Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, the return of Prince

Introduction

In 1999 , as Prince still called himself back then, had almost completely been relegated to the status of a relic from days gone by. To the public he had released just 2 albums in the second half of the 1990s: the excessively elaborate Emancipation and the failure that was called Newpower Soul. Time for a next step: maybe brush up the name Prince?

To all Prince fans/music lovers who can only digest positive stories, stop reading now.

Prince – Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic – 1988 configuration

Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic

As stated in the article on Lovesexy, in October 1988 a configuration was compiled for one of the many project Prince was working on at the time, called Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic. The album consisted of the songs Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic, If Had A Harem, Good Judy Girlfriend, Pink Cashmere, Electric Chair, Am I Without U, God Is Alive, Still Would Stand All Time and Moonbeam Levels. The project was put on indefinite hold when Prince got involved with the Batman movie.

Unto -> Un2

Late 1998/early 1999 started recording his next album, which would eventually result in Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic. In the spring of 1999 the idea of cooperating with a record company was acted upon. The idea probably originated from the realization that distribution was a profession in its own right. The Crystal Ball debacle was still fresh. and his team went in search of an interested party and ended up with Arista, led by music industry mogul Clive Davis.

At the time Clive Davis was in the midst of working on Santana’s comeback album, which was to be released on June 15, 1999, using the title Supernatural. On the album Carlos Santana worked with a number of younger and relevant guest artists, like Lauryn Hill, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Dave Matthews and CeeLo Green. Davis was convinced of the cross-over appeal of the new Santana album (he would be proven right 100%) and suggested follow the same recipe.

On August 25, 1999, around the time the Santana album was moving into the top 10, and Arista signed a deal: would own the master recordings and Arista would concern itself with distribution and promotion. Contrary to the Santana project, production duties weren’t relegated to an outside party, but to an old acquaintance: Prince. But, would indeed work with a number of outside artists. In his case with Gwen Stefani (No Doubt singer), Sheryl Crow, independent folk artist Ani DiFranco and rappers Chuck D. (Public Enemy) and Eve.

Clive Davis and , 09/16/1999

On September 4, 1999, Billboard magazine published the news, largely based on an interview with Clive Davis. Davis seemed sincerely enthusiastic and convinced of the upcoming album’s success. Read the article here. On September 16 a true ‘launch party’ was organized in New York.

The return of Prince made things even more confusing for the general public. Didn’t Warner Bros. release the album The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale on August 24, 1999, under the name Prince? This new Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic album was going to be released by , but would be produced by Prince? ‘s remarks in interviews as if he was talking about Prince as a completely separate entity didn’t help as well.

Prince was a really good editor, a good decision maker. He was always stubborn about getting the sounds.

, Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/09/1999

– Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic is the 23rd studio album by Prince and the 6th album released using the name . It was released on November 9, 1999. The album was produced by Prince, the first time that name was used on an album with new material since the release of 1993’s The Hits.

Songs

Almost every song was recorded in early 1999 at the Paisley Park Studios in Minnesota, with some being recorded, edited or mixed at the Olympic Studios in London (Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic), Electric Lady Studios in New York (Hot Wit U) or the O’Henry Sound Studios in Burbank, California (Clare Fischer orchestrations).

All songs written by , unless stated otherwise.

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

(written by Prince)

The first recordings stem from June 1988, when the song was still called Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic. On July 24, 1988, the song was worked on in London. When Prince got involved with the Batman project in 1989 the song was ultimately replaced by Partyman. The Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic chorus can be heard on samples on the single Batdance and B-side 200 Balloons, both dating from 1989.

In 1991/1992 and 1999 more work was done on the song, but what was done/changed is unknown.

In a 1999 interview with USA Today said: “The title track is one I did 12 years ago, but it sounded so much like ‘Kiss’ that I wanted to put it in the vault and let it marinate for a while.”

Paisley Park letter + Undisputed cassette for Chuck D.

