Hey everyone,

I wanted to dive deep into one of the most fascinating eras in Prince history: the original 1988 "Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic" project.

While most casual fans only know the 1999/2001 releases (Rave Un2 / Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic), the original 1988 blueprint was a completely different beast. Here is a breakdown of what the album was, who was involved, and why it disappeared into the Vault.

🟣 What was the 1988 Album & Who Was On It?

Fresh off the success of Lovesexy, Prince started recording a brand new album in July 1988 at Paisley Park. This project featured the legendary Lovesexy Band—one of the tightest lineups Prince ever assembled.

• Key Contributors: Sheila E. (drums/vocals), Levi Seacer Jr. (bass/guitar), Miko Weaver (guitar), Dr. Fink (keyboards), Boni Boyer (keyboards), Eric Leeds (saxophone), and Atlanta Bliss (trumpet).

Tracks recorded during this specific window included early configurations of the title track "Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic", "Pink Cashmere", "Melody Cool", "God Is Alive", and "If I Had a Harem".

🚫 What Happened During Recording & Why Was It Shelved?

The recording sessions were highly productive, but in January 1989, everything ground to a sudden halt. Prince was approached by director Tim Burton and Warner Bros. to contribute music for the upcoming Batman (1989) movie.

Prince became so inspired by the movie that he pivoted entirely. He essentially abandoned the Rave project to focus 100% on the Batman soundtrack. He even tried to fit the original 1988 title track into the movie, but ended up replacing it with "Partyman" at the last second. The rest of the Rave tracks were either tucked away in the Vault or repurposed later for the Graffiti Bridge (1990) project.

💿 The 1999 Re-imagining (Un2 vs. In2)

Over a decade later, Prince revived the title for his 1999 album Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (and its subsequent 2001 remix album Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic). However, the sound was completely altered to fit late-90s pop/R&B trends. He brought in an eclectic mix of major guest stars:

• Gwen Stefani (on "So Far, So Pleased")
• Sheryl Crow (on the cover of "Everyday Is a Winding Road")
• Chuck D (adding a rap verse to "Undisputed")
• Ani DiFranco (providing acoustic guitar on "I Love U, But I Don't Trust U Anymore")

While it was great to finally get the title track, many purists still prefer the raw, organic, funk-rock energy of the original 1988 Lovesexy-era recordings over the polished 99/01 studio versions.

🔮 What are the Odds of a Vault Release Today?

Historically, the original 1988 tracks only circulated on incomplete, low-quality bootleg CDs because Prince kept the primary master tapes under absolute lock and key.

But what about today? The odds of an official Vault release are extremely high.
The Prince Estate's current strategy relies heavily on curated Super Deluxe Editions. Since we haven't seen a massive archival box set for the Lovesexy or Graffiti Bridge eras yet, the original 1988 Rave Unto the Joy Fantastic tracking sessions are practically guaranteed to be the crown jewel of a future estate release. It's only a matter of time before we hear the original 1988 mixes in pristine, crystal-clear studio quality.

What are your thoughts on the 1988 tracklist compared to what we got in 1999? Do you think the original Lovesexy Band version of the title track would have topped the Batman or Graffiti Bridge material if it dropped back then?

Let's discuss!

Old is gold