1. Played more songs of it than most albums over the last decade so I don’t think they dislike the album.
  2. Originally posted by thalloween:[..]
    i literally can’t explain to me why did it receive such a bad press, it’s literally amazing it captured the band at its peak

    They touch on it a little bit in From The Sky Down but they were perceived as being self-indulgent and egotistical in having a film crew follow their every move. They also came across as sanctimonious and ignorant, in their discovery and delight in the blues and BB King. While it was more a case of wunderlust on their part, music journalists and others were unimpressed by U2 acting as if they discovered BB KIng and the blues; when everyone else had know about it for years.
  3. Originally posted by Sydney_MIke:[..]

    They touch on it a little bit in From The Sky Down but they were perceived as being self-indulgent and egotistical in having a film crew follow their every move. They also came across as sanctimonious and ignorant, in their discovery and delight in the blues and BB King. While it was more a case of wunderlust on their part, music journalists and others were unimpressed by U2 acting as if they discovered BB KIng and the blues; when everyone else had know about it for years.
    The knives were out for them especially with this new found connection with "The Blues" which seem to stir up a lot of negative reviews from journalists who felt they were trying to claim chunks of music history as their own story, overall the album is quite a strong collection of songs and is a fan favourite it definitely deserves a deluxe anniversary box set with an expanded blu ray version of the film .
  4. As I recall, they also attracted a lot of criticism for having a blend of live and studio tracks, giving the album a lack of cohesive identity. It wasn't a live album because it contained new songs recorded in the studio; and it wasn't a new studio album because it had previously released songs recorded live. Plus they didn't make 1 LP all the new studio stuff and the other the live stuff. They defied convention and the purists didn't like it.
  5. Originally posted by deanallison:[..]
    I don’t think they hate the album, they’ve played more than half of the studio tracks from it over the past decade which is right up there amongst the most played from albums only behind JT and AB I think and tours of the album they’re promoting. Angel of Harlem, Desire, All I Want Is You, When Love Comes To Town and Love Rescue Me. I have to admit it isn’t really my favourite but I do love Heartland, Angel Of Harlem and All I Want Is You.


    They don’t hate the album. Tracks keep coming up. Added to compilations, played live in concert.

    Paramount owns the film and the name. And there’s a contract in place that details what U2 can and can’t do with the album in relation to that. And word is that Paramount hasn’t been that agreeable to working with the band. They looked at doing a 30th anniversary edition in 2018. But at the end couldn’t get Paramount on board. Why not buy it back? Seems like Paramount has a cheap film they own they can toss out every time a new format comes along, so why sell it back? (I’m surprised we haven’t seen a 4K of it to be honest, but like the album they are limited on what they can release so I doubt we’ll see a deluxe version of the film for the same reasons we won’t see a deluxe version of the album.)
  6. I personally don’t like the live and studio mix. It’s the only album where I’ve edited it on my iTunes. I’ve made alternative album playlists for other albums but in the artist section the original album is there. R&H has a studio section and a live section. I’ve also added the outtakes to the live album. I have no intention of listening to it from start to finish again the way it was put together.
  7. Originally posted by deanallison:I personally don’t like the live and studio mix. It’s the only album where I’ve edited it on my iTunes. I’ve made alternative album playlists for other albums but in the artist section the original album is there. R&H has a studio section and a live section. I’ve also added the outtakes to the live album. I have no intention of listening to it from start to finish again the way it was put together.
    I did similar with SOE. Just deleted it from my library and hope to never listen to it from start to finish again.
  8. Originally posted by iTim:[..]
    I did similar with SOE. Just deleted it from my library and hope to never listen to it from start to finish again.
    I never even added it to my library. Couldn't finish my first listen and I'm sure there are songs on it I've still never heard
  9. Wow, that’s a real shame. There’s a brilliant track right at the end.
  10. Originally posted by u2wanderer1:[..]


    They don’t hate the album. Tracks keep coming up. Added to compilations, played live in concert.

    Paramount owns the film and the name. And there’s a contract in place that details what U2 can and can’t do with the album in relation to that. And word is that Paramount hasn’t been that agreeable to working with the band. They looked at doing a 30th anniversary edition in 2018. But at the end couldn’t get Paramount on board. Why not buy it back? Seems like Paramount has a cheap film they own they can toss out every time a new format comes along, so why sell it back? (I’m surprised we haven’t seen a 4K of it to be honest, but like the album they are limited on what they can release so I doubt we’ll see a deluxe version of the film for the same reasons we won’t see a deluxe version of the album.)


    To add 2 things:
    I remember there were plans announced in german press to release the original VHS with 6 more live songs, under them OTH, NYD and Mothers. But that did not happen as we know...
    It would be interesting how OTH found its way on the Best of VHS. Do the band have permission to only 1 more Song??
  11. Originally posted by JanRodi:[..]
    I remember there were plans announced in german press to release the original VHS with 6 more live songs, under them OTH, NYD and Mothers. But that did not happen as we know...
    Wow I didn't know that at all. Surprising that they changed their mind halfway through the release process.
  12. Originally posted by JanRodi:[..]


    To add 2 things:
    I remember there were plans announced in german press to release the original VHS with 6 more live songs, under them OTH, NYD and Mothers. But that did not happen as we know...
    It would be interesting how OTH found its way on the Best of VHS. Do the band have permission to only 1 more Song??
    They have permission to use some of the songs but can’t just repack the whole album under another name. They’ve issued songs on the Best Of. And the relationship with Paramount hasn’t always been as strained. They came close to resolving things in 2018 so maybe they’ll get there by 2028 when the album is having its 40th…