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| <b>Sessions and compiling</b> | | <b>Sessions and compiling</b> |
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− | Little is known about the recording sessions for the album. It is likely that basic tracking for most tracks took place between early 2005 and early, at [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN, USA or [[Location: 3121 Antelo Road|3121 Antelo Rd.]], Los Angeles, CA, USA. Some percussion overdubs on [[Te Amo Corazon|Te Amo Corazón]] took place at Insomnio Studios, Panama City, Panama in late June 2005.
| + | Fairly little is known about the recording sessions for the album. It is likely that basic tracking for most tracks took place between early 2005 and early 2006, at [[Paisley Park Studios]], Chanhassen, MN, USA and/or [[Location: 3121 Antelo Road|3121 Antelo Rd.]], Los Angeles, CA, USA. Some percussion overdubs on [[Te Amo Corazon|Te Amo Corazón]] took place at Insomnio Studios, Panama City, Panama in late June 2005. |
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| An early configuration of the album compiled in late 2005 included two tracks that were removed before release: [[Streets Of Panama]] and [[The Morning After]]. [[Streets Of Panama]] remains unreleased, while [[The Morning After]] was included on the download version of the album [[Album: Lotusflow3r|Lotusflow3r]] (although not on the CD version of the album). This configuration did not include [[Fury]] or [[Beautiful, Loved And Blessed]], indicating that they may have been recorded shortly before the album's release. | | An early configuration of the album compiled in late 2005 included two tracks that were removed before release: [[Streets Of Panama]] and [[The Morning After]]. [[Streets Of Panama]] remains unreleased, while [[The Morning After]] was included on the download version of the album [[Album: Lotusflow3r|Lotusflow3r]] (although not on the CD version of the album). This configuration did not include [[Fury]] or [[Beautiful, Loved And Blessed]], indicating that they may have been recorded shortly before the album's release. |
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| On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_26|26 Jun. 2006]], the album was certified Gold by the RIAA, indicating 500,000 copies shipped in the USA. | | On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_26|26 Jun. 2006]], the album was certified Gold by the RIAA, indicating 500,000 copies shipped in the USA. |
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− | On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/February 8|8 February 2019]], [[The Prince Estate]] re-released the album with Sony’s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_Recordings Legacy Recordings] ([[Album: Musicology|Musicology]] and [[Album: Planet Earth|Planet Earth]] were also re-released on the same day). | + | On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/February 8|8 February 2019]], [[The Prince Estate]] re-released the album with Sony's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_Recordings Legacy Recordings] ([[Album: Musicology|Musicology]] and [[Album: Planet Earth|Planet Earth]] were also re-released on the same day). |
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| |tracklisting = <small>The compact disc version is the original issue.</small> | | |tracklisting = <small>The compact disc version is the original issue.</small> |
3121 is the 31st full-length studio album by Prince. It was released worldwide in March 2006 (two years after the collections The Chocolate Invasion, The Slaughterhouse and C-Note, and the studio album Musicology).
Eight months after the album's release, Prince launched the Per4ming Live 3121 residency in Las Vegas, NV, USA; the setlist typically included a few tracks from the album, but was not designed to promote the album as such.
The initial release of the album contained a small postcard/flier for the later-aborted album by Támar, then-titled Beautiful, Loved And Blessed.
Sessions and compiling
Fairly little is known about the recording sessions for the album. It is likely that basic tracking for most tracks took place between early 2005 and early 2006, at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA and/or 3121 Antelo Rd., Los Angeles, CA, USA. Some percussion overdubs on Te Amo Corazón took place at Insomnio Studios, Panama City, Panama in late June 2005.
An early configuration of the album compiled in late 2005 included two tracks that were removed before release: Streets Of Panama and The Morning After. Streets Of Panama remains unreleased, while The Morning After was included on the download version of the album Lotusflow3r (although not on the CD version of the album). This configuration did not include Fury or Beautiful, Loved And Blessed, indicating that they may have been recorded shortly before the album's release.
The album is the first to feature a band line-up including drummer C.C. Dunham and bass guitarist Joshua Dunham, who would continue to play with Prince until 2010. It also features significant vocal contributions from Támar Davis (credited as Támar), who Prince worked with heavily in 2005 and 2006, including touring with her as her guitarist on the 2006 Támar Tour.
Promotion
The album produced three commercial singles, Te Amo Corazón, Black Sweat (both of which preceded the album) and Fury (released in the UK only).
The initial release of the album included entry into the "Purple Ticket" sweepstakes, to win attendance at a private show at Prince's rented home known as 3121 Antelo Rd., Los Angeles, CA, USA, for seven winners in the US (and smaller number worldwide); the show took place on 6 May 2006 (a.m.).
