You guys were so helpful to newbie asking about The Black Album so.....

How can i tell if a copy of Crystal Ball is authentic?
Esp. if i purchase it on Ebay??

AND.....
I didn't know there was a "Rave in2" & a "Rave un2"....what the hell???

help me in my search for the truth into the WWOP (wonderful world of P).

well.....define "authentic". the official prince release was a 3 cd set with 2 additional cds "the truth" (acoustic) and a release by the npg orchestra. if u bought the cd in a recca stowe, then u prolly got the 3 cd set and the truth! anything else is more than likely a bootleg!

rave un2 is the first release of the cd.....rave IN2 is a bit of a remix made only 2 npgmc members....u should b paying all that much 4 either release.....

As long as the one you buy has this tracklisting... then it's genuine
(as far as i know it was never pirated / bootlegged)

Disc 1:
Crystal Ball / Dream Factory / Acknowledge Me / Ripopgodazippa / Lovesign (Remix) /
Hide The Bone / 2morrow / So Dark / Movie Star / Tell Me How U Wanna B Done
Disc 2:
Interactive / Da Bang / Calhoun Square / What's My Name / Crucial / An Honest Man /
Sexual Suicide / Cloreen Bacon Skin / Good Love / Strays Of The World
Disc 3:
Days Of Wild / Last Heart / Poom Poom / She Gave Her Angels / 18 & Over / The Ride /
Get Loose / P. Control (Remix) / Make Your Mama Happy / Goodbye
Disc 4: "The Truth"
The Truth / Don't Play Me / Circle Of Amour / 3rd Eye / Dionne / Man In A Uniform /
Animal Kingdom / The Other Side Of The Pillow / Fascination / One Of Your Tears /
Comeback / Welcome 2 The Dawn (Acoustic Version)
Disc 5: "Kamasutra" (only included in the 'clear round case' edition)
The Plan / Kamasutra / At Last..."The Lost Is Found" / The Ever Changing Light / Cutz /
Serotonin / Promise:Broken / Barcelona / Kamasutra:Overture #8 / Coincidence Or Fate? /
Kamasutra:Eternal Embrace

However there are a few bootlegs out there called "Crystal Ball", but they have totally different
tracklistings. The unreleased original 3lp version of 'Sign O The Times' was going to be called
'Crystal Ball' back in 1987, so this is why some bootlegs share this title. The officially released
1998 'Crystal Ball' has nothing to do with the 1987 version.

I'm surprised at how many people there are willing to buy this thing on Ebay. I see them around all the time. Have you really scoured the web? Like, looked at stores that carry used cd's? Try Rasputins online - not sure if they have it but it's worth a shot. The Wherehouse is good too, or was @ one point. Cheaper than Ebay, I would think...

Yeah, I don't see why you're looking on ebay. I found Crystal Ball at a used CD store for 7.99. Try looking there first.

PurpleRok said:

Between the Rave In2 and the Rave Un2...get the Rave In2. It's better by far. Don't get it on Ebay...it goes for more than it should. get it from the retail section at the NPGMC.

The UK version of Crystal ball only had 4 discs. No Karmasutra.

I'm not complaining tho'
[Edited 9/20/04 10:31am]