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Clive Davis convinced Prince to record a star-studded comeback album for Arista in 1999 -- much like how he coaxed Prince's idol Carlos Santana to revive his career with Supernatural. Problem is, Prince isn't willing to fully throw himself into the contemporary mainstream, as Santana did. Instead, he sticks to his guns with Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, delivering an album that's frighteningly similar to the lackluster New Power Soul, only a little slicker and better, and with cameos. Rave, like its predecessor, is stilted and canned, clearly the work of one man with guitars, synths, and a drum machine. It's shocking to hear how perfunctory most of the performances are on Rave, yet it's stranger to hear Prince gunning for the pop charts. He has funk, a dash of pop, a little bit of rap, and a whole lotta ballads -- anything that could result in a crossover hit. There are a couple of cool moments on this overlong, 70-minute album and, curiously, most of those are tracks with superstar collaborators. Prince sounds committed and adventurous on these songs, whether it's the electro-funk "Undisputed," which features a Chuck D rap, the harmonica-laden bluesy pop of "Baby Knows" (harmonica and harmonies by Sheryl Crow), or the utterly delightful, effervescent duet with Gwen Stefani ("So Far, So Pleased"). These songs, along with the passable funk-pop title cut and the ballads "The Sun, the Moon and Stars" and "Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do" are pretty enjoyable, yet their presence highlights how pedestrian the remainder of Rave is. Also, these are the kind of songs fanatics appreciate because of their subtleties. So, this is one for the dedicated, like every album he's made since he changed his name to a symbol.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Hans-martin Buff, Mixing Engineer - The Artist, Mixing Engineer - Femi Jiya, Recording Engineer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Chuck D, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Hans-martin Buff, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - KIRK JOHNSON, Drums - Morris Hayes, Background Vocal - Kip Blackshire, Vocal - Prince feat. Chuck D, AssociatedPerformer - Brother Jules, AssociatedPerformer - Adele C., Vocal
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Hans-martin Buff, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eve, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Hans-martin Buff, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Dave Jensen, Trumpet - Michael B. Nelson, Trombone - Steve Strand, Trumpet - Kathy Jensen, Baritone Saxophone - Kenni Holmen, Saxophone - Prince feat. Eve, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rhonda Smith, Acoustic Bass
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Marva King, Background Vocal - GWEN STEFANI, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - KIRK JOHNSON, Drums - Rhonda Smith, Bass Guitar - Prince feat. Gwen Stefani, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Clare Fischer, Orchestrator
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Jeff Trott, Composer, Lyricist - Larry Graham, Background Vocal - Prince, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sheryl Crow, Composer, Lyricist - Brian Mcleod, Composer, Lyricist - Kip Blackshire, Background Vocal - DuJuan Blackshire, Background Vocal - Johnnie Blackshire, Background Vocal
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Clare Fischer, Orchestrator
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Clare Fischer, Orchestrator - KIRK JOHNSON, Percussion - Dave Jensen, Trumpet - Michael B. Nelson, Trombone - Steve Strand, Trumpet - Kathy Jensen, Baritone Saxophone - Kenni Holmen, Saxophone
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Sheryl Crow, Harmonica, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Hans-martin Buff, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Michael Bland, Drums - Prince feat. Sheryl Crow, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Ani Difranco, Guitar, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Prince feat. Ani DiFranco, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Clare Fischer, Orchestrator
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Clare Fischer, Orchestrator
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Prince, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - MACEO PARKER, Saxophone - KIRK JOHNSON, Drums - Bros. Jules, AssociatedPerformer
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
Album review
Clive Davis convinced Prince to record a star-studded comeback album for Arista in 1999 -- much like how he coaxed Prince's idol Carlos Santana to revive his career with Supernatural. Problem is, Prince isn't willing to fully throw himself into the contemporary mainstream, as Santana did. Instead, he sticks to his guns with Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, delivering an album that's frighteningly similar to the lackluster New Power Soul, only a little slicker and better, and with cameos. Rave, like its predecessor, is stilted and canned, clearly the work of one man with guitars, synths, and a drum machine. It's shocking to hear how perfunctory most of the performances are on Rave, yet it's stranger to hear Prince gunning for the pop charts. He has funk, a dash of pop, a little bit of rap, and a whole lotta ballads -- anything that could result in a crossover hit. There are a couple of cool moments on this overlong, 70-minute album and, curiously, most of those are tracks with superstar collaborators. Prince sounds committed and adventurous on these songs, whether it's the electro-funk "Undisputed," which features a Chuck D rap, the harmonica-laden bluesy pop of "Baby Knows" (harmonica and harmonies by Sheryl Crow), or the utterly delightful, effervescent duet with Gwen Stefani ("So Far, So Pleased"). These songs, along with the passable funk-pop title cut and the ballads "The Sun, the Moon and Stars" and "Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do" are pretty enjoyable, yet their presence highlights how pedestrian the remainder of Rave is. Also, these are the kind of songs fanatics appreciate because of their subtleties. So, this is one for the dedicated, like every album he's made since he changed his name to a symbol.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:04:18
- Main artists: Prince
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Legacy Recordings
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Funk
(P) 1999 NPG Records, Inc. Manufactured and Distributed by Legacy Recordings
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