Iconic Albums U2 the Rattle and Hum Era (1988): A Band on Road, Deeper America, bigger story

After The Joshua Tree turned U2 into one of the biggest bands in the world, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. faced an unexpected question: where could they possibly go next?Iconic Albums: U2 - Rattle and Hum Era (1988) tells the story of one of the most ambitious, controversial and fascinating periods in U2's career. Taking the Joshua Tree Tour across America, the band became increasingly fascinated by the roots of the music they loved. Blues, gospel, soul, folk and early rock and roll began shaping their next move as U2 travelled through the country, recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis and worked alongside musicians including B.B. King and Bob Dylan.Across 35 chapters, this unofficial book explores the creation of Rattle and Hum, from the decision to film the tour with director Phil Joanou to the writing and recording of songs including "Desire," "Angel of Harlem," "When Love Comes to Town," "God Part II" and "All I Want Is You." It examines the New Voices of Freedom's remarkable transformation of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," U2's encounters with American musical history, the striking black-and-white world of the accompanying film and the enormous expectations surrounding the project after The Joshua Tree.It also explores the other side of the story. Rattle and Hum was a major commercial success, yet its scale and seriousness brought a level of criticism U2 had rarely experienced before. The resulting backlash, the Lovetown Tour and Bono's declaration that the band needed to "dream it all up again" would ultimately lead U2 away from the sound and image that had defined their rise.The result was one of the greatest reinventions in modern rock history: Achtung Baby.Part album story, part tour history and part account of a band reaching the limits of its first great era, Iconic Albums: U2 - Rattle and Hum Era (1988) follows U2 at the moment when conquering the world was no longer enough.An unofficial publication for fans interested in the music, recording sessions, performances and extraordinary story behind the Rattle and Hum era.