Prince - Ultimate Hits

Personnel: Prince (vocals, various instruments); Shiela E (drums, percussion); New Power Generation, The Revolution, The Steeles .

Recording information: 1979 – 1991.

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.”

What the critics say…

Mojo (Publisher) (p.132) – 4 stars out of 5 – “A scintillating retrospective featuring all key singles.”