Prince’s Decades-Old Album Spikes Almost 35,000% In Sales

Prince’s vault reportedly features hundreds of songs and potentially thousands of recordings that fans have never consumed before. Sadly, longtime lovers of the superstar will have to wait to hear anything from that treasure trove, as a newly-reissued Around the World in a Day does not feature almost anything brand new.

The full-length was recently offered as an updated deluxe edition, and despite the fact that no demos or anticipated outtakes are included on its track list, the set still manages to become a bestseller in America. Around the World in a Day, credited to both Prince and his backing band The Revolution, returns to multiple Billboard charts and even debuts on one, decades after it was shared with the world.

Prince Charts a New Hit Album

Excitingly, Around the World in a Day arrives on the Top R&B Albums chart, Billboard’s list that details the most consumed full-lengths and EPs centered in the R&B genre. Prince and The Revolution launch the project at No. 24, in second-to-last place on the style-specific ranking.

Around The World In A Day Brings Prince to a New Chart Low

Prince now claims 19 appearances on the Top R&B Albums chart. Around the World in a Day is his first to fail to enter the top 20, and it earns the late talent his first new win in two years. Back in November 2023, Diamonds and Pearls opened at No. 10, giving both Prince and a different associated group, The New Power Generation, a special top 10 success.

Prince Joins Bob Marley and Doja Cat

Prince earns the only debut on the Top R&B Albums ranking this week, though he is almost sandwiched in between a pair of popular comebacks. Bob Marley and the Wailers reenter the list at No. 22 with Legend, one of the most successful releases in American history. Doja Cat closes out the 25-spot rundown with Planet Her.

Prince’s Album Around The World In A Day Sees Sales Skyrocket

Purchases were largely to thank for the current success of Around the World in a Day, and its sales count exploded from one week to the next thanks to the fortieth-anniversary reissue. According to Luminate, the Prince collection sold 8,000 copies in the most recent tracking period in America. The week prior, it only managed a little more than 20. Sales of Around the World in a Day grew by almost 34,700% from one period to the next.

Prince Returns To Multiple Billboard Charts

All those purchases help Around the World in a Day return to the Top Album Sales chart, where it hits No. 16. In just its second appearance ever on the Vinyl Albums list, the project reenters at No. 19. Those are newly-set peaks for the bestseller.

Around The World In A Day Reaches the Billboard 200 Again

Around the World in a Day performs well enough to make it to the Billboard 200, a consumption-based ranking where sales play a large role, but streaming activity is also important. Prince settles at No. 176 on the tally, moving 9,050 equivalent units, with only 1,000 of those not being actual purchases.

Prince Reinvented Himself With Around The World In A Day

Prince dropped Around the World in a Day in the spring of 1985. His seventh album, it was also the third on which he credited The Revolution. While some artists might have been incredibly stressed at that time – especially following the success of the Grammy- and Oscar-winning Purple Rain – Prince held his cool and decided to try something new, changing sounds and finding critical acclaim yet again. Singles like “Raspberry Beret,” “Paisley Park,” “Pop Life,” and “America” are still favorites among Prince aficionados — the ones who purchased the new deluxe edition – which contains B-sides like “She’s Always in My Hair” and “Girl,” plus a number of mixes of various tracks.