Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
Encyclopedia
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic is the twenty-third studio album
by Prince
(his stage name at the time being the love symbol he created). 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 performances 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).
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 Un2 the Joy Fantastic episode can be heard at the end of this album with the sound of a CD being smashed.
), a muse of Prince's during the Lovesexy
sessions, "Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic" 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 was shelved when Prince started working on the Batman
soundtrack, the song was altered and presented to Tim Burton
to use in the Batman
movie. Burton rejected the song and Prince presented "Partyman
" instead, which Burton used in the film. Prince didn't let the song totally die though; he sampled it heavily in the "Batmix" remix of the "Batdance
" single, and also its B-side, "200 Balloons".
"Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic" was seen as part of a number of song titles in the Graffiti Bridge
movie, and was updated again with The New Power Generation, (garnering a mention in the song "Love 2 the 9s" and a musical interlude in "The Max" from the Love Symbol Album) 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, but that he had always wanted to release an album with that title.
The song was performed live shortly after it was written in a few Lovesexy World Tour
aftershows. One particular performance during an aftershow at The Hague
in the Netherlands
was later preserved on audio as part of Small Club, long considered one of the greatest live bootleg recording
s of all time.
. The song answers critics who said that Prince is out of touch with current trends in music. The ballad "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" takes its title from The Greatest Story Ever Told
and contains some biblical references to Adam and Eve
. Following this is a 5 second silent segue, which Prince stated was a moment of silence for Miles Davis
. "So Far, So Pleased" is the first true rock number on the album and is a duet with Gwen Stefani
. "The Sun, the Moon and Stars" is sung in falsetto
and features a bossa nova
drum machine pattern. Prince adds a rap in a Jamaica
n accent. The cover of Sheryl Crow
's "Everyday Is a Winding Road
" is performed in a disco
vein and includes chanting by bassist Larry Graham
. An 18-second orchestral instrumental follows, segueing into the ballad "Man'O'War". The song "Baby Knows" is a duet with Sheryl Crow, who also provides harmonica
. Prince sings in his Camille
vocals. "I Love U, but I Don't Trust U Anymore" is another ballad. "Silly Game" is an ode to The Chi-Lites
. "Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do" is the final rock number, and uses the Linn drum machine
which Prince used a lot on his early albums. The first "hidden track" is a segue with is basically a commercial for Prince's phone order line, "1-800-NEW-FUNK". It is followed by the humorous "Prettyman", which is an ode to The Time
member Morris Day
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
(his stage name at the time being the love symbol he created). 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
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic was intended by Arista president Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
as a comeback album featuring guest star collaborations, similar to Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
's Supernatural. To this end, the album features guest performances from Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
(on "Baby Knows"), Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
(a duet on "So Far, So Pleased"), Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
("Undisputed"), Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
("Pretty Man"), Eve
Eve (rapper)
Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...
("Hot Wit U"), and Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
("I Love U, but I Don't Trust U Anymore").
The album's first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
"The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" is a song and single from Prince's 1999 album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. The track is a smooth ballad, featuring Prince's multi-layered vocals in the chorus....
", achieved modest success, peaking at number 63 on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Though Prince's duet with Gwen Stefani, "So Far So Pleased", was considered to be a single, plans were halted when No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
's label refused to grant permission (fearing it would confuse fans since the band's album, Return of Saturn
Return of Saturn
Return of Saturn is the fourth studio album by the American rock band No Doubt, released on April 11, 2000 by Interscope Records. After touring for two and a half years to promote their breakthrough third studio album, Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt wrote several dozen songs for its follow-up and...
, was about to be released).
Reception
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic 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
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
version of the album, entitled Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic
Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic
Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic is a remix album by Prince , released via mail exclusively through the NPG Music Club, an Internet subscription service, on April 29, 2001. The album is an alternative version of Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, released the previous year.The album makes a number of...
, was released through Prince's Internet subscription service, receiving a much better reaction from fans. Prince's frustration with the Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic episode can be heard at the end of this album with the sound of a CD being smashed.
History of the song "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic"
Named after Anna Garcia (aka Anna FantasticAnna Fantastic
Anna Garcia , professionally known as Anna Fantastic, a name given to her by Prince, is an English female actress, singer and model.-Early life:...
), a muse of Prince's during the Lovesexy
Lovesexy
Lovesexy is the tenth studio album by Prince, released on May 10, 1988. Lovesexy was issued as a substitute record after the release of the infamous The Black Album had been suddenly cancelled. The Black Album and Lovesexy almost act as companion pieces, sharing the song "When 2 R in Love", but...
sessions, "Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic" 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 was shelved when Prince started working on the Batman
Batman (album)
Batman is the eleventh studio album by musician Prince and the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. As a Warner Bros. stablemate, Prince's involvement in the soundtrack was designed to leverage the media company's contract-bound talent as well as fulfill the artist's need for a commercial revival...
soundtrack, the song was altered and presented to Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
to use in the Batman
Batman (1989 film)
Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton in the title role, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl and Jack Palance...
movie. Burton rejected the song and Prince presented "Partyman
Partyman
"Partyman" is a song by Prince from his 1989 Batman album, and the follow-up to his number one hit, "Batdance". The song is one of the few on the album that is prominently featured in the film, accompanying the scene where the Joker and his minions gleefully desecrate the Gotham City Art Museum...
