U2 - Community rankings - FIN - #4 Sunday Bloody Sunday, #3 - One, #2 - Bad, #1 - Where the Streets Have No Name -Spotify links, thanks to Krista4 (2 Viewers)

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#124 - Love and Peace or Else (2004)

Highest Rank - 97

Lowest Rank - 200

Where to Find it - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 134/218 - Big, loud, and very satisfying, Edge’s guitar is piped through what feels like the world’s biggest fuzz effect, before switching to slide at the end. It falls apart a little with the bridge because it takes you out of the giant rumbling noise. Still, very fun.

Comment - Tries to be something bigger. Only the work of the Edge saves this from a lower rank. Has some flashback to Achtung, but not quite there. An interesting piece.

Next up, a very very early U2 song. Although the other two tracks made the album, strangely this one didn’t

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#123 - Boy/Girl (1979)

Highest Rank - 90

Lowest Rank - 156

Where to Find it - Three EP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 147/218 - The third song on U2’s debut Ireland-only release, “Boy/Girl” is overwrought and vibrates so much from nervous excitement that it’s like listening to nails on a chalkboard. But if you listen to a live version (the one from the Marquee Club on the deluxe edition of Boy, for example) it sounds like a completely different band, capable and self-assured.

Comment - Very early track clearly inspired by punk. Interesting and raw. Better than a lot on the Boy album. Out of Control and Stories for Boys were also on the three EP and subsequently the Boy album, but this, the sort of title track didn’t make it. 

Next up, another, and we are running out of them, B Side cover

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#122 - Dancing Barefoot (1989)

Highest Rank - 82

Lowest Rank - 179

Where to Find it - When Love comes to Town B Side

Vulture.com ranking and comment - Not Listed

Comment - A good b side takes risks or is unusual. This is fairly safe and therefore doesnt add anything to the conversation. Good song though

Next up, another of the three “new” songs added to greatest hits.

 

[Anarchy99]

#123 - Boy/Girl (1979)

Highest Rank - 90

Lowest Rank - 156

Where to Find it - Three EP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 147/218 - The third song on U2’s debut Ireland-only release, “Boy/Girl” is overwrought and vibrates so much from nervous excitement that it’s like listening to nails on a chalkboard. But if you listen to a live version (the one from the Marquee Club on the deluxe edition of Boy, for example) it sounds like a completely different band, capable and self-assured.

Comment - Very early track clearly inspired by punk. Interesting and raw. Better than a lot on the Boy album. Out of Control and Stories for Boys were also on the three EP and subsequently the Boy album, but this, the sort of title track didn’t make it. 

Next up, another, and we are running out of them, B Side cover

I'm surprised that I was lowest on this one. I don't dislike it. If nothing else, it has an old school U2 sound and charm. I realize not every song has to be deep and complex, but this one to me is too basic. Your skin is colored strawberries and cream. Sometimes I scream. That's the best they could come up with? They certainly have evolved since then.

 

[Anarchy99]

#122 - Dancing Barefoot (1989)

Highest Rank - 82

Lowest Rank - 179

Where to Find it - When Love comes to Town B Side

Vulture.com ranking and comment - Not Listed

Comment - A good b side takes risks or is unusual. This is fairly safe and therefore doesnt add anything to the conversation. Good song though

Next up, another of the three “new” songs added to greatest hits.

As discussed several times already, U2 didn't really have any need to start recording covers. But I do like their version better than the original by Patti Smith. Since they "went there" and recorded the song in the first place, the best landing spot would be including it on a B side, CD single, or box set. I would much rather bands put non album tracks as B sides (as opposed to using a filler track on an album as a filler track on a single as well. That being said, I am fascinated by how the covers are coming in in terms of rankings. As a for instance, I would not skip over this track it it shows up, but I won't go looking for it either. But I would definitely seek out All Along the Watchtower if the mood struck me. I think there are only 3 covers left, one of which I have ranked exceedingly high (I'm not quite sure why I have that one so high TBH).

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#123 - Boy/Girl (1979)

Comment - Very early track clearly inspired by punk. Interesting and raw. Better than a lot on the Boy album. Out of Control and Stories for Boys were also on the three EP and subsequently the Boy album, but this, the sort of title track didn’t make it. 

Not a song of great consequence, but a lot of fun. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#122 - Dancing Barefoot (1989)

Highest Rank - 82

Lowest Rank - 179

Where to Find it - When Love comes to Town B Side

Vulture.com ranking and comment - Not Listed

Comment - A good b side takes risks or is unusual. This is fairly safe and therefore doesnt add anything to the conversation. Good song though

Next up, another of the three “new” songs added to greatest hits.

This is my favorite U2 cover. It retains the essentials of what made Patti Smith's version great but adds just enough flair unique to U2. Bono turns in a great vocal, particularly on the "oh God I feel for you" coda, and the music shimmers along briskly. 

