Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This collection of videos is important for what it includes (if the buyer is REALLY a fan) and does not warrant the comdemnation it has received for the songs that were left out. Incredibly rare videos of "I Wanna Be your Lover," "Dirty Mind," "Uptown," (which all predate the MTV era) and "Controversy" (filmed in early '81 but only played in video clubs with a few rare airings much later on BET and MTV) are all included here for the first time as are the brillant "1999" & "Little Red Corvette" (#12 and #6 respectively on Billboard's Top 100 and also initially excluded from MTV's playlist). The disc is simply a DVD of the original 1993 VHS companion released to compliment the CD "The Hits / The B-Sides". Everyone who has reviewed this disc seems to spend a lot of time bitchin' about their faves not being in this package. At the time the video of this DVD was released, Prince had already accrued 27 Top 40 singles. This set is representative of some of his most inovative work. Obviously, Warners wasn't going to include much from"Purple Rain" and cut into its video sales potential. The same holds true for material from "Graffiti Bridge" and the video for "U Got the Look" was lifted sraight off of his "Sign O' the Times" video. Video material from "Batman" was contractually tied up and not available for use. Be gateful for what you get (especially the rareties listed previously). Real Prince fans are aware that by 1993, Prince was embroiled in a bitter dispute with Warner Bros. over the ownership of his songs. That's why he changed his name to a symbol and eventually bought his way out of his contract. The price for artistic freedom was to lose the rights to these songs to Warner Bros. who could now package them for release--or re-release--any way they saw fit. (This also included many, many songs in "The Vaults" Prince did not deem ready to be released at the time. Ever notice how Warner Bros. releases a new collection of previously unavailable songs every time Prince releases an album of new material?). Everyone of the remaining songs presented here, with the exception of "Peach" which was a new single from "The Hits" set, are videos for top 10 singles: "Alphabet St." #8, "Sign O' the Times" #3, "Raspberry Beret" #2, "Kiss" #1, "Cream" #1, & "7" #7. As previously stated, many of the songs excluded causing other reviewers to whine, were available at the time of the tape's release on other videos. Another thing people seem to forget or are unaware of is that in the early '90s it was rare for any commercial music video relase to be longer than 60 minutes unless it was a concert video. Yeah, Warner Bros. could have updated and expanded this collection for DVD release but that was hardly likely with the malice the company has treated its own Prince releases since he left the label. Maybe they'll release more in the future, but until then enjoy this extraordinary time capsule of late '70s and '80s Prince videos. It will give you valuable insight as to why he is still so revered well into his 3rd decade of making music.