Ultimate Prince



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.

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
Adapted from the AllMusic credits.


 * Annette Atkinson – standup bass
 * Tommy Barbarella – sampling
 * Timothy Barr – standup bass
 * Don Batts – engineer
 * Allen Beaulieu – Photography
 * Steve Beltran – mixing
 * Mathieu Bitton – art direction, creative director, Design
 * Joe Blaney – engineer, mixing
 * Atlanta Bliss – brass, Trumpet, vocals
 * Bonnie Boyer – Hammond organ, vocals
 * Gary Brandt – engineer
 * Denyse Buffum – viola
 * Keith "KC" Cohen – mixing
 * David Daoud Coleman – cello
 * Lisa Coleman – keyboards, vocals
 * David Z. – arranger
 * Damon Dickson – Percussion, background vocals
 * Dr. Fink – keyboards
 * Shelia E – Guest Artist
 * Sheena Easton – vocals
 * Mark Ettel – assistant engineer
 * Dave Friedlander – engineer
 * Lowell Fulson – Composer
 * Rosie Gaines – organ, Sampling, vocals, background vocals
 * Tom Garneau – engineer, mixing
 * Ron Garrett – remix Assistant
 * Mick Guzauski – engineer, remixing
 * Ray Hahnfeldt – engineer
 * Michael Hutchinson – engineer, remixing
 * Coke Johnson – engineer
 * Suzie Katayama – cello
 * Jeff Katz – Photography
 * Michael Koppelman – engineer, mixing
 * Matt Larson – engineer
 * Eric Leeds – brass, Flute, Saxophone, vocals
 * David Leonard – engineer
 * Tony M. – Rap, background vocals
 * Peggy Mac – engineer
 * Jimmy McCracklin – Composer
 * Peggy McCreary – engineer, mixing
 * Wendy Melvoin – guitar, vocals
 * Michael B. – Drums
 * Eddie Miller – engineer, mixing
 * Bob Mockler – engineer, remixing
 * New Power Generation – guest artist
 * Steve Noonan – engineer
 * Novi Novog – viola, violin
 * Sid Page – violin
 * Ross Pallone – engineer
 * Tim Penn – engineer
 * Shep Pettibone – Editing, producer, remixing
 * Brian Poer – engineer
 * Prince – arranger, audio production, engineer, mixing, producer, remixing, string arrangements, various instruments, vocals
 * Prince & the Revolution – guest artist
 * David Rivkin – engineer
 * Susan Rogers – engineer
 * Bob Rosa – mixing
 * Levi Seacer, Jr. – bass, rhythm guitar, vocals, background vocals
 * Sheila E. – drums, Percussion, remixing, vocals
 * Shiela E – drums, percussion
 * The Steeles – Main Personnel
 * Sonny T. – bass, background vocals
 * David Tickle – engineer
 * Junior Vasquez – editing
 * Larry E. Williams – tray photo
 * Laury Woods – viola
 * Bobby Z – percussion

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
 * 1) "Purple Medley"
 * 2) "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
 * 3) "Uptown"
 * 4) "Controversy"
 * 5) "1999"
 * 6) "Little Red Corvette" (Dance Mix)
 * 7) "Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix)
 * 8) "Erotic City" (12" Version)
 * 9) "Purple Rain"
 * 10) "When Doves Cry"
 * 11) "I Would Die 4 U"
 * 12) "Pop Life" (12" Fresh Dance Mix)
 * 13) "She's Always in My Hair" (12" Version)
 * 14) "Raspberry Beret" (12" Version)

Disc two
 * 1) "Kiss" (Extended Version)
 * 2) "Sign 'O' the Times"
 * 3) "U Got the Look" (Long Look)
 * 4) "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
 * 5) "Hot Thing" (Extended Remix)
 * 6) "Alphabet St."
 * 7) "Thieves in the Temple" (Remix)
 * 8) "Diamonds and Pearls"
 * 9) "Gett Off"
 * 10) "Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
 * 11) "Cream" (N.P.G. Mix)
 * 12) "7" (Acoustic Version)
 * 13) "Sexy Mutha"
 * 14) "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Live)
 * 15) "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"