Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

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Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
Studio album by
Released	9 November 1999
Recorded	1988–1999
Genre	Pop, Rock, Funk
Length	73:50
Label	NPG Records/Arista Records
Producer(s)	Prince
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com Rolling Stone link
chronology
The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)	Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)	Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic (2000)

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic is a 1999 album by (formerly known as Prince). 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 (" Love U, but Don't Trust U Anymore"). However, overall, these contributions make a minor impact on the album. Ultimately, with its slick, plastic production and relatively unremarkable song-writing, the sound of the album is quite similar to 1998's poorly-received Newpower Soul.

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.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Singles and Hot 100 positions 3 Miscellanea 4 External link

[edit] Track listing

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

[edit] Singles and Hot 100 positions

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

1. "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold"

[edit] Miscellanea

• The title track was originally written in late 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. However, it 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.

• While Prince's 1996 album Emancipation was a dedication to his marriage to Mayte Garcia and their unborn child, some fans speculate that "Rave" is his "divorce" album, as suggested by the break-up themes in both "Man'O'War" and " Love U, but Don't Trust U Anymore".

[edit] External link

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic lyrics

v • d • e Prince
Studio albums (non-soundtrack)
For You • Prince • Dirty Mind • Controversy • 1999 • Around the World in a Day • Sign 'O' the Times • Lovesexy • Diamonds and Pearls • (Love Symbol) • Come • The Black Album • The Gold Experience • Chaos and Disorder • Emancipation • The Truth • Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic • The Rainbow Children • One Nite Alone... • Musicology • 3121
Soundtracks
Purple Rain • Parade • Batman • Graffiti Bridge • Girl 6 • "Song of the Heart"
Live albums
One Nite Alone... Live!
Instrumental albums
Kamasutra • Xpectation • N.E.W.S
Internet albums
Xpectation • The Chocolate Invasion • The Slaughterhouse
Hits collections and compilations
The Hits/The B-Sides • Crystal Ball • The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale • The Very Best of Prince • Ultimate
EPs
The Beautiful Experience • 1999: The New Master
Films
Purple Rain • Under the Cherry Moon • Sign 'O' the Times • Graffiti Bridge
Related articles
The Revolution • New Power Generation • The Time • Madhouse • Vanity 6 • Apollonia 6 • Mazarati • Unreleased Prince projects
Top 10 singles (U.S. Hot 100)
"Little Red Corvette" • "Delirious" • "When Doves Cry" • "Let's Go Crazy" • "Purple Rain" • "I Would Die 4 U" • "Raspberry Beret" • "Pop Life" • "Kiss" • "Sign 'O' the Times" • "U Got the Look" • "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" • "Alphabet St." • "Batdance" • "Thieves In the Temple" • "Cream" • "Diamonds and Pearls" • "7" • "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"