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The Hits/The B-Sides
Box set by Prince
Released	September 10, 1993 (1993-09-10)
Studio	Paisley Park,Chanhassen
Length	227:03
Label	Paisley Park Warner Bros.
Producer	The New Power Generation Prince The Revolution Tommy Vicari
Prince chronology
Love Symbol (1992) The Hits/The B-Sides (1993) The Beautiful Experience (1994)
Alternative cover
Album covers forThe Hits 1 andThe Hits 2
Singles from The Hits/The B-Sides
"Pink Cashmere" Released: August 31, 1993 "Peach" Released: October 4, 1993 "Controversy" Released: December 11, 1993 (UK)

The Hits/The B-Sides is abox set by American recording artistPrince. It was released on September 10, 1993, byPaisley Park Records andWarner Bros. Records. The album is a comprehensive three-disc set consisting of many of his hitsingles and fan favorites.^[1] It was the last commercial release by Prince before he changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	B+[3]
Entertainment Weekly	A[4]
MusicHound Rock	4.5/5[5]
Music Week	[6]
NME	6/10[7]
Q	[8]
Rolling Stone	[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[10]
Tom Hull	A−[11]

Discs one and two were released separately, under the titlesThe Hits 1 andThe Hits 2 respectively, butThe B-Sides disc could only be obtained by purchasing the full set. The separateHits discs and the full set were all released on the same day. Most of the songs (A-side and B-sides) onThe Hits/The B-Sides are represented in their edited single form. Exceptions to this were "Alphabet St.", "7", "Little Red Corvette", "Sexy MF", "Let's Go Crazy", and "Purple Rain". This compilation marks the first time the single version of "Kiss" was made available onCD. The third disc of B-sides also featured the 7-inch edits, with the exceptions of "200 Balloons", "17 Days", "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)", "Horny Toad", "Irresistible Bitch", "I Love U in Me", "God", and "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" which were all original full-length recordings from the original singles.

Among the previously unreleased material was the rare live version of "4 the Tears in Your Eyes", only previously released in a 1985 TV broadcast for theLive Aid concerts. Also included was a live version of "Nothing Compares 2 U", recorded live January 27, 1992, atPaisley Park withthe New Power Generation. The other four new tracks wereouttakes. The oldest track was "Power Fantastic", a moody ballad once considered for theDream Factory project of 1986. Another ballad, "Pink Cashmere", was broadcast before some of theLovesexy World Tour shows, dating it back to 1988 originally for his abandonedRave Un2 the Joy Fantastic project. "Peach" was regularly played on theAct I Tour (1993) and "Pope" was played live during some 1993 after shows. "Pope" was actually in the short-lived musicalballetGlam Slam Ulysses, which also spawned several songs later released onCome,The Gold Experience andCrystal Ball. Live jams of "Peach" often extended into the title track ofChaos and Disorder.

In the United States the album debuted at number 19 on theBillboard 200 the week of October 2, 1993, with more than 87,000 copies sold combining the two abbreviated versions,Hits 1 andHits 2; the last two debuted at numbers 46 and 55, respectively, the same week.^[12] The next week, the album dropped to number 32 on the chart.^[13] It was present on the chart for 18 weeks.

The week following Prince's death, the album sold 40,000 equivalent copies (24,000 in pure album sales) thus allowing the album to re-enter theBillboard 200 at number 6.^[14][15] The next week it sold 106,000 units and hit a new peak of number four on the chart.^[16] The album was certified platinum by theRIAA on September 14, 1993, for shipments of one million.^[17]

As of April 2016Hits 1 has sold 1,451,000 copies andHits 2 has sold 1,738,000 units according toNielsen SoundScan; combined, they have sold over 3,189,000 copies in the United States.^[18]

In theUnited Kingdom the album debuted and peaked at number four the week of September 25, 1993, the next week it fell off to number 12 and remained on the chart for 18 weeks.^[19]Hits 1 debuted and peaked at number five on September 25, 1993, whileHits 2 opened at number six the same weeks and two weeks later it reached and peaked at number five.^[19]The Hits/The B Sides was certified gold by theBPI on July 22, 2013, denoting shipments of 100,000 units.^[20]

All songs performed byPrince, except where noted.

Adapted from Benoît Clerc,^[21] Duane Tudahl,^[22] Guitarcloud,^{[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]} Mix,^[34] Morris Day and David Ritz,^[35] Jon Regen,^[36] and Michaelangelo Matos^[37]

