The Best of 1980-1990

by U2

Overview

As one of the most popular bands of the '80s, U2 didn't quite fit into any particular category. They were a post-punk band that quickly found acceptance from a hard rock audience, a group that made fully formed albums but often made their best statements on individual songs, especially during the '80s. Consequently, they're a very hard band to anthologize. Since they were most effective on single songs, it seems that throwing all of them together on one disc would work. The problem is, each of the albums, from Boy to Rattle and Hum, has a distinctive flavor that doesn't necessarily blend when combined, especially in the nonchronological form of The Best of 1980-1990. There's little quibbling with the featured tracks on U2's first compilation -- a few important songs, such as "Gloria," "I Fall Down," "Seconds," and "Two Hearts Beat as One," may be missing, but everything else deserves to be here ("Pride," "New Year's Day," "With or Without You," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Bad," "Desire," etc.). Even though the song selection is strong, the album winds up as less than the sum of its parts -- each song is pretty great of its own accord (even the single mix of the B-side "Sweetest Thing," which is, in truth, not much different at all), but the overall effect is a little underwhelming. On one hand, it may be a good choice for casual fans or nostalgia mongers, since it does contain everything they need to hear, but anyone who has more than a passing interest in the band will be better suited with individual albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/1998
Label:	Island
UPC:	0731452461322
Rank:	3245

Tracks

1. Pride (In the Name of Love)
2. New Year's Day
3. With or Without You
4. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday
6. Bad
7. Where the Streets Have No Name
8. I Will Follow
9. The Unforgettable Fire
10. Sweetest Thing
11. Desire
12. When Love Comes to Town
13. Angel of Harlem
14. All I Want Is You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

U2   Primary Artist
B.B. King   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals
The Memphis Horns   Guest Artist
Benmont Tench   Keyboards
Joey Miskulin   Organ
Adam Clayton   Guitar (Bass)
Helen Duncan   Vocals (Background)
Rebecca Evans Russell   Vocals (Background)
Phyllis Duncan   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Steve Lillywhite   Mixing,Producer
Kevin Killen   Engineer
Larry Mullen, Jr.   Composer
The Edge   Composer
David Tickle   Mixing,Engineer
U2   Composer
Rob Jacobs   Mixing,Remixing
Dave Ferguson   Engineer
Brian Eno   Engineer,Producer
Bono   Composer
Van Dyke Parks   String Arrangements
Adam Clayton   Composer
Daniel Lanois   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Paul Hewson   Composer
Joe O'Herlihy   Engineer
Arnie Acosta   Digital Remastering
Colm Henry   Photography
Paul Thomas   Engineer
Shelly Yakus   Remixing,Mixing
David Evans   Composer
Paul Barrett   Engineer