed by 5 - 2 - * 1 * ( 3 weeks) - 2 - 4 - 4 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 8 - 9 and then 12

for "Batman"
debut: 7 followed by * 1 * ( 6 weeks) - 3 - 5 - 5 and then 11

regarding Prince sales, if you are interested, take a look at:
http://www.prince.org/msg/7/91247
[This message was edited Wed Apr 28 2:51:45 2004 by Edu]

final numbers here

http://www.hitsdailydoubl...lescht.cgi

1 - USHER - 257,074
2 - MARIO WINANS - 235,494
3 - PRINCE - 172,349
4 - NOW 15 - 100,412

big enough gap that the 17k concert giveaways won't have any impact at all. Now if they could count all of the concert giveaways for the week, he'd have a shot at #1. As it is, someone said a #3 debut may be the highest a Prince album has ever debuted.

Anyone know what Around the world in a day and Batman soundtrack debuted at? Those seem the most likely of the ones that weren't listed before to have had a high debut.

There are those who said his album wouldn't crack the top 10. Here it is at no. 3. I thought it would do well. It has exceeded my expectations.

wyld1 saidwhat's sad is that Usher is still Number One

namepeace said:

It did hit #1 for 3 weeks - but it did not debut in the Top 5. It debuted at #14 - i remember it very clearly.

I was an obsessive Billboard junkie when I was a kid, LOL.

And to those who are disappointed with a No. 3 showing: think about it this way. Prince has been away from the top 10 album charts for so long that this is a welcome surprise. Shoot, him selling nearly 200,000 is a surprise. And Usher is at his zenith right now. Will he have an album debut in the top 10 in 2024? Doubtful.

mattmcbr said:

OK 1 MORE TIME the numbers you see today are actual sales and NOT the cd's givin away at the concert..and there are ONLY about 17,500 to be added....

anyway you have to remember these factors
1. many people downloaded the album already on the music club & several thousand free cd's from earlier concerts were not counted in this weeks total
2.Mario's song got played over 8,000 times this week on top 40 radio to Musicology's NONE
3.and Prince's last album to chart The Rainbow Choldran only got to #108 on the billboard chart

far from sad