Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Prince

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

The problem with this album isn't the selection per se, (although excluding Erotic City is a major faux paus) it's that all of the songs are butchered. It's as though someone had a stopwatch going and when they reached the limit, they faded out the song. The songs are not even the radio mix in many cases. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

It took me 20 years to catch up to Prince's stuff.
Back in the day, his music--much less some of his album covers (for instance, what WAS he thinking with the "Lovesexy" cover???)--were a bit too racy for little kids (and I was a little kid back in the early 80s when the Purple One's most groundbreaking stuff was coming out.) So, I never really got into his music until much later on.
Anyway, 20 years later, I realize both that "Little Red Corvette" ain't about a car and that this dude from Minneapolis is a freakin' genius. The gems on this 17-song album are a great primer into the wild world of Prince. Such essential tunes included here are "Purple Rain," "When Doves Cry" (although in its abridged single version), "Kiss," "Alphabet Street," "Sign 'O' The Times," and "Gett Off" (a song I love simply because of the slick little reference he makes to James Brown's "Mother Popcorn.")
That said, this is by no means a complete anthology of his work. "I Feel For You," "Soft and Wet," and "Adore" are essential Prince songs and are nowhere to be found here. In fact, if it had been left up to me, I would have included "If Was Your Girlfriend" from "Sign 'O' the Times" instead of "U Got the Look." But that's just me...
Paraphrasing a previous reviewer, this is a great starter kit for casual fans or people looking to replace those singles that got lost, scratched, or broken from the 80s.
In a word: essential.

I have to admit, I always liked Prince. I love the whole Purple Rain album, but I have to say I do not own even one of his albums.
I had to buy this. It has every single that I have always cherished. So if you are not a die-hard fan, but like his hits. This is the only Prince CD you need. I do wish they put "Pop Life" on it, but I am not complaining. This CD is Slamming' and should be in everyone's collection. Even if you are just a fan of just the singles Prince put out, this Collection has it all (except "Pop Life".)Yes there are a few more, the Batman theme etc. But, it's still awesome.
This CD still deserves a 5 out of 5 stars for the not so in love with Prince fans, but love his singles. I say get this CD. It has 17 unforgettable tracks that take you back to the days of retro fun and then take you into the present, this whole CD is a FUN RIDE!! Amen for this compilation.

This is not even close to a good representation of Prince's best and was released without his approval.

This is not even close to a good representation of Prince's best and was release without his approval.

It's hard to look at the career of one of this generation's greatest talents and fairly represent him with a package that mostly covers only a few of his best-selling albums. While a few random hits are thrown in the mix, this collection dwells too heavily on the albums Purple Rain, 1999, and Diamonds and Pearls. If that's all you want from Prince, I think you're better off just getting a copy of each of these fantastic and commercially successful albums. The fact of the matter is this is just not the very best of Prince, as the name implies. For the most part, these are only the most over-played songs in his collection. There is not a single song from Controversey or Dirty Mind, two of Prince's most ground-breaking albums. There is not one song on this package that was released past 91'. Where's Bat Dance? This package is only the same thing you have heard a hundred times before. If you want a good representation of Prince, get The Hits collection. I prefer the 3 disk set because it has some fantastic B-Sides that are rare yet very catchy. This is only a fast money-making sceme by Warner Bros. Don't buy into this commerical foolishness.

If you just want the Prince songs you know by heart from radio overexposure into the new millennium, this is the one to get. If you don't wanna run out and own all the albums, but you liked a lot more from Prince than just 1999 and When Doves Cry, I'd recommend getting either The Hits 1 and The Hits 2, or The Hits/The B-Sides if you REALLY want a great Prince comp.

