POP EYE

CHAOS AND DISORDER: It won’t be available only at Best Buy, as has been reported elsewhere, and the marketing strategy for the album seems to be evolving constantly, but this much is certain: Another multi-disc set is on the way from the prolific Artist Formerly Known as Prince.

In fact, fans who ordered the five-disc “Crystal Ball” set through an 800 number or via the Internet (at a cost of $60.55, including shipping) should now be receiving the collection in the mail.

Included is the three-disc “Crystal Ball,” which includes previously unreleased songs and remixes dating to the late ‘80s that didn’t make it onto the Artist’s previous albums; “The Truth,” an acoustic set of new songs; and “Kamasutra,” which is described as an “instrumental ballet album.”

A four-disc version of the package, minus “Kamasutra,” is due in stores March 1 and is expected to be priced at about $40.

“Crystal Ball,” the follow-up to the former Prince’s three-disc 1996 album “Emancipation,” originally was going to be available only through phone or Internet orders directly from the Artist. Then, after it was widely reported that Best Buy would be the sole U.S. retail distributor of the album, the Artist also entered into retail partnerships with Musicland and Blockbuster. Selected other stores also are expected to stock the record.

Best Buy, which does not have stores in several major cities, including New York and San Francisco, doesn’t seem to mind.

“We never asked for exclusivity from the Artist,” says Gary Arnold, vice president of marketing for the Minneapolis-based chain. “We want everybody to be able to buy ‘Crystal Ball.’ It’s a great record.”