U2/Rattle And Hum(1988)

Rattle And Hum is such a great double album. I like how  the U2 guys basically tossed around a  bunch of tracks (live and studio) slapped it together and Bingo! Here’s  Rattle And Hum.

Rattle And Hum was the soundtrack to the movie by U2 documenting their 1987 Joshua Tree Tour jaunt through the U.S.A.

Speaking of the Rattle And Hum movie. I remember it like yesterday when the movie opened up here in Tbay back in 1988. There was absolutely no way I was going opening night but I told my lady friend at the time I would go the second night so we did. I don’t know how many people went the opening night but I’ll tell Ya there was only 10 people at the second nights 9 pm showing.

The public in Tbay had spoken and a turd was dropped in regards to attendance(Ouch) I actually thought the movie was quite good and even bought the damn thing on VHS when it was released a short time later.

Bono,The Edge,Larry Mullin Jr and Adam Clayton put out a real fine damn piece of Rock!

HELTER SKELTER-Bono leads the charge telling the crowd “Charles Mason stole this from the Beatles. We’re stealing it back!” Well played Bono . The Edge strums his guitar and U2 launches into Helter Skelter! U2 does a great version as Mullin rocks the drums while Adam  on bass plays a straight ahead riff and daydreams about supermodels  U2 hooks me in as a listener! U2 is kicking ass! Did I actually just type that?!

VAN DIEMEN’S LAND-This is just The Edge playing a short little 3 minute 6 second song and this is a classic. The 3 other U2’ers take the day off and The Edge pans real Gold with this tune! I loved it than. I love it now! Why oh why did they not utilize this guy as a lead vocalist on some tracks? His voice is fantastic!

DESIRE-Wowzers Folks! This tune when the video was released (before the album hit street) is soooooo Good. Pure and simple! U2 keep it simple silly with bass/guitar and drums! Bono nails a real good vocal. Edge plays a slick clean guitar and provides a real good backing vocal. Larry and Adam just roll all over the place and drive the song doing what they do! Plus for an added bonus Bono delivers a real good harmonica binge at the end of the song! Classic!

HAWKMOON 69-When I hear this song I hear Robbie Robertson on it just with the songs structure and  the ambience airiness  of the sound of drums just floating around in space with some big bass.

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER-Whoah! As good as HELTER SKELTER is this one is even better. U2 tosses a gauntlet and declares this song as if it was their own. It’s that good of a cover. It sounds like an U2 original.

I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR-I like this version as U2 change it up and add a choir and man there’s a few vocalists from the choir that take this tune up a notch and kudos to Bono for backing off and relaxing and letting others do there spiel vocally! Nice chill vibe added by Edge/Larry and Adam.

FREEDOM FOR MY PEOPLE-35 second jam with a couple of friends, harmonica, guitar and some cool percussion.

SILVER AND GOLD – One of the best U2 songs ever in my estimation. Love Edges guitar here with this song being live U2 ditches the gloss and once again keeps the sound raw! Hallelujah! Bono grabs the mic and delivers a well executed first line “In The Shit House A Shotgun” Awesome stuff and the chorus is deadly with Edge easing off the gas pedal on his guitar as Bono delivers the knock out punch lyric of “A Prize Fighter In A Corner Is Told,Hit Where It Hurts Silver And Gold!” Loooooove it! Of course Bono derails the tune somewhat when he goes Into some political mumbo jumbo but he gets back on track with the classic line “AM I BUGGING YA? DON’T MEAN TO BUG YA!” Bono tells The Edge ” Play The Blues!” What a great friggin track!

PRIDE-A Good Single. The jingle jangle of The Edges guitar along with Adams straight ahead Bassing drive Pride! Bono sings a good song here. Live,it’s a typical sing a long song for everyone!

ANGEL OF HARLEM-Love the horns in this tune! This is the great thing about this album as there’s a bunch of different vibes and production values. Angel Of Harlem reeks cool with a real cool blues vibe pushed by Mullins drums! The pre chorus builds up is real slick as it sounds like Bono is straining his vocals kinda gives it an authentic feel.

LOVE RESCUE ME-Edge chills on the guitar while Bono blows the harp. Larry and Adam join in and even though this is a slower kind of U2 it’s like they shoved there sound into a slow cooker and decided to let the sound take it’s time cooking.

WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN-BB King(RIP) does the honors with U2 on this track and its a great song. It’s a  little rough around the edges(no pun) and its a real good song that flows effort less or sounds like it. Bono along with BB throws down a real good vocal while Larry drives the drums and Adam plays some straight ahead bass and dreams about super models. Love the raw production of this track! Great Great Song!

HEARTLAND-U2 go for the big atmospheric sound with some trippy sonics. Bono and The Edge’s voices carry this tune especially at the end when they really ramp it up at the end.

GOD PART 2-Larry hits the electronic drums and this tune almost sounds like it could have for fit somewhere on side 2 of Zooropa! Kinda trippy U2!

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER-Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock solo segues right into the next track which is…

BULLET THE BLUE SKY-What a killer live drum sound on this song! Wow,Larrys kick drum sounds so good live here. Kudos to the dude doing the mixing at the soundboard.

ALL I WANT-Big end of the album tune! It’s a slow builder. Kind of a interesting end of the album song! It’s a big sonic epic delight! Bono’s vocals soar and directs the rest of the U2’ers to site back and relax and lap up the chillness!

FINAL YAMMER-U2 deliver it here folks! I like the fact that it’s a big mumbo jumbo batch of different styles,live and studio songs all rolled into a double album!

Bono,Edge,Larry and Adam show up bash out some new tunes with some that have a snappin edge to them. Fast forward to 1993 and U2 should have kept a rougher edge to their sound!