The title is taken from the lyrics of Bullet The Blue Sky, and describes the sound of gunfire. This album does indeed go off like a shotgun.
Taken from the 1988 film that follows their live performances over the previous two years, the double album contains 17 top tracks, although they don't ... Read review
Rattle And Hum - CD
Helter Skelter - (Live) Van Dieman's Land Desire Hawkmoon 269 - (With Bob Dylan) ... more
All Along The Watchtower - (Live) I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - (Live) Freedom For My People - Sterling Magee And Adam Gusso Silver And Gold -...
Rattle and Hum [VINYL] - U2
The ill will that initially greeted Rattle and Hum--the follow-up to the band's massively ... more
successful Joshua Tree album--was due in large part to the bloated and self-important feature film that accompanied it, which showed the band as being simultaneously naive and pretentious as it "discovered" America. But as the film mercifully slips from memory, the music has remained, from the furious swirl of "Desire" and a clutch of live hits to insightful musical nods to heroes such as Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Billie Holiday. Songs like "When Love Comes to Town", a supercharged blues duet with B.B. King, suggests the quartet knew more about America from listening to its music than Phil Joanou's unintentional mockumentary suggested. --Daniel Durchholz
Rattle and Hum [VINYL] - U2
The ill will that initially greetedRattle and Hum--the follow-up to the band's massively ... more
successfulJoshua Treealbum--was due in large part to the bloated and self-important feature film that accompanied it, which showed the band as being simultaneously naive and pretentious as it "discovered" America. But as the film mercifully slips from memory, the music has remained, from the furious swirl of "Desire" and a clutch of live hits to insightful musical nods to heroes such as Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Billie Holiday. Songs like "When Love Comes to Town", a supercharged blues duet with B.B. King, suggests the quartet knew more about America from listening to its music than Phil Joanou's unintentional mockumentary suggested.--Daniel Durchholz
our items are despatched from the United Kingdom. Starring - Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., B.B. King We offer *** WORLDWIDE *** Delivery!, Manufacturer: MoviePostersDirect
our items are despatched from the United Kingdom. Starring - Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., B.B. King We offer *** WORLDWIDE *** Delivery!, Manufacturer: MoviePostersDirect
A review by Salgirl on Rattle And Hum - U2 March 27th, 2001
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
see opinion
Disadvantages:
see opinion
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
The title is taken from the lyrics of Bullet The Blue Sky, and describes the sound of gunfire. This album does indeed go off like a shotgun.
Taken from the 1988 film that follows their live performances over the previous two years, the double album contains 17 top tracks, although they don't include the phenomenal "Sunday Bloody Sunday" which was peformed in an emotionally wrought way during an American concert the day after the Enniskillin bomb outrage. I'll deal with that in particular later on.
The first track is a live version of "Helter Skelter" which is introduced by Bono saying "This is a song that Charles Manson stole from the Beatles, we're stealing it back." (The classic rock song was included on the Beatle's White Album and the drug addled mind of serial killer and Family leader, Charles Manson, compelled him to tell his followers that this was talking of the race war that he himself had been predicting, and was a signal to start the revolution by murdering people. We all know it's about a fairground slide). I'll go as far to say that U2 perform this better than the Beatles ever did.
"Van Diemen's Land" is sung by The Edge, for a change. He does a very passable job in the simple (and short) arrangement of a traditional song about a man who's been sent to Australia as punishment for his 'crimes' in Ireland. Apparently the lyrics get a touch political and so the song seems to get cut off a bit abruptly.
"Desire" comes next and this is the hard driving, tub thumping cross between rock and a danceable little number. Very slick.
"Hawkmoon 269" is a rather dramatic love song. The guitaring is in the vogue of Pete Townshend but without the arty riffs. Not one of the best tracks on here in my opinion, but it's okay if harmless rendition of a fair to middling rock track. Apparently the hammond organ is being played by some bloke called Bob Dylan.
"All Along The Watchtower" is an all time favourite track of mine (best played by the great Jimi) and a well covered song. Here U2 play it live in San Francisco, and do a very good job indeed. This is their kind of track, it's got clever and pertinent lyrics plus a great beat. Bono's voice comes into it's own on this song, shame the some of Edge's guitaring goes a bit AWOL for a couple of seconds, but I'm being picky.
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." This classic U2 song is performed live in Madison Square Gardens, New York and is as brilliant as you would expect. The guest vocals are courtesy of the New Voices of Freedom, and George Pendergrass and Dorothy Terrell. I love the gospel choir sound and it's used to excellent effect on here.
"Freedom For My People" this lasts for 38 seconds. It sounds like a busking job but it's still a quality sound. Shame it's so brief, I could've done with hearing a lot more.
"Silver And Gold". A real high spot, this track has excellent guitar by Edge and great vocal treatment by Bono. This one's being performed live in Colorado. Lucky Colorado, I say. A great rock out. There's a politically outspoken slant to this, with a nice little commentary dab bang in the middle.
"Pride (In The Name Of Love)". Performed live (again in Colorado) this is another classic U2 track performed in their inimitable way. Nice audience participation.
