Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion 1 and 2 Colored Vinyl Review

Way back in 1991 Guns n Roses released 2 LPs on the same day. They were of course Use Your Illusion 1 and 2.  The reissue looks amazing on the colored 180-gram audiophile vinyl and the foil artwork slipcase they come in is lovely. The slipmat contained within is also of great quality and has a  Zoetrope effect (so you’ll need a strobe light to fully appreciate it). But the big question is does it sound as good as it looks? Records are meant to be enjoyed. So let’s dive in.

Firstly let’s talk about the elephant in the room, November Rain as a few of you have your panties all up in a bunch about it. IT’S NOT A RE-RECORD the orchestra has been added to make the track that bit closer to what the band had originally envisioned. It’s bloody brilliant.  Now that’s dealt with let’s get on with the rest of the review, shall we?

In answer to my first question, nope, it doesn’t sound as good as it looks. It sounds better.

Having A&B’d the first press to this version, this version wins hands down. Maybe it’s down to the quality of the cut, or the fact it’s been boosted from the original tapes. It’s hard to answer. However, this does crap all over the original press. In answer to YOUR question, YES it is well worth the upgrade. Especially if your vinyl is worn and has seen better days. 

Song-wise,  a few of these had been kicking around since their debut (November Rain, Don’t Cry, Back Off Bitch,) and if you’ve bought the deluxe version of Appetite For Destruction you’ll understand why these weren’t on that album (they just don’t fit the tone of that record)

The gatefold sleeves are glossy and of great quality. My only gripe is that they’re quite tight to get the inner sleeves in and out of. A tiny gripe that doesn’t overshadow the packaging or the pressing. 

IF you can find this version then it’s well worth a purchase (there are only 5000 of the worldwide) as UMc has knocked this set out of the park. 

Score 10/10
Track List
Use Your Illusion 1
Side 1 (Yellow Vinyl)
1 Right Next Door to Hell
2 Dust ‘N’ Bones
3 Live and Let Die
4 Don’t Cry
Side 2
5 Perfect Crime
6 You Ain’t the First
7 Bad Obsession
8 Back Off Bitch
9 Double Talkin’ Jive
Side 3 (Red Vinyl)
10 November Rain
11 The Garden
12 Garden of Eden
13 Don’t Damn Me
Side 4
14 Bad Apples
15 Dead Horse
16 Coma
Use Your Illusion 2
Side 1 (Blue Vinyl)
1 Civil War
2 14 Years
3 Yesterdays
4 Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Side 2
5 Get in the Ring
6 Shotgun Blues
7 Breakdown
Side 3 (Purple Vinyl)
8 Pretty Tied Up
9 Locomotive
10 So Fine
Side 4
11 Estranged
12 You Could Be Mine
13 Don’t Cry
14 My World
Label – UMc
Release – 1st December 2022

For all things, Guns N’ Roses, click HERE, and to purchase this set, click HERE