War (U2 album)

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War
Studio album by
Released28 February 1983
Recorded17 May–20 August 1982, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
GenreRock, post-punk
Length42:03
LabelIsland
ProducerSteve Lillywhite
U2 chronology
October
(1981)
War
(1983)
The Unforgettable Fire
(1984)
Singles from War
  1. "New Year's Day"
    Released: January 1, 1983
  2. "Two Hearts Beat as One"
    Released: March 11, 1983
  3. "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
    Released: March 11, 1983

War is the third studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in 1983.

The band's first album, Boy is about childhood and the second album, October is about spirituality.[1] This album is about war and politics. This is because of songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday". The album was named War because of what was happening in the world while they were recording. Bono said that "everywhere you looked, from the Falklands to the Middle East and South Africa, there was war."[2]

War sold well for the band right away. Michael Jackson's album, Thriller fell from the top of the charts. War became U2's first album in the United Kingdom to reach #1. It was not well liked by British critics at first, but over the years has gained approval.

Recording[change | change source]

U2 began recording War in May 1982. Bono and his bride Alison, had just been married. The band took a break while Bono and Alison went on a honeymoon in Jamaica. But Bono worked on the lyrics for the upcoming album while on vacation.

Track listing[change | change source]

All of the songs and the lyrics were written by U2.

  1. Sunday Bloody Sunday - 4:38
  2. Seconds - 3:09
  3. New Year's Day - 5:38
  4. Like a Song… - 4:48
  5. Drowning Man - 4:12
  6. The Refugee - 3:40 (produced by Bill Whelan)
  7. Two Hearts Beat as One - 4:00
  8. Red Light - 3:46
  9. Surrender - 5:34
  10. 40 - 2:36

People[change | change source]

U2
Others
  • Kenny Fradley – trumpet on "Red Light"
  • Steve Wickham – electric violin on "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Drowning Man"
  • The Coconuts: Cheryl Poirier, Adriana Kaegi, Taryn Hagey, Jessica Felton – backing vocals on "Like A Song…", "Red Light", and "Surrender"

References[change | change source]

  1. Considine, J.D. (1983-03-31). "Music Review: War". Rolling Stone. No. 392. Archived from the original on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. Thrills, Adrian (26 February 1983). "War & Peace". NME. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2013.