• Prince – lead vocals(all tracks),rap(track 2;15), backing vocals(tracks 1;1–10, 1;12–14, 1;16–18, 2;1–13, 2;15–18, 3;1–15, 3;17–19),electric guitar(tracks 1;1, 1;3–11, 1;13–17, 2;1–4, 2;6–8, 2;11–13, 2;15–16, 2;18, 3;1–5, 3;10, 3;12–15, 3;17),acoustic guitar(tracks 1;10, 1;13, 1;18, 2;3, 2;11, 3;3, 3;9),twelve-string acoustic guitar(tracks 2;9, 3;19),bass guitar(tracks 1;2–7, 1;9–10, 1;12–14, 1;18, 2;1–7, 2;9–10, 3;1–6, 3;9–15, 3;17),synthesizers(tracks 1;13–14, 1;17–18, 2;4, 2;7–8, 2;17–18, 3;2–3, 3;5, 3;7, 3;10–15, 3;17–18)^{[better source needed]},ARP Omni(tracks 1;6–7, 2;5), ARP Omni 2(track 1;9),ARP Pro Soloist(track 1;3),ARP String Ensemble(track 2;3),Ensoniq Mirage(tracks 1;12, 3;10, 3;13),Fairlight CMI(tracks 1;10, 1;12, 1;15, 2;10, 2;13, 3;1, 3;6, 3;10),Minimoog(tracks 1;3, 2;3),Polymoog(tracks 1;3, 1;7, 2;3),Oberheim Four Voice(tracks 1;3–4, 2;3),Oberheim OB-X(tracks 1;6–7, 2;1–2, 2;5, 3;1, 3;4), Oberheim OB-SX(track 2;1),Oberheim OB-Xa(tracks 1;1, 1;9, 2;6),Oberheim OB-8(tracks 1;2, 1;10, 3;6, 3;9),Roland D-50(tracks 1;14, 1;16),SequentialProphet VS(tracks 1;12, 2;10, 2;13, 3;6),Yamaha DX7(tracks 1;1, 2;9, 3;1, 3;8),piano(tracks 1;2, 1;11, 3;16, 3;18),Yamaha CP-70(tracks 2;3, 2;5), Yamaha CP-80(track 2;9),Hohner Clavinet(tracks 1;3–5, 1;7, 2;3–4),Hammond organ(track 1;12),drums(tracks 1;3–7, 1;12, 2;1–5, 3;1, 3;4, 3;11–14, 3;17),Dynacord ADD-One(tracks 1;13–14, 1;16),Linn LM-1(tracks 1;1, 1;8–9, 1;12–14, 2;6–7, 2;9–10, 3;6, 3;15),LinnDrum(tracks 1;10, 1;15–16, 3;9),slapstick(track 1;3),claps(tracks 1;4, 1;10, 1;14, 1;18, 3;4–5),Pollard Syndrum(track 1;4),Pearl SY-1 Syncussion(tracks 1;9, 2;1, 2;7),cymbals(track 1;9),cuíca(track 1;14),Roland R-8(tracks 1;17, 2;15),programming(tracks 1;18, 2;17, 3;1–2, 3;5, 3;7, 3;10–14)^{[better source needed]},finger cymbals(tracks 1;18, 3;14, 3;20),percussion(tracks 1;18, 2;9, 3;14–15, 3;20),finger snaps(tracks 2;6, 3;7), Publison IM90 Infernal Machine(tracks 2;10, 2;13, 3;12)
• Lisa Coleman – lead vocals(track 1;9), spoken vocals(track 2;4), background vocals(tracks 1;2, 1;8–9, 2;1, 2;6–9, 2;18, 3;11, 3;15, 3;19), synthesizers(tracks 2;8, 2;18), Oberheim OB-SX(track 1;8),electric piano(track 3;19), piano(track 3;20)
• Sheila E. – lead vocals(tracks 3;9, 3;12), backing vocals(tracks 3;3, 3;9, 3;12–13), drums(tracks 1;2, 1;14), Linn LM-1(track 1;2, 2;13), claps(track 1;14), synth drum fills(track 1;17), cymbals(track 2;13),hi-hat(track 2;13),cowbells(track 2;13),timbales(track 2;13), percussion(track 3;13)
• Wendy Melvoin – background vocals(tracks 1;2, 1;8, 2;8, 2;18, 3;11, 3;15, 3;19), electric guitar(tracks 1;8, 2;8–9, 2;18, 3;19–20)
• André Cymone – background vocals(track 1;5)
• Brownmark – backing vocals(tracks 1;8, 2;8, 2;18), bass(tracks 1;8, 2;8, 2;18)
• Doctor Fink – background vocals(tracks 1;8, 2;18), synthesizers(track 2;8), ARP Omni(track 2;2), ARP Omni 2(track 2;4),Memorymoog(track 2;8), Oberheim OB-Xa(track 1;8), Yamaha CP-70(track 2;18)
• Bobby Z. – Linn LM-1(tracks 1;8, 2;8, 2;18),Simmons SDS-V(tracks 1;8, 2;18), Pearl SY-1 Syncussion(tracks 1;8–9, 2;8), cymbals(tracks 1;8, 2;8, 2;18), drums(track 3;20)
• Dez Dickerson – lead vocals(track 1;9), backing vocals(tracks 1;9, 2;7), electric guitarsolo(track 2;7)
• Jesse Johnson – backing vocals
• Jill Jones – lead vocals(track 1;9), backing vocals(tracks 1;9, 3;1, 3;10, 3;15)
• Tommy Barbarella – synthesizers(tracks 1;11, 1;17, 2;14–16), Hammond organ(track 2;14)
• Michael B. – drums(tracks 1;11, 1;17, 2;12, 2;14–16)
• Rosie Gaines – lead vocals(tracks 1;11, 1;17, 2;15), backing vocals(tracks 1;17, 2;15–16), synthesizers(track 1;11), Hammond organ(track 2;16)
• Kathy Jensen –baritone saxophone(track 1;11, 2;14)
• Levi Seacer Jr. – lead vocals(track 2;14), backing vocals(track 2;15), electric guitar(track 1;11, 2;14–16)
• Sonny T. – bass guitar(tracks 1;11, 1;17, 2;12, 2;14–16)
• Atlanta Bliss –trumpet(tracks 1;12, 1;14, 3;2, 3;6, 3;13, 3;20)
• Eric Leeds –saxophone(tracks 1;12, 1;14, 3;3, 3;6, 3;12–13),flute(tracks 1;15, 3;12, 3;20)
• Novi Novog –alto violin(tracks 1;12, 2;9, 2;18),violin(track 2;18)
• Boni Boyer – backing vocals(tracks 1;14, 3;3)
• Cat Glover – rap(track 1;14), backing vocals(track 1;14)
• Lester Chambers – harmonica (sampled from "I Can't Stand It" (1967) byThe Chambers Brothers)(track 1;16)
• Morris Day – possible drums(track 2;1)
• David Coleman, Suzie Katayama –cello(tracks 2;9, 2;18)
• Susannah Melvoin – backing vocals(track 2;9)
• Bruce DeShazer, Marr Star – backing vocals(track 2;11)
• David Z. – Yamaha DX7(track 2;11), Linn 9000(track 2;11)
• Mayte – lead vocals(track 2;17), backing vocals(track 2;12)
• Sheena Easton – lead vocals(track 2;13)
• Dave Dickinson – backing vocals(track 2;14–15), percussion(track 2;14–15)
• Brian Gallagher –tenor saxophone(track 2;14)
• DJ Graves –scratching(tracks 2;14, 2;17)
• Dave Jensen, Steve Strand – trumpet(track 2;14)
• Kirk Johnson – backing vocals(track 2;14–15), percussion(track 2;14–15)
• Tony M. – rap(tracks 2;14–15)
• Michael B. Nelson –trombone(track 2;14)
• Brenda Bennett – lead vocals(track 3;15)

