Two Prince albums due soon: A hits package and deluxe 'Purple Rain' set

Prince's estate opened Paisley Park this month as a museum before they received the permanent green light from the Chanhassen City Council. Prince's estate staged a nearly five-hour Official Tribute Concert this month before the show was properly rehearsed.

Now comes news that Warner Bros. Records, in conjunction with Prince's own NPG Records, will issue a new greatest-hits collection in time for the holidays and a deluxe "Purple Rain" package in early 2017. The latter release was in the works before Prince's death on April 21.

"Prince 4ever," due Nov. 22, will contain 40 songs, including a previously unreleased selection "Moonbeam Levels," originally recorded in 1982 for the "1999" album sessions. The collection includes "Soft and Wet," "1999," "When Doves Cry," "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "Diamonds and Pearls" as well as such lesser known numbers as "Paisley Park" and "Glam Slam."

The package will include a 12-page booklet featuring never-seen photos by fashion photographer and video director Herb Ritts, who did sessions with Prince in the early 1990s.

This will be Prince's fourth hits package. The most complete one is 1993's three-disc "The Hits/The B-Sides," which includes 56 tunes.

The deluxe "Purple Rain" package will include the original album remastered and a second album of previously unreleased material. Prince reportedly approved the remastering before his death.