Undisputed

(written by and Chuck D.)

Recorded in the summer of 1999. The rap by Public Enemy leader Chuck D. was recorded in August 1999 at the Paisley Park Studios. Chuck D. was very pleased to be recording with . In an interview with Addicted To Noise in 1999 he stated: “It was a gigantic vibe session. We gelled on many ideas and mutually expressed our admiration for each other.”

In the song’s lyrics brags about his status as an innovator and trendsetter, even though that had passed him by a long time ago.

Once again I don’t follow trends, they just follow me
Just like Israelitis through the Red Sea
It might take you some time before you’ll want to see
The Undisputed truth and get free

…

My level is now what you must learn to rise above
Talk to D’Angelo or better yet – ?uestlove
It might take you some time but you will learn to see
The undisputed truth and get free

© Undisputed –

The remark about D’Angelo and ?uestlove was a case of extremely bad timing. Within two to three months D’Angelo would release his monumental, revolutionary masterpiece Voodoo, which also featured ?uestlove in a big way.

I really respect and love Public Enemy and, to me, Chuck D. is one of the best rappers of all time, but at that time Public Enemy‘s heyday was a thing of the past as well. Given the song’s message a more current choice should have been made, someone like Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes or Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

– The Greatest Romance Ever Sold

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold

(released as a single on October 5, 1999)

Recorded in the summer of 1999, it was a rather remarkable choice for a single, let alone the lead single. The song lacks hit potential and sounds rather stale and uninspired. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t a hit.

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold is a very generic and interchangeable song, which doesn’t add anything to the mediocre album, let alone to the Prince/ body of work.

Segue

The “segue” is 4 seconds of silence, which is credited to Miles Davis.

Hot Wit U

On May 17, 1999, horns were added to the song. In September 1999 Eve recorded her rap at the New Yorks Electric Lady Studios. Rather predictable and bland.

Tangerine

Forgettable song.

So Far, So Pleased

sings with Gwen Stefani, at the time still primarily known as the lead singer for No Doubt. When Stefani recorded her vocals is unknown.

In exchange for her cooperation on the song, worked on the No Doubt song Waiting Room on July 10, 1999. That song was released in 2001 on the No Doubt album Rock Steady.

The Sun, The Moon And Stars

Another forgettable song, could stem from Emancipation.

Everyday Is A Winding Road

(written by Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott and Brian McLeod)

A cover of the song coming off Sheryl Crow’s second album, entitled Sheryl Crow. The song was recorded early 1999 at the Paisley Park Studios and is completely interchangeable, nondescript and unnecessary.

Segue

An orchestral intro to Man’O’War.

– Man’O’War

Man’O’War

In 1999 the marriage of and Mayte was as good as dead. The sad death of their only born child and ‘s evolving fundamentalist religious views had led to an unbridgeable gap. The lyrics seem a harbinger to the inevitable.

Why you screaming?
You know I’m not a man of war
Break the gold chain that I gave you
Throw it down on the floor
Instead of this seven page letter
I wish I had piece of mind
My friends tell me: ‘you should go get her’
But loving you, loving you, loving you
Is a waste of time

© Man’O’War –

Recorded early 1999 at the Paisley Park Studios, with horns added on May 17, 1999, and midway 1999 provided with orchestral music by the Clare Fischer orchestra at the O’Henry Sound Studios. Atmosphere and sound wise the song could easily stem from the Emancipation sessions.

– Baby Knows

Baby Knows

A and Shery Crow duet, recorded in June/July 1999. The song was partially based on a December 30, 1983, jam recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California.

The first time drummer Michael B. worked with again since the disbanding of the 1993-1996 incarnation of the New Power Generation in 1996. Okay pop/rock song.

Love U, But Don’t Trust U Anymore

On June 3, 1999, the basic track was expanded with acoustic guitar played by alternative folk artist Ani DiFranco. In exchange for her work provided background vocals on DiFranco’s song Providence, which was released on November 16, 1999, on her To The Teeth album.