 

[timschochet]

This is my favorite U2 cover. It retains the essentials of what made Patti Smith's version great but adds just enough flair unique to U2. Bono turns in a great vocal, particularly on the "oh God I feel for you" coda, and the music shimmers along briskly. 

The original Patti Smith version is one of my all time favorite songs. 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

The original Patti Smith version is one of my all time favorite songs. 

I really love her version too.  The cover does a great job of paying homage to it.  Big fan of both.

 

[Nemesis]

#124 - Love and Peace or Else (2004)   Highest  97           Lowest - 200      Where to Find it - HTDAAB LP
Tries to be something bigger. Only the work of the Edge saves this from a lower rank. Has some flashback to Achtung, but not quite there. An interesting piece.

@John Maddens LunchboxGood call....& you're close.   
HTDAAB included at least 1 song left over from the ATYCLB sessions–“Love and Peace or Else.” Although Brian Eno was not actively involved in the production of Bomb, his notebook from ATYCLB includes a listing for the song under the working title “Night Shift/Harder/Love+Peace.” While the song was not completed for the earlier album, it was developed further, 1st under Chris Thomas, & later under Jacknife Lee & Flood.

Songfact:
The lyrics to Love and Peace or Else are fairly easily to get meaning from at face value, it's a note on the struggles & wars in the world. Most likley those in the Middle East. It's a message firmly in tune with Bono's 'Coexist' appeal.

Bono is searching for peace in war torn countries & prays to the people to put down their weapons. He prays that people should live their entire life & live it peacefully.

 

[Nemesis]

#123 - Boy/Girl (1979)   Highest - 90   Lowest - 156                    Where to Find it - Three EP
Vulture 147/218 - The 3rd song on U2’s debut Ireland-only release, “Boy/Girl” is overwrought & vibrates so much from nervous excitement that it’s like listening to nails on a chalkboard. 

Comment - Very early track clearly inspired by punk. Interesting & raw. Better than a lot on the Boy album. Out of Control & Stories for Boys were also on the three EP & subsequently the Boy album, but this, the sort of title track didn’t make it. 

Songfact:
One of U2's 1st songs, they played this at many of their early shows & was included on U2's 1st release, U23 in 1979.  The EP was released through the CBS Ireland record label & was available only in Ireland & also contained "Out Of Control" & "Stories For Boys."  The EP was the group's 1st chart success, they pressed only 1,000 copies of its Ltd-edition 12" vinyl & it sold out almost immediately.  (Now it's a collector's item...Album cover artwork)  [NOTE:  There is so much more detail to this EP that I think is interesting & applies to the "musicianship topic"......I may post a dedicated post to it later.]

The1st confirmed performance of "Boy/Girl" took place in October 1979. A song named "In Your Hand" may have been related in some way to "Boy/Girl" but no recordings of it exist. All three songs were regularly performed on the Boy Tour in 1980–1981, although "Boy/Girl" appeared less than the others.  "Boy/Girl" & "Stories for Boys" did not remain in the band's live repertoire long after the end of the Boy Tour. "Boy/Girl" was played 3 times afterwards, while "Stories for Boys" was initially frequently performed on the October Tour before it was removed from the setlist in late March 1982.

A live version of "Boy/Girl" was later featured on the "I Will Follow" single.   In 2008, the original EP made its CD debut as bonus tracks on the Boy reissue.

"Out Of Control" & "Stories For Boys" eventually made it onto the Boy album.....But this song did not.
@John Maddens Lunchbox    you're right, I asked myself: Why did they call the album "Boy" & then leave this song off it?

HERE IS MORE INFO:    "One of the 1st things that the Virgin Prunes wrote, was something we did w U2, a song called 'Sad'. I don't think it was ever recorded by either band. We collaborated on 'Sad", & the Virgin Prunes took that forward with 'Boy-Girl'. We took that title & wrote 2 separate songs. Ours was dealing w bi-sexuality & that gender-bending thing, while U2 was talking about a more conventional form of love, w a strong boyhood-to-manhood theme going down." - Gavin Friday (of the Virgin Prunes)     (........the only logical remaining explanation as to why the BOY album remained with that name is that they already had a lot of artwork borrowed from the EP & thought that the song "Boy/Girl" was going to make it on the album.) 

Here is that Live Remastered version from London's Marquee Club that was on the deluxe edition of Boy... it is MUCH BETTER than the original link.   (and as a result, my opinion has improved on the song)

MAY 1981 Live performance in San Francisco....very funny to see Bono dance & put a little girl on his shoulders AND then get somebody from the crowd to light his cigarette while the song is STILL PLAYING     Link

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#121 - Window in the Skies (2006)

Highest Rank - 60

Lowest Rank - 184

Where to Find it - U2 18 LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 187/218 - If your first thought when you hear this is, “Sounds like a Sgt. Pepper outtake,” wait until you see the video.

