The Very Best of Prince

~ Release by Prince (see all versions of this release, 12 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1When Doves Cry
recording engineer:
David Leonard (US producer and engineer) (on 1984-03-01) and Peggy Mac (on 1984-03-01)
producer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
drum machine [Linn LM-1], electric guitar, synthesizer [Oberheim OB-Xa], synthesizer [Yamaha DX7], background vocals and lead vocals:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (on 1984-03-01)
arranger:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1984) and NPG Records, Inc. (in 2017)
recorded at:
Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1984-03-01)
edit of:
When Doves Cry (album version) by Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) and The Revolution (founded by Prince)
recording of:
When Doves Cry (on 1984-03-01)
lyricist and composer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Because Éditions and Controversy Music
4.53:49
2Purple Rain
recording engineer:
David Rivkin (producer/engineer David Rivkin) (on 1983-08-03) and David Leonard (US producer and engineer) (on 1983-08-03)
producer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) and The Revolution (founded by Prince)
cello:
David Coleman (American cellist & composer) (from 1983-08-15 until 1983-09-15) and Suzie Katayama (from 1983-08-15 until 1983-09-15)
drum machine [Linn LM-1], electronic drum set [Pearl SY-1 Syncussion], electronic drum set [Simmons SDS-V] and percussion:
Bobby Z. (on 1983-08-03)
electric bass guitar:
Brown Mark (on 1983-08-03)
electric grand piano [Yamaha CP-70]:
Dr. Fink (on 1983-08-03)
electric guitar:
Wendy Melvoin (on 1983-08-03) and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (on 1983-08-03)
synthesizer:
Lisa Coleman (US pianist/keyboardist & composer) (on 1983-08-03) and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (on 1983-08-03)
viola and violin:
Novi Novog (from 1983-08-15 until 1983-09-15)
background vocals:
Brown Mark (on 1983-08-03), Lisa Coleman (US pianist/keyboardist & composer) (on 1983-08-03), Dr. Fink (on 1983-08-03) and Wendy Melvoin (on 1983-08-03)
lead vocals:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (on 1983-08-03)
conductor:
Lisa Coleman (US pianist/keyboardist & composer) (strings) and Wendy Melvoin (strings)
performer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (on 1983-08-03) and The Revolution (founded by Prince) (on 1983-08-03)
strings arranger:
Lisa Coleman (US pianist/keyboardist & composer) and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
arranger:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) and The Revolution (founded by Prince)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1984), WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1984) and NPG Records, Inc. (in 2017)
recorded at:
First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (on 1983-08-03) and Sunset Sound, Studio 3 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1983-08 until 1983-09)
engineered at:
Sunset Sound, Studio 3 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1983-08 until 1983-09)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 18), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-17 (number: 27), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-24 (number: 30), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-31 (number: 38), Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 39), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-02-07 (number: 41), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 143)
live recording of:
Purple Rain (on 1983-08-03)
lyricist and composer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Because Éditions, Controversy Music and Island Music Ltd.
4.28:45
3Kiss
recording engineer:
Coke Johnson, David Leonard (US producer and engineer), Peggy McCreary, Susan Rogers (US sound engineer), David Tickle and David Z. (producer/engineer David Rivkin)
producer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) and The Revolution (founded by Prince)
acoustic guitar, drum machine [Linn 9000], drum machine [Linn LM-1] and synthesizer [Yamaha DX7]:
David Z. (producer/engineer David Rivkin)
electric guitar and lead vocals:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
background vocals:
Bruce DeShazer, Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) and Marr Starr
arranger:
David Z. (producer/engineer David Rivkin)
recorded at:
Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States and Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 11), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 85) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 461)
recording of:
Kiss (from 1985-04-27 until 1986-02-10)
lyricist and composer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Controversy Music
3.43:46
4Cream
recording engineer:
Michael Koppelman (Minneapolis producer and engineer)
additional engineer:
Tim Penn
producer:
The New Power Generation and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
mixer:
Keith Cohen
drums (drum set):
Michael B. (drummer aka Michael B.)
electric bass guitar:
Sonny T. (Prince bass player)
electric guitar:
Levi Seacer, Jr.
Hammond organ and background vocals:
Rosie Gaines
synthesizer:
Tommy Barbarella
lead vocals:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
performer:
The New Power Generation and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
arranger:
The New Power Generation and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
recorded at:
Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States (on 1990-12-03) and Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States (from 1991-09 until 1991-10)
mixed at:
Larrabee Sound Studios (present day location in North Hollywood, since 1991) in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Cream (on 1990-12-03)
lyricist and composer:
Prince Rogers Nelson (Prince, “The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Controversy Music
3.54:12
51999
recording engineer:
Peggy McCreary (from 1982-07 until 1982-08)
producer:
Prince Rogers Nelson (Prince, “The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
cowbell, cymbal, drum machine [Linn LM-1], electric bass guitar, electric guitar, electronic drum set [Pearl SY-1 Syncussion], handclaps, synthesizer [ARP Omni-2], synthesizer [Oberheim OB-Xa] and tambourine:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (from 1982-07 until 1982-08)
background vocals:
Jesse Johnson (original guitarist for The Time) (from 1982-07 until 1982-08)
lead vocals:
Lisa Coleman (US pianist/keyboardist & composer) (from 1982-07 until 1982-08), Dez Dickerson (from 1982-07 until 1982-08), Jill Jones (American singer, songwriter, and actress) (from 1982-07 until 1982-08) and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (from 1982-07 until 1982-08)
arranger:
Prince Rogers Nelson (Prince, “The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
edit of:
1999 (album version) by Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
music videos:
1999 by Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 212) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 339)
recording of:
1999 (from 1982-07 until 1982-08)
lyricist and composer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Controversy Music, Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music) and フジパシフィックミュージック 第2事業部 (Fujipacific Music, Inc. Division 2)
43:35
6Money Don’t Matter 2 Night
recording engineer:
Michael Koppelman (Minneapolis producer and engineer) and Matt Larson (recording engineer)
engineer:
Tim Penn
producer:
The New Power Generation and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
mixer:
Michael Koppelman (Minneapolis producer and engineer)
drums (drum set):
Michael B. (drummer aka Michael B.)
electric bass guitar:
Levi Seacer, Jr.
lead vocals:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
performer:
The New Power Generation and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
arranger:
The New Power Generation and Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
recorded at:
Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States and Warner–Pioneer Studio in Tokyo, Japan
recording of:
Money Don’t Matter 2 Night
lyricist and composer:
Prince Rogers Nelson (Prince, “The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Controversy Music
3.54:48