"Angel Of Harlem". This is dedicated to Billie Holiday, the great Lady of the Blues, and recorded in the Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Reputedly the same room as Elvis made his recording debut in. Good to singalong to and a decent production job adds to the atmosphere of the track.
"Love Rescue Me". This too was recorded in Memphis and is the first real slow track on here. Very 'deep south' and 'early Elvis' feel to this song. Sadly, it does nothing for me despite Bob Dylan efforts at co-writing and singing.
"When Love Comes To Town". Famously involving BB King, this is a spanking track. This isn't a live version, which is a shame because the ones I've heard are real corkers, but it's still got a fantastic blues feel thanks to BB.
"Heartland". A slow and typically U2 start to this song, you can tell it's all building up to something. Recorded back in Dublin, this is polished to a high sheen in the studio. Very tuneful, soulful and professional.
"God Part II". I've never been too sure about this track. It doesn't seem to go anywhere except in it's lyrics. A faster rock beat doesn't do much to lift it for me either. Minimally interesting sort of arty rock out bit in the middle stops it from being bland, but I usually program this one out of the playlist.
"The Star Spangled Banner" 43 seconds homage to Jimi Hendrix with his controversial 1969 live rendition of the American national anthem. Which leads rather nicely into..
"Bullet The Blue Sky". A fantastically stirring song Bono starts in an almost operatic voice at their concert in Arizona. Atmospheric, intense and menacing, this is U2 as they should sound all the time.
"All I Want Is You". Such a quiet and simple song to finish the album, and a real beauty it is too. Bono breathes his words into the mike, soft and gentle but with more than a hint of his heartfelt passions. A lovely string arrangement adds a classy touch.
This is an album of maturity and not a little musical arrogance. That's fine, they can get away with it. They should, though, have included the aforementioned track of Sunday Bloody Sundayin with the collection.
I know why they didn't and it's actually explained in the film. Concerned that their performance of that song on the day after the Remeberence Day bombing wouldn't be remembered in the right context, they simply didn't include this. The reason the context was so important was because Bono goes off into a heartbreaking and articulate rant during the performance. He starts by saying, "So here we are, the Irish in America" there's a load roar. A few lines later and he's saying "I'm sick and tired of Irish Americans who haven't been home in 30 or 40 years coming up to me and talking about the glory of the revolution. F*** the revolution." There's a silence while what he's really saying sinks in. This is anti-NORAID stuff and worth the price of the video alone just to hear the undiluted anger and pain in his voice as he rages eloquently against the injustices in Ireland. And Britain get's it's fair share of the blame too before anyone on here takes offence.
The film is interesting with it's clips and interviews, the music is fantastic, and this album does a more than reasonable job of representing that.
Advantages: Old hits and superb new tracks Disadvantages: A pointless snippet of Jimi Hendrix playing "The Star Spangled Banner"
OVERVIEW
---------------
I can see that it's been over three years since the last review of probably MY favourite ever rock album. Released in 1988, let's see how it all stacks up in 2004:
CONCEPT
---------------------
This album includes live hits from their world tour of 1988 to promote the previous year's "Joshua Tree" album. New tracks written and recorded on the road are also included in "studio form". A live track followed by a studio ... ...that minor criticism put you off. The live tracks ("Pride", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For") are electrifying and breathe new life into them. The previously unheard tracks are generally ace. Here's a breakdown of the tracks with marks out of five.
HELTER SKELTER
--------------------------
A live cover of the Beatles cut from "The White Album". It starts with Bono informing, "here's a song Charles Manson stole from Beatles. We're stealing ...
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Advantages: More Great Songs both Live and in the Studio, proof that U2 could cut it with the best Disadvantages: None
This album cam after U2's mega breakthroughs of "THe Unforgettable Fire" and "The Joshua Tree". It was accompanied by a film that caused a lot of ill will as the band came across as pompous and pretentious.
After the stadium rock of the previous albums this was a "back to the roots" excercise in which U2 toured America to discover their R'n'B and Soul influences. The album is part live and part studio and contains both old and new material.
The ... ...chords, and three minutes of blistering rock, proving the band needed nothing but the absolute basics to sound absolutely awesome.
The album opens with a live cover of the Beatles "Helter Skelter" which is every bit as frightening as the original, especially with its associations with the Manson "family". This segues into a beuatiful acoustic ballad "Van Diemen's Land" about transported criminals.
They also cover Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower", ...
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Advantages: All of it Disadvantages: U2, are you kidding? None !!!!
...the luckless wind, comes a rattle and hum" and the rest, they say, is history.....
Next two are not on the album, but in the dvd again.
Running To Stand Still........What a song..... I love this song......... you have to listen to it. Has a powerful beat, and is great.
Sunday Bloody Sunday...... About the bombing of a Rememberance Day Parade in Enniskillin (not too sure if I spelled it correctly), and a damn good song..... The emotion that is ... ...16) Pride (In The Name Of Love)...... This is the other song that was in honour of Martin Luther King... Early Morning, April Four, Shot rings out in the Memphis sky, Free at last, they took your life, but they could not take your Pride..... Wow, blows you away doesn't it?
