Prince's album Rave wasn't a commercial success because it wasn't properly promoted!!!

Clive was in a dispute with his label at the time...plus Prince didn't release a video prior to a single...Instead we got the radio promo of TGRES, in mid october with a video in december...which is not the way!!!

Prince didn't perform on any show except for 'The Early Show'..usually ppl now-a-days aren't very interested in a chat, when you could pick up a guitar and play your heart out!!! and win over ppl who would then want to hear more...Plus he blew off Mtv's request to perform, which was a great opportunity to play a teaser of 1999 with RUTJF in its entire form on the award show with a spectacle...including a preview special on mtv to allow fans/public to hear the album first...and most of his major interviews were in smaller magazines...like guitar world and mixer...when he couldve easily went to Vibe or Rolling Stone- despite what they said about his career a year prior, they sure wouldve put him on the cover in 1999!!! duh!!! money...ring a bell LOL
plus...the radio didn't play TGRES much - which was mainly because Arista didnt put the money where their mouth was at the time...the song is an awesome tune, but wasn't played much!!!

Prince and Gwen/no doubt wanted to release so far so pleased -which shouldve been heard but their label wouldnt allow it.

All due to lack of promotion!!!

And as far as europe...he played tv shows over there way!!! before the album was due there...which was stupid and then it wasn't release officially, but as an import...so thats why it didnt chart over there...when it actually would have sold well in the UK...because he worked the songs there...so there youhave it!!!

Prince needed a break and in 2004, he'll get the shit right!!! I HOPE =/?
[This message was edited Thu Jan 22 15:37:58 PST 2004 by NPD313]

PS- Everyone says RUTJF wasn't a strong album or it wasn't his best!!!

How many albums in the last 5-6 years have really been GREAT STRONG RECORDS that have cracked the top 10???

Not many...all these Lenny Kravitz hits come from crap albums...and Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears...come on...those albums weren't great!!!

Even Santana was filled with cameos and the music wasn't spectacular!!!
No doubts last album sucked, but it has 2 hit singles and it was da bomb!!!

Plus OutKast, I have to say, its not all that!!!
Its an ok album, but I can't listen to anything but maybe 2 or 3 songs on each disc!!!

so lets not diss the rave record when i can list more than 5 tracks that i really like!

DavidEye said:

I gotta say (and you can all ttrash me for sayin it) but I think Rave is a good record. A little unfocused, but I think if some band released this record instead of Prince, people would like it more.

Having said all that, I agree with DavidEye in that TGRES wasn't the right choice for a single. It's not a bad tune, but as far as songs on Rave, or even Prince's ballads in general go, it's kinda bland. Something up and rockin like Baby Knows or So Far SO Pleased certainly woul dhave been a better choice. Plus he could have played on the feature artists as well, tying them in and introducing himself to a whole new generation who were previously only aquainted with the weird stuff he did. The promotion wasn't right, the single wasn't right, but as we've seen before, you can have a masterpiece, but if people don't know about it, it will fall on deaf ears. I'm sure Prince was pissed that it didn't get a better response, but he's partially to blame.

gnations said:

The thing that sucks about this is that Prince did that tune "Waiting Room" for No Doubt's album. They could have helped promote each other (even though I suppose Waiting Room isn't really single material though it's really good!)

i really don't see how people can say that "rave un2 the joy fantastic" was such an awful album. it may not be his greatest, but i'm always just happy to have Prince's music on no matter what it is, so maybe i'm not a good judge of these things. it's not his best, but i find myself tapping my feet along to it. it has some good songs, too!

Yeah, but just like with Lovesexy his ego was such that, he didn't think he'd have to do promotion, people were just supposed to "get it" and go out in droves to buy the album with no PROMO!
Remember the video for Alphabet St.? Didn't he shoot that in an afternoon after weeks of saying he wasn't doing videos for that LP? Then when he realized he was biting the dust in the recka stow's he flipped the switch.
He needs to either be the mysterious guy that won't be understood and suffer commercially as a result or PROMOTE the damned material and make some Duran Duran $$.
Kisses.
Spanky.

