This is a good collection for those interested in the sex-tinged r&b/pop/funk of the multi-talented Prince. However, as the header suggests, you're probably better off heading to the 3-disc boxed set entitled _The Hits/The B-Sides_. There you get everything included on this disc, the companion "hits" package to this one, _The Hits 2_, as well as an all B-side and rarities disc thrown in for good measure. The extra cost for the package may intimidate some, but it's more worthwhile.

It's made very obvious that the "machine" wanted to make more money, as there are a couple of unreleased tracks on here that you won't find anywhere else. It's great for the beginners who don't own any Prince, but bad for the obsessed fans who own many of Prince's studio albums - having to pay extra money for 90% of music they already own just to hear a couple of unreleased treasures. Also, many of these "hits" are edited versions, as opposed to the full-length versions found on the studio albums. All of this is pretty irritating to me. Should I quit all this bellyaching? Maybe - but I'm a very frugal person when it comes to money...or anything else.

Anyway, the disc chronicles Prince's hits from 1978-1993. It obviously features smashes like the bassless "When Doves Cry," the rowdy and exciting "Let's Go Crazy," "1999" and countless others. However, I'll cut to the chase and talk about the unreleased tracks. "Pink Cashmere" is a sultry, sensual mid-tempo r&b number. Something for the fans of Prince's sex-tinged ballads. The other is Prince's own rendition of "Nothing Compares 2 U." At first, I have to admit, after hearing Sinead O'Connor's atmospheric, sad, melancholy and poignant version, I didn't think Prince could hold much of a candle to her version (and he's the one who wrote the thing.) However, I was surprisingly silenced. The arrangement is much different than Sinead O'Connor's version, but, it's equally melodic, moving and injected with more of an r&b/gospel flavor -- as opposed to the wistful, pop/new age-esque version from O'Connor. This version is also performed live with guest vocalist Rosie Gaines, who would later join Prince's band The New Power Generation.

A good collection, but as I've noted, to make this one much more worthwhile, you're probably better off getting this as 1/3 of the 3-disc boxed set, _The Hits/The B-Sides_, or just pick up a Prince album like _Purple Rain_ or _1999_ for starters. Despite the mishaps of this collection, it's still a decent buy for the beginner who has interest in the talent and genius of the purple one.

Given the prolific nature of Prince's career a hits package was overdue and in order to do it justice two CDs of material would be needed. These were available as casual fan-friendly single CDs or as a 3CD set (The Hits/The B-Sides) that gave the more serious fan the chance to own both volumes along with a collection of Prince's finest B-sides. Also included are two previously unavailable songs on each Hits CD.

However even this relatively extensive format would mean cut backs and edits were made to the longer tracks, this would probably not be noticed by casual fans, though many hardcore collectors saw this to the detriment of the package.

This selection combined with the more X-rated material of "Hits 2" CD is very comprehensive and with a few minor quibbles (Did "Girls & Boys", "Batdance" deserve a place here?) proves to be a good overview on the man's career to this point.

The familiar classics are here. "When Doves Cry" to "Alphabet St", "1999" to "Adore". The music remains timeless in quality and scope to this day. A live version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" (The song by now associated with Sinead O' Connor's hit take on the Prince-penned The Family tune) duetted with the classy Rosie Gaines is a nice addition. As is the beautiful, tender ballad "Pink Cashmere".

The choice as to whether to go for the two single Hits CDs, the boxset or perhaps neither, all depends on your love for Prince music. Rest assured though that this music successfully chronicles highlights of the eclectic Genius that is Prince Roger Nelson upto 1993 and in funky hands could prove to be an addiction that stays with you for life! :)

Prince is just too much. This Hits album (the first of two) is an excess of great tracks from the get go: "When Doves Cry", Pop Life", "I Feel For You", "Let's Go Crazy", "1999", " I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man"... this is a non-stop train, not just of plain hits, but authentic masterpieces. With sweet funky music, packed with genius and with a touch of soul and rock, Prince goes beyond musical genres to deliver some of the best music around. So, while never enough to do justice to this man's music, this compilation is a great place to start to deep yourself into Prince's music.

i've never been a big fan of prince, but i'll admit that he makes me shake my skinny white booty. and for that, anyone deserves a certain amount of props. aside from the incomparable "when doves cry"--one of the greatest singles of all time--the bigger hits aren't all that much better than the lesser-known tracks. a consistent comp, if not as drop-dead amazing as purple rain or sign o' the times.

In 1993 "Prince" released his greatest hits, in the form of two albums, the "Hits 1" and "Hits 2". Obviously you need both to have all his popular songs. "Hits 1" is a little less sexy than the other, but the songs are all still excellent. Chronological order would have been nice, but oh well. I guess it depends on which songs you really want as to which disc you get. Of course there's also the 17 track "The Very Best Of Prince", which is the best of the best.