Ultimate [Remaster]

Performer: Prince
Artist: Shelia E; New Power Generation; The Revolution
Engineer: Prince; Coke Johnson; Michael Hutchinson; Bob Mockler; Tim Penn; David Leonard; David Tickle; Peggy Mac; Don Batts; Eddie Miller; Ray Hahnfeldt; Matt Larson; Gary Brandt; Steve Noonan; David Rivkin; Peggy McCreary; Joe Blaney; Michael Koppelman; Mick Guzauski; Ross Pallone; Susan Rogers; Tom Garneau; Dave Friedlander; Brian Poer
Producer: Prince; Shep Pettibone; Prince
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Prince (vocals, various instruments); Wendy Melvoin (vocals, guitar); Eric Leeds (vocals, flute, saxophone, brass); Atlanta Bliss (vocals, trumpet, brass); Rosie Gaines (vocals, organ, sampler, background vocals); Lisa Coleman (vocals, keyboards); Sheila E. (vocals, drums, percussion); Levi Seacer, Jr. (vocals, background vocals); Bonnie Boyer, Sheena Easton (vocals); Tony M. (rap vocals, background vocals); Novi Novog (violin, viola); Sid Page (violin); Laury Woods, Denyse Buffum (viola); David Daoud Coleman, Suzie Katayama (cello); Dr. Fink (keyboards); Shiela E (drums, percussion); Michael B. (drums); Damon Dickson (percussion, background vocals); Bobby Z (percussion); Tommy Barbarella (sampler); Sonny T. (background vocals); New Power Generation, The Revolution, The Steeles . Audio Mixers: Prince; Keith "KC" Cohen; Eddie Miller ; Steve Beltran; Peggy McCreary; Joe Blaney; Michael Koppelman; Tom Garneau; Bob Rosa. Audio Remixers: Prince; Michael Hutchinson; Bob Mockler; Mick Guzauski; Sheila E.; Shep Pettibone. Recording information: 1st Avenue; Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA; Hollywood Sound; Paisley park; Record Plant, NY; Sunset sound; The Warehouse; Uptown Hollywood Sound; Warner Pioneer Studios, Japan. Editors: Junior Vasquez; Shep Pettibone. Photographers: Allen Beaulieu; Jeff Katz. Arrangers: Prince; David Z. . More properly the essential output of one of the most creative musicians of the past few decades than a definitive collection, this two-CD best of nevertheless displays the high points of Prince's often eccentric three decades-and-counting career. Disc one is a more-or-less chronological overview of the purple genius's 1980s artistic trajectory, including early cuts like "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "Controversy," as well as the later classic ballad "Purple Rain," the bleak yet funky "Sign 'O' the Times," and the miniature gem "Money Don't Matter 2 Night, " while the second CD features extended mixes of tracks like the neo-psychedelic "Raspberry Beret," the slyly suggestive "Little Red Corvette," and Prince's duet with Sheena Easton, "U Got the Look." The third time around isn't quite a charm for Prince compilations -- in fact, 2006's Ultimate Prince falls far short from the promise of its title. Although Ultimate Prince was touted upon its release as being the first double-disc Prince hits collection (what does that make 1993's Hits 1 and Hits 2, then?), that claim is a little misleading, since this hardly serves up two discs of hit singles: instead, the second disc is devoted to 12" mixes and extended dance mixes issued on CD maxi-singles. There is certainly a market for these mixes -- they have not been compiled on CD, so hardcore fans have been awaiting their reissue, not just for the sake of completism, but because the mixes were often very good -- but tacking them onto another hits disc doesn't serve anybody's needs, since it forces the dedicated to once again purchase the familiar hits, and anybody who just wanted the hits heard on the radio will not be happy with having "Let's Go Crazy," "Little Red Corvette," "Pop Life," "Raspberry Beret," "Kiss," "U Got the Look," "Thieves in the Temple," and "Cream" all here in different mixes. Of course, the first disc of hits is not executed particularly well, either. Most of the 17 songs on the first disc are single edits, but there are a few exceptions to the rule, as "Controversy," "Purple Rain," "Alphabet St," "7," and "Gett Off" are all presented in their original full-length album incarnations -- and even if "Controversy" and "Purple Rain" benefit from the unedited treatment (which is not necessarily the case with "Alphabet St.," which is one time Prince's song got better on a single edit), it's hard to see why those were included uncut when "1999" and "When Doves Cry" fade out rather abruptly. Then there's the problem of omissions, an issue that will always come up when an artist as great and prolific as Prince gets his work condensed to compilation, but there are some big oversights here, among them "I Feel for You," "Dirty Mind," "Let's Pretend We're Married," "Take Me with U," "Mountains," "If I Was Your Girlfriend," "Batdance" (definitely not his best single, but a chart-topper in 1989), and "Sexy MF," plus the B-side "Erotic City," which would have been an ideal inclusion on the 12" mix disc but is regrettably absent. So, Ultimate Prince is a bit of a mess -- granted, it's a listenable mess, since any Prince song from 1979-1992 is at the very least worth hearing and often is nothing less than brilliant (plus, the remastered sound is very good, better than the original CDs in nearly every case). But for listeners who just want the hits, they'll be better served by 1993's Hits discs or 2001's The Very Best of Prince, which may have their share of oversights or flaws, but both are better samplers of his best work than this muddled, intermittently enjoyable, hodgepodge. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine The third Prince compilation includes a second disc devoted to 12" mixes and extended dance mixes issued on CD maxi-singles. There is certainly a market for these mixes -- they have not been compiled on CD, so hardcore fans have been awaiting their reissue, not just for the sake of completism, but because the mixes were often very good. Included here are "Let's Go Crazy," "Little Red Corvette," "Pop Life," "Raspberry Beret," "Kiss," "U Got the Look," "Thieves in the Temple," and "Cream" all in different mixes. As for the first disc, most of the 17 songs here are single edits, but there are a few exceptions to the rule, as "Controversy," "Purple Rain," "Alphabet St," "7," and "Gett Off" are all presented in their original full-length album incarnations -- and even if "Controversy" and "Purple Rain" benefit from the unedited treatment (which is not necessarily the case with "Alphabet St.," which is one time Prince's song got better on a single edit), it's hard to see why those were included uncut when "1999" and "When Doves Cry" fade out rather abruptly. The remastered sound is very good, however, better than the original CDs in nearly every case. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Mojo (Publisher) (p.132) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "A scintillating retrospective featuring all key singles."

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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