Comment - Why they made a single out of this, purely for the U2 18 release was poor. Surrounded by U2 classics it stands out like a sore thumb. What do I know though as the other “new” song, The Saints are Coming was reviled by the other 3 rankers

Next up, Songs of Innocence, sort of, gets another song. 

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#120 - Crystal Ballroom (2014)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 190

Where to Find it - Songs of Innocence Vinyl LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 47/218 - The most important song on the album … gets left off the album, is only available as a bonus track on the vinyl release, and is only played three times on tour. “The Crystal Ballroom” is about the place where Bono’s parents met and used to go dancing, and where, later, U2 played as a young band. The song is written from the perspective of that young Bono imagining his parents, specifically his mother, dancing together and watching him play. “Everyone’s here with me tonight / Everyone but you” is heartbreaking.

Comment - I love the approach they took with a few tracks on this album, despite this only being on the vinyl version. Almost synth pop. I was expecting it to break out into franz ferdinands outsiders any minute. For me thats high praise. I have this rated over 100 places higher than the second highest and its my highest rated song to date. I adore this song and am much more in line with Vulture

Next up, another single from Pop

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#119 - Last Night on Earth (1997)

Highest Rank - 55

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - Pop LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -104/218 - It’s a song you want to like. The off-kilter intro is so promising, there are a handful of vivid images (“She’s at the bus stop with the News of the World and The Sun,” you can just see a club kid stuck waiting for the first bus in the morning), the chorus is solid, and the concept of the story line is interesting, but it just does not connect. It probably doesn’t help that Bono came up with the chorus at 4 a.m. on their last night in the studio. (Sound familiar?) “It was a good tune,” the Edge said. “But is it up there with ‘New Year’s Day’ or ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’? Obviously not, or we would still be playing it live.”

Comment - This is an attempted straight up rocker that unfortunately portends to some of their failures in the 21st century. 

Next up, a song that really is a side project piece but has been included on a greatest hits. 

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

The admin to Date with 110 songs listed

B-Sides = 39 (13 covers) - (17 tracks to go here and in Soundtracks etc)

Soundtracks/Special/Greatest Hits LPs - 12

Songs of Experience = (4 to go)

October = 7 (4 to go)

Songs of Innocence - 7 (5 to go)

Pop - 7 (5 to go)

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - 6 (6 to go)

No Line On The Horizon = 5 (6 to go)

Zooropa - 5 (5 to go)

All that you can’t leave behind - 4 (8 to go)

Boy - 3 (8 to go)

War - 3 (7 to go)

Rattle and Hum - 2 (11 to go)

The Unforgettable Fire - 1 (9 to go)

Achtung Baby - 0 (12 to go)

The Joshua Tree - 0 (11 to go)

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#119 - Last Night on Earth (1997)

Highest Rank - 55

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - Pop LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -104/218 - It’s a song you want to like. The off-kilter intro is so promising, there are a handful of vivid images (“She’s at the bus stop with the News of the World and The Sun,” you can just see a club kid stuck waiting for the first bus in the morning), the chorus is solid, and the concept of the story line is interesting, but it just does not connect. It probably doesn’t help that Bono came up with the chorus at 4 a.m. on their last night in the studio. (Sound familiar?) “It was a good tune,” the Edge said. “But is it up there with ‘New Year’s Day’ or ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’? Obviously not, or we would still be playing it live.”

Comment - This is an attempted straight up rocker that unfortunately portends to some of their failures in the 21st century. 

Next up, a song that really is a side project piece but has been included on a greatest hits. 

I always thought it did a pretty good job of fusing rock with more "modern" sounds. If most of Pop sounded like this, I'd have liked it better. I'm probably somewhere between the highest ranker and Vulture on this. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Achtung Baby - 0 (12 to go)

The Joshua Tree - 0 (11 to go)

If these songs were 1-23 on the list, I don't think anyone would complain. 

 

[Anarchy99]

If these songs were 1-23 on the list, I don't think anyone would complain. 

Six of my Top 10 are on other albums, but I get what you are saying. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Six of my Top 10 are on other albums, but I get what you are saying. 

My top 10 would definitely have stuff from other albums. But everyone seems to love every track on those two albums. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

Always liked Last Night on Earth a lot.  It has that soaring vibe to it that really works.  There are a bunch I like on Pop more, but this is good one. 

Crystal Ballroom is a great song.  One of my three favorites from the Songs of Innocence sessions (the others being the one about Bono's mom that is still yet to come in this countdown and The Troubles).  Love the guitar work at the end, and like The Troubles, I wish that would have gone on another minute or two. 

 

[Anarchy99]

#121 - Window in the Skies (2006)

Highest Rank - 60

Lowest Rank - 184

Where to Find it - U2 18 LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 187/218 - If your first thought when you hear this is, “Sounds like a Sgt. Pepper outtake,” wait until you see the video.

