'' is a
Compilation Album by
Prince (then known as ), released in
1998 . It consists of 3 discs, each with 10
Songs . The 3-
CD set was a much anticipated collection of "previously
Bootleg ged" material and was announced late in
1996 . It was released with ''
The Truth '' album, and
Internet orders also included the
Instrumental album ''
Kamasutra ''.
The album is a source of much
Controversy and a sore spot with many fans. Initially promised to be released in early
1997 , Prince later stated that he wouldn't even press the album until he received a minimum of 50,000
Pre-order s. Even after pre-orders were received, it was nearly a year before fans started receiving their copies. The shipping process was poorly managed and some fans received their orders months later, if at all. Fans were also promised a transparent package in the shape of an actual crystal ball; instead, when the album finally shipped, it appeared in a flat circular container that many fans dubbed "Crystal
Petri Dish ." Fans who pre-ordered the disc were directed to a
Website containing the liner notes and cover art for consumers to print, cut out, and place in their CD case.
The album was also made available in
Retail Stores , which questioned the need for pre-orders in the first place. Furthermore, the album that appeared in stores contained an actual booklet with cover art liner notes, which the pre-ordered copies did not. As a peace-offering, Prince included a fifth disc, ''
Kamasutra '', which was not available in the version shipped to stores. (Some customers also received a
New Power Generation t-shirt.) Also, many fans were sent a
Cassette Tape of the newly recorded "
The War " for free to make up for the
Fiasco .
The contents were also a point of contention with fans. Although advertised as a fan community, where a number of anti-fan sites sprang up citing ''Crystal Ball'' as the catalyst.
#"Crystal Ball" (10:28)
#"Dream Factory" (3:07)
#"Acknowledge Me" (5:27)
#"Ripopgodazippa" (4:39)
#"Love Sign" (remix) (3:52)
#"Hide the Bone" (5:03)
#"2morrow" (4:13)
#"So Dark" (5:14)
#"Movie Star" (4:25)
#"Tell Me How U Wanna B Done" (3:15)
#"Interactive" (3:03)
#"Da Bang" (3:19)
#"Calhoun Square" (4:46)
#"What's My Name" (3:03)
#"Crucial" (5:06)
#"An Honest Man" (1:13)
#"Sexual Suicide" (3:39)
#"Cloreen Baconskin" (15:37)
#"Good Love" (4:55)
#"Strays of the World" (5:07)
#"Days of Wild" (live) (9:19)
#"Last Heart" (3:01)
#"Poom Poom" (4:32)
#"She Gave Her Angels" (3:52)
#"18 & Over" (5:40)
#"The Ride" (live) (5:13)
#"(Lemme See Yo Body) Get Loose" (3:31)
#"P. Control" (remix) (5:59)
#"Make Your Mama Happy" (4:00)
#"Goodbye" (4:34)
- Prince once planned to release a 3- LP album in 1986 / 1987 called '' Crystal Ball ''. That album was edited down to a 2-LP and renamed '' Sign 'O' The Times '' but the title track remained unreleased until 1998 on this compilation.
