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G N' R Lies

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Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Robert ChristgauE[4]
Rolling Stone[5]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5 [6]

G N' R Lies, also known as Lies, is the second studio album by the American hard 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 album has sold over five million copies in the United States alone. "Patience" was the only single released from Lies; it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]

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 (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."

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.

A significantly faster version of "You're Crazy" with electric guitars had previously been released on the band's debut album, Appetite for Destruction, and was now recorded as originally intended.[8] "Mama Kin" is an Aerosmith song, which appears on that band's 1973 debut album. "Nice Boys" is a Rose Tattoo cover from their 1978 self-titled debut album. "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]

Artwork

The original cover art for the album with the original text appearing in full.

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.[10] 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 bears a resemblance to John Lennon's Some Time in New York City, an album that contains Lennon's controversial "Woman Is the Nigger of the World", a song Axl cited when he defended his use of the word "nigger" in "One in a Million".[12]

Track listing

Songwriting credits via ASCAP.

1986 (Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide: Faux-live songs)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Reckless Life" (Hollywood Rose cover)Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Slash, Steven Adler, Duff McKagan, Chris Weber3:20
2."Nice Boys" (Rose Tattoo cover)Angry Anderson, Mick Cocks, Geordie Leach, Dallas "Digger" Royall, Peter Wells3:03
3."Move to the City"Stradlin, Weber3:42
4."Mama Kin" (Aerosmith cover)Steven Tyler3:57
1988 (Acoustic songs)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Patience"Stradlin, Rose5:56
6."Used to Love Her"Rose, Stradlin, Slash, Adler, McKagan3:13
7."You're Crazy"Rose, Stradlin, Slash, Adler, McKagan4:10
8."One in a Million"Rose, Stradlin, Slash, Adler, McKagan6:10
Total length:33:41

Personnel

Guns N' Roses

Additional musicians

References

  1. ^ MaryAnn Janosik (2006). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History: The video generation, 1981-1990. Greenwood Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-313-32943-2.
  2. ^ Hal Leonard Corp. (1 August 2013). 25 Top Acoustic Songs - Tab. Tone. Technique.: Tab+ Series. Hal Leonard. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-4803-5937-6.
  3. ^ "G N' R Lies". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (March 14, 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  5. ^ Neely, Kim (1989-01-26). "G N' R Lies | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  6. ^ "Guns N' Roses - G N' R Lies (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  7. ^ "Allmusic (Guns N Roses charts and awards) Billboard singles".
  8. ^ "Song info at GNRSource.com". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  9. ^ "Song info at GNRSource.com". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  10. ^ "Gun N' Roses, G N'R Lies - Top 10 Controversial Album Covers - TIME.com". TIME.com. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  11. ^ Guns N' Roses, G N' R Lies. Geffen Records, GHS 24198; 1988.
  12. ^ "Here Today... Gone To Hell! - Articles > The Rolling Stone Interview With Axl Rose". HTGTH; Rolling Stone. August 1989. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
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