U2's "War": An Early Preview of U2's Later Greatness

Hello,

Again I apologize for the lack of recent blogs, I'm spending a lot of time looking for a job. Truthfully I'm working harder at finding a job than I did at my actual last job. There are so many hoops to jump through and I'm jumping through every one of them willingly. That will help me lose weight, right? I hate looking for a job, but it will be worth it once I find a good job.

Anyway on to the blog. About 31 1/2 years ago U2 released their third CD, the aptly titled "War". It followed their first two one word title CDs, 1980's "Boy" and 1981's "October". (Do you remember when musicians could release CDs every year?) Those first two CDs were all about U2 finding their sound and coming into their own as musicians and as a band. While still in their infancy in terms of making music "War" is their first big stride towards becoming one of the most popular rock bands of all-time.

"War" contains two classic U2 songs in "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Eve". But it also has other very good songs "Two Hearts Beat As One", "Like A Song....." and "40". U2 would go to make better CDs, but there's not a weak track on "War". "War's" album cover is so much better than the preceding "October". "October" features U2 as a band that's still a long ways from truly learning about styling. It seems the day the photo shoot happened was very windy and there wasn't a comb to be had. The word unkempt comes to mind, it's very much an 80's cover. However with "War" it looks like they found someone who was better in helping them finding a better look. "War's" cover features a grim faced boy who looks like he has been held down for too long and he's not going to take it any more! (Thanks to Wikipedia for many of the biographical details, all opinions are mine.)

Just as they were in 1983, U2 is still made up of Bono (Paul Hewson), Larry Mullen Jr. on drums, The Edge (David Evans) on blistering lead guitar plus multiple other instruments and Adam Clayton on bass.

"War" only reached #12 in the United States, although it has gone on to sell 4,000,000 copies. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" didn't even reach Billboard's Top 100 in America and "New Year's Day" only reached #53. (Thanks to Wikipedia.)

The remastered version of "War" was released July 22nd, 2008 in the USA. There was a bonus CD released with the original remastered version of "War". It includes these songs:

1."Endless Deep"  "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Two Hearts Beat as One" singles 2:58
2."Angels Too Tied to the Ground"  Previously unreleased outtake from "War" sessions 3:34
3."New Year's Day" (7" single edit)"New Year's Day" single 3:56
4."New Year's Day" (USA remix)"Two Hearts Beat as One" single 4:31
5."New Year's Day" (Ferry Corsten extended vocal mix)Previously unreleased 9:42
6."New Year's Day" (Ferry Corsten vocal radio mix)Previously unreleased 4:37
7."Two Hearts Beat as One" (Long mix)"Two Hearts Beat as One" promotional single 5:56
8."Two Hearts Beat as One" (USA remix)"Two Hearts Beat as One" single 4:24
9."Two Hearts Beat as One" (Club version)"Two Hearts Beat as One" single 5:43
10."Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"  "New Year's Day" single 3:24
11."I Threw a Brick Through a Window / A Day Without Me" (Live from Werchter -- 4 July 1982)"New Year's Day" single 6:58
12."Fire" (Live from Werchter -- 4 July 1982)"New Year's Day" single 3:46 (Total length: 59:28)

Here's the full of album of "War" with the two additional bonus tracks "Treasure "Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop" and "Endless Deep".

1) "Sunday Bloody Sunday": Is there any doubt that this is one of the greatest songs ever, it has to be considered at least in the Top 500 all-time songs. This video is a perfect fit and is exactly what this song is about. Is this actual video? One of the most classic videos of early MTV, back when MTV was relevant: I love the things I discover while writing these blogs, I had no clue that Paramore had covered "Sunday Bloody Sunday", this is their mellow take on this song: 2) "Seconds" (also live at Red Rocks): 3) "New Year's Day": Live from Slane Castle a few years ago: 4) "Like A Song....": 5) "Drowning Man": Anneke Van Giersbergen covers U2: 6) "The Refugee": 7) "Two Hearts Beat As One" (This song takes on extra energy live, look at The Edge go on the guitar): "Two Hearts Beat As One" (Live): 8) "Red Light": 9) "Surrender": 10) "40": This album starts with the painful anguish of "Sunday Bloody Sunday", a song about the so called Troubles in Ireland. (U2 has a song titled "The Troubles" on their recently released CD "Songs of Innocence".) "40" has the feeling of hope, although there's a bit of sadness as well. "40" (Live): themusicaddict