Rating: 
Summary: A stunning musical achievment marred by poor sound.
Review: After viewing this DVD,I concluded that it was a stunning musical achievment by Prince, marred only by poor sound. The 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS are simply terrible. The 2.0 Dolby Digital is much better. The 5.1 recording simply sounds harsh, edgy and are completely lacking in clean, fill it in your guts bass. If I were Prince, I would fire my sound engineers because they blew it in recording a classic performance by him and his guests, members of Sly and the Family Stone, Lenny Kravitz, Maceo Parker from James Brown Band, and Morris Day. Also featured was a vocalist from the Sounds of Blackness. I have been in Prince's studios at Paisley Park during the early '90s, and I recall Prince had a lot of analog equipment at that time. Perhaps he did not upgrade to the state of the art digital equipment which seems to repreduce every octave of music. Listening to this sound after hearing the likes of the new Santana, Sting, Peter Frampton and even James Brown, well, it makes this DVD sound bad sonically except for its 2 channel sound which is adequate. Notwithstanding the poor sound, this is classic performance. I am convinced that Prince is the greatest entertainer in the latter part of the 20th Century.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I hadn't been working dec. 31, 1999!
Review: Although it's missing a whole lot of hits & essentials (When Doves Cry, Cream, Dirty Mind, 7, Beautiful Ones AND so on and so on), and it's heavy on preachy spiritualism, Rave is a solid concert video and a must have for all fans. It features Prince accompanied by former Sly and the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham, along with guests such as Rosie Gaines, Maceo Parker and Mr. Lenny Kravitz. With his guitar in fine form, Prince and his band stomp through Purple Rain, Rasberry Beret, Gett Off, Let's Go Crazy, Kiss and several other of the Purple One's big hits. They also do rocking, rollicking versions of the Sly/Stone hits "Everyday People" and "Higher." Lenny Kravitz takes the stage for Fly Away and American Woman, with Prince filling in admirably for Craig Ross on guitar. The highlight is a blistering version of the Cross, renamed the Christ for the concert, featuring a gospel choir. Prince sounds great, the band is solid, and he seems to be having fun for the first time in a long time. It's not on par (by any stretch of the imagination)with the classic Prince and the Revolution Live-the Purple Rain tour (but then again, neither is a lot of the post-Revolution music). A lot of people might be disappointed that quite a few hits are missing, but when you have so many songs, what are you going to do? It features the usual assemblage of Prince jam sessions and pretty faithful renditions of the classics. (Gett Off kind of disappoints - remember the great performance on the MTV awards in the early '90s - without the seat of the pants!) It still shows why he's better than anyone else. It won't ever be the same as in the Controversy-1999-Purple Rain-Sign O' the Times heydays, but the true fans will more than take it.
Rating:
Summary: Until they release "Sign" on DVD... buy this one
Review: As a Prince fan from way back, I have to admit that I've been pretty lax in my purchases of late. "The Rainbow Children" was an interesting foray into his jazz fetishes, while "Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic" (his attempt at 'Santana'-type blockbuster status once more) was capable at best, but I haven't been as interested as I once was... why? It's because of that elusive 'live' gig. With "Sign 'O' The Times" still out there on laserdisc and VHS, and a plethora of perfect-sounding/masterfully performed bootlegs out there, I can't give this 5 stars, because it's far from perfect, but for now, it will do. With the exception of the drummer and the pointless go-go dancing foils, Prince's line-up for this performance is pretty solid. Larry Graham especially shines, no matter how mannered and overdone these particular songs might be in the Prince live show. Highlights: "Everyday People", "American Woman", "Red House", "She's Always In My Hair", "Raspberry Beret", "Purple Rain", and "The Cross/Christ". The lowlights? An excess of religion (although nobody should be surprised by this), a lack of really EXTENDED jams as on the '88 Lovesexy tour, and unnecessarily spotless production. It should sound a lot grittier at times, but doesn't.