Next to Man’O’War, this song seems to be the second reference to Mayte and the marriage that was over. The message is that ‘s lover (Mayte?) supposedly loved another and that it resulted in him losing his trust. Undoubtedly, was a prime example husband… Despite the lyrics wallowing in self-pity, a great moody song.

Silly Game

Orchestrated by Clare Fischer and his orchestra. Another song that could stem from the Emancipation sessions.

& Mayte 1999

Strange But True

A full solo rendition. Is the song about his transition to the Jehovah’s Witnesses and its consequences? Did he lose a number of people along the way? “You may have lost me, but I found myself”.

Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do

The song that resembles vintage Prince the most, in particular because of the drums, coming straight off the classic Linn LM-1 drum machine. A pleasant pop song.

Segue

(not credited on the album cover)

A commercial, in which advertises the websites Love4OneAnother.com and 1800NewFunk.com and the telephone service 1-800 New Funk, using a slowed down distorted voice.

Prettyman

(written by and Maceo Parker, not credited on the album cover)

Don’t hate me, ’cause I’m beautiful

© Prettyman –

Fun James Brown pastiche, featuring Maceo Parker. Parker, who used to play with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s, only to end up with Parliament/Funkadelic, would become a regular guest in /Prince recordings and concerts in the years to come.

Singles

Only one single was culled from the album, two singles were only available as promos:

• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
  (released on October 5, 1999)
• Baby Knows
  (released late 1999, Dutch only release, promo)
• Man’O’War
  (released early 2000, promo)

The singles So Far, So Pleased and Hot Wit U were planned for a regular release for the spring or summer 2000, but were canceled because of the album’s lack of success.

– Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic – Back cover

Musicians

All instruments, vocals, background vocals performed by (using the moniker Prince on Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic), helped by:

• Chuck D. – rhyme animal on Undisputed
• Kip Blackshire – background vocals on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, Everyday Is A Winding Road, vocoder on Undisputed
• Kirk A. Johnson – NPG chants on Undisputed, drums on So Far, So Pleased, percussion on Man’O’War
• Morris Hayes – NPG chants on Undisputed
• Adele C. – “Queen” on Undisputed
• Bros. Jules – scratches on Undisputed, Hot Wit U, Prettyman
• Mike Scott – guitar on The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
• Miles Davis – ? on Segue (1)
• Eve – rhyme on Hot Wit U
• The Hornheadz – horns on Hot Wit U, Man’O’War
• Rhonda Smith – bass on Tangerine, So Far, So Pleased
• Gwen Stefani – vocals on So Far, So Pleased
• Marva King – background vocals on So Far, So Pleased
• Clare Fischer Orchestra (under the moniker NPG Orchestra) – string orchestration on The Sun, The Moon And Stars, Segue (2), Man’O’War, Silly Game
• Larry Graham, DuJuan Blackshire, Johnnie Blackshire – background vocals on Everyday Is A Winding Road
• Sheryl Crow – vocals, harmonica on Baby Knows
• Michael B. – drums on Baby Knows
• Ani DiFranco – guitar on Love U, But Don’t Trust U Anymore
• Maceo Parker – saxophone on Prettyman

– Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic – Liner notes

Accompanying text

Influenced by Mayte Garcia, Prince gave up the consumption of meat in the first half of the 1990s. Over time, he even turned vegan. It inspired him to add the text below on the Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic album cover:

If this jacket were real wool, it would have taken 7 lambs whose lives would have begun like this…

Within weeks of their birth, their ears would have been hole-punched, their tails chopped off and the males would have been castrated while fully conscious. Xtremely high rates of mortality r considered normal: 20 2 40% of lambs die b4 the age of 8 weeks: 8 million mature sheep die every year from disease, xposure or neglect. Many people believe shearing helps animals who would otherwise b 2 hot. But in order 2 avoid losing any wool, ranchers shear sheep b4 they would naturally shed their winter coats, resulting in millions of sheep deaths from xposure 2 the cold.