Comment - Why they made a single out of this, purely for the U2 18 release was poor. Surrounded by U2 classics it stands out like a sore thumb. What do I know though as the other “new” song, The Saints are Coming was reviled by the other 3 rankers

Next up, Songs of Innocence, sort of, gets another song. 

To borrow a page, I can't get past Bono's vocals on this one. Too much falsetto,  and IMO he tries too hard to make what should have been a simple song into a masterpiece. His over-singing kills it for me. I might have enjoyed a less refined, stripped down version a little better. They only have played it live a half dozen times, but I think I have a live version where the song seems to fit together a little better (at least for me).

EDIT TO ADD: I went back and listened to the live version I have, recorded in Japan in 2006. I somehow remembered it differently. There's still a lot of Bono and maybe a smidge for emphasis on the band. I seemed to remember like the version more than I did on a repeat listen. LINK

 

[Anarchy99]

#120 - Crystal Ballroom (2014)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 190

Where to Find it - Songs of Innocence Vinyl LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 47/218 - The most important song on the album … gets left off the album, is only available as a bonus track on the vinyl release, and is only played three times on tour. “The Crystal Ballroom” is about the place where Bono’s parents met and used to go dancing, and where, later, U2 played as a young band. The song is written from the perspective of that young Bono imagining his parents, specifically his mother, dancing together and watching him play. “Everyone’s here with me tonight / Everyone but you” is heartbreaking.

Comment - I love the approach they took with a few tracks on this album, despite this only being on the vinyl version. Almost synth pop. I was expecting it to break out into franz ferdinands outsiders any minute. For me thats high praise. I have this rated over 100 places higher than the second highest and its my highest rated song to date. I adore this song and am much more in line with Vulture

Next up, another single from Pop

I probably pooched the screw on this one. While I don't totally love it, I don't think I would rank it at 190 again if we started all over. It's more interesting than I initially gave it credit for. So probably more in the 140-150 range. Not sure why this one got left off the full album and only made it as an isolated bonus track.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

#121 - Window in the Skies (2006)

Highest Rank - 60

Lowest Rank - 184

Where to Find it - U2 18 LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 187/218 - If your first thought when you hear this is, “Sounds like a Sgt. Pepper outtake,” wait until you see the video.

Comment - Why they made a single out of this, purely for the U2 18 release was poor. Surrounded by U2 classics it stands out like a sore thumb. What do I know though as the other “new” song, The Saints are Coming was reviled by the other 3 rankers

Next up, Songs of Innocence, sort of, gets another song. 

I’d enjoy hearing from those who ranked it 60 and 184.  Bluntly, it’s one of the better songs I’ve heard from them in the past 15-ish years.  That said, this is a another one that could easily be a Coldplay song instead of U2, and I’m guessing most people here don’t like Coldplay.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

#120 - Crystal Ballroom (2014)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 190

Where to Find it - Songs of Innocence Vinyl LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 47/218 - The most important song on the album … gets left off the album, is only available as a bonus track on the vinyl release, and is only played three times on tour. “The Crystal Ballroom” is about the place where Bono’s parents met and used to go dancing, and where, later, U2 played as a young band. The song is written from the perspective of that young Bono imagining his parents, specifically his mother, dancing together and watching him play. “Everyone’s here with me tonight / Everyone but you” is heartbreaking.

Comment - I love the approach they took with a few tracks on this album, despite this only being on the vinyl version. Almost synth pop. I was expecting it to break out into franz ferdinands outsiders any minute. For me thats high praise. I have this rated over 100 places higher than the second highest and its my highest rated song to date. I adore this song and am much more in line with Vulture

Next up, another single from Pop

I really like this song a lot too.  It doesn’t feel or sound like a U2 song to me (and I’m not sure why), but let’s be honest:  for most other bands, it would be the best song they’ve ever done.  But for U2, it’s just another good song.  
 

This is also another song that I enjoy knowing the origin of…..or the meaning behind it.  Vulture’s writeup on this is good.

edit to add:  I just listened to this a few more times and really do love it.  Lots of layers of emotion come out of this song.  

 

[Alex P Keaton]

If these songs were 1-23 on the list, I don't think anyone would complain. 

I mean, I would but that probably doesn’t shock anyone.   Joshua Tree has 2 songs that IMO aren’t very good, and Achtung has a number of them that are solid but not spectacular.   So if these 23 were ranked 1-23, that would be a massive miss.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

#119 - Last Night on Earth (1997)

Highest Rank - 55

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - Pop LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -104/218 - It’s a song you want to like. The off-kilter intro is so promising, there are a handful of vivid images (“She’s at the bus stop with the News of the World and The Sun,” you can just see a club kid stuck waiting for the first bus in the morning), the chorus is solid, and the concept of the story line is interesting, but it just does not connect. It probably doesn’t help that Bono came up with the chorus at 4 a.m. on their last night in the studio. (Sound familiar?) “It was a good tune,” the Edge said. “But is it up there with ‘New Year’s Day’ or ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’? Obviously not, or we would still be playing it live.”

