Claim: Prince released a platinum-selling album in 2004.

Musicology is the twenty-eighth studio album by American recording artist Prince . It was released on April 20 , 2004 by NPG Records and distributed by Columbia Records . The album proved to be his most successful in years , reaching the Top 5 of the album charts in the United States , United Kingdom , Germany , and many other countries .   Musicology was the first album in five years that Prince released through a major label -LRB- Sony Music -RRB- and , being partially recorded in Mississauga , Ontario , Canada , was his first to be recorded outside Minneapolis in many years . Musicology is R&B themed .   At the end of the song `` Musicology '' snippets of `` Kiss '' , `` Little Red Corvette '' , `` Sign o ' the Times '' , `` 17 Days '' , `` If I Was Your Girlfriend '' , as well as `` Illusion , Coma , Pimp & Circumstance '' can be heard . At the time of release Prince was quoted as saying he wished the album to provide musical education to listeners .