“It’s a musical journey... really”.

In October 1988, the film Rattle and Hum was released, as well as it’s subsequent album.

The film follows Bono, the Edge, Adam and Larry (U2) throughout America, while on tour. There are some interesting stops in the Joshua Tree national forest, Graceland and even Sun studios. Where Elvis, Carl Perkins and the Man in Black himself... Johnny Cash, recorded.

Christmas of 88...

With Christmas approaching, my parents had (literally) wrapped up shopping for the holiday.

I was 14 and extremely excited to know what I would be getting that year. I couldn’t wait till Christmas morning!

My father had a music room, where he kept his guitars, his amp, as well as 4 track tape recorder. Which I was told not to touch... There’s a great story about that Ross 4 track, but I will save it for a later post.

A creature was stirring...

One day, I was home alone, which was pretty common being that both my parents worked full time. I decided to go snooping around for my Christmas gifts. After scouring much of the house, I hit the jackpot in the closest of my dad’s music room!

There it was, wrapped neatly and tight.

“How would I ever figure out was in this sizable box?” I thought.

I concocted a plan involving an Xacto knife and a nail file. (Sounds almost like I was trying to break a safe) (Laughs)

I carefully used the nail file to lift the neatly folded portion of the wrapping on the box end and then cut a small slit with the razor knife.

Just enough to see any glimpse of what it could possibly be. Looking intently, I eyed the letters of a familiar logo... Sanyo.

I quickly and meticulously covered my tracks and left the room with excitement. Now I really can’t wait for Christmas!

Christmas morning arrives...

I don’t remember if we ate breakfast first or if we just started opening up presents.

I’m pretty sure I was up at an all to early hour of the morning, anxiously awaiting my parents to awake.

With the majority of my gifts now open, it was time to open my big gift!

I ripped through that wrapping paper like I was Wolverine from the X-men.

The wrapping is all over the floor and there before me was a Sanyo C33 boom box with duel tape decks, auto reverse, a 5 band graphic eq and detachable speakers!

Even though I had a vague idea of the nature of my big gift that Christmas, I was still genuinely excited and grateful for this totally rad boom box! (it’s the 80’s, dude)

Rattle and Hum...

I’m pretty sure my parents were regretting their gift choices that year pretty quickly.

I’m sure I was told to “turn it down” about a million times. I wanted to listen to my tape collection as loud as possible. Till the walls would “Rattle and Hum”. (It wasn’t that loud...really)

A musical journey...

I received the sound track to Rattle and Hum either that Christmas, as well as the Sanyo C33 or at least not too long after.

The sound track consisted of Live performances, as well as some new studio tracks. This U2 album was my soundtrack through the reminder of the 80’s. I listened to the tape about a million times on that Sanyo boom box. The auto reverse feature was one of the best things about the C33, besides the eq.

Eventually my father would purchase the film Rattle and Hum on VHS (what’s that?...They are big tapes that... Oh never mind!)

I remember at a point in the film, Jimmy lovine (the producer of the film) was interviewing the band. He asked them a question regarding “what the film was about”. There was some mumbling and looking about...

Then... Larry Mullen Jr pipes in...

“It’s a musical journey... really”

For me, it definitely has been!

Punkfloyd4eyes