Just hearing Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic for the first time, which I heard was better than the original Rave Unto album. So far, I am as unimpressed with the re-mix as I was Rave Unto. Does anyone think that the Rave In2 re-mix is superior to Rave Unto and, if so, why?

In some situations it is.

Undisputed, Tangerine, Baby Knows, Prettyman all benefit nicely from extended versions. Beautiful Strange is great.

The new remixes of Rave, TGRES, Hot Wit U, and Man o' War are not interesting to me.

Imo, a blend of both albums is the best.

Overall I prefer Un2. The remixes on In2 are good, but definitely overated. Nice to have some extended versions of "Tangerine", "Baby Knows" and "Prettyman" however.

I made my own version of Rave album using the following:

1. Rave Un2 The Joy Fantasic (Un2)

2. Undisputed (Un2)

3. The Greatest Romance (In2)

4. Hot Wit U (Un2)

5. Tangerine (In2)

6. So Far, So Pleased (same)

7. The Sun, The Moon & Stars (same)

8. Everyday Is A Winding Road

9. Segue/Man O War (Un2)

10. Baby Knows (In2)

11. I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore (same)

12. Beautiful Strange (Beautiful Strange VHS version)

13. Strange But True (Un2)

14. Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do (same)

15. Prettyman (In2)

I just heard Beautiful Strange for the first time and I really like this song. Why didn't it make the original album? No wonder I like it better, it is an older song from 1998 (I just read on the internet). The minute I heard it, I said to myself--this sounds more like a Prince produced song with his stamp all over it! I also like I Love You But I Don't Trust You Anymore and the extended version of Prettyman. Other than this, the re-mix is as much of a disappointment as the original album. A little fizz and no SHE-BANG!

toejam said:

Overall I prefer Un2. The remixes on In2 are good, but definitely overated. Nice to have some extended versions of "Tangerine", "Baby Knows" and "Prettyman" however.

I made my own version of Rave album using the following:

1. Rave Un2 The Joy Fantasic (Un2)

2. Undisputed (Un2)

3. The Greatest Romance (In2)

4. Hot Wit U (Un2)

5. Tangerine (In2)

6. So Far, So Pleased (same)

7. The Sun, The Moon & Stars (same)

8. Everyday Is A Winding Road

9. Segue/Man O War (Un2)

10. Baby Knows (In2)

11. I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore (same)

12. Beautiful Strange (Beautiful Strange VHS version)

13. Strange But True (Un2)

14. Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do (same)

15. Prettyman (In2)

Thanks! I'll have to try doing this type of re-mix myself! Really wish he had done an entire album in the vein of Beautiful Strange, I Love You But..., and Prettyman. Those are the outstanding tracks for me. But I still don't see what all the internet hoopla was about in making claims that Rave In2 is so superior to Rave Unto... According to my ears, I just don't hear it.

I like both

luv4u said:

I like both

Yeah, same here. And I'd enjoy them even more if "Hot Wit U" were banished from both!

Spinlight said:

Imo, a blend of both albums is the best.

I don't listen to either album all the way through on it's own. But I do listen to tracks off of both albums from time to time.

In a word, yes. the long versions are a nice addition, even though most are only really a minute or two longer with just bits added on to the end of the tracks. The remixes are ok-ish, nothing special.

Beautiful Strange is what makes it worthwhile for me...top drawer track.

Cerebus said:

Spinlight said:

Imo, a blend of both albums is the best.

I don't listen to either album all the way through on it's own. But I do listen to tracks off of both albums from time to time.

Co-

zaza said:

Cerebus said:

I don't listen to either album all the way through on it's own. But I do listen to tracks off of both albums from time to time.

Co-

I would go with that too.

Wish I could have gotten my hands on "In2". That one slipped past my fingers, and seems to be harder than average to find via my usual routes. I think the slight spelling variation between the two really screws things up (...as I'm sure Prince would have wanted, lol).

Without saying "WHERE" (...unless it's some retail outlet), can anyone verify that it's still "OUT THERE" and readily available?

^It was only ever available through Prince's websites - npgonlineltd.com and npgmusicclub.com, so you won't find it in any retail outlet unless it's in their second-hand section. Try ebay and those places.

toejam said:

^It was only ever available through Prince's websites - npgonlineltd.com and npgmusicclub.com, so you won't find it in any retail outlet unless it's in their second-hand section. Try ebay and those places.

Thanks ToeJam. But guess what? I just found it through other means, lol. This thread just inspired me to dig a little deeper, and now I have it. Thanks for your helpful response though, much appreciated.

I got my copy of Rave In2 DAYS before the doors to the online store closed. And as per the original question: I don't think so. The one new track, Beautiful Strange, is good, but not so good as to make up for the obnoxious remixes on this disk. The extensions of this disc, as well, feel tacked on.

=0P

Rave in2 is the original version. Rave unto is the remix!

toejam said:

Overall I prefer Un2. The remixes on In2 are good, but definitely overated. Nice to have some extended versions of "Tangerine", "Baby Knows" and "Prettyman" however.

I made my own version of Rave album using the following:

1. Rave Un2 The Joy Fantasic (Un2)

2. Undisputed (Un2)

3. The Greatest Romance (In2)

4. Hot Wit U (Un2)

5. Tangerine (In2)

6. So Far, So Pleased (same)

7. The Sun, The Moon & Stars (same)

8. Everyday Is A Winding Road

9. Segue/Man O War (Un2)

10. Baby Knows (In2)

11. I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore (same)

12. Beautiful Strange (Beautiful Strange VHS version)

13. Strange But True (Un2)

14. Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do (same)

15. Prettyman (In2)

My own version of the 'ultimate rave' would be exactly the same, except I'd swap the 'Un2' version of 'Man'O'War' for the 'In2' 'Remix' ...loads better imo.

Man 'O' War remix & Beautiful Strange makes all the difference!

I think so. But only in spots. The album as a whole is patchy to begin with. IMO I prefer it over Un2. Hot wit U, Undisputed, Beautiful Strange and GRES, and Man O War are really good and thus make the album actually listenable.

I'd go for Rave Un2.

I can't stand the new version of the title song and Rave In2 omits Strange But True.

This was a srange choice of songs to lose.

Rave In2:

The Greatest Romance 8 min version

Beautiful Strange

Prettyman long version

.

[Edited 9/21/10 18:47pm]

I wouldn't say the remix is better...but it is a good remix and Beautiful Strange is a great song and helps it out! But I think that I prefer the original. I usually listen to the original the most and the remix about 1/2 the time. I have Beautiful Strange downloaded so I can listen to that anytime.

The techno remix of the title cut is kinda fun, but I think I prefer the avante-garde charm of the original. I remember playing Rave Un2 at work once and I got some very strange looks from my colleagues! That song is so sleazy and fucked up - I love it.

I love the Moneyappolis remix of Undisputed, but that's probably the only remix I prefer it to the original.

Overall I would say I prefer Rave Un2 for the following reasons:

1. I didn't appreciate the fact that Prince ommited Strange But True from the remix album - that song is probably the albums strongest cut and had a lot of remix potential.

2. I'm not overly fussed on Beautiful Strange.

3. The remix of Man O War is horrendous and completely butchers what was originally a beautiful ballad.

[Edited 9/22/10 2:19am]

Been listening to "In2" since obtaining it yesterday. Maybe it's because it's new to me, but I love it way better than "Un2". Actually, I like "In2" better than his recent "20Ten" release, lol. I'm also hearing "Beautiful Strange" for the first time. No wonder everyone was always talking about this song, I'm really digging it. So glad to finally have "In2" within my musical library.