Respect all of God’s creatures.

“2 my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.”
Mohandas Gandhi

CHERISH THE GIFT OF LIFE & RAVE UN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC

Liner notes by

The animal rights organization PETA was very pleased with ‘s words and publicly supported him. In 2006 PETA elected him Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity.

Album cover

On the cover photo wears a blue one-piece suit. The photos were shot by Paisley Park house photographer Steve Parke.

Reactions

The press had mixed reactions to the album, although I must say I think they’re pretty positive. In retrospect this album is oftentimes discarded or, worse, ignored, even despite revisionist tendencies.

“Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic” is something a weathered Prince fan can bring up to the register without any qualms.
(salon, 11/09/1999)

Elsewhere, this is the dirty-minded Prince we all love – but on simmer, not boil.
(Yahoo Music!, 09-11-1999)

It has to be said, he’s on a roll, just like in the old days.
(Nieuwe Revu, 11/10-17/1999)

It seems like a miracle, but – after all the mediocrity – the long wait for a good Prince-record has finally paid off.
(Volkskrant, 11/11/1999)

When he’s really on, almost anything – even that nasty messiah complex – seems 4givable.
(Entertainment Weekly, 11/15/1999)

But at times on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, it seems that the poor boy has lost his mojo.
(Hot Press, 24-11-1999)

Finally a ‘real’ album by The Artist who we conveniently just call Prince.
(Music Minded, 11/1999)

This Prince may not have turned into a frog, but he has become a commoner.
(Wall Of Sound, 11/1999)

As for overall expectations, Prince has once again failed to lower his.
(Orlando Weekly, 12/01/1999)

This 15-song collection might not be fantastic, but many songs will bring joy to the world in 1999 and beyond.
(Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999)

Artists’ ‘Rave’ less than fantastic, but it ain’t all bad.
(St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1999)

Rave could be pop’s Dom Perignon of new millennium cocktails.
(USA Today, 1999)

The quality of these few sublime moments outweighs the lackluster album around them.
(Rolling Stone, 01/20/2000)

Put it this way – two decades after “What’d I Say,” Ray Charles’s shtick was a lot tireder.
(The Village Voice, 03/07/2000)

But, within seconds, ‘Rave…’ is sunk by the airtight electro-groove which courses throughout the entire LP.
(NME, 09/12/2005)

See – Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic – The reviews for the full reviews.

I look forward to hearing my songs on the radio again. It’s been a while.

, Billboard magazine, 04-09-1999

Sales

In no way the album was the success , Clive Davis and Arista had dreamt of. Where the Santana album turned into one of the biggest selling albums of the 1990s, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic quickly descended into oblivion. It was a bigger success than the August 24, 1999, Warner Bros. release The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale, but sales wise it didn’t get past the gold status (500,000 copies sold) in the US. In Europe the album shared the same fate.

– Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic – Ad

Promotion

Contrary to the claims made by Clive Davis in the Billboard article The Artist, Arista Ink Licensing Deal, that “The Artist has committed to doing a worldwide tour”, no tour was done for the album. did do many interviews, also to foreign reporters, both to newspapers as well as television shows. Starting on November 15, 1999, a short promo-tour was done, during which attended a number of television shows. As the tour went on, and news about the disappointing sales was reiterated time and time again, got grumpier and more unpredictable.

His performance on the Dutch television show TV Show Op Reis on November 28, 1999, was a primary example. Following a lot of fuss whether or not he would even appear on the show, discontent about the cooking skills of the vegetarian cook (whose dishes weren’t touched at all), the interview with show-host Ivo Niehe did proceed in front of around 150 guests. came across bored and out of touch. Afterwards the show was forbidden to broadcast the interview and the semi-live performance of the The Greatest Romance Ever Sold single. After sound editing done in Minneapolis the show was granted the right to be broadcast on December 5.