" instead, which Burton used in the film. Prince didn't let the song totally die though; he sampled it heavily in the "Batmix" remix of the "Batdance
Batdance
"Batdance" is a song by Prince, from the 1989 Batman soundtrack. Helped by the film's popularity, the song reached number one in the U.S., becoming Prince's fourth number-one single, and first since 1986's "Kiss".-Song development:...
" single, and also its B-side, "200 Balloons".
"Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic" was seen as part of a number of song titles in the Graffiti Bridge
Graffiti Bridge (film)
Graffiti Bridge is a 1990 drama/musical written, directed, and starring Prince. It is a sequel to his first film, Purple Rain, though notorious for its relatively low quality and poor performance at the box-office...
movie, and was updated again with The New Power Generation, (garnering a mention in the song "Love 2 the 9s" and a musical interlude in "The Max" from the Love Symbol Album) 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
Kiss (song)
In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...
" to be released at the time, but that he had always wanted to release an album with that title.
The song was performed live shortly after it was written in a few Lovesexy World Tour
Lovesexy World Tour
The Lovesexy World Tour was Prince's final concert tour of the 1980s in support of his album, Lovesexy.-History:Although the tour was a huge success in terms of reviews and audience numbers, , it lost money due to the high production costs incurred with transportation, only breaking even by its...
aftershows. One particular performance during an aftershow at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
was later preserved on audio as part of Small Club, long considered one of the greatest live bootleg recording
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
s of all time.
Other songs
"Undisputed" is a funk-rock number featuring a rap by Chuck DChuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
. The song answers critics who said that Prince is out of touch with current trends in music. The ballad "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" takes its title from The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told is a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens and distributed by United Artists. It is a retelling of the story of Jesus Christ, from the Nativity through the Resurrection. This film is notable for its large ensemble cast and for being the last...
and contains some biblical references to Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews...
. Following this is a 5 second silent segue, which Prince stated was a moment of silence for Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
. "So Far, So Pleased" is the first true rock number on the album and is a duet with Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
. "The Sun, the Moon and Stars" is sung in falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
and features a bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
drum machine pattern. Prince adds a rap in a Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n accent. The cover of Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
's "Everyday Is a Winding Road
Everyday Is a Winding Road
"Everyday Is a Winding Road" is the second single from American rock star Sheryl Crow's 1996 self-titled album. The song met well with radio and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Neil Finn, lead singer of Crowded House, provides backing vocals. It also peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart....
" is performed in a disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
vein and includes chanting by bassist Larry Graham
Larry Graham
Larry Graham, Jr. is an African American bass guitar player, both with the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station...
. An 18-second orchestral instrumental follows, segueing into the ballad "Man'O'War". The song "Baby Knows" is a duet with Sheryl Crow, who also provides harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
. Prince sings in his Camille
Unreleased Prince projects
Prince is well known in the entertainment industry for having a vast body of works that have never seen the light of day. It has been said that his vault contains over 50 fully produced music videos that have never been released, along with albums and other media. The following is a list, in rough...
vocals. "I Love U, but I Don't Trust U Anymore" is another ballad. "Silly Game" is an ode to The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites are a Chicago-based smooth soul vocal quartet from the early 1970s, one of the few from the period not to come from Memphis or Philadelphia...
. "Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do" is the final rock number, and uses the Linn drum machine
Linn LM-1
The LM-1 Drum Computer, manufactured by Linn Electronics Inc., was the first drum machine to use digital samples of acoustic drums. Conceived and designed by Roger Linn, it was also one of the first programmable drum machines...
which Prince used a lot on his early albums. The first "hidden track" is a segue with is basically a commercial for Prince's phone order line, "1-800-NEW-FUNK". It is followed by the humorous "Prettyman", which is an ode to The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
member Morris Day
Morris Day
Morris E. Day is an American musician and composer. He is best known as the lead singer of The Time.-1970s and 1980s:...
.
Track listing
- "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" – 4:18
- "Undisputed" – 4:19
- "The Greatest Romance Ever SoldThe Greatest Romance Ever Sold"The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" is a song and single from Prince's 1999 album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. The track is a smooth ballad, featuring Prince's multi-layered vocals in the chorus....
" – 5:29 - "Segue" – 0:04
- "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 RoadEveryday Is a Winding Road"Everyday Is a Winding Road" is the second single from American rock star Sheryl Crow's 1996 self-titled album. The song met well with radio and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Neil Finn, lead singer of Crowded House, provides backing vocals. It also peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart....
" – 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)