Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

Infobox Album | Name = Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
Type = Album
Artist = Prince


Released = 9 November, 1999
Recorded = 1988, 1998–1999
Genre = Pop, Rock, Funk
Length = 73:50
Label = NPG
Arista
Producer = Prince
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:76420r2au48p~T1 link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/prince/albums/album/218416/review/5941486/rave_un2_the_joy_fantastic link] | Last album = ""
(1999)
This album = "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic"
(1999)
Next album = "Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic"
(2000)

"Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" is a 1999 album by Prince (his stage name at that time being an unpronounceable symbol). Featuring a radio-friendly sound, the album was conceived as a return to commercial success after several years without significant public attention. However, the album received only modest sales, mixed reviews, and is generally viewed by fans as one of Prince's weakest efforts.

Part of a one-album deal with Arista Records, "Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic" was intended by Arista president Clive Davis as a comeback album featuring guest star collaborations, similar to Carlos Santana's "Supernatural". To this end, the album features guest performanances from Sheryl Crow (on "Baby Knows"), Gwen Stefani (a duet on "So Far, So Pleased"), Chuck D ("Undisputed"), Maceo Parker ("Pretty Man"), Eve ("Hot Wit U"), and Ani DiFranco ("I Love U, but I Don't Trust U Anymore").

The album's first single, "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold", achieved modest success, peaking at number 63 on the Hot 100. Though Prince's duet with Gwen Stefani, "So Far So Pleased", was considered to be a single, plans were halted when No Doubt's label refused to grant permission (fearing it would confuse fans since the band's album, "Return of Saturn", was about to be released).

"Rave" received mixed reviews with both critics and fans, and though the album went gold, it was widely considered a disappointment. Frustrated by what Prince felt as Arista's failure to adequately promote and support the album, no further one-album contracts were signed and the project quietly faded.

The following year, a remix version of the album, entitled "Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic", was released through Prince's internet subscription service, receiving a much better reaction from fans. Prince's frustration with the "Rave" episode can be heard at the end of this album with the sound of a CD being smashed.

Track listing

# "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" – 4:18
# "Undisputed" – 4:19
# "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" – 5:29
# "Segue" – 0:03
# "Hot Wit' U" – 5:11
# "Tangerine" – 1:30
# "So Far, So Pleased" – 3:23
# "The Sun, the Moon and Stars" – 5:15
# "Everyday Is a Winding Road" – 6:12
# "Segue" – 0:18
# "Man'O'War" – 5:14
# "Baby Knows" – 3:18
# "I Love U, but I Don't Trust U Anymore" – 3:33
# "Silly Game" – 3:29
# "Strange but True" – 4:12
# "Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do" – 3:15
# "Segue" – 0:43 "(hidden track)"
# "Prettyman" – 4:23 "(hidden track)"

ingles and Hot 100 positions

* "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" (#23 R&B)
# "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold"

Miscellanea

* The title track was originally written in mid 1988 and considered for inclusion, but ultimately rejected, on several albums. Initially intended for an album of the same name, which never saw release, the song was then altered for the 1989 "Batman" soundtrack; this is evident in the B-side to Batdance "200 Balloons". Toward the end of the song, the word "rave" is repeated until finally the entire phrase to said. "Rave", however, was rejected by Tim Burton in favor of "Partyman". It was updated again with the New Power Generation (mentioned in the song "Love 2 the 9s") but ended up not seeing the light of day for a decade until finally released (slightly altered) in 1999. Justifying its release after many years, Prince remarked that in 1988 the track had sounded too similar to his 1986 hit "Kiss" to be released at the time.

External links

"Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" [http://www.dtt-lyrics.com/albums/rave.html lyrics]