Rating:
Summary: Until they release "Sign" on DVD... buy this one
Review: As a Prince fan from way back, I have to admit that I've been pretty lax in my purchases of late. "The Rainbow Children" was an interesting foray into his jazz fetishes, while "Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic" (his attempt at 'Santana'-type blockbuster status once more) was capable at best, but I haven't been as interested as I once was... why? It's because of that elusive 'live' gig. With "Sign 'O' The Times" still out there on laserdisc and VHS, and a plethora of perfect-sounding/masterfully performed bootlegs out there, I can't give this 5 stars, because it's far from perfect, but for now, it will do. With the exception of the drummer and the pointless go-go dancing foils, Prince's line-up for this performance is pretty solid. Larry Graham especially shines, no matter how mannered and overdone these particular songs might be in the Prince live show. Highlights: "Everyday People", "American Woman", "Red House", "She's Always In My Hair", "Raspberry Beret", "Purple Rain", and "The Cross/Christ". The lowlights? An excess of religion (although nobody should be surprised by this), a lack of really EXTENDED jams as on the '88 Lovesexy tour, and unnecessarily spotless production. It should sound a lot grittier at times, but doesn't.
Rating:
Summary: Until they release "Sign" on DVD... buy this one
Review: As a Prince fan from way back, I have to admit that I've been pretty lax in my purchases of late. "The Rainbow Children" was an interesting foray into his jazz fetishes, while "Rave Unto The Joy Fantastic" (his attempt at 'Santana'-type blockbuster status once more) was capable at best, but I haven't been as interested as I once was... why? It's because of that elusive 'live' gig. With "Sign 'O' The Times" still out there on laserdisc and VHS, and a plethora of perfect-sounding/masterfully performed bootlegs out there, I can't give this 5 stars, because it's far from perfect, but for now, it will do. With the exception of the drummer and the pointless go-go dancing foils, Prince's line-up for this performance is pretty solid. Larry Graham especially shines, no matter how mannered and overdone these particular songs might be in the Prince live show. Highlights: "Everyday People", "American Woman", "Red House", "She's Always In My Hair", "Raspberry Beret", "Purple Rain", and "The Cross/Christ". The lowlights? An excess of religion (although nobody should be surprised by this), a lack of really EXTENDED jams as on the '88 Lovesexy tour, and unnecessarily spotless production. It should sound a lot grittier at times, but doesn't.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth it from a fan
Review: Color me purple...a long time Prince admirer, even when he was mining for Gold, so perhaps I'm a judge. Rave finally captures Prince in a concert setting, interactive, emotive, energetic, a consummate entertainer and a stunning guitarist, what the Sign-o-the-Times seemed unable to do with heavy laden vignettes. I'm no audiophile but when he mimicks Lenny Kravitz's voice with his guitar on American Woman , it resonated in the middle of my head and I realized I was clenching my fists. It's clear why Prince will only perform "nothing compares 2 u" with Rosie Gaines; she's spectacular. Prince "moshes" during this concert, pretending he's swimming through the crowd leaving no viewer uninterested. This is a concert where Prince showcases his greatest gift, the guitar solo, with enough close ups for you to taste. He shares some of his yearning spirituality with "The Christ", formerly known as "The Cross" from Sign-o-the-Times. Terrifically balanced and followed by the most fun to hear and watch blues medley I've ever heard.
Rating:
Summary: prince be the one with the funky music so RAVE!!!!!!!!
Review: DAMN!!!!!! prince can throw a party ! At his own paisley park studio! he Recorded a unforgetable PErformance. He Sung like he never sung before he danced like he never danced before he played his guitar like he never played before and he can still do those damn SplitS!This is honestly the last concert you'll ever see prince perform like this! Buy this! and your going to want to RAVE!
Rating:
Summary: Undisputed King of Funk
Review: From beginning to end, this is one sweet ride.
Recorded live from the purple one's studio's, we get a glimpse into what many of us have known for years: this man can funk it up and can stand on his own a guitar master. He shares the spotlight with a littany of R&B masters, new and old and gives the people what they want. I won't pick it apart, song by song.
This was a truly enjoyable concert and it saddens me that I've never had the pleasure of experiencing it firsthand. One can only hope he continues pumping out the funk for many years to come, like the Godfather, James Brown
Rating:
Summary: Smokin'
Review: Hot. I forgot how good his purpleness is on the guitar. Spank it purple one.
Rating:
Summary: I ONLY WISH I WAS THERE TO SEE IT LIVE!
Review: I absolutely LOVE Prince's music. To see him perform in concert on this DVD makes it that much better! I was kind of hoping it would have a few more songs from the album like "so far so pleased", "man of war", and "silly game". Other than that, every song on the DVD was great, especially the Purple Rain performance! I would recommend any TRUE Prince fan to buy this DVD... Regardless of the price! (It's that good)
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