The Evolution of R&H.

Edge is on video agreeing in 87 the next stage would be a live album. But if they do that they would like to include some new songs.

So that is how the record came about. Assume it started as a stand alone record not attached to a film.

How the heck did a cinema film emerge which related to the album & was released a few days after it?

Seem to remember the film started as a small project. Maybe an UF esq video which could be released while fans waited for the first 90's album.

But U2 were so huge it expanded to a big cinema film. U2 giving the impression they couldn't stop that.

I know we have pretty lax policies around here, but is continually spamming allowed?

Stop spamming.

Were the new songs recorded for a stand alone alone live/studio album.

Or did they know early on a film would be coming out.

Quote from: So Cruel on February 25, 2025, 05:34:31 PM

Stop spamming.

Holy shit! You can speak to someone other than yourself!

I'll do some research.

After TJT, they had lots of options in 88-90.

Can understand them being seduced with the chance of a cinema film. Wonder who first gave them that idea.

Was the album rush released to promote the film. Or vice versa?

I think R&H was the start of U2 not being able to do anything small.  They have a habit of turning everything into larger endeavors than needed.  R&H goes from a live album to soundtrack of a studio released documentary. AB turns into a giant tour that warrants the release of a new EP which then turns into Zooropa which they then release the first VHS single to accompany that.  The Zoo TV tour starts their trend of overblown production tours with elaborate stage designs.
U2 by U2 book gets the accompanying release of their pointless u2 18 Singles albums.
Vertigo tour gets promotional ipod.
Invisible gets a world premiere during the super bowl.
Bono's autobiography gets an audiobook release with new versions of old songs which leads to the release of SOS and a stage show by Bono reading parts of his book.

The only release i can think of that U2 has done since R&H that happened without big promotion is the Passengers side-project (which i do think is more of an Eno project), although it could be argued that it was tied in to their concert in Sarajevo.

I prefer This Is Spinal Tap.

I think R&H was the start of U2 not being able to do anything small.  They have a habit of turning everything into larger endeavors than needed.  R&H goes from a live album to soundtrack of a studio released documentary. AB turns into a giant tour that warrants the release of a new EP which then turns into Zooropa which they then release the first VHS single to accompany that.  The Zoo TV tour starts their trend of overblown production tours with elaborate stage designs.
U2 by U2 book gets the accompanying release of their pointless u2 18 Singles albums.
Vertigo tour gets promotional ipod.
Invisible gets a world premiere during the super bowl.
Bono's autobiography gets an audiobook release with new versions of old songs which leads to the release of SOS and a stage show by Bono reading parts of his book.

The only release i can think of that U2 has done since R&H that happened without big promotion is the Passengers side-project (which i do think is more of an Eno project), although it could be argued that it was tied in to their concert in Sarajevo.

Agree that they were so big in 88, a small project could spiral out of control.

Also believe there hugeness gave them power & they had control over what they did.

The concert footage on R&H must have been shot in 87. So at the least a concert video was planned.

Maybe the record company wanted an 80's  live album & video released. Easy money for them.

U2 wanted to fit in another studio album before the end of the decade. Which they would have to tour.

The R&H record was a compromise. U2 agreeing to it after being told they would be getting a cinema film 

R&H being only 9 new songs & supported by a cinema film, meant they would not have to go on a big tour.

The Lovetown tour being low key & only 4 months to finish off the decade.

U2 probably wanted everything done by the end of the 80's. They would be going into a new phase in the 90's.

They would not want an 80's live album & video released in the 90's when they were trying to break away from the 80's.

There was not enough time to release & tour a big new studio album & release a live album/video in 88/89.

R&H was a compromise & U2 were up there with Jacko on the cinema screen. The record company were not complaining either.