Please (Album) Vs. Please (Single)

[zooropop40]

In a similar vein to a recent thread comparing Gone Vs. Gone (new mix),
I was wondering what Interference's thoughts were referring to 2 INCREDIBLE versions of one of U2's best songs...

Which do you prefer?

YouTube - U2- Please

VS

YouTube - U2 - Please

Also, just wanted to throw this cover into this thread, just because I think its fabulous and deserves recognition :

YouTube - Please - Elvis Costello (U2 cover)

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Single.

 

[Catman]

Single, no question

 

[KEVIN051269]

Single by a long way

 

[lemonfly]

Album. But when they played it live it was better than either album or single.

 

[Casamares]

But when they played it live it was better than either album or single.

Exactly
But if I have to chose, I'll say the single version.

 

[U2Explorer]

Single.
Costello: best U2 cover ever

 

[Earnie Shavers]

It's another case where the song evolved live, to something better than the album, but then when they went to put together the single, or Best Of mix, they changed something key about it beyond that more natural evolution.

The strings suck - they try to make the song overly grand or dramatic. It's not meant to be that way. Album version over single version for me, but live is definitely best.

 

[The Disciple]

SINGLE. By a motherf*cking mile.

 

[santiago]

The single is for me the final version. The album version is like a very promising demo and has a nice spontaneous feel.

 

[KEVIN051269]

Album. But when they played it live it was better than either album or single.

So true. I think the reason the single is better is that it is essentially a studio version of the live song

 

[nielsgov]

Live.
The single is too clean for my liking. The album version has a rawness that I love but it also misses the solo. The live version is the perfect combination of both.

 

[SeeLoganRun]

You all are crazy. Album by so much it isn't funny.

 

[PhilsFan]

Live.

 

[TheEdge25]

Single for sure.

But all live performances of Please are literally amazing.

IMO, Please is their best non-Streets LIVE song

 

[rivergoat]

Album, unless I can vote for the live version.

They both have cool drums though.

 

[U2girl]

Single, by far.

 

[popshopper]

Single, the bass on the album version spends half the song out of key

 

[Yahweh_OMG]

SINGLE by a long long shot!!!!

 

[SeeLoganRun]

Again, crazy, all of you. The single is an attempt to take an interesting song and make it more "U2-y," like a lot of the Pop single remixes/re-records.

 

[Yahweh_OMG]

Again, crazy, all of you. The single is an attempt to take an interesting song and make it more "U2-y," like a lot of the Pop single remixes/re-records.

no, the single is closer to the live performance, that's all.

 

[mad1]

Single Version definately!!!!!!!

the drumming is better.

and the strings at beginning and end make it more haunting.

 

[barlowdog]

Album version.
I think the album version showcases what Adam and Larry had learned/trained at/evolved to as a rhythm section over the years. Someone mentioned the bass being out of key, but I thoroughly enjoy the bass lines on the POP version. Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm no musician), but isn't the time signature 5/4 or something unusual in pop-rock circles? Perhaps I'm showing my ignorance or my age here, but it all sounds "groovy" to me. I love Bono's vocal on the album as well; I think he sounds flat on the single. As others have mentioned, the single was a way to make the song more U2ey and thus easier for radio consumption. IMHO, the drumming on the single was a way to tie the song back to Sunday, Bloody Sunday. And as Sunday and Please are both about Ireland and its troubles, that makes sense. I simply prefer the album version, the way each instrument and vocal weaves amongst one another to create a near perfect song. And it's my favorite tune on POP. Agree with others, the live versions are amazing.
p.s. I find the strings on the single pretty lame.

 

[Hollow Island]

that's really tough. Depends on the day for me. Today it's the album version. I love the squelches, and I like the drums more.

THEY NEED TO PLAY THIS SONG LIVE!!!

 

[Outsider]

Overall- Single. But I do like the way the song ends in the album version

 

[u2popmofo]

Album version.

Absolutely. I love the album version, dislike most everything about the single version. Strangely, in my early years on the forum, EVERYONE here thought the single version was complete crap. Strange to see so many people liking it now.

 

[barlowdog]

Maybe it's all these damn kids.
Hey, get off my lawn!

 

[LemonMelon]

Album. It's an inherently unsettling song, and the single version misses the point. Too melodramatic.

Great live song, but that wasn't one of the two options.

 

[Swan269]

Single version!

 

[barlowdog]

Album. It's an inherently unsettling song, and the single version misses the point. Too melodramatic.

well said.