April 28, 2025

1989 - February: U2 ”Rattle and Hum”

43 minutes

U2 released a part-live, part studio album in October 1988 called Rattle and Hum. This album accompanied a filmed “Rockumentary” of the band which was filmed in Denver and Arizona. Originally intended to be entitled “U2 in the Americas,” the album and film instead take their name from lyrics in the song “Bullet the Blue Sky’ from their album “The Joshua Tree.”

Studio sessions for Rattle and Hum included time at Sun Studio in Memphis, and include collaborations with other musicians including Bob Dylan and B.B. King. The intent of Rattle and Hum was to explore more American blues rock, and folk, and roots music of the 50's and 60's, and includes both original and cover songs.

Critics were divided on the album at the time of its release. Some felt that U2 was not celebrating blues rock and artists as much as they were attempting to insert themselves into higher echelons of rock celebrity. Over time the criticisms of egotism would fade, as U2 has indeed proven to be a major force in the Rock pantheon. In retrospect, both Bono and The Edge have found Rattle and Hum to be a bit of a side excursion for the band, more of a “scrapbook” than a true direction. The new direction of U2 would be set beginning with their next studio album, “Achtung Baby” in 1991.

Regardless, Rattle and Hum is a great album, well worth a listen. The collaboration with other artists is worth special attention, as is its examination of the way that modern rock finds its roots in the delta blues.

Friend of the show Greg Lyon sits in for Wayne, while Rob brings us this hybrid album for today's podcast.

Angel of Harlem

The second single from the album is an original studio release which was written as an homage to Billie Holiday. Songwriting took place during the tour for ”The Joshua Tree,” and the lyrics take inspiration form various landmarks around New York City. The track reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 9 on the UK Singles chart.

When Love Comes to Town

Recorded in Sun Studios, this U2 original song features collaboration with blues guitarist B.B. King. Live performances included B.B. King and his band during the “Lovetown Tour” in 1989. U2 would discontinue playing the song in concert over time, but revived it in 2015 as a tribute to B.B. King after his death. King plays lead on this song written by The Edge, who takes on rhythm guitar for this track.

All Along the Watchtower

This live cover is of a song written by Bob Dylan and made famous by Jimi Hendrix. The lyrics are of a conversation between a joker and a thief, and several lines echo lines of scripture from the book of Isaiah in the Bible. U2 performed this live cover in San Francisco at the “Save The Yuppie Free Concert.” Some of the lyrics were altered, which irritated Dylan.

Pride (In the Name of Love)

A live version of the studio song from the 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire, this was recorded in Denver. The popularity of this song can be heard in the audience call-and-response. The lyrics were inspired by elements of the civil rights movement, particularly the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Iko Iko by The Belle Stars (from the motion picture “Rain Man”)

Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman turned in stellar performances in this dramatic film exploring autism.

STAFF PICKS:

Kiss by Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones

Bruce leads off the staff picks with a cover of a Prince song performed by an unusual pairing of art rock group the Art of Noise with Vegas crooner Tom Jones. This became the biggest hit for the Art of Noise to that point, reaching number 5 on the UK charts and number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.

She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals

Lynch brings us the most successful single from the British pop trio, off their second and final album, “The Raw & the Cooked.” The band formed from two previous bands, one Ska, and one Punk. The track was composed at Prince's Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Great White

Greg features a rocker. Great White covered a song originally written and performed by Ian Hunter in 1975. This song went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Great White had a more blues-oriented sound than many of the hair metal bands of the late 80's. Lead singer Jack Russell passed after a battle with Lewy body dementia in August 2024.

What I Am by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Rob closes out the staff picks with the signature song off Edie Brickell & New Bohemians' debut album, "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars." The inspiration for the song was Brickell's frustration with the dogma exhibited in a world religions class in college. Brickell would meet her husband and fellow musician, Paul Simon, when she performed this song on Saturday Night Live.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Sunset Road by Bela Fleck & the Flecktones

This jazz fusion piece with an unusual banjo lead was on the group's debut album, and takes us out for this episode.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

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