Every song on this album went top 25 on the Billboard chart, all but 4 (1999, I Wanna Be Your Lover, Get Off and Money Don't Matter 2nite) of these songs went top 10, so this is definately a must-get if you grew up on top 40 in the 1980's and early 90's and want the biggest Prince hits on a single disc. However, if you know you were more than just the most casual of fans, I'd get the 93 "Hits" collections instead

Prince is the king of pop. He saved music in the 80's. That is all I have to say, buy the CD, or download it. I really reccomend it. Prince is a little strange, with those ass-less pants, but all in all, his music is good.

Let's focus on the songs and music that are presented here. Prince is the champ. Prince is the KING. You cannot get much better than Prince. He is probably my favorite recording artist of all time. His is an amazing lyricist and guitarist, and not to mention vocalist. His hard rock, 80's techno, pop and disco sensabilities are excellent, and all of the tracks presented here represent Prince perfectly. Sure, there are a few great one's missing, but all the songs that ARE here. They are great. My all time favorite Prince tracks are here: Little Red Corvette, Purple Rain, Lets Go Crazy, 1999 - but all of the songs here certainly are great. Flawless. Prince is one of the few GREAT talents out there, and unfortunetly people don't seem to get it and mock him. People, take a look into this music. All the songs are excellent. Excellent, perfect, flawless songs from the master of music, a excellent blend of hard rock, techno, funk and pop. Get it. It will definetly convert you into a Prince fan.

First off I think Prince is a musical genius, he can sing, dance, write, play instruments and jam and that's what makes him the standstill in music history that he is today, so what if he hasn't been in the spotlight for awhile and his music isn't as mainstream as it was back in the day, his music still and will stand the test of time, no matter how many people beg to differ. Someone has liked a Prince song once in their life and probably one of these songs is on this album.
Some major Prince fans (like my older cousin-who was a Prince fanatic back in the day as I am now with Justin Timberlake)can't stand this album and I know why...it's missing some tracks. These are just like Prince Basics for fans (like myself) who are just getting into the Prince groove, now I've gone deeper (but not Crystal Ball or Gold Experience deep) and have discovered that this album is missing probably my favorite Prince song, "Pop Life" as well as uh, duh! "Batdance", B-side fave "Erotic City", uh, "Purple Rain" minor hits like "Beautiful Ones", "Baby I'm A Star" and "Darlin' Nikki" maybe even add in some early stuff like hits from "Controversy" or "Dirty Mind", maybe even add in Shelia E.'s "Love Bizarre" or to top things off some stand-out tracks from albums besides "Purple Rain"-hence "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", "If I Was Your Girlfriend"
or "Anotherloverholenyohead".
Personally, I like this album, if you want some key essential hits from the purple one then this is for you, but if you are a die hard Prince fan, don't buy this cause you either own all this on vinyl or CD.
Still some classics ring true, the lush voice of a young Prince is heard on "I Wanna Be Your Lover" a soulful, funky jam that sounds just as fresh as it was back in '79. The astro funk of "1999" has been overplayed at New Year's Eve parties but still a jam. Personal fave of "Little Red Corvette" has some pretty good lyrics, I love Prince's use for words to cover up a song about sex. Not the full version of "When Doves Cry" (missing the great guitar solo) but still a timeless classic, "Let's Go Crazy" shows Prince develing into rock with this wild rambuncious track. The most beautiful Prince song ever, "Purple Rain" need I describe this song? "I Would Die 4 U" a personal fave of mine with the beating synths and driving all the way home, folksy "Raspberry Beret" then funked out "Kiss" which Tom Jones murdered with his rendidtion, the hypnotic funk of "Sign O The Times" which is another personal fave with some social awareness wrapped into this funky bit. Brit singer, Sheena Easton (whom she has to thank Prince for her "Sugar Walls") guest stars along with another SE, Sheila E. on "U Got The Look" a quirky piece of funk, along with the catchy "Alphabet St.". I also think "Theives In The Temple" is just pure poetry, great song. Didn't much like the NPG days but I like (and remember from a while back) "Diamonds And Pearls" which has a mystical, funk approach.
Just the Prince basics guys and nothing more, this jump started me as a fan and I'm glad I brought it, just pure fun all around.