The Very Best Of Prince is the fourth compilation album by Prince, released in July 2001 (almost eight years after the previous compilation sets, The Hits 1, The Hits 2 and The Hits / The B-Sides). It comprises only of Warner Bros.-era recordings under the name Prince from nine studio albums, released originally between 1979 and 1991.
The tracks are presented in chronological order based on their release as singles.
Soon before its release, Prince's NPG Ahdio Show # 4 stated that Prince was in negotiations with a major record store chain to distribute an album titled A Celebration, said to contain 20 "remastered, re-recordings" of Prince's greatest hits, along with "at least four brand new songs".
This album was not released, however, likely due to the Warner Bros. release of The Very Best Of Prince, and Prince even abandoned plans for a Summer tour, as he did not want to appear to be promoting the Warner Bros. compilation.
A re-release was planned in the UK for 22 November 2010, using a new slipcover; this re-release did not take place, but the new slipcover has been included on digital releases of the album since this time.
Promotion
No singles were released to promote the album, but it has sold well consistently since its release.
The album reached number 66 on The Billboard 200 and number 72 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. It fared much better in Europe, reaching number 1 in the Irish albums chart, number 2 on the UK Albums Chart, number 3 in the Album Top 100 in the Netherlands, as well as top ten positions in Germany and France.
It was certified Platinum by RIAA on 21 September 2002.
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Personnel
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Musicians
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- Prince – all vocals and instruments, except where noted (credited as Camille for lead vocals on U Got The Look)
- Lisa Coleman – co-lead vocals on 1999, backing vocals on Little Red Corvette, keyboards and voice on Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U and Kiss
- Dez Dickerson – co-lead vocals on 1999, guitar and vocals on Little Red Corvette
- Jill Jones – co-lead vocals on 1999 (as "J.J.")
- Bobby Z. – drums and percussion on Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U and Kiss
- Brown Mark – bass guitar and vocals on Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U and Kiss
- Wendy Melvoin – guitar and voice on Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U and Kiss
- Dr. Fink – keyboards on Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U and Kiss
- David Coleman - cello on Purple Rain and Raspberry Beret
- Novi Novog - violin and viola on Purple Rain and Raspberry Beret
- Suzie Katayama - cello on Purple Rain and Raspberry Beret
- Kevin Patrick - drums (uncredited) on Kiss
- Tony Christian - rhythm guitar (uncredited) and background vocals (as Mazarati) on Kiss
- Craig "Screamer" Powell - lead guitar (uncredited) and background vocals (as Mazarati) on Kiss
- Marr Starr - keyboards (uncredited) and background vocals (as Mazarati) on Kiss
- Aaron Paul "Ace" Keith - keyboards (uncredited) and background vocals (as Mazarati) on Kiss
- Jerome "Romeo" Cox - background vocals (as Mazarati) on Kiss
- Sheena Easton – co-lead vocals on U Got The Look
- Sheila E. – drums on U Got The Look and Alphabet St., percussion on Diamonds And Pearls
- Levi Seacer, Jr. – bass guitar and vocals on Alphabet St., rhythm guitar and backing vocals (credited for "rhythm guitar and backing vox") on Gett Off, Cream, bass guitar on Money Don't Matter 2 Night
- Cat – vocals on Alphabet St.
- Eric Leeds – saxophone on Alphabet St., flute on Gett Off
- Atlanta Bliss – trumpet on Alphabet St.
- The Steeles - backing vocals on Thieves In The Temple
- Unidentified player - harmonica on Thieves In The Temple (sampled from I Can't Stand It by the Chambers Brothers, uncredited)
- Tony M. - rap (credited for "lead raps and backing vox") on Gett Off
- Michael B. – drums on Gett Off, Cream, Diamonds And Pearls and Money Don't Matter 2 Night
- Sonny T. - bass guitar, backing vocals (credited for "bass and backing vox") on Gett Off, Cream, Diamonds And Pearls
- Rosie Gaines - vocals and keyboards (credited for "co-lead backing vox, purpleaxxe sampler and organ") on Gett Off and Cream, co-lead vocals on Diamonds And Pearls
- Tommy Barbarella - keyboards (credited for "purpleaxxe sampler, other various keys and sex symbol") on Gett Off, Cream, Diamonds And Pearls
- Kirk Johnson - percussion, backing vocals (credited for "backing vox and percussion") on Gett Off
- Damon Dickson – percussion, backing vocals (credited for "backing vox and percussion") on Gett Off
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Production
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- Prince – all production and arrangement, except where noted
- Gary Brandt – engineer on I Wanna Be Your Lover
- Mark Ettel – assistant engineer on I Wanna Be Your Lover
- Bob Mockler – remixer on I Wanna Be Your Lover
- Peggy Mac – engineer on 1999, Little Red Corvette, When Doves Cry and Kiss
- Don Batts – assistant engineer on 1999 and Little Red Corvette
- David Leonard – engineer on When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, I Would Die 4 U, Raspberry Beret and Kiss
- Susan Rogers – engineer on Let's Go Crazy, Raspberry Beret, Kiss, Sign O' The Times, U Got The Look
- David Z. – engineer on Purple Rain and I Would Die 4 U, arranger and engineer on Kiss
- David Tickle – engineer on Raspberry Beret and Kiss
- Coke Johnson – engineer on Kiss, Sign O' The Times and U Got The Look
- Eddie Miller – engineer on Alphabet St.
- Joe Blaney – engineer on Alphabet St.
- Tom Garneau– engineer on Thieves In The Temple
- Michael Koppelman – engineer on Thieves In The Temple, engineer and mixing engineer on Diamonds And Pearls and Money Don't Matter 2 Night
- Steve Noonan – assistant engineer on Gett Off on Gett Off, Cream, Diamonds And Pearls and Money Don't Matter 2 Night
- Ray Hahnfeldt – assistant engineer on Gett Off on Gett Off, Cream, Diamonds And Pearls and Money Don't Matter 2 Night
- Keith "K.C." Cohen– mixing engineer on Cream
- Tim Penn – assistant engineer on Cream and Diamonds And Pearls
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Thanks
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