Ultimate Prince

Last updated

Ultimate Prince
Ultimate Prince.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Prince
ReleasedAugust 22, 2006
Recorded1979–1992
Genre
Length156:20
Label Warner Bros., Rhino
Producer Prince
Prince chronology
3121
(2006)		Ultimate Prince
(2006)		 Planet Earth
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Pitchfork 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" had not been on a previous hits collection), and another of extended remixes of hits and a B-side, most of which had only been previously released as 12-inch singles.

Contents

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]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 61 on the Billboard 200 the week of September 9, 2006; the next week it dropped to number one hundred twenty-three. [4] [5] It remained on the chart for sixteen weeks. [6]

The week following Prince's death the album sold 40,000 units and hit a new peak of four on the Billboard 200 during the week of May 14, 2016; it was the first time that Ultimate rose into the top 10 of the chart. [7]

In the United Kingdom the album opened at number 24 on September 2, 2006; the next week, it fell to number 29 and left the chart three weeks later. [8] Almost one year later, it re-entered at number 6 during the week of August 11, 2007. [8] The week following Prince's death, the album re-entered on the chart at number 10 and the next week; on May 5, 2016, it reached and peaked at number three. [8] Ultimate remained on the UK Albums Chart for twenty seven weeks. [8] It was certified platinum by the BPI on January 24, 2014, denoting shipments of 300,000 units. [9]

Track listing

Disc one: The Hits
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."I Wanna Be Your Lover" (single edit) Prince (1979)2:57
2."Uptown" (single edit) Dirty Mind (1980)4:11
3."Controversy" Controversy (1981)7:16
4."1999" (single edit; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 1999 (1982)3:38
5."Delirious" (edit; performed by Prince & the Revolution)19992:40
6."When Doves Cry" (single version) Purple Rain (1984)3:47
7."I Would Die 4 U" (single version; performed by Prince & the Revolution)Purple Rain2:58
8."Purple Rain" (performed by Prince & the Revolution)Purple Rain8:41
9."Sign o' the Times" (single edit) Sign o' the Times (1987)3:42
10."I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (edit)Sign o' the Times3:41
11."Alphabet St." Lovesexy (1988)5:38
12."Diamonds and Pearls" (edit; performed by Prince & the New Power Generation) Diamonds and Pearls (1991)4:20
13."Gett Off" (performed by Prince & the New Power Generation)Diamonds and Pearls4:31
14."Money Don't Matter 2 Night" (performed by Prince & the New Power Generation)Diamonds and Pearls4:47
15."7" (single version; performed by Prince & the New Power Generation) Love Symbol Album (1992)5:08
16."Nothing Compares 2 U" (live; with Rosie Gaines) The Hits/The B-Sides (1993); originally performed by The Family 5:04
17."My Name Is Prince" (single version; performed by Prince & the New Power Generation)Love Symbol Album4:04
Disc two: The Remixes
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Let's Go Crazy" (special dance mix; performed by Prince & the Revolution)Purple Rain7:36
2."Little Red Corvette" (dance mix)19998:27
3."Let's Work" (dance remix)Controversy8:06
4."Pop Life" (Fresh Dance Mix; performed by Prince & the Revolution) Around the World in a Day (1985)6:18
5."She's Always in My Hair" (12" version; performed by Prince & the Revolution)"Raspberry Beret" single (1985)6:32
6."Raspberry Beret" (extended 12" version; performed by Prince & the Revolution)Around the World in a Day6:34
7."Kiss" (extended version; performed by Prince & the Revolution) Parade (1986)7:17
8."U Got the Look" (Long Look)Sign o' the Times6:43
9."Hot Thing" (extended remix)Sign o' the Times8:31
10."Thieves in the Temple" (remix) Graffiti Bridge (1990)8:08
11."Cream" (N.P.G. Mix Edit; performed by Prince & the New Power Generation)Diamonds and Pearls4:52

Personnel

Adapted from the AllMusic credits. [10]

