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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). 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 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. This album also features the shortest track that Prince has ever recorded: "Segue", which clocks in at only four seconds. |
