In early 1998, Prince (who at the time went by an unpronounceable symbol) released Crystal Ball, a four-disc set containing a three CD compilation album of the same name featuring a much anticipated collection of "previously bootlegged" material, with The Truth, a bonus disc of 12 new acoustic songs. Internet pre-orders included an instrumental album, Kamasutra.　　 　　Prince once planned to release a 3-LP album around 1986, also called Crystal Ball. That album was edited down to a 2-LP and renamed Sign o' the Times. Its title track became the title track for this compilation, 10 years later.