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
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Purple Medley" (performed by The Artist Formerly Known As Prince)non-album single (1995)11:04
2."I Wanna Be Your Lover" (single edit) 2:57
3."Uptown" (edit) 4:11
4."Controversy" (LP version) 7:15
5."1999" (edit; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 3:38
6."Little Red Corvette" (Dance Remix; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 8:22
7."Irresistible Bitch" (performed by Prince & the Revolution)B-side to "Let's Pretend We're Married" (1983)4:11
8."Let's Go Crazy" (Special Dance Mix; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 7:35
9."Erotic City" (12" version)B-side to "Let's Go Crazy" (1984)7:22
10."I Would Die 4 U" (single version; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 2:57
11."When Doves Cry" (edit) 3:47
12."Purple Rain" (performed by Prince & the Revolution) 8:41
13."Pop Life" (Fresh Dance Mix; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 6:18
14."She's Always in My Hair" (12" version; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 6:32
15."Raspberry Beret" (12" version; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 6:32
Disc two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Kiss" (extended version; performed by Prince & the Revolution) 7:15
2."Sign "O" the Times" (single edit) 3:42
3."U Got the Look" (Long Look) 6:43
4."I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (edit) 3:41
5."Hot Thing" (extended remix) 8:33
6."Alphabet St." 5:39
7."Thieves in the Temple" (remix) 8:08
8."Diamonds and Pearls" (edit; performed by Prince & The New Power Generation) 4:20
9."Gett Off" (performed by Prince & The New Power Generation) 4:31
10."Money Don't Matter 2 Night" (performed by Prince & the New Power Generation) 4:48
11."Cream" (N.P.G. Mix Edit; performed by Prince & the New Power Generation) 4:51
12."7" (acoustic version)B-side to "7" (1992)3:54
13."Sexy Mutha" (clean remix of "Sexy M.F."; performed by Prince & the New Power Generation)B-side to "My Name Is Prince" (1992)3:55
14."Nothing Compares 2 U" (live; performed with Rosie Gaines) 5:04
15."My Name is Prince" (single version; performed by Prince & the New Power Generation) 4:03

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

Certifications

Certifications for Ultimate Prince
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [34] Platinum20,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [35] Platinum15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [9] Platinum300,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>1</i> (Beatles album) 2000 greatest hits album by The Beatles

1 is a greatest hits album of the English rock band the Beatles, originally released on 13 November 2000. The album features virtually every number-one single the band achieved in the United Kingdom or United States from 1962 to 1970. Issued on the 30th anniversary of the band's break-up, it was their first compilation album available on only one CD. 1 was a commercial success and topped charts worldwide. It has sold over 31 million copies. Since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking US album sales in January 1991, 1 is the fourth-best-selling album in the US, the best-selling album of the 2000s decade in the US, as well as the best-selling album of the decade worldwide.

<i>Mixed Up</i> (The Cure album) 1990 remix album by the Cure

Mixed Up is a remix album by English rock band the Cure, released on 20 November 1990 by Fiction Records. The songs are remixes of some of their hits, reflecting the popularity of remixing of existing songs and dance culture of the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2018, a sequel was released titled Torn Down.

<i>Better Dayz</i> 2002 studio album by 2Pac

Better Dayz is the eighth studio album and fourth posthumous album by the late American rapper 2Pac. It is his last double-album.

<i>Until the End of Time</i> (Tupac Shakur album) 2001 studio album by 2Pac

Until the End of Time is the seventh studio album and third posthumous album by American rapper 2Pac.

<i>Cross Road</i> (album) 1994 greatest hits album by Bon Jovi

Cross Road is the first official greatest hits album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 11, 1994, by Mercury Records. The album contains hits from all previously released albums from their debut, Bon Jovi (1984) to Keep the Faith (1992). The album also features two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer" entitled "Prayer '94" available only on the North American versions.

