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Prince Chart History

When the media tell somebody what success is – No. 1 records, awards – there’s no room for intuition

Prince’s albums ranked according to worldwide sales (excluding digital streams). It shall come as no spoiler Purple Rain holds Prince’s longest tenure in the charts having sold 25 million units. The US main album chart became called the Billboard 200 in 1967 when it started ranking the top 200 selling albums and EPs.

Throughout 1980 to 2000, Prince was the most successful artist in the US charts, notching up twenty top-twenty albums in the Billboard 200 alone, a feat only a dozen artists have achieved since the chart’s formation in 1956.

In the UK, Prince racked up thirty-four top-40 albums. Five headed all the way to the top spot in both the US (Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day, Batman, 3121, and The Very Best Of Prince) and UK (Lovesexy, Batman, Graffiti Bridge, Love Symbol, and Come).

Prince holds distinction as one of only six acts in history to chart at least one album in the Billboard top-ten for five consecutive decades (1980s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and still even the 2020s). In the week following his death, on 14 May 2016 Prince achieved the new milestone as the first act in US history to place five of the top six albums in the Billboard 200 chart, and was the highest selling artist that year. With over 150 million certified sales, Prince is the 26th best-selling recording artist of all time.

Purple Rain

Warner Bros. Records • 1984

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 1; 1
Debut: 14 Jul 1984; 14 Jul 1984
On chart: 171 weeks; 48 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum (x13)

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 4
Debut: 21 Jul 1984
On chart: 86 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum (x2)

Diamonds And Pearls

Warner Bros. Records • 1991

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 3; 1
Debut: 19 Oct 1991; 19 Oct 1991
On chart: 47 weeks; 42 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum (x2)

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 2
Debut: 12 Oct 1991
On chart: 10 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum (x3)

1999

Warner Bros. Records • 1982

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 7; 4
Debut: 20 Nov 1982; 20 Nov 1982
On chart: 163 weeks; 93 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum (x4)

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 28
Debut: 8 Sep 1984
On chart: 26 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

Batman

Warner Bros. Records • 1989

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 1; 1
Debut: 8 Jul 1989; 15 Jul 1989
On chart: 36 weeks; 29 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum (x2)

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 1
Debut: 1 Jul 1989
On chart: 20 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

The Very Best Of Prince

Warner Bros. Records • 2001

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 1; 72
Debut: 18 Aug 2001; 18 Aug 2001
On chart: 68 weeks; 8 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 2
Debut: 11 Aug 2001
On chart: 53 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum (x3)

Sign O’ The Times

Warner Bros. Records • 1987

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 6; 4
Debut: 18 Apr 1987; 2 May 1987
On chart: 59 weeks; 48 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 4
Debut: 11 Apr 1987
On chart: 32 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

Around The World In A Day

Warner Bros. Records • 1985

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 1; 4
Debut: 11 May 1985; 11 May 1985
On chart: 44 weeks; 43 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum (x2)

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 5
Debut: 4 May 1985
On chart: 20 weeks
BPI Cert.: Gold

Parade

Warner Bros. Records • 1986

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 3; 2
Debut: 19 Apr 1986; 26 Apr 1986
On chart: 29 weeks; 28 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 4
Debut: 12 Apr 1986
On chart: 26 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

The Hits 2

Warner Bros. Records • 1993

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 54; 23
Debut: 2 Oct 1993; 2 Oct 1993
On chart: 22 weeks; 21 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 5
Debut: 25 Sep 1993
On chart: 32 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

The Hits 1

Warner Bros. Records • 1993

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 46; 14
Debut: 2 Oct 1993; 2 Oct 1993
On chart: 20 weeks; 21 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 5
Debut: 25 Sep 1993
On chart: 36 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

Lovesexy

Warner Bros. Records • 1988

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 11; 5
Debut: 28 May 1988; 28 May 1988
On chart: 21 weeks; 17 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 1
Debut: 21 May 1988
On chart: 36 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

Love Symbol

Warner Bros. Records • 1992

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 5; 8
Debut: 31 Oct 1992; 31 Oct 1992
On chart: 35 weeks; 35 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 1
Debut: 17 Oct 1992
On chart: 21 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

Musicology

Columbia Records • 2004

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 3; 3
Debut: 8 May 2004; 8 May 2004
On chart: 26 weeks; 38 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum (x2)

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 3
Debut: 1 May 2004
On chart: 7 weeks
BPI Cert.: Gold

Graffiti Bridge

Warner Bros. Records • 1990

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 6; 6
Debut: 8 Sep 1990; 15 Sep 1990
On chart: 24 weeks; 21 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 1
Debut: 1 Sep 1990
On chart: 8 weeks
BPI Cert.: Gold

The Hits/The B-Sides

Warner Bros. Records • 1993

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 4; 6
Debut: 2 Oct 1993; 2 Oct 1993
On chart: 18 weeks; 20 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 4
Debut: 25 Sep 1993
On chart: 18 weeks
BPI Cert.: Gold

Controversy

Warner Bros. Records • 1981

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 21; 3
Debut: 7 Nov 1981; 7 Nov 1981
On chart: 66 weeks; 35 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

Prince

Warner Bros. Records • 1979

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 22; 3
Debut: 17 Nov 1979; 17 Nov 1979
On chart: 33 weeks; 31 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum

Dirty Mind

Warner Bros. Records • 1980

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 45; 7
Debut: 8 Nov 1980; 8 Nov 1980
On chart: 54 weeks; 35 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 61
Debut: 5 May 2016
On chart: 1 week

