Use Your Illusion I & II - released 24 years ago

[Lord Stan]

I'm a European and did see a live gig in 1991. With all the bootlegs and something called AFD or similar I was a massive fan already.

That said I was, of course, very well aware of the Illusions coming out but I didn't buy them until summer of 1992.

I had a chance to go to the United States of America. Have you ever visited America, can you believe that? Going to America? And there they were in some record store, those yellow and blue CDs. While I only listen to these on some more advanced mediums nowadays I still have the same originals.

EDIT:

Hmm... Just having sent the message I had a flashback. I also went to London earlier during that glorious summer. The CDs are probably from there but it doesn't take away that I visited many record stores in New York and would have seen the colours this time knowing I've got these already

[Mysteron]

I got mine on CD on the Sunday from the local record store ran by a friend.

It was slightly annoying because I had this Sony Hi-fi with all these noise reduction options, but the stereo used to apply these options whether I wanted them or not, so the sound was not as grand as I would have liked.

We went up to Tower records in London on the Monday where I purchased them again on vinyl along with some other albums and some T shirts. I remember buying a Primal Scream T Shirt at the same time because I was due to go and see them live in Leeds or Bradford. We then went to Carnaby Street where I purchased some DM boots. We then went to Canterbury where I purchased more boots and T Shirts, then we went out for dinner and drinks at a place run by a guy who liked to dress as a pirate. At night time, we went clubbing at the local nightclub, Monday night was cheap night for drinks, and I got them to play some of the new album later on about 1-2am

[ice cream sand pig]

I got mine on CD on the Sunday from the local record store ran by a friend.

It was slightly annoying because I had this Sony Hi-fi with all these noise reduction options, but the stereo used to apply these options whether I wanted them or not, so the sound was not as grand as I would have liked.

We went up to Tower records in London on the Monday where I purchased them again on vinyl along with some other albums and some T shirts. I remember buying a Primal Scream T Shirt at the same time because I was due to go and see them live in Leeds or Bradford. We then went to Carnaby Street where I purchased some DM boots. We then went to Canterbury where I purchased more boots and T Shirts, then we went out for dinner and drinks at a place run by a guy who liked to dress as a pirate. At night time, we went clubbing at the local nightclub, Monday night was cheap night for drinks, and I got them to play some of the new album later on about 1-2am

that sounds like an awesome time!

[jarmo]

Thanks for sharing the stories.




/jarmo

[D]

Use Your Illusion 2 was actually the first GNR album I ever bought. I had the 45's of SCOM, WTTJ and PC but never actually bought appetite. we were poor and was easier buying the cheaper singles than buying entire albums.

Anyhow, From the first moment I heard Civil War I was blown away.... I swore for a long time that someone other than Axl had to be singing, cause I had never heard such a diverse  vocalist before or since. Everything is amazing about these CDS. Coma and Estranged have always been my 2 go to favorites.

[jarmo]

WTF happened?

D is posting?



/jarmo

[AdZ]

Did hell just freeze over?

[dmathski]

I remember going down to the mall and buying both CDs. And when you bought both you got a Guns N Roses patch.  Still have the patch to this day. 

[norway]

I got 1 on casette and then the 'blue album' on cd.

Was young back then. I thought for a long time that Slash was the one doing the dark vocals.

Everything is amazing about these CDS. Coma and Estranged have always been my 2 go to favorites.

It's amazing how gnr got associated with two distinct decades (afd and UIY) of rock. Hi, ladypigmen r us.

[westcoast_junkie]

Was young back then. I thought for a long time that Slash was the one doing the dark vocals.

I believed that too. Like the 'speach ' in Get in the ring,  and "Let me hear you now" in Breakdown  (actually though he said "Limon-imo-nade). 

[Annie]

I remember purchasing both cassette tapes the day after I watched the MTV Rockumentary that made me fall in love with GNR. Played them in my car til they wore out. Made working night shift alot easier listening to the music going to and from work.

[D]

WTF happened?

D is posting?



/jarmo

Missed you guys, what can I say?

[TheBaconman]

WTF happened?

D is posting?



/jarmo

And he put effort into the post

Nice to see him back

Bunch of other corner crawlers I am seeing around here though

[Gunner80]

I bought mine at IGA on cassette a few weeks after release. Later got them both on cd through Columbia house. Just purchased them again a few years ago. Still great albums front to back. Listen to them back to back at least once a year.

[jarmo]

Cassettes.... Who misses them? 




/jarmo

[The Hinge]

My first ever CD was Illusion 2. I remember being absolutely blown away by estranged.To this day no other song has drawn the emotion out of me like that hearing it for the first time

24 years ago....far out

[DeN]

I remember checking *every* f@cking day for the release of the twins at the Nuggets (retail music chain like Tower etc)
because nobody knew the date and it kinda drove my friends crazy because I was complaining everytime it was not out.

and finally the right day came and I bought the two records on cassettes (I still like cassettes, there's a new hype
about them and I'm pleased to see some indie bands and now some big sellers like Metallica doing cassettes again, you
have to listen the whole thing like it was supposed to hear and that's one of the good thing about it)

so I listened to them in my Walkman (damn I feel old) and it was a long, surprising experience because there was a lot
of different material, and I thought it was a good thing, imagining the next LP like some sort of psychedelic Sgt Pepper,
but well, I had no idea at that time I would have to wait so long to listen to a new original GNR record...

[jarmo]

Oh yeah, I remember our local record store had a board with upcoming releases and I kept checking it every week....




/jarmo

[Ericnor]

Oh yeah, I remember our local record store had a board with upcoming releases and I kept checking it every week....




/jarmo

Ha, had actually forgotten how those things worked back in the days.
I remember that too, checking the record store for the release date. I think they had a book where they had paper sheets (or written by hand?) listings of new releases, put out every Monday? or something for the upcoming week...

Man, how things have changed.

-Eirik

[rebelhipi]

Cassettes.... Who misses them? 




/jarmo

I do!

Actually i think Illusions sounds best on cassettes. Then Cd and last Vinyl.

Cassettes are fun. Easy to make mix tapes, easy to record your own stuff. ect.