U2 - Rarities

01. The First Time (Alternate Version) [2:45]
02. Acrobat [2:55]
03. So Cruel [7:02]
04. One Tree Hill [1:21]
05. Slow Dancing [1:50]
06. Lucille [1:35]
07. One [4:41]
08. Hallelujah [1:42]

Total Running Time: [23:51]

Source:
01: May 1993, Portugal, unknown Radio Station
02, 03: 06.08.1992, USA, Hershey, Hershey Stadium
04: 01.12.1993, New Zealand, Christchurch, Lanchaster Park
05: 21.10.1989, Australia, Sydney, MMM Network Radio
06: 08.09.1987, USA, New York, American Radio - 'Trip Through Your Wires' 
07: 31.01.1993, Germany, Hamburg, Thalia Theater - "STOP DEN HASS"
08: 07.06.1997, USA, Randall's Island, Tibet Freedom Festival 

Comments:
01. The First Time – Alternative Version. This was lifted from a radio interview done in Portugal in 1993 (quite fitting for today!) Bono is explaining this new song played in the background. There’s a lot of talking from this radio host, probably translating what Bono is saying, but it’s quite a different approach to this song, and features slightly different lyrics. Sounds like Bono on guitar as well. A raw diamond! :)

02. Acrobat – from the rehearsals in Hershey, August 1992. U2 tried to fit Acrobat into the opening of Zoo Station, but after reportedly several attempts they abandoned the idea. Quite a shame if you ask me.

03. So Cruel – also from the Herhsey rehearsals. This is the only time the whole band have performed this song live. Bono then played this song in a short acoustic arrangement a few times during the Outside Broadcast leg.

04. One Tree Hill – a short, moving tribute to Greg Carroll, played after One at the Christchurch, New Zealand 1993 show.

05. Slow Dancing – this is from an Australian radio show, just after a Lovetown concert and Bono’s throat is getting worse by the hour (as you can hear), having to cancel several shows the following week. Still an early, heartfelt rendition.

06. Lucille – again, from a radio show done in 1987 when U2 was playing around with the idea of becoming a country band (which in fact they did for a short while, acting as their own support band, The Dalton Brothers (TM)).

07. One – from a rally against racism in Germany. Features Ravi Shankar on violin, and some local German on drums.

08. Hallelujah – at the end of the Tibetan Freedom concert in New York, Bono pays tribute to the late Jeff Buckley, who drowned a week earlier. A short, chilling version of a beautiful song.

Notes: For years I had lots of old bootleg cassettes lying around. Some years ago me and a friend sat down and picked some of the highlights from these cassettes and transferred them to a CD-R.