17) All I Want Is You....... This is the other of my favourites on the album. All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave, when all I want is you....... Mighty big ...
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Rattle and Hum is U2s best album by miles, and the only album which is a) partly live and b) a double album that I have ever played regularly. The songs are outstanding, the live music superbly integrated with the studio work - all those dinosaur bands, take note, it CAN be done ! Most of all, this is an album which combines a musical odyssey, homage to heros and wonderfull originality into a seamless whole. The video is equally good, but the album ...
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...some really good stuff. Unfortunately Rattle and Hum is not one of their good albums. In my opinion Rattle and Hum is a bit ''look at us we're superstars so we can release any old rubbish''. U2 are a talented band but they havent shown their real talent on this album. Yes there are some good songs on the album eg angel of harlem and I still havent found what I'm looking for... but it isnt very well produced and also has several very weak songs. They ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: It's a U2 album! Disadvantages: It's the worst U2 album!
...U2 are arguably the world's greatest band and creators of countless classic albums, but even they are prone to the odd moment of madness.
Zooropa is the most disappointing album I have ever bought. Usually when buying a U2 album, you are guaranteed quality, but not this time.
After the success of The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum, U2 began to move away from their traditional "passionate rock" and began to experiment with a different sound. Achtung Baby still just about made the grade, but Zooropa is simply trying too hard to be different and seems a bit rushed.
It was undoubtedly an experimental album and the experiment failed miserably. It is an album with no more than 2 reasonable songs on it. The rest of the album wouldn't be good enough to even be considered for the average U2 B side.
The music of U2 is played daily...
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Advantages: A Change of Direction but still groundbreaking and exhilarating and U2 Disadvantages: None
...After their trip into the American heartlands to rediscover their roots on the "Rattle and Hum" U2 returned home for their next foray into the recording studio. Well they overshot by several hundred miles and ended up in Berlin / East Germany for "Achtung Baby" as you may have guessed from the title. Like Bowie and Eno on the Low album they took in the industrial influences for the latest instalment in their musical journey.
The cover is a montage of industrial images, graffiti , and garishly coloured band pictures, included a controversial full frontal picture of a certain band member that leaves his religion in no doubt (this is on the back cover)..
The album opens very quietly with a distant cowbell (musicians cowbell not cow's cowbell) , which is joined by some industrial noise and superb slurring guitar riff by the Edge...
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...a hot summer night would you offer yourself to the wolf with the red roses?"
"Yes".....
"I bet you say that to all the boys....."
Launch into a really bangin' tune, great lyrics, thumping beat, great stuff.......
Razors Edge........ Another great tune by the master of rock, "We're all looking for, the razors edge...."
Paradise By The Dashboard Light....
i)Paradise.... ii)Let Me Sleep On It.... iii)Praying For The End Of Time.... This song is broken down into three parts, all about a guy who basically wants to get laid....... and is having trouble with his girl, she wants to know if he loves her before she goes any further........ a great number, great tune, lyrics outstanding.
Like I said, I love Meatloaf. For interest, track 2, Read 'Em And Weep, was produced by Jimmy Iovine, who produced Rattle'N'Hum for U2...
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Album Notes: U2: The Edge (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Bono (vocals, guitar); Adam Clayton (bass); Larry Mullen Jr. (drums). Additional personnel: B.B. King (vocals, guitar); Brian Eno (keyboards); Tom Petty, Benmont Tench, The Memphis Horns, Bob Dylan, The New Voices Of Freedom. Recorded live during the Joshua Tree Tour in the U.S. and Europe in 1987. The aural companion to the band documentary of the same name, RATTLE AND HUM is where U2's began to tire of being the anthem-making rock heroes they had become in the '80s. That's not to say the songs didn't approach serious subject matter, but there was more musical and lyrical diversity than on albums past. They repeatedly play with the rock & roll myth throughout RATTLE AND HUM, covering the Beatles' "Helter Skelter" and Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," casting aspersions on "the golden age of pop" on "God Part II" and busting out their own blistering version of the Bo Diddley beat on the irresistible "Desire." The band began to explore American roots music as well. "Angel of Harlem," a tune about Billie Holiday, was recorded in Memphis' famed Sun Studios. Bono makes his first official Gospel foray on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." The lads from Dublin even collaborate with B.B. King on "When Love Comes To Town." RATTLE & HUM is wonderfully schizophrenic, full of passion and ambition.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone - 3.5 Stars - Very Good
Titles on disc 1
1.: Helter Skelter
2.: Van Diemen's Land
3.: Desire
4.: Hawkmoon 269
5.: All Along The Watchtower
6.: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
7.: Freedom For My People
8.: Silver And Gold
9.: Pride (In The Name Of Love)
10.: Angel Of Harlem
11.: Love Rescue Me
12.: When Love Comes To Town
13.: Heartland
14.: God Part II
15.: Star Spangled Banner
16.: Bullet The Blue Sky
17.: All I Want Is You
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