The Hits/The B-Sides [Box] [PA]

Performer: Prince
Artist: Sheena Easton; Sheila E.
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Prince (vocals, various instruments); Boni Boyer (vocals, Hammond organ); Sheila E. (vocals, percussion); Eric Leeds (vocals, flute, brass); Sheena Easton, Camille, Cat (vocals); Dez Dickerson, Jimmy Johnson, Miko (guitar, vocals); Atlanta Bliss (trumpets, brass). The Revolution: Wendy Melvoin (guitar, violin, vocals); Lisa Coleman (keyboards, violin, vocals); Matt Fink (keyboards, synthesizers, vocals); Brown Mark (bass, vocals); Bobby Z. (percussion). The New Power Generation includes: Mayte (vocals); Rosie Gaines (vocals, organ, programming); Tony M. (rap, background vocals); Levi Seacer Jr. (guitar, bass, background vocals). Producers: The Revolution, The New Power Generation, Prince. Compilation producer: Gregg Geller. Engineers include: David Leonard, Susan Rogers, Prince. Includes liner notes by Alan Leeds. THE HITS/THE B-SIDES contains 56 tracks on 3 CDs spanning Prince's 15-years as a performer. It also includes a 22-page booklet with photographs by Herb Ritts, plus extensive liner notes and track annotations about previously unreleased material, live recordings and B-sides. Composer: Prince. Personnel: Dez Dickerson, Miko, Wendy Melvoin (vocals, guitar); Rosie Gaines (vocals, organ, sampler, background vocals); Dr. Fink, Lisa Coleman (vocals, keyboards); Sheila E. (vocals, drums, percussion); Bonnie Boyer, Sheena Easton, Camille, Mayte, Brownmark (vocals); Tony M. (rap vocals, background vocals); Eric Leeds (flute); Atlanta Bliss (trumpet); Tommy Barbarella (keyboards, sampler); Michael B. (drums); Damon Dickson, Kirk Johnson (percussion, background vocals); Bobby Z (percussion); Mazarati, Sonny T., Levi Seacer, Jr. (background vocals). Liner Note Author: Alan Leeds. Recording information: Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA (??/??/1983-01/27/1992); Madha (??/??/1983-01/27/1992); Paisley park (??/??/1983-01/27/1992); Record Plant, Sausalito, CA (??/??/1983-01/27/1992); Sunset sound (??/??/1983-01/27/1992); UpTown (??/??/1983-01/27/1992); Warehouse (??/??/1983-01/27/1992). The prospect of collecting all the hits and B-sides by one of the most talented, prolific, and successful pop stars of the '80s and '90s onto a mere three discs seems laughable at first. Nevertheless, this stupendous, well-sequenced set provides a thoroughly representative overview of his Prince-ness's oeuvre and a genuine sense of the range and impact of his brilliance. The number of great songs on the 56-item track list boggles the mind. From his early synth-pop ("Dirty Mind," "Controversy"), through the golden middle-period of the Revolution ("1999," "Little Red Corvette," "When Doves Cry," "Raspberry Beret," "Kiss," "U Got The Look"), and on to such New Power Generation hits as "Gett Off" and "Sexy M.F.," Prince's innovative, accessible, and utterly singular musical vision is undeniable. The box is made doubly indispensable by the inclusion of previously unreleased material, live recordings, and B-sides (which fill the third disc). Unsurprisingly, much of this material finds Prince at his experimental best. Many of these songs-"Pink Cashmere," "200 Balloons," "Erotic City," and his version of his own "Nothing Compares 2 U" (made enormously popular by Sinead O'Connor)-should have been hit singles in their own right. This set is an absolute necessity for fans, newcomers, and everyone else.

Rolling Stone (Oct./93, p.114) - 4.5 Stars - Excellent Plus - "...[THE HITS/B-SIDES] is a dizzying sprawl...his label just might get it's money's worth--even if [Prince] keeps his word and never makes a studio album..." Spin (12/93, p.126) - "...with absolutely no bad songs [on THE HITS], it's hard to fuss...those who've found their interest in Prince flagging [will] feel as if God's granted them an extra classic Prince album..." Spin (p.140) - "[A]s dance rock goes, no one's riffage grooved harder back in the day." Entertainment Weekly (9/17/93, p.86) - "...unlike so many boxed sets, these anthologies aren't weighed down with significance--they're simply a blast to hear and even revelatory..." - Rating: A- Q (11/93, p.148) - 5 Stars - Indispensible - "...it's not just the high and mighty width of [THE HITS] that startles: the sustained quality here is remarkable..." Melody Maker (9/18/93, p.41) - "...The Best Of Prince is, by demonstrable logic, The Greatest Record Ever Made...there just ain't enough..." Village Voice (3/1/94, p.5) - Ranked #8 in the Village Voice's list of the 10 Best Reissues Of 1993. NME (Magazine) (9/18/93, p.34) - (7) - Very Good - "...HITS go right to the core of the matter...the sophisticated programming of HITS puts a whole new spin on the Prince thing..."

The word "genius" may be used a little too freely when describing pop musicians, but many would have to agree that Prince is deserving of such an accolade. Since his 1978 debut album, the Minneapolis-based multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/singer has scored numerous hits with his sexually charged, original funk/pop/dance/rock style, penned big hits for other artists, and has even tried his hand at acting as well. In the early 1990s, Prince's name-changing antics and his messy break with Warner Brothers overshadowed his music, but his extensive back catalog of amazing songs has secured his place in musical history.

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