The Best Of: 1980-1990

The Irish supergroup became the whole world’s property in 1987, with “The Joshua Tree” album, and after three more major LPs later, in 1998, they put out this compilation, skimming the entire 1980s (plus one added new track, “The Sweetest Thing”). The compilation is as good as can be expected, including all main hits/singles and not leaving much space for album tracks. For casual fans this will be enough, for those wanting to explore the Irish treasures’ catalog, this CD is only an appetizer. Surprisingly enough, the biggest number of songs - 4 - is reserved at the end of the record to tracks off the live double album “Rattle and Hum”, where U2 expanded the palette of their sounds, beginning with the sublime “Desire”. On the other pole is the duo of songs from the 1983 “War” album, plastically dealing with painful legacy of the Northern Ireland troubles, and even “I Will Follow” from 1980. You can also trace the beginnings of their trademark cinematic production, expertly executed by Lanois/Eno, starting on “The Unforgettable Fire”. The album well documents how the U2 songs were becoming gradually more multi-layered, and - paradoxically - more popular with that.

When dealing with Greatest Hits and Best Of collections sometimes, depending on the depth of the artists catelogue, you sometimes find fillers or somebodies favourite would be omitted. On this album you have 14 songs and each one is a classic. There had been so much written about U2 that I would be sure to regurgitate something from somebody and so all I will give is my simple opinion. Joshua Tree was perhaps the best album of the eighties (and there was a lot to choose from), anybody who saw the Live Aid concert in 85 would get goosebumps everytime they hear 'Bad' and as a collection this album shows how a rock bad matures from raw prococious talent to rounded smooth musicians were the talent level just keep climbing. The voice, the guitar work have all been written about before but for me the pleasure is just in listening to a cauldron of angst, protest, fastidiousness and attention to detail. Like the title says even if not a true fan of the band this should be in your collection if you are a fan of music.

Excellent

Don’t have it have anymore!

As it says on the cover U2 brilliant

Loved it

Excellent music at reasonable price nothing else needed😊

Brilliant! Every song and gr8 music!