G N' R Lies
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| G N' R Lies | ||||
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| Studio album by Guns N' Roses | ||||
| Released | November 29, 1988 (U.S.) December 17, 1988 (UK) |
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| Recorded | Rumbo Studios, Take One Studio, Image Studio, 1988 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, heavy metal | |||
| Length | 33:31 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Producer | Guns N' Roses, Mike Clink | |||
| Guns N' Roses chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Lies | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Robert Christgau | E[2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
| Sputnikmusic | [4] |
| Ultimate Guitar | (Positive) [5] |
G N' R Lies, also known as Lies, is the second album by the American rock band Guns N' Roses, released in 1988. While officially an extended play, it was treated as a studio album when released. According to the RIAA, the EP has sold over five million copies only in the United States.
"Patience" was the only single released from Lies; it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6]
Contents |
[edit] Background and recording
The first four tracks consist of the previously released EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide. The last four songs were recorded with acoustic guitars. They were written and recorded in only a few studio sessions[7] (with the exception of "You're Crazy," which appeared in an alternate version on Appetite for Destruction), which producer Mike Clink called "one of those magical rock and roll history moments."[7]
In later interviews, Axl Rose stated that while he loved how the band sounded on the last four songs, he hated the sound of his voice. Rose recalled that his voice was husky and scratchy from the band's lengthy touring at the time, and if he could he would have re-recorded his vocal tracks in a separate session.[7]
"You're Crazy" had been released previously on the band's debut album, Appetite for Destruction and was now recorded as originally intended.[8] "Mama Kin" is an Aerosmith song, which originally appeared on the band's 1973 debut album. "Nice Boys" is a Rose Tattoo cover from their 1978 album Rose Tattoo. "Used to Love Her" was written as a joke after Izzy Stradlin disliked a song he heard on the radio featuring "some guy whining about a broad who was treating him bad". Slash stated that "People think it's about one of our old girlfriends, but it's actually about Axl's dog."[9] "Patience" was written by Stradlin, with additional lyrics and vocal melody by Rose.[10]
[edit] Packaging
The cover is a parody of tabloid newspapers, as are the liner notes. The album's cover art underwent several minor modifications when the title was released on CD.[7] First, in the bottom left corner reading "LIES LIES LIES" originally read "Wife-beating has been around for 10,000 years." Secondly, instead of "Elephant gives birth to midget", the original headline reads, "Ladies, welcome to the dark ages." Many copies of the original LP release also contained an uncensored picture of a nude model on the inner LP sleeve.[11]
The UK/Euro WX 218 924 198 - 1 release had 2 stickers on the cover; Special Limited Edition containing Sheet of Japanese Peel off Stickers, and Contains language that some people may find offensive 924 198 - 1. The Peel off Stickers are on a 21mm x 30mm sheet.
The cover art also bears a resemblance to John Lennon's Sometime in New York City, an album that contains Lennon's controversial "Woman Is the Nigger of the World" - a song Axl has cited when defending his use of the word "nigger" in "One in a Million." [12] Coincidentally, half of Sometime in New York City also contains "live" material recorded two years earlier.
[edit] Alternative titles
Although the album is titled officially G N' R Lies, some other titles have occurred throughout its release history
- Lies: Used by those who believe "G N' R" is used instead of the band name (it stands for Guns N' Roses)
- G N'R Lies: Without a gap between the "N'" and the "R" (probably given because the album cover makes it appear this way).
- G N' R Lies (live): Unusually with a "(live)" suffix. Used on page 464 of The Essential Rock Discography
- G N' R Exclusive The Lies, The Sex, The Drugs, The Violence, The Shocking Truth: An extended title found on the album cover. Used on page 478 of The Complete Book of the British Chart: Singles and Albums Third Edition
- G N' R Lies Exclusive The Lies, The Sex, The Drugs, The Violence, The Shocking Truth: The "full" title, similar to the above example except with Lies added.
- Lies Lies Lies: As said at the bottom of the cover.
[edit] Track listing
All songs credited to Guns N' Roses except "Nice Boys" credited to Rose Tattoo and "Mama Kin" credited to Steven Tyler (both covers). Actual writers are listed.
| Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "Reckless Life" | Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Chris Weber[13][14][15] | 3:20 | ||||||
| 2. | "Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover) | Angry Anderson, Mick Cocks, Geordie Leach, Dallas "Digger" Royall, Peter Wells | 3:03 | ||||||
| 3. | "Move to the City" | Stradlin, Del James, Chris Weber | 3:42 | ||||||
| 4. | "Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover) | Steven Tyler | 3:57 | ||||||
| G N' R Lies | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | ||||||
| 5. | "Patience" | Stradlin, Rose | 5:56 | ||||||
| 6. | "Used to Love Her" | Stradlin | 3:13 | ||||||
| 7. | "You're Crazy" (acoustic version) | Rose, Stradlin | 4:10 | ||||||
| 8. | "One in a Million" | Rose | 6:10 | ||||||
[edit] Personnel
- W. Axl Rose - lead vocals, whistle on "Patience"
- Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar, rhythm acoustic guitar on tracks 5-8, backing vocals
- Slash - lead guitar, lead acoustic guitar on tracks 5-8
- Duff McKagan - bass, rhythm acoustic guitar on "Patience" and "One in a Million," backing vocals
- Steven Adler - drums, percussion, backing vocals on "Patience"
[edit] References
- ^ "G N' R Lies". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r8760. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "G N' R Lies". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=4905.
- ^ By Kim Neely (1989-01-26). "G N' R Lies | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/g-n-r-lies-19890126. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ "Guns N' Roses - G N' R Lies (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/3099/Guns-N-Roses-GNR-Lies/. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Allmusic (Guns N Roses charts and awards) Billboard singles". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4416/charts-awards/billboard-singles.
- ^ a b c d "Album info at". Last.fm. 2009-02-11. http://www.last.fm/music/Guns+N%27+Roses/G+N%27+R+Lies. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ^ "Song info at GNRSource.com". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20071021005816/http://gnrsource.com/songinfo/afd/crazy.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ^ "Song info at GNRSource.com". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2007-12-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20071206110805/http://gnrsource.com/songinfo/lies/utlh.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ^ London, Axl, and Continued "Patience"
- ^ Guns N' Roses, G N' R Lies. Geffen Records, GHS 24198; 1988.
- ^ See Axl's interview in Rolling Stone with Del James
- ^ http://eil.com/Gallery/29933b.jpg
- ^ "Live Like A Suicide". Ladydairhean.0catch.com. http://www.ladydairhean.0catch.com/Axl/Guides/Suicide.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ http://www.yee.ch/G/GU/Guns-Roses/Lies/guns-roses-lies-72.jpg
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