His behavior was the same throughout the entire promo tour. was ill tempered, obstinate, talked about God constantly and was uninspired when performing. After the issues on the TV Show Op Reis show the rest of the promo tour was canceled and and company left for home.

The promo tour was no success. The album sales weren’t stimulated and his image had bumped another dent. On the other hand, ‘s irritation and anger did leave us with an exciting version of the traditional Motherless Child, a performance that silenced all critics. A performance that still produces goose bumps today, the same way it did 25 years ago. See the recordings of that song here.

– Rave Un2 The Year 2000

Rave Un2 The Year 2000

The last promotion for the Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic album was recorded on December 18, 1999, with the staging of a show at the Paisley Park Studios, with guests like The Time, George Clinton, Rosie Gaines, Maceo Parker and Lenny Kravitz. The concert was broadcast as a “pay per view” event on New Year’s eve 1999 entitled Rave Un2 The Year 2000. Just two songs off the Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic album were played.

On June 5, 2000, Rave Un2 The Year 2000 was released on video and DVD.

Guilty party

Despite the promotional activities Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic was not a great success. Against ‘s wishes, Europe was picked to focus on first by Arista/Clive Davis. complied, but in the way did things he didn’t fully commit to: cranky and reluctant. The promo tour was a disaster, partly fueled by the incomprehensible choice for The Greatest Romance Ever Sold as lead single. Apparently himself was unhappy with the song, so why should the public run out to the store and buy it?

blamed Arista and Clive Davis. They weren’t fully committed, were guilty of the promo tour fiasco and Clive had broken his promise of sure success. The other side accused of sabotage and coming up with inferior music. It didn’t help that Davis was fired from Arista in the beginning of 2000. The rest of the record company was much less convinced of Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic‘s quality than Davis had been…

Review

In preparation for this article I re-listened the Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic multiple times and it wasn’t a blessing. I clearly remember hearing the album before the official release date, because my wife knew someone who worked at the Dutch Arista division and had the album at home. I loved the songs Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic and Undisputed, but the rest did give me an Emancipation vibe, the album that had disappointed me greatly in 1996.

Where re-listening to The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale proved my recollections wrong, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic only confirmed them. Three to four songs that are actually good, a lot of mediocrity and a couple of plain bad songs. This isn’t an album I listened to frequently and that’s not about to change in the future.

After Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic

On May 16, 2000, Prince held a press conference in New York, where he stated:

On December 31, 1999, my publishing contract with Warner/Chappell expired, thus emancipating the name that I was given before birth, Prince, from all long-term, restrictive documents. I will now go back to using my name instead of the symbol I adopted as a means to free myself from undesirable relationships.

Prince Press conference, 16-05-2000

In 2000 Prince went out on tour with a greatest hits show, primarily focusing on his Prince past. Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic songs were nowhere to be heard.

– Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic

Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic

On April 30, 2001, the first copies of Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic were delivered to the homes of members of the NPG Music Club, the online service Prince had started in order to distribute his music and stay in contact with his fanbase. The album contained 5 remixes of regular Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic songs, which outshone the originals and Beautiful Strange, a previously unreleased song. The rest of the album was identical to Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic.

The following 5 songs were extended, supplemented with extra musical recordings or were remixed:

• Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic
• Undisputed – The Moneyapolis Mix
• The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
• Hot Wit U – Nasty Girl Remix
• Man’O’War – Remix

– Ultimate Rave

Ultimate Rave

On April 26, 2019, Ultimate Rave was released posthumously. Ultimate Rave is a collection box containing the Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic and Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic albums and the DVD Rave Un2 The Year 2000.

In closing

What’s your take on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic? Also a letdown and/or ‘mixed bag’? Let me know!

Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, the return of Prince. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.

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