• Prince –producer(all tracks),recording engineer (as "Jamie Starr")(tracks 1;6–7, 2;2, 2;4, 3;4)
• Tommy Vicari – producer(track 1;3), recording engineer(track 1;3)
• David Leonard – recording engineer(tracks 1;1, 1;8, 2;8, 2;18, 3;1, 3;11)
• Peggy McCreary – recording engineer(tracks 1;1–2, 2;1, 2;5–6, 2;8, 2;11, 2;18, 3;1, 3;9, 3;11, 3;15–17)
• Gary Brandt – recording engineer(tracks 1;4–5, 2;3)
• Bob Mockler – recording engineer(tracks 1;4–5, 2;1, 2;3, 2;5)
• Don Batts – recording engineer(tracks 1;6–7, 1;9, 2;2, 2;4, 2;7, 3;4–5, 3;7)
• Susan Rogers – recording engineer(tracks 1;8, 1;10, 1;12, 1;15, 2;9–11, 2;13, 3;1, 3;6–7, 3;10, 3;13, 3;18–20)
• Coke Johnson – recording engineer(tracks 1;10, 1;12, 1;15, 2;11, 2;13, 3;6)
• Eddie Miller – recording engineer(tracks 1;13–14, 3;3, 3;12)
• Arne Frager – recording engineer(track 1;13)
• Joe Blaney – recording engineer(track 1;14)
• Michael Koppelman – recording engineer(tracks 1;16–18, 2;14–16)
• Tom Garneau – recording engineer(track 1;16)
• David Friedlander, Ray Hahnfeldt, Brian Poer – recording engineers(tracks 1;18, 2;14)
• Ray Hahnfeldt – recording engineer(tracks 1;18, 2;14, 2;17)
• Steve Noonan – recording engineer(tracks 1;18, 2;12)
• Mick Guzauski, Ross Pallone – recording engineers(tracks 2;1, 2;5)
• David Rivkin – recording engineer(tracks 2;8, 2;11, 2;18)
• David Hewitt, Kooster McAllister – recording engineers(tracks 2;8, 2;18)
• Mark Forrester – recording engineer(track 2;12)
• Femi Jiya – recording engineer(track 3;2)
• David Tickle – recording engineer(tracks 3;7, 3;19)
• Bill Jackson – recording engineer(tracks 3;14–15)
• Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin –stringarrangement(track 1;2)
• Clare Fischer –orchestra arrangement(track 1;13)

• The Hits Collection, accompanying home video of select music videos from Prince.

• 1993 greatest hits albums
• Prince (musician) compilation albums
• Albums produced by Prince (musician)
• Paisley Park Records compilation albums
• Warner Records compilation albums
• B-side compilation albums
• Albums recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders

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