U2's breakthrough album 'The Joshua Tree' and its story

"The Joshua Tree" is U2's legendary album, which stands out from the band's earlier recordings for its uncompromising sound... The album was inspired by American and Irish cultures, as well as the folk music of those countries. Filled with spiritual imagery, its lyrics touch on political issues... The record was not completed until November 1986: all the while the band was working on what has been called "cinematography in music". U2 went to great lengths to evoke a sense of presence in the public - particularly the American public (as evidenced not only by the sound of the record, but also by the cover, on which the band poses against the scenery of the American desert...).

"Joshua Tree" was a huge success among both listeners and critics: the album became a chart-topper in 20 countries, and its worldwide circulation is now over 25 million copies... So, thanks to its resounding success, U2 became the fourth band in history to have their picture on the cover of Time! Today we'll talk about how the legendary record was recorded...

Prerequisites...

By the mid-1980s U2 were already masters of their craft both in the studio and on tour! In 1985 they performed in front of 55,000 fans at Croke Park in Dublin. And their 1984 album "The Unforgettable Fire" became the band's new calling card in the USA: it went platinum three times in the country... A few weeks later, an audience of billions saw Jack Nicholson present U2's almost breathtaking contribution to Live Aid at Wembley Stadium via satellite from Philadelphia... Later, the readers of Rolling Stone recognised their performance as one of the best ever, and this played its part: U2's success and talent began to be talked about all over the world....

Bono's voice has now been heard in a variety of places: as a guest on the stellar anti-apartheid single "Sun City" and on Clannad's lilting hit single "In A Lifetime"....

In June of the same year, U2 joined Amnesty International's caravan of participants on the Conspiracy of Hope US tour. Their stage mates included Sting, Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel and Bryan Adams. But as the year progressed, the need and desire for a new studio became more and more palpable for U2. In the summer, after sessions elsewhere, they reconvened at their safe haven of Windmill Lane Studios. Their allies, Brian Eno and Daniel Lanuae, were the production pair that helped them create the iconic "The Unforgettable Fire", which reached great heights!

Recorded album

Bono would later say that much of the material for "The Joshua Tree" was recorded in Clayton's living room or Larry Mullen Jr.'s room: in fact, they were sessions that were more like demos in their spontaneity...

"It could have gone in completely different directions!" recalls Bono. "We wanted to create a monoblock record, not something like Side One, Side Two..."

Indeed, the result was a laid-back and sometimes unadorned character that mixed folk music tones with a rock canvas! This is particularly evident in "Running To Stand Still".

The flavours of the sound ranged from bluesy to biblical, and even the famous hymns that became their first number one singles in America burned slowly but surely... The recurring spiritual themes were a perfect match for the album's visuals, inspired by a photo shoot with Anton Corbijn in the Mojave Desert. The title itself serves as a reference to the Old Testament prophet...

Track list

"Bono Hewson's lyrics on 'The Joshua Tree' are more consistently focused and eloquently framed than on past albums, and his singing underscores the band's expression of frustration and hope with newfound strength and passion..." - wrote the Los Angeles Times. Rolling Stone wrote that the album "sounds majestic and profound..." And indeed: there was room for the outspoken "Bullet The Blue Sky", the simmering track "In God Country" and the anthemic "Where The Streets Have No Name"... There was also sadness in the dedication of "One Tree Hill" to Greg Carell, the band's roadie who died in a motorbike accident in Dublin....

"Where the Streets Have No Name"

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

"With or Without You"

"Bullet the Blue Sky"

"Running to Stand Still"

"Red Hill Mining Town."

"In God's Country"

"Trip Through Your Wires."

"One Tree Hill."

"Exit."

"Mothers of the Disappeared"

A worldwide success!

Upon release in the spring of 1987, the album went platinum in the UK in 48 hours! It also sold 235,000 copies in its first week, becoming the best-selling album in Britain that year! It topped the charts all over Europe! In the mid-1990s in America, the album achieved 10x "platinum" status and later a "diamond" award! "The Joshua Tree" took root and soon U2 became true legends of their time! Five nights at the Los Angeles Arena, the same number at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, then in the summer to Europe - there were two great nights at Wembley Stadium. Then the band returned to the coliseums and stadiums of North America for another two and a half months... No one could say that U2 didn't become the most popular band in the world: all the members put in a really great effort, devoting themselves diligently to spectacular rock events....

"People respond to our naivety".....

By capturing the essence of their appeal, the public took a fresh look at the natives of Ireland...

"Bono haunts the song as much as he sings it, and the moment he takes the stage, there's no doubt about how huge his terms are: unconditional surrender. Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. have found a solid musical foundation, while lead guitarist Edge's riffing drives to an epiphany..." - wrote prestigious publications.

"People respond to our naivety," Clayton said in the same article. "I think they see four guys from Ireland who don't want to give up on their dreams..."