U2 - Wide Awake in America

Yesterday (June 10th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Wide Awake in America, a four song EP from U2. The record spent twenty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 37. In the UK, it was not released until October of 1987 where it went to number 11.

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire

Today (October 1st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Unforgettable Fire, the fourth studio album from U2. The multi-Platinum seller went to number 53 in Ireland, number 39 in Austria, number 24 in Sweden, number 14 in Finland and Germany, number 6 in Norway and Sweden, number 5 in Canada, number 4 in the Netherlands, and number 1 in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Here in the US, it spent one hundred and thirty two weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 12.

U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky

Today (November 7th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Under a Blood Red Sky, the first live concert album from the Irish rock band U2. The multi-platinum album climbed to number 48 in Ireland, number 39 in Belgium, number 28 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 22 in Sweden, number 20 in Germany, and number 2 in Australia and the UK.

U2 - War (30th anniversary)

Today (February 28th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of War, the third studio album from Irish rock band U2.

For my complete track by track review of this 80's classic, please click here.

Roy Orbison - Mystery Girl

Today (April 23rd) was the day that American singer and songwriter Roy Orbison was born. He died of a heart attack at age fifty-two on December 6, 1988.

On February 7th, 1989, the posthumous album Mystery Girl was released; Orbison had recorded the tracks in the months prior to his passing. The record turned out to be his best selling album ever, going Platinum in both the US and Canada. On the charts, it went to number 4 on the Canadian charts, number 17 on the US Country charts, number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 2 on the UK charts and number 1 in Australia, Norway and Sweden.

U2 - The Joshua Tree

There is no disputing the popularity of U2’s fifth studio album, 1987’s The Joshua Tree. The record has sold over 25 million copies world-wide, and it went to number 1 on the album charts of over 20 countries including the US and the UK.

Critically too the album was well received. In 1988, it won the Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as number 3 on its Top 100 Albums of the 80’s list and number 26 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time list. VH1 ranked it at number 15 on their 100 Greatest Albums of Rock & Roll list.

U2 - War

On February 28th, 1983 (just five days after my eighteenth birthday) U2 released their third studio album War. The songs on it and the album title were a statement that the Irish rock band was making about how they perceived the world to be at the time.

In the US, the album reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts. Over in the UK, the record knocked Michael Jackson’s Thriller from its number 1 perch. It also charted at number 59 in Germany, number 26 in Finland, number 16 in Ireland, number 15 in Norway, number 5 in New Zealand, number 4 in France and Canada, and number 2 in Sweden. Rolling Stone magazine ranked War number 221 on their 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time list and number 40 in their Top 100 Albums of the 1980’s.