Ultimate Prince

Ultimate Prince
Greatest hits album by Prince
Released	August 22, 2006
Recorded	1979–1992
Genre	R&B, funk, rock, new wave
Length	2:36:20
Label	Warner Bros., Rhino
Producer	Prince
Prince chronology
3121 (2006) Ultimate Prince (2006) Planet Earth (2007)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Pitchfork Media	(8.6/10)[2]

Ultimate Prince is a greatest hits album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on August 22, 2006 by Warner Bros. Records. The two-disc set contains a disc of some previously released hits (some in single edit form; only "My Name Is Prince" has not been on a previous hits collection), and another of extended remixes of hits and a B-side, most of which have only been previously released as vinyl 12-inch singles.

Release date controversy

The album was originally slated to be released in North America on March 14, 2006, but was canceled just days before its release. This is likely due to Prince not wanting competition with his new 3121, scheduled to be released only one week later. However, promo copies of the album had already been sent to some retailers and were sold before the album's recall. A second release date of May 22 was proposed, but was again canceled and the album's future was unknown for a time. Three months later, it was officially released on August 22, 2006 to generally positive reviews.^[3]

Track listing

Disc one

1. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (Single edit) – 2:57 from Prince (1979)
2. "Uptown" (Single edit) – 4:09 from Dirty Mind (1980)
3. "Controversy" – 7:15 from Controversy (1981)
4. "1999" (Single edit) – 3:37 from 1999 (1982)
5. "Delirious" (Single edit) – 2:38 from 1999
6. "When Doves Cry" (Single edit) – 3:47 from Purple Rain (1984)
7. "I Would Die 4 U" (Single version) – 2:56 from Purple Rain
8. "Purple Rain" – 8:40 from Purple Rain
9. "Sign o' the Times" (Single edit) – 3:42 from Sign o' the Times (1987)
10. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (Single edit) – 3:39 from Sign o' the Times
11. "Alphabet St." – 5:38 from Lovesexy (1988)
12. "Diamonds and Pearls" (Single edit) – 4:19 from Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
13. "Gett Off" – 4:31 from Diamonds and Pearls
14. "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" – 4:47 from Diamonds and Pearls
15. "7" – 5:08 from Love Symbol Album (1992)
16. "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Live) – 4:57 from The Hits/The B-Sides (1993); originally by The Family from the album of same name
17. "My Name Is Prince" (Single edit) – 4:03 from Love Symbol Album

Disc two

1. "Let's Go Crazy" (Special dance mix) – 7:36
2. "Little Red Corvette" (Dance remix) – 8:22
3. "Let's Work" (Dance remix) – 8:02
4. "Pop Life" (Fresh dance mix) – 6:18
5. "She's Always in My Hair" (12" version) – 6:31
6. "Raspberry Beret" (12" version) – 6:34
7. "Kiss" (Extended version) – 7:16
8. "U Got the Look" (Long Look) – 6:40
9. "Hot Thing" (Extended remix) – 8:30
10. "Thieves in the Temple" (Remix) – 8:08
11. "Cream" (N.P.G. mix) – 4:50

Personnel

Audio Remixers: Prince; Michael Hutchinson; Bob Mockler; Mick Guzauski; Sheila E.; Shep Pettibone. Recording information: 1st Avenue; Alpha Studios, Burbank, CA; Hollywood Sound; Paisley park; Record Plant, NY; Sunset sound; The Warehouse; Uptown Hollywood Sound; Warner Pioneer Studios, Japan. Editors: Junior Vasquez; Shep Pettibone. Photographers: Allen Beaulieu; Jeff Katz. Arrangers: Prince; David Z. . Personnel: Prince (vocals, various instruments); Wendy Melvoin (vocals, guitar); Eric Leeds (vocals, flute, saxophone, brass); Atlanta Bliss (vocals, trumpet, brass); Rosie Gaines (vocals, organ, sampler, background vocals); Lisa Coleman (vocals, keyboards); Sheila E. (vocals, drums, percussion); Levi Seacer, Jr. (vocals, background vocals); Bonnie Boyer, Sheena Easton (vocals); Tony M. (rap vocals, background vocals); Novi Novog (violin, viola); Sid Page (violin); Laury Woods, Denyse Buffum (viola); David Daoud Coleman, Suzie Katayama (cello); Dr. Fink (keyboards); Shiela E (drums, percussion); Michael B. (drums); Damon Dickson (percussion, background vocals); Bobby Z (percussion); Tommy Barbarella (sampler); Sonny T. (background vocals); New Power Generation, The Revolution, The Steeles . Audio Mixers: Prince; Keith "KC" Cohen; Eddie Miller ; Steve Beltran; Peggy McCreary; Joe Blaney; Michael Koppelman; Tom Garneau; Bob Rosa.

Promo versions

A two disc promo version of Ultimate Prince was sent to radio stations and record stores in Spring 2006. This version has a different track listing from the official release. The promo features a few songs not on the official release, though it excludes the "Let's Work" remix. The promo also presents the songs in rough chronological order as opposed to separating out the remixes. The two disc version is speculated to be the first track listing; Prince later changed the track listing to remove some of the explicit language.

Two disc promo

Disc one "Purple Medley" "I Wanna Be Your Lover" "Uptown" "Controversy" "1999" "Little Red Corvette" (Dance Mix) "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix) "Erotic City" (12" Version) "Purple Rain" "When Doves Cry" "I Would Die 4 U" "Pop Life" (12" Fresh Dance Mix) "She's Always in My Hair" (12" Version) "Raspberry Beret" (12" Version)

Disc two "Kiss" (Extended Version) "Sign 'O' the Times" "U Got the Look" (Long Look) "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" "Hot Thing" (Extended Remix) "Alphabet St." "Thieves in the Temple" (Remix) "Diamonds and Pearls" "Gett Off" "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" "Cream" (N.P.G. Mix) "7" (Acoustic Version) "Sexy Mutha" "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Live) "My Name Is Prince"

In-house promo sampler

1. "Purple Medley"
2. "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
3. "Little Red Corvette" (Dance Mix)
4. "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix)
5. "Erotic City" (12" Version)
6. "Kiss" (Extended Version)
7. "Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
8. "Cream"

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[4]	6
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[5]	22
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[6]	46
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[7]	52
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[8]	12
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[9]	6
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[10]	39
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[11]	7
French Albums (SNEP)[12]	151
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13]	19
Irish Albums (IRMA)[14]	3
Italian Albums (FIMI)[15]	23
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[16]	3
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[17]	10
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[18]	14
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19]	3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20]	7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21]	9
UK Albums (OCC)[22]	3
US Billboard 200[23]	6

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24]	Gold	7,500
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]	Gold	100,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Pitchfork Media review
3. "Album: Ultimate". Prince Vault. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
4. "Australiancharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
5. "Austriancharts.at – Prince – Ultimate" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
6. "Ultratop.be – Prince – Ultimate" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
7. "Ultratop.be – Prince – Ultimate" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
8. "Prince – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Prince. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
9. "Danishcharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – Ultimate" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
11. "Prince: Ultimate" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
12. "Lescharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – Ultimate" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
14. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 17, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
15. "Italiancharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
16. "Charts.org.nz – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
17. "Norwegiancharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
18. "Portuguesecharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
19. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
20. "Swedishcharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
21. "Swisscharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
22. "Prince | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved April 30, 2016.
23. "Beyonce Earns Sixth No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Lemonade'". Retrieved May 2, 2016.
24. "New Zealand album certifications – Prince – Ultimate Prince". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
25. "British album certifications – Prince – Ultimate Prince". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 5, 2016. Enter Ultimate Prince in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search