U2: Coming of Age
Most longtime readers know Jonn tolerates my occasional verbal “walkabouts” on music and other topics. Many have also picked up on the fact that I’m a fan of U2. The reasons for the latter are varied, and personal; I’m not going to share those here.
This walkabout is about their coming of age as a band. My opinion, of course; YMMV.
Read on, or not, as you like.
. . .
U2 formed in Dublin in 1976. By the early 1980s, they were moderately successful – and had developed a hugely loyal following.
With their third album, they’d even achieved some degree of chart success. That album – War – could be considered their commercial breakthrough, giving them mainstream visibility with their first US Hot 100 hit “New Year’s Day”.
Yet at the time, they were still in danger of being pegged as nothing more than “yet another post-punk rock band”. It was their next release that announced they were indeed different – and special.
That release was The Unforgettable Fire. And while it features one of their best-known tunes, it also features two you may never have heard which IMO are even better.
. . .
The Unforgettable Fire was an intentional departure by U2 from their previous work. They changed production teams (Steve Lillywhite had produced their first 3 albums; for The Unforgettable Fire, they began working with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno). They explored different musical ideas.
The result was a different musical sound and style – and one that simply worked as intended. It announced to the world that these guys just might indeed be truly special.
The best-known track on the album, “Pride (In the Name of Love)” is indeed good. But it’s IMO the third-best track on the album. Two others are better.
And as often seems the case, all three of those songs have a somewhat tragic and dark inspiration. “Pride” was inspired by the assassination of Martin Luther King. I’ll discuss briefly the inspiration for the others below.
. . .
Here are what I consider the two best tunes from The Unforgettable Fire. The first was reputedly inspired by U2’s lead singer knowing someone who was addicted to heroin. (Bono’s description of precisely who inspired him to write the tune has varied over the years, so perhaps take his accounts as metaphoric vice literal.) The tune is one that works better live; I’ve included the version from Wide Awake in America below.
The second was inspired by U2 visiting a traveling memorial for Hiroshima in Chicago in the early 1980s. The studio version of that tune is featured below.
Both tunes pass the test of time. More than 30 years after they were first written, they remain powerful, moving . . . and beautiful. IMO, of course.
. . .
That’s all for today. Time to wander back on track.
Category: Who knows
Good stuff Hondo.
Thank you for not auto playing this week. /smile
No need – there was no total solar Eclipse today. (smile)
The U2 (Dragan lady) is ageing well also.
I’ve been a U-2 fan ever since I watched one have to make an unscheduled landing at RAF Schulthorpe in 61′ Great aircraft.
Very nice write up on the group Hondo. We are of different generations and music genre. Like you, I am into the music but of the 1950’s era vocal group harmony which included standards and obscure. When I was a member of UGHA (united in group harmony assn.), I used to drive to their shows from Long Beach, NY to North Bergen NJ (Schutzen Park) where there were collectors who could tell you the color of the label, manufacturing numbers on the wax, what part of the U.S. they were from by the style that they were singing etc. Am not that good but still enjoy my era music as you do of your era. Again, I enjoyed reading your post.
Your in vocal group harmony
Jeff
I can finally say that I agree with Hindomwithout reservation. In high school my buddies and I would hang out on a levee down on the Rio Grande drinking beer (usually Tall Boys of whatever was cheap provided by an older brother) and listen to U2. Our favorite album was the newly released Under a Blood Red Sky, which was recorded live.
Many a lie about a our prowesss with girls was told with that album as the soundtrack.
Clear memories of U2’s “Pride (In The name of love) being blasted at the Boston Club in Itaewon in the mid 1980s.
Speaking of 30 years, coming up on the first time I saw them.
Tampa Stadium, Joshua Tree tour, Los Lobos opened for them that night.
As a whole I think that’s still their best album.
Saw U2 on their Joshua Tree Tour about a week before I shipped out to basic. Great concert. One of my all time favorite bands.
I think Unforgettable Fire, the entire album, is a work that stands alone, and “outside of time”. There’s no specific time period you can put it in. The music that Brian Eno was known for making was ethereal, and perhaps slightly psychedelic. Daniel Lanois was, and is, a more earthy and focused producer. Together they worked a piece of musical magic that transformed U2 into the spiritual band that was able to produce The Joshua Tree and make people sit up and listen.
It was the Joshua Tree that made me take notice, and that album made me do a big examination of my own beliefs, and underpinnings of my Christianity. If anything, I came away as a better Christian in the end.
I guess Bono’s Messianic Complex has a bit of substance.
Crap – I thought this post was going to be about the plane!!
Incidentally, my favorite group is Pink Floyd. One of my favorite albums of theirs is Animals, which may be funny since I am a staunch conservative and evil, greedy capitalist. (Those familiar with the album would understand.) I was going to see Roger Waters the last August in DC (had tickets and everything), but then I started hear that it was a several hour Trump and Israel hate fest. Glad I bought the insurance on the tickets.
U2 playing “When Loves Come to Town” with BB King always reminds me of their versatility and talent…love your two choices Hondo…it’s great stuff and U2 is still on my playlist whenever I’m driving or even these days when I’m sailing…nothing like a great U2 tune cranking on the Bose while the boat is under sail…it makes on feel alive and almost young again!
I saw, met, and interviewed Bono and Edge on their first and second tours here in the states. (Hartford, CT. / Agora Ballroom and then Trinity College outdoor show on the lawn…maybe 300-400 people max) Sitting on the stage right next to them, they were totally cool and open. OCTOBER is still my favorite U2 album. The WAR Tour show at Red Rocks was pretty awesome in it’s own right…but they were Superstars by that point and never looked back.