Nov 12th in Pop History

This day, November 12th, in:

• 1988 - U2 started a six-week run at # 1 on the US album chart with their sixth studio album Rattle And Hum which went on to sell over 14 million copies. More on this in a moment, but first...

First...

• 1992 - My Mother. 29 years ago today, Nov 12, 1992, we lost my Mom, when she lost her battle with cancer. She was the best Mother of all time. She raised 5 of us kids. She was kind, caring, servant-hearted, and had a hilarious, mischievous sense of humor. She loved her family, loved God, and loved life. I think of her almost daily, all these years later.

She is in Heaven now, and there will be an extremely fun reunion some day. But for now, we miss her, and each November 12th, we honor her in some way. And on September 23rd each year, we fondly celebrate her birthday. We miss you Mother. This is her pictured below, with my Dad whom we lost 4 years ago (he was 103).

Btw, her (My Mom) favorite popular song was Somewhere My Love (from the movie soundtrack for Dr. Zhivago):

Here it is on Spotify • Somewhere My Love

OK, so back to Music today, November 12th:

U2 started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with their sixth studio album, Rattle And Hum which went on to sell over 14 million copies.

Rattle and Hum is a hybrid live/studio album by Irish rock band, U2 and a companion rockumentary film directed by Phil Joanou. The album was produced by Jimmy Iovine and was released on October 10, 1988, while the film was distributed by Paramount Pictures and was released on October 27, 1988. Following the breakthrough success of the band's previous studio album, The Joshua Tree, the Rattle and Hum project captures their continued experiences with American roots music on The Joshua Tree Tour, on further incorporating elements of blues rock, folk rock, and gospel music into their sound. A collection of new studio tracks, live performances, and cover songs, the project includes recordings at Sun Studios In Memphis and collaborations with Bob Dylan , B.B. King, and Harlem's New Voices of Freedom gospel choir.

Although Rattle and Hum was intended to represent the band paying tribute to rock legends, some critics accused U2 of trying to place themselves amongst the ranks of these artists. Critical reception to both the album and the film was mixed; one Rolling Stone editor spoke of the album's "excitement,” another described it as "misguided and bombastic.” The film grossed just $8.6 million, but the album was a commercial success, reaching number one in several countries and selling 14 million copies. Lead single “Desire” became the band's first UK number-one song while reaching number three in the US. Facing creative stagnation and a critical backlash to Rattle and Hum, U2 reinvented themselves in the 1990s through a new musical direction and public image. Check it out below for yourself.