MCMXC a.D.
MCMXC a.D. is the debut studio album by the German musical project Enigma, led by Romanian-German musician Michael Cretu. It was released in Europe by Virgin Records on 3 December 1990, and in the United States by Charisma Records on 12 February 1991. Cretu became fascinated with mixing archaic sounds with modern music after producing German pop singer Sandra's song "Everlasting Love", for which he experimented with Gregorian chant. Following Michael Cretu and Sandra's marriage in 1988, Michael developed the idea of the musical project Enigma and recorded the album over the course of eight months in 1990 at A.R.T. Studios.

"MCMXC a.D." combines new-age music with dance rhythms, as well as combining themes of religion and Gregorian chant with sexuality, for which the album received generally positive reviews from music critics. The Gregorian chant was taken from recordings by Capella Antiqua München, which resulted in the Munich-based choir's label, Polydor Germany suing Cretu and Virgin Records for infringing on its "right of personality". The case was dropped after Cretu agreed to pay compensation.

Commercially, "MCMXC a.D." became a worldwide success, reaching the top 10 on record charts in 10 countries, including charting at number six in the United States, staying on the country's "Billboard" 200 chart for 282 weeks. It was certified quadruple platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Four singles from the album were released: "Sadeness (Part I)", "Mea Culpa (Part II)", "Principles of Lust", and "The Rivers of Belief". The lead single topped charts worldwide.
Q485512
Enigma
ORG
Q77006
Michael Cretu
PER
Q203059
Virgin Records
ORG
Q1063242
Charisma Records
ORG
Q76901
Sandra's
PER
Q165572
Everlasting Love
MEDIA
Q26473
Gregorian chant
Concept
Q3500966
A.R.T. Studios
ORG
Q213121
new-age music
Concept
Q316930
dance
Concept
Q1591288
music critics
Concept
Q155152
Polydor Germany
ORG
Q188819
"Billboard" 200
MEDIA
Q2503026
quadruple platinum
EVE
Q200863
Recording Industry Association of America
ORG
Q134556
single
Concept
Q1981082
Sadeness (Part I)
MEDIA
Q2494920
Mea Culpa (Part II)
MEDIA
Q2622225
Principles of Lust
MEDIA
Q2994527
The Rivers of Belief
MEDIA
Q133661
lead single
Concept
Q322611
MCMXC a.D.
MEDIA
Q322611
MCMXC a.D.
MEDIA
Q322611
MCMXC a.D.
MEDIA
1990-12-03T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
3 December 1990
DATE
1991-02-12T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
12 February 1991
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1988-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1988
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1990-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1990
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10
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10
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