Publication: Blues & Soul [UK]
Date: September 28 - October 11, 1993
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Title: The Hits/B-sides Review
Reviewed By: Staff

15 years as one of contemporary music's most influential and innovative figures and singularly the biggest and brightest star in the black music firmament, and only now do we have the greatest hits package utilising material from his previously released 14 albums. Warner Bros. must have been counting the days!

This 3-CD 56 track package devotes two CDs to 'the hits' plus five previously unreleased bonus cuts and a third side to the B-sides - that's Prince B-sides, of course, which would almost certainly have been top sides for practically any other performer: but then we don't have any other performer around today equal to the majestic Prince talent within composing an performing spheres. The man is unique.

The hits sides showcase Prince's immence growth and vision, not to say his almost boundless imagination which has yielded some of the most diverse and memorable single hits from any artist at any time. His ability to sit comfortably atop the out and out disco groove of "I Wanna Be Your Lover" or the heavyweight funk of "GettOff" or the neo-psychedelia of "Raspberry Beret" or the timeless and bassless beat of "When Doves Cry" is a gift given to few performers. This, coupled with his ability to successfully integrate and weave elements of blues, soul, jazz, funk, groove and rock into his music sets the man apart from his contemporaries and places him amidst the very top echelon of music makers of the 20th century.

Every significant facet of his interpretative and communicative skills is on display, from his rock anthem "Purple Rain" to his groove-packed dance jam "Kiss", from power pop outings like "Cream" to straight soul ballads "Adore" and "Do Me Baby" and everything in between. The previously unreleased tracks include a majestic duet with Rosie Gaines on "Nothing Compares 2 U" and the compelling and quite beautiful "Pink Cashmere", whilst the B-sides selection provides yet further evidence of the sheer creative power of Prince...His Royal Badness...His Purple Majesty...Camille...The Kid...Mr.Squiggle... call him what you will, but the overriding fact and the ongoing certainty is that here we have a truly unique entertainer whose music intensity and rate of productivity is, at times, frightening. It's all done in the name of MUSIC, my friends, and is there a better purveyor of the art around today? Unlikely.

There is also a seperate two album release chronicling all the hits but, if your finances can run to it, this package is the one to buy and to treasure.

(Rating: Majestic)