Guns N' Roses: Izzy Stradlin (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, percussion); Axl Rose (vocals, piano, keyboards, keyboard programming, sound effects); Slash (acoustic, classical, electric & slide guitars, slide dobro, 6-string bass, background vocals); Duff McKagan (acoustic guitar, bass, background vocals); Dizzy Reed (piano, organ, Clavinet, background vocals); Matt Sorum (drums, percussion, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Shannon Hoon, Alice Cooper (vocals); Mike Monroe (harmonica, saxophone); Matthew McKagan (horns, keyboard programming); Rachel West (horns); Tim Doyle (tambourine); Johann (keyboard programming, sound effects); Mike Clink, Bruce Foster (sound effects); Stuart Bailey, Reba Shaw (background vocals).
Recorded at A & M Studios, Record Plant, Studio 56 and Image Recording, Hollywood, California; Conway Studios, Los Angeles, California; Metalworks Recording Studios, Toronto, Ontario.
Guns N' Roses: Izzy Stradlin (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, percussion); Axl Rose (vocals, piano, keyboards, keyboard programming, sound effects); Slash (acoustic, classical, electric & slide guitars, slide dobro, 6 string bass, background vocals); Duff McKagan (acoustic guitar, bass, background vocals); Dizzy Reed (piano, clavinet, organ, background vocals); Matt Sorum (drums, percussion, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Shannon Hoon, Alice Cooper (vocals); Mike Monroe (harmonica, saxophone); Matthew McKagan (horns, keyboard programming); Rachel West (horns); Tim Doyle (tambourine); Johann (keyboard programming, sound effects); Mike Clink, Bruce Foster (sound effects); Stuart Bailey, Reba Shaw (background vocals).
Recorded at A & M Studios, Record Plant, Studio 56 and Image Recording, Hollywood, California; Conway Studios, Los Angeles, California; Metalworks Recording Studios, Toronto, Ontario.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Four years after becoming an uninvited guest at the party that is the music industry with its seminal debut, APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION, Guns N' Roses released USE YOUR ILLUSION I & II. Thanks to a reckless approach toward life and music, G N' R was constantly at the center of controversy and the result was that much of it was chronicled on this two-volume project. By this time, original drummer Steven Adler had been dismissed due to alleged drug dependency problems and was replaced by the Cult's Matt Sorum. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed was also added as a member.
ILLUSION I found Axl Rose ranting on songs about being sued by a neighbor ("Right Next Door to Hell"), dysfunctional relationships ("Back Off Bitch"), and a drug overdose ("Coma"). Amid all the spewed bile, G N' R scored three Top 40 hits with a Wings cover ("Live and Let Die"), a piano-driven, Elton John-flavored epic ("November Rain"), and a hard-edged ballad ("Don't Cry"). Celebrity cameos include a then unknown Shannon Hoon, Hanoi Rocks' Mike Monroe, and Alice Cooper, who makes a particularly sinister contribution to "The Garden."
Four years after becoming an uninvited guest at the party that is the music industry with its seminal debut, APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION, Guns N' Roses released USE YOUR ILLUSION I & II. Thanks to a reckless approach toward life and music, G N' R was constantly at the center of controversy and the result was that much of it was chronicled on this two-volume project. By this time, original drummer Steven Adler had been dismissed due to alleged drug dependency problems and was replaced by the Cult's Matt Sorum. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed was also added as a member.
ILLUSION I found Axl Rose ranting on songs about being sued by a neighbor ("Right Next Door to Hell"), dysfunctional relationships ("Back off Bitch"), and a drug overdose ("Coma"). Amid all the spewed bile, G N' R scored three Top 40 hits with a Wings cover ("Live and Let Die"), a piano-driven, Elton John-flavored epic ("November Rain"), and a hard-edged ballad ("Don't Cry"). Celebrity cameos include a then unknown Shannon Hoon, Hanoi Rocks' Mike Monroe, and Alice Cooper, who makes a particularly sinister contribution to "The Garden."
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.56) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."
Rolling Stone (10/17/91) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Guns N' Roses fire on all comers and take no prisoners..."
Rolling Stone - 4 Stars - Excellent - "..Guns N' Roses fire on all comers and take no prisoners."
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.53) - "There were huge ballads, orchestral behemoths and an appearance from Alice Cooper."
New York Times (Publisher) (9/15/91) - "...Finally, the baddest boys in rock are back on record--and nearly as confused, abused, defensive and defiant as ever...."
New York Times (Publisher) (9/15/91) - "Finally, the baddest boys in rock are back on record--and nearly as confused, abused, defensive and defiant as ever."
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Reviews
– Customer review on 31/03/2007
The Use Your Illusion albums are representative of the changing face of GN'R. With the introduction of Dizzy Reed on piano/keyboards, the sound became softer in many ways, and also brought a little blues into the mix. Use Your Illusion I shows less of this influence, and there are several strange, whimsical songs that make you think. The highlight for me has to be 'November Rain' - Axl's rough yet sensitive piano-playing, tied into the orchestral theme, makes for a power ballad that can't fail to capture your attention. After all, "everybody needs somebody"!
I knew a lot of people that were big Guns 'N Roses fans, hence I heard all the albums many times. Of their songs, I was particularly fond of the cover of Live And Let Die, being a Bond fan, and also the change of pace November Rain. A great ballad, that one.
I can still remember that video. Maybe a shame this band is still not going, but not surprising.
An excellent album, contrary to one of the other reviewers said, i believe this album is better than it's sequel, why, because of November Rain, Dont Cry(original) and Live and Let Die.
Use your illusion II has the alternate lyrics for Dont Cry which are not much different, and one must wonder why they put that song in again on their second album, the opener for this album is quite good, wouldnt call it as good as 'welcome to the jungle' though, overall the album is decent, but i had to rate it 5, because of november rain alone, an instant rock classic, you have to check out Slash's first solo in the song, its beautiful. such a passionate player.
i think that Use Your Illusion I is a pretty good guns 'n' roses album. it has afew of the hits like live and let die, don't cry and november rain. this is a must have for all serious guns 'n' roses fans. if you're not such a hardcore fan, just a casual one, then go for teh greatest hits collection.
A good album, which is in my opinion made good by "Don't Cry" and "November Rain" Lyrically well written and still Musically good but not as great as the sequal. Still worth a listen for any Guns N Roses fan but not as good as it maybe could have been.
A big sound from a big band. Gnr were at the height of their fame with the release of this double album. Their brand of heavy glam-rock had expanded into a kind of bloated over-production.
Neither of these albums can be compared favourably to Appetite for destruction, but this one definitely rocks harder than Use your illusion 2. The ability to write a great song is still evident, although most of the classic tracks are on UYI2.
A couple of good songs here but mostly filler.
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