Comment - This is an attempted straight up rocker that unfortunately portends to some of their failures in the 21st century. 

Next up, a song that really is a side project piece but has been included on a greatest hits. 

Solid song.   We are now in the sweet spot where even songs that aren’t perfect or don’t completely resonate are a good listen.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Solid song.   We are now in the sweet spot where even songs that aren’t perfect or don’t completely resonate are a good listen.

Agree with both points.

Last Night on Earth is a very solid tune IMO. I enjoy Pop and I believe there are still several songs on that album have yet to be revealed.

Love and Peace or Else? Solid but unspectacular, I probably enjoy at least 6-7 songs from that album better.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

If these songs were 1-23 on the list, I don't think anyone would complain. 

Six of my Top 10 are on other albums, but I get what you are saying. 

My top 10 would definitely have stuff from other albums. But everyone seems to love every track on those two albums. 

Here’s a hint. Each of JT and AB has 5 tracks in the top 20, leaving 10 from other albums. 

The first Joshua Tree track comes in at #71. The first Achtung Baby song comes in at #62. We only see two tracks from each album before the top 50. 

19 of the top 50 are from these two albums.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Crystal Ballroom is a great song.  One of my three favorites from the Songs of Innocence sessions (the others being the one about Bono's mom that is still yet to come in this countdown and The Troubles).  Love the guitar work at the end, and like The Troubles, I wish that would have gone on another minute or two. 

I probably pooched the screw on this one. While I don't totally love it, I don't think I would rank it at 190 again if we started all over. It's more interesting than I initially gave it credit for. So probably more in the 140-150 range. Not sure why this one got left off the full album and only made it as an isolated bonus track.

I really like this song a lot too.  It doesn’t feel or sound like a U2 song to me (and I’m not sure why), but let’s be honest:  for most other bands, it would be the best song they’ve ever done.  But for U2, it’s just another good song.  
 

This is also another song that I enjoy knowing the origin of…..or the meaning behind it.  Vulture’s writeup on this is good.

edit to add:  I just listened to this a few more times and really do love it.  Lots of layers of emotion come out of this song.  

Excellent stuff. While a lot of material on the Songs LP isn’t traditional U2, the throwback sounds are so intoxicating to me. Of course there is mediocrity on the newer stuff, but I would rather listen to these 2 LPs than NLOTH. It surprises me that we still have 6 songs to go from this disaster.

There is still one to come which is fairly radical from the Songs LPs, it’s at #106. To no surprise I have it at #37, two other rankings are respectable, but the #222 ranking keeps it from being higher. 

 

[Brony]

I’d enjoy hearing from those who ranked it 60 and 184.  Bluntly, it’s one of the better songs I’ve heard from them in the past 15-ish years.  That said, this is a another one that could easily be a Coldplay song instead of U2, and I’m guessing most people here don’t like Coldplay.

I had this at 60 and TBH this is a song that I didn't know based on title alone, so I had to re-listen.  It's a pretty good song with a good chorus but not exactly edgy (your Coldplay description is right on. I don't necessarily like Coldplay, but their music is so safe that it's difficult to hate IMO. )  As I was doing this, I had a lot of songs in this general tier.  I don't view huge differences in quality between my #50 and my #110 for whatever that is worth.   

 

[Brony]

#119 - Last Night on Earth (1997)

Highest Rank - 55

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - Pop LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -104/218 - It’s a song you want to like. The off-kilter intro is so promising, there are a handful of vivid images (“She’s at the bus stop with the News of the World and The Sun,” you can just see a club kid stuck waiting for the first bus in the morning), the chorus is solid, and the concept of the story line is interesting, but it just does not connect. It probably doesn’t help that Bono came up with the chorus at 4 a.m. on their last night in the studio. (Sound familiar?) “It was a good tune,” the Edge said. “But is it up there with ‘New Year’s Day’ or ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’? Obviously not, or we would still be playing it live.”

Comment - This is an attempted straight up rocker that unfortunately portends to some of their failures in the 21st century. 

Next up, a song that really is a side project piece but has been included on a greatest hits. 

I'll claim the 55. Looking back on my rankings, this is my#4 song off of Pop.  Seems about right for me.  I like this track just fine and it holds up to multiple listens.  If I had it listed at 80 or 90, I wouldn't have been surprised either.  

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I don't necessarily like Coldplay, but their music is so safe that it's difficult to hate IMO. 

