exploremusic

The Joshua Tree Turns Twenty Three

2 years ago by Jeff Woods | March 9, 2010 11:58 am

Right about now in 1987, I was in Halifax, buying a new stereo, a champagne coloured Luxman powering a set of German speakers that came just shy of blowing the roof off my one bedroom apartment.   The gear included a turntable, not a CD player, on which the needle would land on the album that came out today that year.

‘A lot of the songs were ones that were recorded in Larry’s spare bedroom or Adam’s living room. When the red light’s on we often don’t respond to it. When we’re just left to be, left to make music our own way, well some of the tracks are almost like demos. We had to fight to make them work and there were a lot of songs left over. It could have gone off in a number of different directions. We wanted the idea of a one-piece record, not a side-one, side-two thing.

Bono, March 1987

From the moment ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ played, you just knew U2 had delivered the record that would make them the biggest band of the 2nd half of the 80′s, and beyond.

The Joshua Tree would in fact become the first U2 album reach #1 in North America.

For me, the songs that sound the best from the album today, are the one’s we’ve heard the least on the radio, including the one I’ve included below.

For more on The Joshua Tree, I invite you to go directly to U2′s website by clicking HERE.

 

 

Send to a friend Filed Under: Legends of Classic Rock

• 6

• Alex

  March 9, 2010 at 2:23 pm

  I’m a big fan so it comes as a surprise that this video exists and I didn’t know about it. The Joshua Tree came out the year I was born and will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks for sharing!

  (Reply)
• Judy

  March 9, 2010 at 3:23 pm

  I love the band. I have the Joshua Tree album and have NEVER opened it and can’t remember why…the plastic is still intact. My boyfriend had the CD so perhaps there was no need to open it at the time.???

  (Reply)
• jon

  March 9, 2010 at 5:51 pm

  you know I’ve listened to that album sooo many times, after I watched your video I could hear the start of In God’s Country in my head…eeek… I remember the vinyl sounding way cool on One Tree Hill. Miss my old Sears handmedown.

  (Reply)
• Cynthia

  March 10, 2010 at 3:51 am

  This was my favorite album when i was 16 and i had to replace the cassette 3 times before i was over it.

  (Reply)
• Mexdale

  March 10, 2010 at 12:05 pm

  Brought tears to my eyes.My loved ones are on their way.COUNTDOWN CANADA.Hanging on.Nothing but a short 3 week wait.Than the love ,laughter and occasional all out cage match will be on.

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• Ross

  March 10, 2010 at 5:42 pm

  When it first came out I bought it on CD, to go with my brand new CD player of course! I never even heard it on vinyl until a year ago when I picked up a used copy at St. Lawrence Market… sounds even better I think than the CD. I picked up a 7″ copy of Where the Streets Have No Name @45 rpm backed with The Sweetest Thing and Silver and Gold @33 rpm about 20 years ago – my only previous vinyl exposure!

  (Reply)

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