Personnel: Prince (vocals, various instruments); Wendy, Dez Dickerson (vocals, guitar); Bonnie Boyer (vocals, Hammond organ); Rosie Gaines (vocals, organ); Lisa Coleman (vocals, keyboards); Sheila E. (vocals, drums, percussion); Sheena Easton, Camille, Tony M. (vocals); Levi Seacer Jr. (guitar, bass, background vocals); Miko (guitar, background vocals); Eric Leeds (flute, horns, background vocals); Atlanta Bliss (horns); Matt Fink (keyboards, background vocals); Tommy Barbarella (keyboards); Brown Mark, Sonny T. (bass, background vocals); Bobby Z., Michael B. (drums, percussion); Kirk Johnson, Damon Dickson (percussion, background vocals); Mayte, Mazarati (background vocals).

Engineers include: Gary Brandt, Peggy McCreary, David Leonard.

Producer: Prince.

Compilation producer: Gregg Geller.

Digitally remastered by Keith Blake.

Considerably more streamlined than previous compilations THE HITS 1 and THE HITS 2, the 17 songs that make up THE VERY BEST OF PRINCE offer a nice tour through the Purple One's chart successes for Warner Brothers from 1978 to 1993. Mixed in among chart toppers like the quirky "When Doves Cry," Hendrix-fueled mania of "Let's Go Crazy" and stripped-down funk of "Kiss" are enough brilliant moments to make you wish the guy had focused more on music and less on the identity shifts that characterized most of the '90s.

Starting with the 1979 #1 "I Wanna Be Your Lover," Prince's pop sensibilities and inquisitive nature have found him cleverly bouncing back and forth between the twin poles of sex and spirituality. Whether it's the runaway pledge of faith found in "I Would Die 4 U," sly lasciviousness of "Gett Off" or battle-of-the-sexes throw-down with Sheena Easton on "U Got The Look," this Minneapolis native's way with a hook makes more of an impression in retrospect than his ability to shock. Other highlights include the millennial jam "1999," chilling view of the world "Sign O' The Times," gorgeous "Diamonds And Pearls" and irresistible "Alphabet Street."

Q (9/01, p.133) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...He really was the exciting new face of popular music....The hits that transformed Prince into a superstar to rival Michael Jackson remain some of the most thrilling in pop history..."

Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars) 

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 PRINCE I S STILL THE KING OF POP-ROCK-HIP-HOP
IF YOU WANT TO DANCE & WANT TO JUST MOVE YOUR BODY PRINCE IS THE MAN.THE SINGING VOICE IS NOT THE GREATEST BUT THE MUSIC MAKES YOU WANT TO GET UP & DO SOMETHING.!!!! I'VE CAN STILL INVISION PRINCE DANCING ON THE VIDEO FOR "KISS" & DOING THE SPLIT & SLIDING BACK UP WHEN I HERE "LETS GO CRAZY" "RED CORVETT". PRINCE IS STILL THE MAN. IF YOU LISTEN TO "SIGNS OF THE TIMES" & "1999" YOU GET A RUSH & YOU THINK AT 50 LIFE IS GOOD & LONG AS YOU HAVD GOOD MUSIC...
Submitted by a reviewer (CEDAR HILL,TX) 
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 If you like Prince, you gotten have this CD!
This Cd is awesome! It has all of Prince greatest hits and I recommened it for all Prince fans.
Submitted by a reviewer (Brooklyn, New York) 
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 "The Best Of The Artist Formely Known As..."
"The Very Best Of Prince" is one of the best single disc compilations available. Before submitting this review, I've read several other opinions of this collection and to be fair, you really can't compile all of the 'best' of any artist's work on a single disc. It's just not possible! This anthology has all of Prince's 'major' hits from "I Wanna Be Your Lover" to "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" and as many that could be fitted, in between. "Purple Rain", "1999", "When Doves Cry", "Little Red Corvette", "Get Off" and my personal favorite "Diamonds & Pearls" are all hear. Of course Prince recorded several 'gems' that are not included ("Controversy", "Dirty Mind", "Pop Life", "Erotic City", "Adore" etc) but the material that was chosen, certainly qualifies.
Submitted by dnl_brly (Los Angeles, Calif)
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 Prince--Still Rock 'N Roll Royalty
This cd is a definite "must have" for Prince fans. This contains all the hits we've come to love over the years--and for anyone who's seen the live show, it covers pretty much all of what he performs live! Still great music from this truly great talent!!
Submitted by US325 (Queens, NY)
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