To me, Coldplay sounds like U2 if they were focus-grouped to death.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I'd have to give it more thought, but while I am with those who feel that The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are their two best albums by a country mile, my top 3 would have only one song from those two albums (their live beast from TJT).  I think TJT has arguably higher highs (my favorite songs from it would probably numbers 2, 5 and 6 on my list), but Achtung Baby is much more consistent.  Side 2 of TJT is good, but Side 1 crushes it.  AB is really damn good the whole way through, and the least best song from that record is better, IMO, than probably half of TJT's Side 2.  

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I'd have to give it more thought, but while I am with those who feel that The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are their two best albums by a country mile, my top 3 would have only one song from those two albums (their live beast from TJT).  I think TJT has arguably higher highs (my favorite songs from it would probably numbers 2, 5 and 6 on my list), but Achtung Baby is much more consistent.  Side 2 of TJT is good, but Side 1 crushes it.  AB is really damn good the whole way through, and the least best song from that record is better, IMO, than probably half of TJT's Side 2.  

This sounds like a really good side discussion for after all the rankings are over.   Would love to go song-by-song and debate/discuss.  We see things similarly, but different enough that it would be fun!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Here’s a hint. Each of JT and AB has 5 tracks in the top 20, leaving 10 from other albums.

It'll be interesting to see if the 5 JT in the top 20 are all from side 1. 

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

I'd have to give it more thought, but while I am with those who feel that The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are their two best albums by a country mile, my top 3 would have only one song from those two albums (their live beast from TJT).  I think TJT has arguably higher highs (my favorite songs from it would probably numbers 2, 5 and 6 on my list), but Achtung Baby is much more consistent.  Side 2 of TJT is good, but Side 1 crushes it.  AB is really damn good the whole way through, and the least best song from that record is better, IMO, than probably half of TJT's Side 2.  

Only 4 of the top 10 are from these 2 albums. Only 2 of the top 5 are from these albums. 

It'll be interesting to see if the 5 JT in the top 20 are all from side 1. 

No. One track from side A got a very low ranking from one of us. Enough so, the track will be the second one we see from Joshua Tree. All four us will play the party pooper role during the top 60 where we have an outlying low ranking from some really well known and loved songs

Three of us have 3 of the top 60 songs ranked in the 100s. Two tracks account for 4 of those 9 spots

One of has significantly more and i encourage the diversity. 

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#118 - Your Blue Room (1995)

Highest Rank - 54

Lowest Rank - 215

Where to Find it - Passengers LP, B Side Staring at the Sun, B Sides Disc Best of 1990-2000

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 62/218 - Gorgeously twisted, it’s a mix of “Space Oddity” and Blue Velvet. They actually tried playing it in stadiums a half-dozen or so times on the 360° tour, which is insane to even consider.

Comment - I enjoy this song. Its better in the context of the Passengers album. As a stand alone U2 track its not as effective. I thought for sure my ranking just inside the top 100 would be the highest, but its not. 

Next up, One of the higher ranked B Sides

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#117 - Love Comes Tumbling (1985)

Highest Rank - 76

Lowest Rank - 159

Where to Find it - B Side to Unforgettable Fire single

Vulture.com ranking and comment -201/218 - From the outtake pile for The Unforgettable Fire, resurrected for various B-sides and the EP. It’s certainly atmospheric, and an interesting waypost on the upcoming journey to Death Valley.

Comment - Just a nice B side. Harmless and gentle. 

Next up, the debut single for U2

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#116 - Another Day (1980)

Highest Rank - 81

Lowest Rank - 160

Where to Find it - Single Only (unless you include the vast collection pieces)

Vulture.com ranking and comment -206/218 - The second single released by the band, this stands head-and-shoulders above other early material because of its consistent focus, its authoritative execution. If they weren’t the next big thing they were going to try their hardest to sound like it. Fake it till you make it. It worked.

Comment - This isn’t on any offical album, despite being a single. Cutting them some slack for it being a debut single. Not good enough for Boy? Not sure. It’s better than some on that album, but its very raw. Does not hint at their potential. Pretty forgettable. I am the lowest ranker here. The comment again from Vulture doesnt really jibe with their ranking. I think they are counting the Boy/Girl EP as a single.

Next up, We have the last song in the bottom half. The last cover song to make an album.

 

[Anarchy99]

#118 - Your Blue Room (1995)

Highest Rank - 54

Lowest Rank - 215

Where to Find it - Passengers LP, B Side Staring at the Sun, B Sides Disc Best of 1990-2000

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 62/218 - Gorgeously twisted, it’s a mix of “Space Oddity” and Blue Velvet. They actually tried playing it in stadiums a half-dozen or so times on the 360° tour, which is insane to even consider.

Comment - I enjoy this song. Its better in the context of the Passengers album. As a stand alone U2 track its not as effective. I thought for sure my ranking just inside the top 100 would be the highest, but its not. 

