Rattle and Hum

Description

Rattle and Hum – a double disc – is the sixth studio album (though part studio, part live) by the Irish rock band U2, released on Island Records in October 1988. The album was produced by Jimmy Iovine and recorded during 1987 and 1988 at various studios – at Danesmoat and S.T.S. Studio in Dublin, Ireland; and in the US at A&M Studios and Ocean Way in Los Angeles, California; at Sun Studio (“the birthplace of rock & roll”) in Memphis, Tennessee; as well as live in various locations.

Rattle and Hum and a companion rockumentary film directed by Phil Joanou and distributed by Paramount Pictures, were both released in 1988. The film and the album feature live recordings, covers, and new songs. To a greater extent than on their previous album, The Joshua Tree, the band explores American roots music and incorporates elements of blues rock, folk rock, and gospel music in their sound. The motion picture was filmed primarily in the United States in late 1987 during The Joshua Tree Tour and it features their experiences with American music. The album was a commercial success, reaching the number one spot in several countries and selling 14 million copies.

With ‘Rattle and Hum’, U2 – or singer/lyricist Bono, at least – seems poised to shake the saintly image at last. Making fewer “socially conscious” pronouncements and more self-condemning pronouncements, Bono seems determined to reveal for all the world the tug-of-war between his lighter and darker instincts. This may disappoint fans who held U2 up as the very models of high-minded spiritual seekers, but for those of us who never quite bought that image, it’s a welcome – if occasionally disturbing – dose of reality.

However, the fact is that ‘Rattle and Hum’ is the most overtly Christian album of U2’s since the band’s second album back in 1981, ‘October‘. A tip-off comes on side 2 when the group employs a gospel choir on a live version of ‘The Joshua Tree‘s «I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For» (which guitarist the Edge goes so far as to call a “gospel” song in the ‘Rattle and Hum’ concert movie). But it’s the nine new studio tracks (which make up about half the double album) that are the most striking.

‘Rattle and Hum’ is very definitely not the positive, worshipful album of faith that ‘October’ was, however. It’s psalm-like, all right, but it’ll remind you of David’s most depressing psalms. «Love Rescue Me», co-written by Bob Dylan (with backing vocals by Zimmy as well), is beautiful and quietly hymn-like, but some of its lyrics are almost shocking: “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow/ Yet I will fear no evil/ I have cursed thy rod and thy staff/ They no longer comfort me/ Love rescue me.” Can’t get much more honest than that.

Still, the song ends on a hopeful note, and is a strong lead-in to the much more jubilant track that comes up next, «When Love Comes to Town», a brilliant duet with B.B. King: “I was there when they crucified my Lord/ I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword/ I threw the dice when they pierced his side/ But I’ve seen love conquer the great divide.”

These are songs about redemption – mostly of the life-and-death Christian sort, though there’s plenty of begging for earthy, romantic redemption a well – and there’s never been half this much pain and anguish in any set of U2 songs, making the desire for saving grace all the more palpable. Bono’s lyrics have never been more personal or better; and though the band flirts with more American blues and rock styles on the new studio tracks and exerts less of it own unique style than before, U2 as a band has never sounded better itself. (The live versions of older songs, which include «Pride» and «Silver and Gold», provide a strong connection with the “old” U2 sound.)

What could have been just a throwaway movie soundtrack, something to keep product in the marketplace between records, is instead a great, poetic album on the level of ‘October’, ‘War‘ and ‘The Joshua Tree’ or even beyond. It’s strong stuff – not for the faint of spirit, perhaps, but ultimately quite life-, love- and faith-affirming rock ‘n’ roll. [Chris Willman, CCM, December 1988]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/rattle-and-hum/1442801732)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Helter Skelter” (Live) – 3:07
A2. “Van Diemen’s Land” – 3:06
A3. “Desire” – 2:58
A4. “Hawkmoon 269” – 6:22

Side Two
B1. “All Along The Watchtower” (Live) – 4:24
B2. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (Live) – 5:53
B3. “Sterling Magee (Freedom For My People)” – 0:38
B4. “Silver And Gold” (Live) – 5:50
B5. “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” (Live) – 4:27

Side Three
C1. “Angel Of Harlem” – 3:49
C2. “Love Rescue Me” – 6:23
C3. “When Love Comes To Town” – 4:14
C4. “Heartland” – 5:02

Side Four
D1. “God Part II” – 3:15
D2. Jimi Hendrix – “The Star Spangled Banner” – 0:43
D3. “Bullet The Blue Sky” (Live) – 5:37
D4. “All I Want Is You” – 6:03

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl double LP, and CD by Island Records.