A Look Back With Doug: Use Your Illusion I & II

Today's Look Back we go to 1991. This was the heyday of Guns N' Roses. It was on this day (Sept. 17) in 1991 when both 'Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion 2" were released in the United States.

These were the days when Axl Rose, Slash, Duff, Izzy, Dizzy and Matt were all together. I remember getting this album shortly after it came out and was more remembered for one of my favorite long songs in history, 'November Rain', however another popular one was 'Live and Let Die' and both of those were on 'Use Your Illusion I.'

I think what I most remember from 'Use Your Illusion 2' was the cover of Bob Dylan's 'Knockin On Heaven's Door' and a personal favorite 'Civil War.'

There were times that I would wear out the tape rewind from the days of audio cassette, because I had not yet grasped or could afford a cd player at that time.

I think one thing that I loved about Guns N Roses, wasn't just the music, but they also did some pretty good album covers. In the day when people collected album covers for the art, GNR did some awesome work.

It's safe to say I wasn't the only one to check out both albums, with Use Your Illusion I selling 685,000 copies in its first week, while Use Your Illusion II's first week sales of 770,000. This may be one of the few times a second part, outdid the original.

I'm going to pick out 'Civil War' as my pick from these two albums. It has one of my favorite starts, with the quote from 'Cool Hand Luke.' Plus, the whislting is amazing that accompanies the guitar and piano riffs, added with the flavor of Axl Rose, that only he can deliver.

I know that this version of GNR may not play again in the near future, but I can always hope and pray, hey I got some 'Patience'.