U2 “Rattle and Hum”

sfilzen — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 14:52:09 +0000

U2 “Rattle and Hum” released 30 years ago today, October 10th, 1988. Island Records, gatefold double LP. A mix of live performances from their 1987 The Joshua Tree tour, new material (“Desire,” the lead single released from the album which hit #1 in the UK and #3 in the US and “Angel of Harlem,” U2′s tribute to Billie Holiday, went to #9 in the UK and #14 in the US) and covers meant to pay tribute to rock-n-roll legends (The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” leads off the album. Also included is Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” though I’ve always preferred Jimi Hendrix’s version). A low-budget yet big-release rockumentary movie accompanied the album. (80′s powerhouse film critics Siskel and Ebert had a split decision on the film, Ebert calling it poorly lit and monotonous while Siskel praised the music as uplifting.)

I was pretty excited when this album came out, purchasing it just after its release. However, I remember being disappointed, not appreciating its Americana flavor sprinkled with gospel choirs (“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”) and the blues (“When Love Comes to Town,” a duet with B. B. King) and finding it grandiose and pretentious. A critic for the New York Times called it egotistical and embarrassing. As I listen to it now, 30 years later, I don’t think it’s necessarily embarrassing but I do agree with Allmusic’s critic Stephen Erlewine who states Rattle and Hum is U2′s “least focused record.”

The post U2 “Rattle and Hum” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

U2 “Rattle and Hum”

sfilzen — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:17:34 +0000

U2 “Rattle and Hum” released on this date, October 10th, 1988. Island Records, gatefold double LP. A mix of live performances from their 1987 The Joshua Tree tour, new material (“Desire,” the lead single released from the album which hit #1 in the UK and #3 in the US) and covers meant to pay tribute to rock-n-roll legends (The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” leads off the album). A low-budget yet big-release rockumentary movie accompanied the album. (80′s powerhouse film critics Siskel and Ebert had a split decision on the film, Ebert calling it poorly lit and monotonous while Siskel praised the music as uplifting.)

I was pretty excited when this album came out, purchasing it just after its release. However, I remember being disappointed, not appreciating its Americana flavor sprinkled with gospel choirs (“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”) and the blues (“When Love Comes to Town,” a duet with B. B. King) and finding it grandiose and pretentious. A critic for the New York Times called it egotistical and embarrassing. As I listen to it now, probably for the first time in 28 years, I don’t think it’s necessarily embarrassing but I do agree with Allmusic’s critic Stephen Erlewine who states Rattle and Hum is U2′s “least focused record.”

The post U2 “Rattle and Hum” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

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U2 “Rattle and Hum”

U2 “Rattle and Hum”