The Playboy Mansion

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restofit

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The Playboy Mansion
« on: June 24, 2020, 10:15:07 PM »
What are your thoughts on this song?

You know, I've always considered this one of the weakest tracks on Pop (and I still do) however it has grown on me quite a bit recently to the point that I find it's unfinished quality gives it such a unique character.

Something that I love about this track is that distinct brooding ambient noise during the verses, and the supplementary drum parts buried in right and left channels. The Playboy Mansion has this really trippy, murky, almost kind of heavy, foggy and hazy, slow-moving, drunken stupor or hungover sound and I think it's rough unfinished edge/quality gives it such a unique character.
« Last Edit: June 24, 2020, 10:21:48 PM by restofit »

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riffraff

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2020, 10:44:53 PM »
I absolutely love this song...because of this:

Then will there be no time for sorrow
Then will there be no time for shame
Though I can't say why
I know I've got to believe.
Surrender, dislocate

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guest532

Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2020, 10:45:57 PM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.


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riffraff

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2020, 10:47:04 PM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.
This. It's perfect just the way it is.
Surrender, dislocate

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restofit

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2020, 11:25:24 PM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.

lyrics are border on yikes to atrocious at the start but they get significantly better as the song goes on.

Still think that in 2017 they should have released a deluxe remastered version of Pop with a special revised version of The Playboy Mansion without the dated references to MJ and OJ, but then Bono's vocals wouldn't sound as unique as they did in 1997.

Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

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WookieeWarrior

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2020, 11:27:20 PM »
It's terrific. The lyric is dated, but that kind of suits the track's laid-back, hypnagogic feel. You're right to point out the "drunk" quality of the production, which is intensified by Larry's hip-hop drumming. (I would call it that, anyway).

To reference another thread, it would be cool of the band to perform this song with updated lyrics sometime.

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WookieeWarrior

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2020, 11:39:57 PM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.

lyrics are border on yikes to atrocious at the start but they get significantly better as the song goes on.

Still think that in 2017 they should have released a deluxe remastered version of Pop with a special revised version of The Playboy Mansion without the dated references to MJ and OJ, but then Bono's vocals wouldn't sound as unique as they did in 1997.

Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

I was just writing about those lines! Bono's at least a little clever there, if ignorant of time.

No idea about this unreleased mix; I can't find anything online.

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MPare1966

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2020, 11:45:03 PM »
Over the past 20 years, POP has grown on me quite a bit.

Over the past 20 years, The Playboy Mansion has not grown on me one bit.

Sue me.
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restofit

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2020, 11:59:39 PM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.

lyrics are border on yikes to atrocious at the start but they get significantly better as the song goes on.

Still think that in 2017 they should have released a deluxe remastered version of Pop with a special revised version of The Playboy Mansion without the dated references to MJ and OJ, but then Bono's vocals wouldn't sound as unique as they did in 1997.

Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

I was just writing about those lines! Bono's at least a little clever there, if ignorant of time.

No idea about this unreleased mix; I can't find anything online.

https://www.u2songs.com/discography/u2_the_hands_that_built_america_promotional_release

In January 2003, there were plans to release “The Hands that Built America” as a commercial single. Plans for a worldwide single were cancelled, but in Germany the single was postponed to April 14, 2003, and the release got to the point that a cover and a track listing were released to Amazon in Germany. The single was supposed to feature the version of “The Hands that Built America” from “The Best of 1990 – 2000”, a new mix of “The Playboy Mansion” titled the “2003 Mix”, and “That’s Life”, a track that Bono had recorded for 2003’s soundtrack to “The Good Thief”. The single was announced to be a multimedia release, and was to include a video of “The Hands that Built America” which would feature footage from “The Gangs of New York”. The German single was eventually cancelled as well.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2020, 12:01:14 AM by restofit »

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WookieeWarrior

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2020, 01:54:24 AM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.

lyrics are border on yikes to atrocious at the start but they get significantly better as the song goes on.

Still think that in 2017 they should have released a deluxe remastered version of Pop with a special revised version of The Playboy Mansion without the dated references to MJ and OJ, but then Bono's vocals wouldn't sound as unique as they did in 1997.

Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

I was just writing about those lines! Bono's at least a little clever there, if ignorant of time.

No idea about this unreleased mix; I can't find anything online.

https://www.u2songs.com/discography/u2_the_hands_that_built_america_promotional_release

In January 2003, there were plans to release “The Hands that Built America” as a commercial single. Plans for a worldwide single were cancelled, but in Germany the single was postponed to April 14, 2003, and the release got to the point that a cover and a track listing were released to Amazon in Germany. The single was supposed to feature the version of “The Hands that Built America” from “The Best of 1990 – 2000”, a new mix of “The Playboy Mansion” titled the “2003 Mix”, and “That’s Life”, a track that Bono had recorded for 2003’s soundtrack to “The Good Thief”. The single was announced to be a multimedia release, and was to include a video of “The Hands that Built America” which would feature footage from “The Gangs of New York”. The German single was eventually cancelled as well.

 Eh... I think I'd be alright with never hearing it. But I am the same guy who gave SOE a second listen after it came out!

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restofit

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2020, 02:11:00 AM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.

lyrics are border on yikes to atrocious at the start but they get significantly better as the song goes on.

Still think that in 2017 they should have released a deluxe remastered version of Pop with a special revised version of The Playboy Mansion without the dated references to MJ and OJ, but then Bono's vocals wouldn't sound as unique as they did in 1997.

Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

I was just writing about those lines! Bono's at least a little clever there, if ignorant of time.

No idea about this unreleased mix; I can't find anything online.

https://www.u2songs.com/discography/u2_the_hands_that_built_america_promotional_release

In January 2003, there were plans to release “The Hands that Built America” as a commercial single. Plans for a worldwide single were cancelled, but in Germany the single was postponed to April 14, 2003, and the release got to the point that a cover and a track listing were released to Amazon in Germany. The single was supposed to feature the version of “The Hands that Built America” from “The Best of 1990 – 2000”, a new mix of “The Playboy Mansion” titled the “2003 Mix”, and “That’s Life”, a track that Bono had recorded for 2003’s soundtrack to “The Good Thief”. The single was announced to be a multimedia release, and was to include a video of “The Hands that Built America” which would feature footage from “The Gangs of New York”. The German single was eventually cancelled as well.

 Eh... I think I'd be alright with never hearing it. But I am the same guy who gave SOE a second listen after it came out!

You've only given SOE two listens? Hard to draw conclusions when you've only skimmed through something a couple of times, wouldn't you think? Give at another listen, it's a great album minus the odd lyrical plonker.. and the slightly repetitive chorus of Blackout.. and the sort of underwhelming and lazy re-hash of Volcano for the American Soul chorus..
« Last Edit: June 25, 2020, 02:14:43 AM by restofit »

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WookieeWarrior

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2020, 02:13:16 AM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.

lyrics are border on yikes to atrocious at the start but they get significantly better as the song goes on.

Still think that in 2017 they should have released a deluxe remastered version of Pop with a special revised version of The Playboy Mansion without the dated references to MJ and OJ, but then Bono's vocals wouldn't sound as unique as they did in 1997.

Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

I was just writing about those lines! Bono's at least a little clever there, if ignorant of time.

No idea about this unreleased mix; I can't find anything online.

https://www.u2songs.com/discography/u2_the_hands_that_built_america_promotional_release

In January 2003, there were plans to release “The Hands that Built America” as a commercial single. Plans for a worldwide single were cancelled, but in Germany the single was postponed to April 14, 2003, and the release got to the point that a cover and a track listing were released to Amazon in Germany. The single was supposed to feature the version of “The Hands that Built America” from “The Best of 1990 – 2000”, a new mix of “The Playboy Mansion” titled the “2003 Mix”, and “That’s Life”, a track that Bono had recorded for 2003’s soundtrack to “The Good Thief”. The single was announced to be a multimedia release, and was to include a video of “The Hands that Built America” which would feature footage from “The Gangs of New York”. The German single was eventually cancelled as well.

