U2 Album: “Please [Single]”

Nice to see this US U2 single still in print. This is what the maxi-CD format is meant for: extra material that the fans want plus a single version of a song (Please).

The sound quality on the live tracks is excellent as expected, and it doesn't sound like they doctored the sound too much, either.

It's a crying shame that the US singles market has all but disappeared save for the trendiest R&B and/or pop songs out there. The material on this single was available as an import titled Pop Heart, and there was a second single available for Please as well. (Funny how the European market is still able to maintain a singles scene where every song gets 2 discs that are both short and overpriced.)

The songs here are a very good representation of the POP live sound. It appears that U2 has abandoned any pattern of releasing new singles in America, leaving us to hunt down expensive imports that often split material into separate discs or even repeat material we already have. U2 has always been a solid singles band and there are plenty of oddities out there from these releases: b-sides, live tracks, and remixes. The Please single here represents one of the best jobs they did when it came to culling material from separate import release for the American market. Highly recommended for even the casual U2 fan.

[T]his incredible bargain of a CD puts "Please" right into the pantheon of great live U2 numbers, and that song's segue into "Where the Streets Have No Name" may be the group at its most stirring -- gorgeous. The acoustic "Staring at the Sun" is also very fine, looser than the version on POP. The only mistake is the live "With or Without You," imported from a different concert (and a different continent) -- anthemic in the worst sense. The single-edit of "Please," by the way, differs from the POP original mostly in its ghostly new string arrangement.

"Please" is one of the best songs of Pop, if not the best. It bring a connection of the "old school" political U2 with the "new techno" U2. And of course, the only thing better than a U2 CD is U2 live. "Where the Streets Have No Name" is just amazing, and "With Or Without You" is a great track as well.

After hearing this CD I will now buy Pop and add another great work of music to my collection.

Having been to see U2 on their Popmart tour, i have fond memories. This is just a must have if love live u2 music and hearing this mini album brought those songs right back to me. While i cant say that Please is one of my favorite u2 songs, the other tracks are just stunning. The classic Streets and with or without you are always sensational live, but the concert version of Staring at the sun is masterfull. I must comment on the recordings of tracks 3 and 4 were at times beginning to struggle with the mixing of sound levels of the various elements in these songs. While not overwhelming obvious, i found it to be slightly annoying and i mean slightly. But that aside its still an enthralling c.d..

This CD-single shines! not just the soul stirring renditions of Please (studio and Live) but the real star of this CD single is the Live recording from Rotterdam of "Where the Streets Have No Name" to my knowledge this is the first produced release of this tune done live. when listening to it make sure to pay special attention to The Edge's guitar work. it is brilliant and almost steals the tune away from Bono's forceful (if slightly altered) lyrics. Also listen for the new bass line. For any true U2 fan this is a MUST BUY