Prince Hits 1 CD

Personnel: Prince (vocals, various instruments); Claire Fischer (conductor); Jimmy Johnson, Dez Dickerson, Miko (vocals, guitar); Atlanta Bliss, Eric Leeds (vocals, brass); Boni Boyer (vocals, Hammond organ); Cat (vocals); Sheila E. (vocals, percussion).
The Revolution: Wendy Melvoin (vocals, guitar, violin); Lisa Coleman (vocals, violin, keyboards); Matt Fink (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer); Brown Mark (vocals, bass); Bobby Z. (percussion).
The New Power Generation: Rosie Gaines (vocals, organ, programming); Mayte (vocals); Tony M. (rap vocals, background vocals); Levi Seacer Jr. (rhythm guitar, bass, background vocals); Tommy Barbarella (keyboards, programming); background vocals); Sonny T. (bass, background vocals); Michael B. (drums); Kirk Johnson, Damon Dickson (background vocals, percussion).
Producers: The Revolution, The New Power Generation, Prince.
Engineers include: Susan Rogers, Prince, David Leonard.
Compilation producer: Gregg Geller.
Includes liner notes by Alan Leeds.
THE HITS 1 includes two previously unreleased tracks, extensive liner notes, track annotations, recording information and photographs by Herb Ritts.
Personnel: Tony M. (vocals, rap vocals); Mike, Miko (vocals, guitar); Lisa Coleman (vocals, strings, keyboards); Atlanta Bliss (vocals, trumpet); Dr. Fink (vocals, keyboards); Sheila Escovedo (vocals, drums, percussion); Damon Dickson (vocals, percussion); Levi Seacer, Jr., Rosie Gaines (vocals, background vocals); Bonnie Boyer, Dez, Eric Leeds, Brownmark (vocals); Wendy Melvoin (strings); David Leonard, Peggy Mac, Ray Hahnfeldt, Peggy McCreary, Joe Blaney, Michael Koppelman, Arne Frager, Dave Friedlander, Brian Poer (recorder); Mayte (organ, sampler); Tommy Barbarella (keyboards, sampler); Michael B., Sheila E. (drums); Kirk Johnson (percussion, background vocals); Bobby Z (percussion); Sonny T. (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Keith "KC" Cohen; Steve Beltran; Joe Blaney; Keith Cohen; Michael Koppelman; Prince; Susan Rogers; Tom Garneau; Bob Rosa.
Audio Remixers: Bob Mockler; Mick Guzauski; Tommy Vicari.
Liner Note Authors: Eric Leeds; Alan Leeds.
Recording information: Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA; Dierks Studio Mobile Trucks; Paisley park; Record Plant Studios, Sausalito, CA; Record Plant, Sausalito, CA; Sunset sound; The Warehouse; UpTown.
Photographer: Herb Ritts.
Unknown Contributor Role: Mark Ettel.
Arranger: Prince.
Prince's two-part Hits collection includes enough necessary items to illustrate why he was one of the most influential and gifted musicians of the '80s, as well as providing a reasonable introduction and compilation for casual fans. Hits 1 contains a good cross section of his biggest hits -- "When Doves Cry" (presented in an edited version), "When You Were Mine," "Let's Go Crazy," "1999," "Sign 'O' the Times," "Alphabet Street," "Diamonds and Pearls," "7" -- plus new items like "Pink Cashmere" and "Nothing Compares 2 U" (a Prince song that Sinéad O'Connor took to number one) that are nearly as good as the familiar tracks. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The primary fault with Prince's two-part Hits collection is that both volumes are missing some important singles and are sequenced incoherently, thereby failing to give an accurate impression of his astonishing musical growth. However, they do contain enough necessary items to illustrate why he was one of the most influential and gifted musicians of the '80s, as well as providing a reasonable introduction and compilation for casual fans. Hits 1 contains a good cross section of his biggest hits -- "When Doves Cry" (presented in an edited version), "When You Were Mine," "Let's Go Crazy," "1999," "Sign 'O' the Times," "Alphabet Street," "Diamonds and Pearls," "7" -- plus new items like "Pink Cashmere" and "Nothing Compares 2 U" (a Prince song that Sinéad O'Connor took to number one) that are nearly as good as the familiar tracks. However, it provides an incomplete portrait, making Hits 1 anEntertainment Weekly (9/17/93, p.86) - Rating: A
Q (11/93, p.148) - 5 Stars - Indispensible - "...this is no ordinary best of....it's not just the high and mighty width of [Prince's] collection that startles: the sustained quality here is remarkable..."