 Eh... I think I'd be alright with never hearing it. But I am the same guy who gave SOE a second listen after it came out!

You've only given SOE two listens? Hard to draw conclusions when you've only skimmed through something a couple of times, wouldn't you think? Give at another listen, it's a great album minus the odd lyrical plonker and slightly repetitive chorus of Blackout and the sort of underwhelming and lazy re-hash of Volcano for the American Soul chorus.

I mean in its entirety. I've since revisited tracks to refresh my memory as needed. Maybe sometime soon I'll sit through the whole thing again.

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restofit

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2020, 02:16:12 AM »
One of my favourites.

And it doesn't sound remotely 'unfinished' to me.

lyrics are border on yikes to atrocious at the start but they get significantly better as the song goes on.

Still think that in 2017 they should have released a deluxe remastered version of Pop with a special revised version of The Playboy Mansion without the dated references to MJ and OJ, but then Bono's vocals wouldn't sound as unique as they did in 1997.

Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

I was just writing about those lines! Bono's at least a little clever there, if ignorant of time.

No idea about this unreleased mix; I can't find anything online.

https://www.u2songs.com/discography/u2_the_hands_that_built_america_promotional_release

In January 2003, there were plans to release “The Hands that Built America” as a commercial single. Plans for a worldwide single were cancelled, but in Germany the single was postponed to April 14, 2003, and the release got to the point that a cover and a track listing were released to Amazon in Germany. The single was supposed to feature the version of “The Hands that Built America” from “The Best of 1990 – 2000”, a new mix of “The Playboy Mansion” titled the “2003 Mix”, and “That’s Life”, a track that Bono had recorded for 2003’s soundtrack to “The Good Thief”. The single was announced to be a multimedia release, and was to include a video of “The Hands that Built America” which would feature footage from “The Gangs of New York”. The German single was eventually cancelled as well.

 Eh... I think I'd be alright with never hearing it. But I am the same guy who gave SOE a second listen after it came out!

You've only given SOE two listens? Hard to draw conclusions when you've only skimmed through something a couple of times, wouldn't you think? Give at another listen, it's a great album minus the odd lyrical plonker and slightly repetitive chorus of Blackout and the sort of underwhelming and lazy re-hash of Volcano for the American Soul chorus.

I mean in its entirety. I've since revisited tracks to refresh my memory as needed. Maybe sometime soon I'll sit through the whole thing again.


Apart from (the above), I think it's a pretty strong record all-round, possibly their best effort since Pop, all things considered.

I would encourage you to give it another try.

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Soloyan

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2020, 05:23:06 AM »
What are your thoughts on this song?

You know, I've always considered this one of the weakest tracks on Pop (and I still do) however it has grown on me quite a bit recently to the point that I find it's unfinished quality gives it such a unique character.

Something that I love about this track is that distinct brooding ambient noise during the verses, and the supplementary drum parts buried in right and left channels. The Playboy Mansion has this really trippy, murky, almost kind of heavy, foggy and hazy, slow-moving, drunken stupor or hungover sound and I think it's rough unfinished edge/quality gives it such a unique character.

Sums up my thoughts as well. I hated it for a while, but probably because the CD edit made it spoil the intro for "If You Wear that Velvet Dress". I'm also not a fan of Edge's bottleneck use theses days. It sounds as if he's using it when he has no clue what else to do.

It has since grown on me and I love Howie B's treatment. I think it's a shame he's not given more credit for that album. Nice guy too.
A dangerous idea that almost makes sense...

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Soloyan

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Re: The Playboy Mansion
« Reply #14 on: June 25, 2020, 05:27:11 AM »
Does anyone remember hearing about that 2002 unreleased mix of Playboy Mansion?

I haven't but I was lucky enough to sneak into U2's after show party in Paris in 1997 (night club called "Neil's"). Howie B was there, Björk (his girlfriend at the time), Michael Stipe, all 4 members of U2... at one point Howie B went behind the DJ booth and played a remix of "Do You Feel Loved". Never heard it since, nor seen it mentioned anywhere. I guess there are tons of these non released remixes somewhere.
A dangerous idea that almost makes sense...