Next up, One of the higher ranked B Sides

I must be a huge outlier for this one to rank this high overall. Not a fan of Bono talking / mumbling then jumping into falsetto. Then a choir jumps in just to sing "Your Blue Room." Musically, the same few bars are repeated over and over. The drums have the same drum beat the whole song. IMO, like many other songs, Edge's guitar to close out the song is the most interesting thing about it. But this time that flurry comes too late in the song and doesn't save it for me. Sure, the song is moody. And we already know I generally prefer up tempo songs. 

 

[Anarchy99]

#117 - Love Comes Tumbling (1985)

Highest Rank - 76

Lowest Rank - 159

Where to Find it - B Side to Unforgettable Fire single

Vulture.com ranking and comment -201/218 - From the outtake pile for The Unforgettable Fire, resurrected for various B-sides and the EP. It’s certainly atmospheric, and an interesting waypost on the upcoming journey to Death Valley.

Comment - Just a nice B side. Harmless and gentle. 

Next up, the debut single for U2

Surprised I am lowest on this one too. To me, it just doesn't go anywhere. It's like they told Edge to take the day off. There's very little lead guitar. I'm surprised it ranked this high, as people over the years would have had to go out of their way to listen to it . . . I don't think it ever made it to an album. To me it sounds like a song that didn't get picked for an album and / or a piece that wasn't fully developed, fleshed out, or finished.

 

[Nemesis]

On this day Nov 1st,

1979:      U2 receive their first cover story outside Ireland in British magazine Record Mirror.[5]

1987:      In Indianapolis on the JT Tour, U2 1st appeared as their own support act, disguised as "The Dalton Brothers", playing between sets by the BoDeans & Los Lobos. They were dressed in Western outfits & wigs while Bono spoke w a twangy southern accent. Playing their own country-influenced song, "Lucille", & Hank Williams' "Lost Highway", all but the front few rows of the audience fail to recognize them. Link
The Dalton Brothers also appeared at concerts in Los Angeles & Hampton, Virginia.     (<---I attended that Hampton, Virginia concert........but I don't remember them, myself!)
 

On this day Nov 2nd:

1998:       The Best of 1980–1990 B-Sides is released.

And, stick around for tomorrow.  There is something NEW coming on Wednesday!!!! 

 

[Nemesis]

#121 - Window in the Skies (2006)   Highest - 60    Lowest - 184       Where to Find it - U2 18 LP
Vulture - 187/218 - If your 1st thought when you hear this is, “Sounds like a Sgt. Pepper outtake,” wait until you see the video.

Comment - Why they made a single out of this, purely for the U2 18 release was poor. Surrounded by U2 classics it stands out like a sore thumb. What do I know though as the other “new” song, The Saints are Coming was reviled by the other 3 rankers

Songfact:
The song first appeared on the "Window in the Skies" Promotional Single - U2, in NOV 2006.

“Window in the Skies” has only been performed live 5 times: once for a TV appearance in Japan, at all 3 concerts in Saitama, Japan on The Vertigo Tour, & at the final concert of the tour in Honolulu, Hawaii. None of these live performances have been released commercially. The studio version of the song has not been collected on any other compilation beyond U218 Singles.

The song also appeared on the Jacknife Lee Remixes Digital Stream, in June 2007. (http://www.jacknifelee.com/) & users of the website could hear various remixes that Lee had produced over the yrs. Lee, an Irish music producer & remixer, had worked w U2 on their 2004 album HTDAAB & had been involved in several remixes found on singles from that album.   (Jacknife has produced albums w Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, Editors & REM)
 

Videos:  2 different videos for “Window in the Skies” have been identified.  The 1st of which was directed by Gary Koepke (linked by JML), & is a montage of 137 performance clips of musicians from the previous century.  (Easter Egg:   If you look closely you can spot the members of U2 among the screaming fans)

Window In The Skies (Alternate Version)  <--Here is the Jonas Odell alternate remix version, which i like a little better than the original version.  It opens with a static shot of Dublin’s hydroelectric towers, & then zooms in on a wall of photos & memorabilia from U2. Old photos from throughout the band’s career, incl a house among a field of Joshua trees, are cut together to appear three-dimensional.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I must be a huge outlier for this one to rank this high overall. Not a fan of Bono talking / mumbling then jumping into falsetto. Then a choir jumps in just to sing "Your Blue Room." Musically, the same few bars are repeated over and over. The drums have the same drum beat the whole song. IMO, like many other songs, Edge's guitar to close out the song is the most interesting thing about it. But this time that flurry comes too late in the song and doesn't save it for me. Sure, the song is moody. And we already know I generally prefer up tempo songs. 

I like the overall vibe of the song, but have no idea how it ranks this high.  This is an example where I have to try really hard to not be personally & deeply offended that this ranks so many slots above a song like Another Time Another Place.

 

[Anarchy99]

And, stick around for tomorrow.  There is something NEW coming on Wednesday!!!! 