<i>Evita</i> (soundtrack) 1996 soundtrack album by Madonna / various artists

Evita is the soundtrack album to the 1996 musical film of the same name, performed mostly by American singer Madonna. It was released by Warner Bros. Records on October 28, 1996 in the United Kingdom and on November 12, 1996, in the United States. Directed by Alan Parker, the film was based on Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1978 musical Evita about First Lady of Argentina Eva Perón, portrayed by Madonna. The soundtrack consists of reworked songs from its original 1976 concept album as well as a new song, "You Must Love Me". Additional performers on the soundtrack include Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce and Jimmy Nail.

<i>R.</i> (R. Kelly album) 1998 studio album by R. Kelly

R. is the third solo album by American singer R. Kelly, released as a double album on November 10, 1998, by Jive Records. It marked the first time Kelly worked with other producers as opposed to producing the entire album himself. Its cover artwork uses the same image of Kelly from his 1993 debut 12 Play, only in silhouette form against a red and black background.

<i>Idlewild</i> (Outkast album) 2006 studio album / soundtrack album by Outkast

Idlewild is the sixth and final studio album by the American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on August 22, 2006, by LaFace Records and served as the soundtrack album to the duo's musical film of the same name, which was released that same month. Containing themes relating to the music industry, the album also featured songs not included in the film while incorporating jazz, blues, swing, and soul styles in its music.

<i>Dont Be Cruel</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Bobby Brown

Don't Be Cruel is the second studio album by American singer Bobby Brown. It was released in the United States on June 20, 1988, by MCA Records. MCA changed producers for this album and had Brown work with hit-making songwriting and production duo Babyface and L.A. Reid. Brown dedicated the album to his deceased best friend James "Jimbo" Flint who was stabbed to death when Brown was aged 11. Don't Be Cruel incorporates new jack swing, R&B, funk, dance and soul.

<i>Fruit at the Bottom</i> 1989 studio album by Wendy & Lisa

Fruit at the Bottom is the second studio album by American pop duo Wendy & Lisa, released in 1989 by Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 119 on the US Billboard 200, No. 71 on the US R&B Albums chart and No. 45 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>All Eyez on Me</i> 1996 studio album by 2Pac

All Eyez on Me is the fourth and final studio album by American rapper 2Pac to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, and the Outlawz, among others.

<i>Lisa Stansfield</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Lisa Stansfield

Lisa Stansfield is the fourth solo studio album by British singer Lisa Stansfield, released by Arista Records on 21 March 1997. It was her first new studio album since 1993's So Natural. Stansfield co-wrote most songs for the album with her husband Ian Devaney. The tracks were produced by Devaney and Peter Mokran. Lisa Stansfield garnered favourable reviews from music critics and was commercially successful, reaching number two in the United Kingdom and receiving Gold certification. In the United States, it spawned four number-one singles on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs. Lisa Stansfield was rereleased as a deluxe 2CD + DVD set in Europe in November 2014.

<i>My Love: Essential Collection</i> 2008 greatest hits album by Celine Dion

My Love: Essential Collection is the third English-language greatest hits album by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion. It was released by Columbia Records on 24 October 2008 as the follow-up to her previous English-language compilation, All the Way... A Decade of Song (1999). In the album's liner notes, she dedicated this collection of songs, recorded between 1990 and 2008, to her fans who supported her throughout the years. My Love: Essential Collection was released as a single disc, consisting of Dion's most successful singles, including: "My Heart Will Go On", "Because You Loved Me", "The Power of Love" and "It's All Coming Back to Me Now". The two-disc edition, entitled My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection, has been further expanded to include more hits and rare songs that have not previously appeared on her albums. Both editions include one new track, "There Comes a Time". The album was not released in Japan, where Sony Music Entertainment instead released Complete Best.

<i>Crystal Ball</i> (box set) 1998 box set by Prince

Crystal Ball is a box set by American recording artist Prince. It includes Crystal Ball, the artist's twentieth studio album, which is a three-disc set of "previously bootlegged" material, together with a fourth disc, The Truth, the twenty-first studio album by Prince.

