The Hits 1

Performer: Prince
Artist: Sheila E.
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Prince (vocals, various instruments); Claire Fischer (conductor); Jimmy Johnson, Dez Dickerson, Miko (vocals, guitar); Atlanta Bliss, Eric Leeds (vocals, brass); Boni Boyer (vocals, Hammond organ); Cat (vocals); Sheila E. (vocals, percussion). The Revolution: Wendy Melvoin (vocals, guitar, violin); Lisa Coleman (vocals, violin, keyboards); Matt Fink (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer); Brown Mark (vocals, bass); Bobby Z. (percussion). The New Power Generation: Rosie Gaines (vocals, organ, programming); Mayte (vocals); Tony M. (rap vocals, background vocals); Levi Seacer Jr. (rhythm guitar, bass, background vocals); Tommy Barbarella (keyboards, programming); background vocals); Sonny T. (bass, background vocals); Michael B. (drums); Kirk Johnson, Damon Dickson (background vocals, percussion). Producers: The Revolution, The New Power Generation, Prince. Engineers include: Susan Rogers, Prince, David Leonard. Compilation producer: Gregg Geller. Includes liner notes by Alan Leeds. THE HITS 1 includes two previously unreleased tracks, extensive liner notes, track annotations, recording information and photographs by Herb Ritts. Personnel: Tony M. (vocals, rap vocals); Mike, Miko (vocals, guitar); Lisa Coleman (vocals, strings, keyboards); Atlanta Bliss (vocals, trumpet); Dr. Fink (vocals, keyboards); Sheila Escovedo (vocals, drums, percussion); Damon Dickson (vocals, percussion); Levi Seacer, Jr., Rosie Gaines (vocals, background vocals); Bonnie Boyer, Dez, Eric Leeds, Brownmark (vocals); Wendy Melvoin (strings); David Leonard, Peggy Mac, Ray Hahnfeldt, Peggy McCreary, Joe Blaney, Michael Koppelman, Arne Frager, Dave Friedlander, Brian Poer (recorder); Mayte (organ, sampler); Tommy Barbarella (keyboards, sampler); Michael B., Sheila E. (drums); Kirk Johnson (percussion, background vocals); Bobby Z (percussion); Sonny T. (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Keith "KC" Cohen; Steve Beltran; Joe Blaney; Keith Cohen; Michael Koppelman; Prince; Susan Rogers; Tom Garneau; Bob Rosa. Audio Remixers: Bob Mockler; Mick Guzauski; Tommy Vicari. Liner Note Authors: Eric Leeds; Alan Leeds. Recording information: Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA; Dierks Studio Mobile Trucks; Paisley park; Record Plant Studios, Sausalito, CA; Record Plant, Sausalito, CA; Sunset sound; The Warehouse; UpTown. Photographer: Herb Ritts. Unknown Contributor Role: Mark Ettel. Arranger: Prince. Upon their release in 1993, the shorthand descriptors were that THE HITS ONE contained the "clean" songs while THE HITS TWO had all the "dirty" stuff. It's not quite so simple. Even Prince's most chaste material, like the finger-wagging "Pop Life," has a certain limpid eroticism. "Soft and Wet" and the power-poppy "When You Were Mine," while nowhere near as blatant as some of The Purple One's other tracks, still raise an eyebrow. What's most interesting is the way the best songs from uneven albums like GRAFFITI BRIDGE and otherwise obscure tracks like the jazzy "Seven" assume a new luster in the company of classics like "When Doves Cry." THE HITS ONE contains the previously unreleased "Pink Cashmere" and a live version of "Nothing Compares 2 U." This disc and its companion volume are also available as a box set with an essential bonus third disc of b-sides.

Entertainment Weekly (9/17/93, p.86) - Rating: A Q (11/93, p.148) - 5 Stars - Indispensible - "...this is no ordinary best of....it's not just the high and mighty width of [Prince's] collection that startles: the sustained quality here is remarkable..."

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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