I assume you mean the new song Your Song Saved My Life from Sing 2.

 

[Nemesis]

#119 - Last Night on Earth (1997)   Highest - 55   Lowest - 182                 Where to Find it - Pop LP
Vulture -104/218 - The off-kilter intro is so promising, there are a handful of vivid images , the chorus is solid, and the concept of the story line is interesting, but it just does not connect. It probably doesn’t help that Bono came up with the chorus at 4 a.m. on their last night in the studio. (Sound familiar?)

Comment - This is an attempted straight up rocker that unfortunately portends to some of their failures in the 21st century. 

Songfact:
The song had first taken shape during the sessions for Zooropa, but was left incomplete at the time. It was brought back during the Pop recording sessions, & was one of the last songs the band worked on & The PopMart Tour already booked .

Bono recalled how the song came together: "The chorus came to me at the very end of the sessions for Pop, which were getting a little turgid & tiring. It was 4am in the morning of the last night in the studio. We had people mixing who hadn't been in bed for a wk. Paul was waiting to take the tapes to New York to master the record. I started singing the line: 'You've got to give it away.' Don't turn it into work was the message. Which was exactly what we were doing. My voice was completely shot, which is why we put so much echo on it & Edge sang along with me to cover it up."

They were not happy w the end result, including the roughness of Bono’s voice. Once The PopMart Tour was underway, they booked time at Signature Sound Studio in San Diego during the last wk of April, 1997, & re-recorded the track.

“Last Night on Earth” was played live at all 93 shows on The PopMart Tour, but has not been played since. 

Video:  For 2 days in May 1997, traffic in Kansas City was tied up while U2 was shooting the video on Interstate 670 & sections of Interstate 36. The author William Burroughs & model Sophie Dahl appear in it.

 

[Nemesis]

#118 - Your Blue Room (1995)  Where to Find it - Passengers LP, B Side Staring at the Sun, B Sides Disc Best of 1990-2000

Vulture - 62/218 - it’s a mix of “Space Oddity” & Blue Velvet. They actually tried playing it in stadiums a half-dozen or so times on the 360° tour, which is insane to even consider.

Comment - I enjoy this song. Its better in the context of the Passengers album. As a stand alone U2 track its not as effective. I thought for sure my ranking just inside the top 100 would be the highest, but its not. 

Songfact:
Your Blue Room was written for the 1995 Michelangelo Antonioni-Wim Wenders film Beyond the Clouds.

It was lined up as the follow up single to "Miss Sarajevo", but it was canceled due to poor sales of Original Soundtracks Vol 1. (“Original Soundtracks 1” was a 1995 studio album recorded by U2 & Brian Eno under the band name, Passengers)

It was later featured as a B-side on the "Staring at the Sun" single in 1997.

The song features U2 bassist Adam Clayton singing the last verse, only the 2nd time in U2 history he as appeared vocally on a track.

“Your Blue Room” was soundchecked quite frequently during the 1st leg of the U2360° tour as it wound through Europe, but would not be performed live until the 2nd night of the USA leg of the tour in 2009 in Chicago

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#117 - Love Comes Tumbling (1985)

Highest Rank - 76

Lowest Rank - 159

Where to Find it - B Side to Unforgettable Fire single

Vulture.com ranking and comment -201/218 - From the outtake pile for The Unforgettable Fire, resurrected for various B-sides and the EP. It’s certainly atmospheric, and an interesting waypost on the upcoming journey to Death Valley.

Comment - Just a nice B side. Harmless and gentle. 

Next up, the debut single for U2

This is a big favorite of mine, and IMO is better than at least half of what ended up on UF. I might have it in my top 40. It's one of Bono's better vocals (topped off by some great harmonies at the end), and I love the way Adam's bass punctuates everything. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#118 - Your Blue Room (1995)

Highest Rank - 54

Lowest Rank - 215

Where to Find it - Passengers LP, B Side Staring at the Sun, B Sides Disc Best of 1990-2000

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 62/218 - Gorgeously twisted, it’s a mix of “Space Oddity” and Blue Velvet. They actually tried playing it in stadiums a half-dozen or so times on the 360° tour, which is insane to even consider.

Comment - I enjoy this song. Its better in the context of the Passengers album. As a stand alone U2 track its not as effective. I thought for sure my ranking just inside the top 100 would be the highest, but its not. 

Next up, One of the higher ranked B Sides

I actually heard this on the radio a few times when Passengers came out. Had a hard time believing it was U2 at first. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#116 - Another Day (1980)

The comment again from Vulture doesnt really jibe with their ranking. I think they are counting the Boy/Girl EP as a single.

Seriously. Everyone in the Vulture poll except for the guy who did the writeup must have ranked it really low. 

They must be counting Boy/Girl as the first "single". 

It's a fun tune but is a very raw version of their approach, even compared with the stuff on Boy.