Ultimate Prince

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.

Track listing

Disc one

1. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (Single edit) – 2:57 from Prince (1979)
2. "Uptown" (Single edit) – 4:09 from Dirty Mind (1980)
3. "Controversy" – 7:15 from Controversy (1981)
4. "1999" (Single edit) – 3:37 from 1999 (1982)
5. "Delirious" (Single edit) – 2:38 from 1999
6. "When Doves Cry" (Single edit) – 3:47 from Purple Rain (1984)
7. "I Would Die 4 U" (Single version) – 2:56 from Purple Rain
8. "Purple Rain" – 8:40 from Purple Rain
9. "Sign o' the Times" (Single edit) – 3:42 from Sign o' the Times (1987)
10. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (Single edit) – 3:39 from Sign o' the Times
11. "Alphabet St." – 5:38 from Lovesexy (1988)
12. "Diamonds and Pearls" (Single edit) – 4:19 from Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
13. "Gett Off" – 4:31 from Diamonds and Pearls
14. "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" – 4:47 from Diamonds and Pearls
15. "7" – 5:08 from Love Symbol Album (1992)
16. "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Live) – 4:57 from The Hits/The B-Sides (1993); originally by The Family from the album of same name
17. "My Name Is Prince" (Single edit) – 4:03 from Love Symbol Album

Disc two

1. "Let's Go Crazy" (Special dance mix) – 7:36
2. "Little Red Corvette" (Dance remix) – 8:22
3. "Let's Work" (Dance remix) – 8:02
4. "Pop Life" (Fresh dance mix) – 6:18
5. "She's Always in My Hair" (12" version) – 6:31
6. "Raspberry Beret" (12" version) – 6:34
7. "Kiss" (Extended version) – 7:16
8. "U Got the Look" (Long Look) – 6:40
9. "Hot Thing" (Extended remix) – 8:30
10. "Thieves in the Temple" (Remix) – 8:08
11. "Cream" (N.P.G. mix) – 4:50

Personnel

Adapted from the AllMusic credits.

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.

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"