<P> These cutting - edge promotional tactics were extremely effective in restoring Prince rapidly to the commercial high ground, and 3121 (2006), became his first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 . The follow - up, Planet Earth (2007), licensed to record companies for the world was suddenly given away free as a cover - mount on a British newspaper, a very profitable exercise for Prince, particularly as in addition to providing an income from the paper equivalent to high sales, it also served to launch and promote a record - breaking single - venue booking in London, his 21 Nights residency at the Millennium Dome . Its follow - on live album Indigo Nights (2008), a collection of aftershow performances at the venue, was marketed within an expensive coffee - table book . </P> <P> The three - disc 2009 set Lotusflow3r / MPLSound sold very well via the Target retailer in the US again seeing the inside of the top three in the Billboard 200 . A further British newspaper cover - mount deal distributed 20Ten in 2010 although the exercise had reduced impact on the second outing and critical reception was poor . It was with the solo album Art Official Age and his new band 3rdeyegirl's debut Plectrumelectrum in 2014, that Prince finally returned to critical favour and headlines following the dynamic and spontaneous HitnRun tour which took London's media by storm and gave its name to the band's next album Hit n Run Phase One . First released exclusively on the new Tidal streaming service on September 7, 2015 before being released on CD on September 15, 2015 by NPG Records . His final album before his death, Hit n Run Phase Two, was released on December 11, 2015, also through Tidal . In the weeks following his death, 19 different Prince albums charted on the Billboard 200 all at the same time, and he became the first and only artist ever to have 5 albums in the Billboard top 10 simultaneously . </P> <P> Prince has sold over 100 million records worldwide, including 48.9 million certified units in the United States, and over 10 million records in the United Kingdom . Prince has been ranked as the 21st most successful act of all time, the 26th most successful chart artist worldwide, including 27 overall number - one entries, and being the most successful chart act of the 1980s, and tenth most successful chart act of the 1990s . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Album </Th> <Th_colspan="11"> Peak chart positions </Th> <Th> Certifications (sales thresholds) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> US </Th> <Th> AUS </Th> <Th> AUT </Th> <Th> CAN </Th> <Th> GER </Th> <Th> NLD </Th> <Th> NOR </Th> <Th> NZ </Th> <Th> SWE </Th> <Th> SWI </Th> <Th> UK </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> For You <Ul> <Li> Released: April 7, 1978 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 138 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 156 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1979 </Td> <Td> Prince <Ul> <Li> Released: October 19, 1979 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 92 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> UK: Silver US: Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> Dirty Mind <Ul> <Li> Released: October 8, 1980 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 45 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 79 </Td> <Td> 61 </Td> <Td> US: Gold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1981 </Td> <Td> Controversy <Ul> <Li> Released: October 14, 1981 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 55 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 50 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> UK: Gold US: Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 1999 <Ul> <Li> Released: October 27, 1982 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 45 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 51 </Td> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> CAN: Platinum UK: Platinum US: 4 × Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1984 </Td> <Td> Purple Rain <Ul> <Li> Released: June 25, 1984 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CAN: 6 × Platinum UK: 2 × Platinum US: Diamond </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1985 </Td> <Td> Around the World in a Day <Ul> <Li> Released: April 22, 1985 </Li> <Li> Label: Paisley Park, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> UK: Gold US: 2 × Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Parade <Ul> <Li> Released: March 31, 1986 </Li> <Li> Label: Paisley Park, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UK: Platinum US: Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Sign o' the Times <Ul> <Li> Released: March 30, 1987 </Li> <Li> Label: Paisley Park, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CAN: 4 × Platinum UK: Platinum US: Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Lovesexy <Ul> <Li> Released: May 10, 1988 </Li> <Li> Label: Paisley Park, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UK: Platinum US: Gold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Batman <Ul> <Li> Released: June 20, 1989 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CAN: 3 × Platinum UK: Platinum US: 2 × Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Graffiti Bridge <Ul> <Li> Released: August 21, 1990 </Li> <Li> Label: Paisley Park, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CAN: Gold UK: Gold US: Gold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1991 </Td> <Td> Diamonds and Pearls <Ul> <Li> Released: October 1, 1991 </Li> <Li> Label: Paisley Park, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CAN: 2 × Platinum UK: 3 × Platinum US: 2 × Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Love Symbol Album <Ul> <Li> Released: October 13, 1992 </Li> <Li> Label: Paisley Park, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UK: Platinum US: Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Come <Ul> <Li> Released: August 16, 1994 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 34 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UK: Gold US: Gold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Black Album <Ul> <Li> Released: November 22, 1994 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 47 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 48 </Td> <Td> 51 </Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 36 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> The Gold Experience <Ul> <Li> Released: September 26, 1995 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> UK: Gold US: Gold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Chaos and Disorder <Ul> <Li> Released: July 9, 1996 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 26 </Td> <Td> 54 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 43 </Td> <Td> 42 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 32 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Emancipation <Ul> <Li> Released: November 19, 1996 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, EMI </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> CAN: Platinum US: 2 × Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Crystal Ball / The Truth <Ul> <Li> Released: January 29, 1998 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 62 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 91 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale <Ul> <Li> Released: August 24, 1999 </Li> <Li> Label: Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 85 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 40 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 44 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 47 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic <Ul> <Li> Released: November 9, 1999 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Arista </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 82 </Td> <Td> 44 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 53 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 37 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 49 </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> 145 </Td> <Td> US: Gold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> The Rainbow Children <Ul> <Li> Released: November 20, 2001 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Redline Entertainment </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 109 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 74 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> One Nite Alone...<Ul> <Li> Released: May 14, 2002 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> Xpectation <Ul> <Li> Released: January 1, 2003 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> N.E.W.S <Ul> <Li> Released: July 29, 2003 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, MP Media </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 93 </Td> <Td> 83 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Musicology <Ul> <Li> Released: March 29, 2004 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Columbia </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> CAN: Gold UK: Gold US: 2 × Platinum </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Chocolate Invasion <Ul> <Li> Released: March 29, 2004 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Slaughterhouse <Ul> <Li> Released: March 29, 2004 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 3121 <Ul> <Li> Released: March 21, 2006 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Universal </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> UK: Silver US: Gold </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> Planet Earth <Ul> <Li> Released: July 24, 2007 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Columbia </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 38 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> Lotusflow3r / MPLSound (released as a 3 - CD set together with Elixer by Bria Valente) <Ul> <Li> Released: March 29, 2009 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 20Ten <Ul> <Li> Released: July 10, 2010 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Plectrumelectrum <Ul> <Li> Released: September 26, 2014 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 33 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 31 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 31 </Td> <Td> 50 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Art Official Age <Ul> <Li> Released: September 26, 2014 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG, Warner Bros . </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> HITnRUN Phase One <Ul> <Li> Released: September 7, 2015 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 48 </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> 53 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 53 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 50 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> HITnRUN Phase Two <Ul> <Li> Released: December 12, 2015 </Li> <Li> Label: NPG </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 40 </Td> <Td> 117 </Td> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> 47 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 38 </Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td>--</Td> <Td> 50 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How many albums did prince sell in his lifetime