MINNEAPOLIS — Prince’s storied vault is deep, rich and somewhat uncharted. He left behind thousands of recorded songs, some finished, some not, and footage of thousands of rehearsals and concerts, some professional shoots, some not.

As of June 2025, only 45% of the material in Prince’s vault has been archived and digitized, according to Londell McMillan of Prince Legacy LLC.

Here is a recap of the major projects released since Prince died.

“4Ever”

A quickie double-album hits package from Warner Bros. spans 1978-93 with 39 hits plus “Moonbeam Levels,” an essential 1982 outtake that was considered for four albums, starting with “1999,” and eventually pulled from each project. (2016)

“Purple Rain Deluxe”

The four-disc set, which Prince apparently worked on before his death, featured the movie soundtrack, B-sides, 11 previously unreleased tunes (including the sexy “Electric Intercourse” and the sober “Father’s Song”) and a live DVD of a 1985 Purple Rain Tour concert in Syracuse, New York. (2017)

“Piano and a Microphone 1983”

The first posthumous release of new material showcased works-in-progress recorded in Prince’s purple house in Chanhassen. It’s fascinating because you can almost hear the Purple One thinking as he sat at the piano, composing, problem-solving and working his way through arrangements. This is an artist creating in real time. (2018)

“Ultimate Rave”

Sony assembled three turn-of-the-century projects into one package: “Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic” album, featuring several guests including Chuck D and Sheryl Crow, and its later remix companion “Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic” (both 1999) as well as a live concert Blu-ray shot and televised on pay-per-view on New Year’s Eve 1999 at Paisley Park with guests Lenny Kravitz and Morris Day that was released in 2000 on VHS and DVD as “Rave U2 the Year 2000.” (2019)

“Originals”

This is a welcome collection of 15 songs that Prince wrote for other artists. Ten were composed for women, including Sheila E., the Bangles, Martika, Jill Jones, Taja Sevelle and Apollonia 6. Others were for the Time, Mazarati, Kenny Rogers and the coed Family. While the songs are mostly familiar, it’s intriguing to hear the polished versions from the songwriter himself. (2019)

“1999″ (Super Deluxe)

This broadcasts how prolific Prince was early in his career with 35 unreleased recordings as well as the 1982 double album, a live record and a DVD from that year’s tour. As drummer Bobby Z. said: “‘1999’ is about Prince’s struggle to become a star.” (2019)

“Up All Nite with Prince: The One Nite Alone Collection”

It’s Prince as a multi-threat with a 2002 studio album, “One Nite Alone” (previously available only to fan club members) with three live discs that were featured in the 2003 live boxed set plus a CD of a spontaneous post-concert club gig, “The Aftershow: It Ain’t Over.” (2020)

“Sign o’ the Times” (Super Deluxe Edition)

Prince was hyper-productive in the mid-‘80s, compressing parts of four projects — the unissued albums “Dream Factory,” triple-LP “Crystal Ball,” “Black Album” and “Camille” — into the 1987 double-LP “Sign o’ the Times,” arguably his best album. This set includes an expansive 92 tracks and live New Year’s Eve at Paisley Park DVD featuring a cameo by Miles Davis. Bolstered by these terrific extras, “Sign o’ the Times” still holds up as the Minneapolis musician’s masterwork decades later — and this is a must-have super deluxe reissue. (2020)

“Welcome 2 America”

Prince’s first fully completed project to come out of the vault, this unreleased 2010 album featured more songs offering social commentary than any previous Prince album as well as a surprising cover of another Minnesota act, Soul Asylum’s “Stand Up and B Strong.” (2021)

“Prince & the Revolution Live”

It’s another repackaging with technically upgraded CD and Blu-ray of a previously released concert at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York, on March 30, 1985. (2022)

“Diamonds and Pearls” (Super Deluxe Edition)

With its release delayed by a year because of a management change in Prince’s estate, this eclectic revisit to his 1991 album featured his last No. 1 pop song, “Cream,” as well as the popular title track. This boxed set contains 47 previously unreleased tracks, a live recording and a Blu-ray of a Jan. 11, 1992, concert at Glam Slam in Minneapolis, the NPG’s official live debut. (2023)

Netflix documentary series

With full exclusive access to Prince’s vault, Oscar-winning documentarian Ezra Edelman spent more than four years crafting a nine-part documentary for Netflix, but Prince’s estate had veto power. Prince Legacy LLC thought there was too much negativity in the portrayal of Prince and not enough emphasis on his music. After protracted negotiations, the parties agreed not to release the documentary. (2024)

“Around the World in a Day” (Deluxe Edition)

The reissue of Prince’s 1985 kaleidoscopic album disappointed fans because it arrived with no significant extras beyond a longer version of “America” and “4 the Tears in Your Eyes” (which Prince recorded for the “We Are the World” album). There was no accompanying podcast as there had been with other deluxe reissues. Not too noteworthy except for a remastered reissue in vinyl and CD. (2025)

“Purple Rain” musical

Created by a team that included an award-winning Broadway producer, playwright and director, the musical adaptation of the 1984 movie had a first-time star as the Kid who got upstaged by the actors portraying Morris and Apollonia. The musical’s nearly two-month run at the State Theatre in Minneapolis received mixed reviews, and the production’s future and Broadway dreams are uncertain. (2025)

“Stranger Things”

Two Prince songs, “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry,” were featured in the Dec. 31 finale of the Netflix series, sparking 243% and 200% jumps, respectively, in streams on Spotify, with boosts of 577% and 128%, respectively, among Gen Z listeners. (2025)

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