U2

The Soundwaves Vinyl of the Week is Rattle and Hum by U2.

 

Rattle and Hum is a fascinating hybrid of a live concert recording and a studio album. Released in 1988, it captures U2 at the height of their Joshua Tree fame, which for this band turned them into household names. The double vinyl album transitions between raw, live performances of established hits and new studio tracks recorded at iconic locations like Sun Studio in Memphis. This was a moment in time when an Irish band was deeply immersed in exploring American blues, gospel, and soul influences. Just listen to the track, "When Love Comes To Town" featuring B.B. King--my favorite track on this album. It's pure blues.

 

The studio recordings offer some of the band's most enduring material. "Desire" has this infectious Bo Diddley beat, while "Angel of Harlem" showcases a soulful horn section and a warmer, more melodic side of Bono’s vocals. "All I Want Is You" became one of their most recognizable ballads and appeared on the Reality Bites movie soundtrack. These new tracks demonstrated an evolution in their songwriting that showed that they could put a toe into traditional musical genres while maintaining their own signature rock sound.

 

Live covers of legendary songs like “Helter Skelter” by The Beatles and “All Along The Watchtower” by Bob Dylan and also made popular by Jimi Hendrix interspersed with their own material feels a little strained, but who am I to judge. True fans of U2 appreciate the album as a snapshot of a world-class band pushing their boundaries before their transition into the experimental era of the 1990s and their massive stadium tours.