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The Hits/The B-Sides
3 CD Box
Volume I
The Hits/The B-Sides
Disc One		 Volume II
The Hits/The B-Sides
Disc Two
The Hits/The B-Sides
Disc Three

  1. WHEN DOVES CRY
  2. POP LIFE
  3. SOFT AND WET
  4. I FEEL FOR YOU
  5. WHY DO YOU WANNA TREAT ME SO BAD
  6. WHEN YOU WERE MINE
  7. UPTOWN
  8. LET'S GO CRAZY
  9. 1999
  10. I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN
  11. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U
  12. ADORE
  13. PINK CASHMERE
  14. ALPHABET STREET
  15. SIGN 'O' THE TIMES
  16. THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE
  17. DIAMONDS & PEARLS
  18. 7
  1. CONTROVERSY
  2. DIRTY MIND
  3. I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER
  4. HEAD
  5. DO ME, BABY
  6. DELIRIOUS
  7. LITTLE RED CORVETTE
  8. I WOULD DIE 4 U
  9. RASBERRY BERET
  10. IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND
  11. KISS
  12. PEACH
  13. U GOT THE LOOK
  14. SEXY M.F.
  15. GETT OFF
  16. CREAM
  17. POPE
  18. PURPLE RAIN
  1. HELLO
  2. 200 BALLOONS
  3. ESCAPE
  4. GOTTA STOP (MESSIN' ABOUT)
  5. HORNY TOAD
  6. FEEL U UP
  7. GIRL
  8. I LOVE U IN ME
  9. EROTIC CITY
  10. SHOCKADELICA
  11. IRRESISTABLE BITCH
  12. SCARLETT PUSSY
  13. LA,LA,LA,HE, HE, HEE
  14. SHE'S ALWAYS IN MY HAIR
  15. 17 DAYS
  16. HOW COME U DON'T CALL ME ANYMORE
  17. ANOTHER LONELY CHRISTMAS
  18. GOD
  19. 4 THE TEARS IN YOUR EYES
  20. POWER FANTASTIC
September 14, 1993

LINER NOTES

"I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER" -
originally recorded as a demo 4 Patrice Rushen's album. PRN had a mad crush on her at the time and the song is about her.

"HEAD" -
was only used as a concert tune. This song was picked as Lisa Coleman's initiation into the band. Gayle Chapman quit because the material of the Dirty Mind period got 2 strong 4 her. Prince figured if Lisa could sing the lyrics to head she could handle anything. The song was a demo as was all the Dirty Mind LP.

"DO ME BABY" -
the 1st time Prince turned the control room into a bedroom. Candles were lit, chiffon veils were hung, and all the doors were locked.

"LITTLE RED CORVETTE" -
after another marathon all-night recording session, PRN wrote this in the front seat of Lisa's pink car which PRN drove when she was in LA. PRN always considered the song a dream because it was written between 3 or 4 catnaps and he was never fully awake.

"DIRTY MIND" -
Dr. Fink came up with the original keyboard line which PRN heard and wrote lyrics 2 that same night. PRN and Dr. Fink came 2 rehearsal the next day proud of their creation. The band flipped when they heard it. The centerpiece was in place.

"WHEN DOVES CRY" -
originally recorded with bass, backing 2 sets of keys and guitar. Frustrated with the mix, PRN sat discouraged in the studio (Sunset Sound). Jill Jones came 2 visit, saw the long face and asked what was wrong. PRN was said to have said, "if had my way the song would sound like this." He then shoved down the bulk of the instrument faders and left up only the drums and the xylophone, when the voices began to sing the chorus. Jill then asked PRN why he thought he couldn't have his way with the mix. There was no reply. Everyone who passed by was enthralled by the strange sound coming out of Studio 3 that day. The next time Jill heard the song it was on the radio bassless and stark. PRN had his way.

"KISS" -
PRN shelved this after recording it because he thought it 2 strange a production 4 human consumption. It was included in the Parade album as an afterthought. PRN thought it never quite worked on that album. Every time he plays it live he changes the arrangement. Probably still feels the same about the public's acceptance of the sound. It concert it's never sounded like the record.

"U GOT THE LOOK" -
a friend of PRN used 2 jump up and dance whenever Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" came on. As a test this song was recorded to find out of the friend would dance 2 a similar groove or just chill because it wasn't a hit. Sure enough the friend didn't like the song until it was in the Top 10.

"SEXY M.F." -
the song that made PRN abandon computers just before he retired. Proof that nothing beats the feel of a live band of funky M.F.'s.

"CREAM" -
PRN wrote this standing in a mirror.

"DAMN U" -
one of the songs PRN is most proud of; he adores it. Used to play it live even fore it was released. Through the years this has been the indication of his feelings about a new composition.

"I FEEL 4 U" -
another demo written 4 the Patrice Rushen project. PRN tended 2 write more Top 40 when writing 4 other artists.

"WHEN U WERE MINE" -
written in a hotel room in North Carolina on the Rick James tour. This was not a happy period. PRN didn't want to do this tour but he needed the exposure cuz his record was breaking R&B first. He was ready 2 headline his own tour but had 2 wait.

"UPTOWN" -
a favorite concert number during this period. The anthem 4 all the freaks and funkateers of the Dirty Mind generation. Vocal recorded in one take, no punching in after PRN in his 16-track home studio set up the song on the board, plugged in the mic, and left his leather coat on the chair. He went to get pumped at a movie and when it was over walked straight into the studio, donned the leather coat, and sang it straight out. He didn't listen 2 it until the next day and then began finishing it.

"1999" -
was meant 2 be a group vocal. Lisa, Dez, and Prince actually sang the whole song, every line. When Prince mixed it he made the decision 2 split up the lines, which is why the melody keeps changing. Jill Jones' 1st big vocal assignment - she does the ad libs on the vamp. Prince loved her voice. Vocally he said she was a 'cliffdiver.'

"POP LIFE" -
the jam in the 'hood.

"ADORE" -
inspired by Patti LaBelle & Luther Vandross who Prince was digging at the time. Patti - "if only u knew"...

"SIGN O' THE TIMES" -
written, recorded, and mixed in one day.

"ALPHABET STREET"
Prince always called this an 'aural cartoon.' Recorded during the LoveSexy period.

"BATDANCE" -
originally a 12" 4 the song "200 BALLOONS." This song with every sample just grew and grew. Listening 2 "200 BALLOONS" Prince commented "this sounds like it came from BATDANCE - not the other way around."

"DIAMONDS AND PEARLS" -
written as a duet with Rosie Gaines. Prince vowed never 2 perform it with anyone else. As much as Prince wanted Rosie 2 go solo he hated the fact that he wouldn't be able 2 peform one of his most prized possessions, Diamonds and Pearls, until they were 2gether again. Prince has called Rosie one of the greatest singers of all time. He most likens her 2 Ella Fitzgerald. Range, speed, and styling. Rosie's got it all.

"7" -
Jevetta Steele asked Prince 4 an explanation of this song. He only smiled.