VAMPIRELLA said:

In some cases youth serves U correctly but in your case its a mere basketcase. So let's breakdown the trash U speak of cuz it appears 2 me, U must B on the Org 4 the fellowship and the chat feature. Seeing U have no sense with what I just read nor any true respect 4 Prince.
It has nothing 2 do with U needing 2 B a ass kisser either trust me...

As U say:"he should prouduce music he actually likes"? If U take your personal "self" out of things cuz U R only saying U don't like his new productions, perhaps your vision improves slightly? U and the ones who think like U fail 2 come 2 grips with this being what "he wants" 2 do 4 himself, 4 his personal musical journey...seeing he is the genius and not "U". In saying that...Prince does like what he's putting out despite your clueless notions...

U expressed: "I refuse 2 believe he likes the new shit he's releasing". Truly sounds like U have a serious problem within. Maybe U refuse cuz your mind is lacking some light maybe a mature fuse? Hey Vamp thats life right? The way it just is. If U can only describe his music as "shit" then why B on a site like this, where that smell is all around U so strongly? Does shit smell good 2 U I wonder?

Just let your careless youth hop another freedom train 2 a better land of milk & honey, & 2 your shitless liking.

U say: "he wants his hey-day back" Funny fact (not opinion) He ain't making that 1999 Purple Rain or Sign O' The Times music like the "Hey-Days" is he? Thats what he would do if he felt your shallow needs 2 turn the clock back. U stand in quicksand with that one.

U add: "He started grovelling for audience approval with Diamonds and Pearls and it's been depressing ever since". Depressing 4 who U? Again, if that were the truth, and he's that down & out over his audience's approval he would have never made a album like "NEWS". That says U R so far off that U should B the first human on Mars.

As far as him being forever linked 2 the 80's...not in everyones mind, and who really cares. U weren't even born 4 most of it and eating soft foods 4 the rest of it. Did U not get breast fed or something? In closing of pointing out your wreck less unfound talk U lastly spit from your mouth: "he should just accept that and take up a new career". All this BIG talk from a 18yr old critic who should if anything take her own advice, and U yourself find a new everything...Heart, mind, soul, respect, common sense, music smarts, etc...


Respect, & solid sense gets mine...and seeing nobody else wants 2 put the spotlight on your worthless 2-cents I will...cuz if your able 2 lob out this kind of two-face trash cuz U feel its right 2 do & cuz U can, then I have every right spilling the wisdom of facts and reality over U like a shower...

It ain't about kissing Prince's ass, but lets also B fair and call it correct if your going 2 play critic. Anyone who says what U did, if I catch it I'll call U out on it, cuz this site I know ain't perfect but people like U need 2 feel more accountable 4 what U say.
I didn't come straight outta Compton 2 attack as I don't hate U. But I'm coming straight 2 U not with a opinion that your wrong, as it is fact your wrong with your distorted views~

namepeace said:

No. He wouldn't have come out with the great Bob George line: THIS IS YOUR CONSCIENCE SPEAKING. Nor Dolphin (prelude to 2 returns; that of David and Christ), nor Joy in Repetition (Man gets his rib back), nor etc. ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

skywalker said:

Prince knows, and you know and I know ('cos it is on the b-side to "Kiss") that if he has to choose 'twixt love or money, which one he'd go for. In other words, you are part right. He can handle the fact that his releases are often un-popular. It is part of the process.

MrLovesexy said:

ok mr Lovesexy u are officially my favorite orger (with shoutouts to supernova & laurarichardson). I think u set her straight. Somebody needs too.

Fandangouk said:

These are exactly my feelings about this album!

And yes, "So Far, So Pleased" and "Baby Knows" would have been the obvious single choices. Eventhough I don't really dig either one of these songs, the certainly have commercial appeal.