<i>Let the Dominoes Fall</i> 2009 studio album by Rancid

Let the Dominoes Fall is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid, released in Europe on June 1, 2009 and in the US on June 2, 2009 by Hellcat/Epitaph. It was their first album of new material in nearly six years, following 2003's Indestructible, and their first with drummer Branden Steineckert, who joined the band in 2006 after the departure of founding drummer Brett Reed.

<i>The Ultimate Bee Gees</i> 2009 compilation album by the Bee Gees

The Ultimate Bee Gees is a compilation album released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Bee Gees. Although the group did not start recording until 1963 on Festival Records in Australia, they began calling themselves the "Bee Gees" in 1959 after several name changes such as "Wee Johnny Hayes and the Bluecats", "The Rattlesnakes" and "BG's". Each disc is themed with the first containing more upbeat songs, called A Night Out, and the second containing slower songs and ballads, called A Night In, though the cover art does not distinguish this theme. Liner notes were written by Sir Tim Rice. This also marks the return of the 1970s era logo on an official Bee Gees release, which was last used on the Bee Gees' 1983 single "Someone Belonging to Someone".

<i>Laws of Illusion</i> 2010 studio album by Sarah McLachlan

Laws of Illusion is the seventh studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. It was released on 11 June 2010 on Arista Records in the United States and 15 June 2010 on Nettwerk in Canada. Recording for the album took place in Montreal and Vancouver and production was handled by Pierre Marchand, with whom McLachlan has frequently collaborated in the past.

<i>Under the Mistletoe</i> 2011 studio album by Justin Bieber

Under the Mistletoe is the first Christmas album and second studio album by Canadian singer Justin Bieber, released on November 1, 2011, by RBMG/Island Def Jam Music Group. The album features fifteen tracks, including seven original songs co-written by Bieber, along with cover versions of Christmas carols and standards. Fellow artists Usher, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, and the Band Perry all make guest appearances on the album.

<i>Dance Again... the Hits</i> 2012 greatest hits album by Jennifer Lopez

Dance Again... the Hits is the first greatest hits album of American singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on July 20, 2012, by Epic Records, to coincide with the launch of her first world tour, the Dance Again World Tour. Lopez previously conceived plans for a greatest hits album in 2009, but instead opted to use the material recorded for her seventh studio album, Love? (2011), which was released by Island Records in May 2011 after her departure from Epic Records in 2010. As Lopez owed the label one last album to fulfill her contract, she began work on a new greatest hits album in November 2011. She later became unsure whether she wanted to go along with plans to release a greatest hits album or a new studio album, eventually deciding on the former.

<i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i> (soundtrack) 2015 soundtrack album by Various artists

Fifty Shades of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the film of the same name adapted from E. L. James's eponymous novel that was released through Republic Records on February 10, 2015. It was the seventh best-selling album of 2015 with 2.2 million copies sold worldwide.

References

  1. ↑ AllMusic review
  2. ↑ Pitchfork Media review
  3. ↑ "Album: Ultimate". Prince Vault. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Top 200 Albums". Billboard 200. Billboard . September 9, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Top 200 Albums". Billboard 200. Billboard . September 16, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard . Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  7. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (May 3, 2016). "Prince Sets Record With Five Albums in Top 10 of Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Prince | Artists | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart . Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  9. 1 2 "British album certifications – Prince – Ultimate". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Ultimate – Prince | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Prince – Ultimate" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Prince – Ultimate" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Prince – Ultimate" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Prince Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – Ultimate" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Prince: Ultimate" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – Ultimate" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2016. 18. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  22. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 17, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Charts.nz – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Prince – Ultimate". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Beyonce Earns Sixth No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Lemonade'" . Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  32. ↑ "CAPIF Rankings Mensual" (in Spanish). CAPIF. Archived from the original (Select "Mayo 2016") on May 11, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  33. ↑ "UK Year-End Charts 2007" (PDF). Official Charts Company . ChartsPlus . Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Prince – Ultimate Prince". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved September 11, 2019. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2016 to obtain certification.
  35. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Prince – Ultimate Prince". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.