Gold: The Best of...

Lore & Background

Produced entirely by Prince, the album was released on September 26, 1995, by NPG Records and Warner Bros. Records. It charted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top R&B Albums. The singles 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World', 'Hate U', and 'Gold' charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at numbers 3, 12, and 88 respectively. On June 18, 2022, the album was reissued for Record Store Day 2022 on vinyl as a replica of the original translucent gold expanded promo album from 1995; the CD version was rereleased the day prior. This marked the first complete reissue following a legal battle over 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World'.

Reader's Guide

The album sold 500,000 copies in the United States and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. Critical reception was positive: Melody Maker called it Prince's best record in years, Vibe said it was his best since Sign o' the Times, and Robert Christgau praised its renewal and porno jolt. Jon Pareles found most songs minor successes. The album was voted 30th best of 1995 in the Pazz & Jop poll. Personnel includes Prince on multiple instruments, Mayte, Tommy Barbarella, Michael B., Mr. Hayes, Sonny T., Nona Gaye, Kirk Johnson, Ricky Peterson, James Behringer, Brian Gallagher, Kathy Jensen, Dave Jensen, Steve Strand, and Michael B. Nelson.

Did You Know?

• The song 'Billy Jack Bitch' was speculated to be about a Minneapolis Star Tribune gossip columnist, but Prince denied it when the columnist interviewed him.
• The Japanese broadcast of the K-1 World Grand Prix used 'Endorphinmachine' as its theme song from 1995 to 2020 and 'Gold' as its ending theme.
• The Mexican network Televisa used the first seconds of 'We March' for its curtain call from 2003 to 2015.
• Every use of the pronoun 'I' in song titles and liner notes is represented by a stylized 👁 symbol, commonly transliterated as 'Eye'.