Prince performed on a few TV shows and awards shows performing songs from the album.
The album entered The Billboard 200 at number 1, giving Prince his first number 1 album on that chart since 1989's Batman (and his first not connected to a movie since 1985's Around The World In A Day). 3121 also reached number 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
On 26 Jun. 2006, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA, indicating 500,000 copies shipped in the USA.
On 8 February 2019, The Prince Estate re-released the album with Sony's Legacy Recordings (Musicology and Planet Earth were also re-released on the same day).
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Personnel
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Musicians
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- Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
- Michael B. - drums on 3121
- Sonny T. - bass on 3121
- Maceo Parker - saxophone on 3121, Satisfied and Get On The Boat (credited also for Te Amo Corazón but does not appear)
- Candy Dulfer - saxophone on 3121, Satisfied and Get On The Boat (credited also for Te Amo Corazón but does not appear)
- Greg Boyer - trombone on 3121, Satisfied and Get On The Boat (credited also for Te Amo Corazón but does not appear)
- Ray Monteiro - trumpet on 3121, Te Amo Corazón, Satisfied and Get On The Boat
- New Power Generation - additional shouts on Lolita
- Joshua Dunham - bass on Te Amo Corazón and Get On The Boat
- Cora Coleman-Dunham - drums on Te Amo Corazón and Get On The Boat (credited as "C.C. Dunham")
- Ricky Salas - timbales, bongo and percussion on Te Amo Corazón
- Herbert Ureña - congas, bongo and percussion on Te Amo Corazón
- Támar - additional vocals on Incense And Candles, Love, Satisfied and Get On The Boat, co-lead vocals on Beautiful, Loved And Blessed
- Sheila E. - percussion on Get On The Boat
- Liza Lena - 'guest per4mer' (unidentified performance)
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Production
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Thanks
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- "All praise and glory 2 the Most High - Jehovah"
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Additional Information
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Promotion (at time of release)
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Trivia
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- The album title, 3121, was first seen at Prince's performance on the NAACP Image Awards on 19 March 2005, where Prince played for the first time with his new band, and premiered Satisfied as part of an extended medley of older songs and covers. "3121" was written on the back of his jacket, which appears to be the same as on the album cover. This led to speculation online that an album would be released soon.
- Throughout 2005 and early 2006, there were reports of parties taking place at Prince's rented home, called 3121 Antelo Rd., Los Angeles, CA, USA, leading to speculation that the album would carry the same title. The house is featured heavily in the booklet's photography.
- On 13 December 2005, Prince released Te Amo Corazón and its accompanying video, and held a press conference, at which he discussed this album, although it was not mentioned by name. The date written numerically, however (12/13) was a reverse of the album title.
- On 4 February 2006, Prince performed on NBC TV show Saturday Night Live with Támar, premiering Fury and playing Beautiful, Loved And Blessed. This performance created a large amount of press and online anticipation for the album.
- On 14 February 2006, the single Te Amo Corazón was re-released for Valentine's Day, including a DVD containing the video.
- On 15 February 2006, Prince played a surprise performance at the BRIT Awards in London, England. His band included Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman and Sheila E., leading to a lot of speculation about Prince reuniting with The Revolution for a tour. This turned out to be unfounded, however.
- On 21 February 2006, Black Sweat / Beautiful, Loved And Blessed was released as a double A-side, and both songs received significant airplay. On iTunes, purchase of the single also entered the purchaser into the "Purple Ticket" sweepstakes, to win attendance at a private show at 3121 Antelo Rd., Los Angeles, CA, USA; the show took place on 6 May 2006 (a.m.).
- Two websites were set up specifically for the album: www.3121countdown.com, which served as a short-lived countdown to the release of the album, and www.3121.com, which ran in different forms, opening in March 2006, serving as his primary website starting in Spring 2007 and closing in January 2008.
- US press ads published in Rolling Stone and Billboard:
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- The initial release contained a small postcard/flier for the later-aborted album by Támar Davis, then-titled Beautiful, Loved And Blessed.
- The initial release of the album included entry into the "Purple Ticket" sweepstakes, to win attendance at a private show at 3121 Antelo Rd., Los Angeles, CA, USA, for seven winners in the US (and smaller number worldwide); the show took place on 6 May 2006 (a.m.).
- The album was released on 3/21, which was discussed online and in reviews as a deliberate date, given the title 3121.
- The album sold 183,000 copies in the USA in its first week of release.
- Prince has said that some Lotusflow3r tracks were recorded during sessions for 3121, although it is unclear which tracks.
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References
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