Ultimate

Warner Bros. Records • 2006

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 6; 31
Debut: 9 Sep 2006; 9 Sep 2006
On chart: 16 weeks; 6 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 3
Debut: 2 Sep 2006
On chart: 27 weeks
BPI Cert.: Platinum

Emancipation

EMI-Capitol Music • 1996

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 11; 6
Debut: 7 Dec 1996; 7 Dec 1996
On chart: 21 weeks; 26 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Platinum (x2)

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 18
Debut: 30 Nov 1996
On chart: 6 weeks

Come

Warner Bros. Records • 1994

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 15; 2
Debut: 3 Sep 1994; 3 Sep 1994
On chart: 10 weeks; 12 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 1
Debut: 27 Aug 1994
On chart: 9 weeks
BPI Cert.: Gold

The Gold Experience

Warner Bros. Records • 1995

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 6; 2
Debut: 14 Oct 1995; 14 Oct 1995
On chart: 9 weeks; 17 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 4
Debut: 7 Oct 1995
On chart: 1 week
BPI Cert.: Gold

3121

Universal Music Group • 2006

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 1; 1
Debut: 8 Apr 2006; 8 Apr 2006
On chart: 16 weeks; 24 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 9
Debut: 1 Apr 2006
On chart: 4 weeks
BPI Cert.: Silver

For You

Warner Bros. Records • 1978

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 138; 21
Debut: 28 Oct 1978; 22 Jul 1978
On chart: 6 weeks; 23 weeks

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

Arista Records • 1999

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 18; 8
Debut: 27 Nov 1999; 27 Nov 1999
On chart: 15 weeks; 16 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

The Black Album

Warner Bros. Records • 1994

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 47; 18
Debut: 10 Dec 1994; 10 Dec 1994
On chart: 11 weeks; 13 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 36
Debut: 3 Dec 1994
On chart: 5 weeks

LotusFlow3r

NPG Records • 2009

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 2; 1
Debut: 4 Apr 2009; 18 Apr 2009
On chart: 27 weeks; 67 weeks

The Beautiful Experience EP

Bellmark Records • 1994

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 92; 29
Debut: 4 Jun 1994; 4 Jun 1994
On chart: 12 weeks; 12 weeks
RIAA Cert.: Gold

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 18
Debut: 4 Jun 1994
On chart: 3 weeks

Planet Earth

Columbia Records • 2007

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 3; 1
Debut: 11 Aug 2007; 11 Aug 2007
On chart: 10 weeks; 17 weeks

4Ever

Warner Bros. Records • 2016

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 33; 4
Debut: 10 Sep 2016; 10 Dec 2016
On chart: 26 weeks; 17 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 21
Debut: 8 Dec 2016
On chart: 21 weeks
BPI Cert.: Gold

Chaos And Disorder

Warner Bros. Records • 1996

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 26; —
Debut: 27 Jul 1996; —
On chart: 4 weeks; —

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 14
Debut: 20 Jul 1996
On chart: 5 weeks

Newpower Soul

RCA / BMG • 1998

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 22; 9
Debut: 18 Jul 1998; 18 Jul 1998
On chart: 8 weeks; 11 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 38
Debut: 11 Jul 1998
On chart: 2 weeks

Art Official Age

Warner Bros. Records • 2014

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 5; 1
Debut: 18 Oct 2014; 18 Oct 2014
On chart: 10 weeks; 3 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 8
Debut: 11 Oct 2014
On chart: 4 weeks

The Rainbow Children

Redline Entertainment • 2001

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 109; 33
Debut: 8 Dec 2001; 8 Dec 2001
On chart: 2 weeks; 7 weeks

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale

Warner Bros. Records • 1999

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 85; 27
Debut: 11 Sep 1999; 11 Sep 1999
On chart: 5 weeks; 8 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 47
Debut: 4 Sep 1999
On chart: 1 week

Girl 6

Warner Bros. Records • 1996

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 75; 15
Debut: 6 Apr 1996; 6 Apr 1996
On chart: 4 weeks; 9 weeks

Plectrumelectrum

Warner Bros. Records • 2014

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 8; —
Debut: 18 Oct 2014; —
On chart: 4 weeks; —

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 11
Debut: 11 Oct 2014
On chart: 2 weeks

HITNRUN Phase One

NPG Records • 2015

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 48; 4
Debut: 3 Oct 2015; 3 Oct 2015
On chart: 7 weeks; 8 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 50
Debut: 24 Sep 2015
On chart: 3 weeks

Crystal Ball

NPG Records • 1998

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 62; 59
Debut: 14 Mar 1998; 14 Mar 1998
On chart: 5 weeks; 4 weeks

HITNRUN Phase Two

NPG Records • 2015

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 40; 5
Debut: 14 May 2016; 2 Jan 2016
On chart: 3 weeks; 12 weeks

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 21
Debut: 19 May 2016
On chart: 1 week

Exodus

Edel • 1995

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: —; —
Debut: —; —
On chart: —; —

UK Official: ALBUMS
Peak Pos.: 11
Debut: 8 Apr 1995
On chart: 3 weeks

Welcome 2 America Deluxe Edition

Sony Legacy • 2021

BILLBOARD: 200; R&B CHART
Peak Pos.: 4; 2
Debut: 14 Aug 2021; 14 Aug 2021
On chart: 1 week; 2 weeks

The Breakfast Experience EP Prince single

Prince single anniversary

Did you know the single The Breakfast Experience EP was released on this day in 2013 in support of The Breakfast Experience EP? Discover the background and more behind The Breakfast Experience EP in our complete Prince discography.

More about The Breakfast Experience EP