Since 1984/1985, when "Around The World In A Day" and "Purple Rain" charted no.1 position in US tops, Prince was wandering for his innovative inspiration. Found it 17 years later with his latest release, "3121".

Newspapers worldwide write:
"Daily Mirror/UK: "�undiminished rock, pop'n soul brilliance. His greatest album since Diamonds and Pearls�
Rolling Stone magazine: �the most gifted popular musician of our era."

NY Newsday: "Prince's best work in nearly two decades
People Magazine: �classic 80's Prince�
Observer Music Monthly: �back to his dazzling best�
Philadelphia Inquirer: Prince can still run the musical gamut with awe-inspiring case."

Strange Days Mag/Japan: "�a masterpiece�
Boston Herald: reclaiming the crown for the funky genius
Detroit Free Press: Prince returns to his funky, sexy roots on the gratifying 3121."

Toronto Star: "New record is simply irresistible."

The Times/UK: ***** (five stars)

The Sun/UK: "�a consummate comeback�sexy, inventive, it exudes class�3121 deserves to be #1."

LA Times: "Entertaining? Is the rain purple?"
Newsweek: "Hallelujah!"
Boston Globe: "Prince is back in the game."

Prince lost his commercial touch in the 1990s, but he has started to recover some of his glory in recent years. On the heels of his 2004 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he launched a successful tour and released an album, "Musicology," that debuted at No. 3 in April 2004 with sales of 191,000 copies.

That album went on to ship more than 2 million copies, largely because Prince gave away a copy to everyone who bought a concert ticket. The compilers of the Billboard 200 have since changed their rules so that such freebies do not count.

The album sold 183,000 copies in the week ended last Sunday, and also ranked as his first release to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to a statement from Universal Records.