The Hits/The B-Sides [Box] [PA] (CD - 1993)

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).

While it isn't a truly comprehensive set, Prince's singles collection does contain most of his biggest hits. The two volumes are available separately or packaged together with a third disc of B-sides; apart from the glorious "Erotic City," the flip sides are only of interest to devoted fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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. minimize