When Love Comes to Town
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| "When Love Comes to Town" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by U2 | ||
| from the album Rattle and Hum | ||
| Released | April 1989 | |
| Format | CD, cassette, 7", 12" | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:34 (single version)
4:15 (album version) |
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| Label | Island | |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Iovine | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| U2 singles chronology | ||
| "Angel of Harlem" (1988) |
"When Love Comes to Town" (1989) |
"All I Want Is You" (1989) |
| Rattle and Hum track listing | ||
| "Love Rescue Me" (11) |
"When Love Comes to Town" (12) |
"Heartland" (13) |
| The Best of 1980-1990 track listing | ||
| "Desire" (11) |
"When Love Comes to Town" (12) |
"Angel of Harlem" (13) |
"When Love Comes to Town" is 12th song on U2's 1988 album, Rattle and Hum. It was released as the album's third single in 1989. It was recorded as a duet between U2 and B. B. King. Little Richard is featured preaching on the extended "Live from the Kingdom Mix."
Contents |
[edit] History
The single contained two different versions of the Patti Smith song "Dancing Barefoot". The 7" and cassette featured the long version, while the 12" and CD contained the short version. While U2 has stopped playing it live since 1993, it features in B. B. King concerts. During the Lovetown Tour concerts, this song would be played, usually along with "Angel of Harlem" and "Love Rescue Me", in an encore featuring B. B. and his band.
Like the song Van Diemen's Land, this song originally featured an extra verse, which was actually sung (or something very close to it) during the song's premiere in Fort Worth Texas on U2's Joshua Tree Tour on a night that featured BB King as a guest. By the Lovetown tour in 1989, this verse had been dropped and is not believed to have been sung since that first performance in 1987.
When I woke up I was sleeping on the street
I felt the world was dancing, and I was dirt beneath their feet
When I woke up I saw the Devil looking down
But my Lord He played guitar the day love came to town
[edit] Track listings
[edit] 7": Island / IS 411 (UK)
- "When Love Comes to Town" (Album Version) – 4:15
- "Dancing Barefoot" (Long Version) – 4:47
[edit] 12": Island / 12IS 411 (UK)
- "When Love Comes to Town" (Single Version) – 3:34
- "Dancing Barefoot" (Short Version) – 4:13
- "When Love Comes to Town" (Live from the Kingdom Mix) – 7:28
- "God Part II" (Hard Metal Dance Mix) – 4:46
[edit] CD: Island / CIDP 411 (UK)
- "When Love Comes to Town" (Single Version) – 3:34
- "Dancing Barefoot" (Short Version) – 4:13
- "When Love Comes to Town" (Live from the Kingdom Mix) – 7:28
- "God Part II" (Hard Metal Dance Mix) – 4:46
[edit] Chart positions
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "When Love Comes to Town" | Australian Singles Chart | #23 |
| 1989 | "When Love Comes to Town" | UK Singles Chart | #6 |
| 1989 | "When Love Comes to Town" | US Billboard Hot 100 | #68 |
| 1988 | "When Love Comes to Town" | US Modern Rock Tracks | #10 |
| 1988 | "When Love Comes To Town" | US Mainstream Rock Tracks | #2 |
[edit] Covers
Herbie Hancock performs a cover of the song on his 2005 album, Possibilities, with vocalists Jonny Lang and Joss Stone.
