Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a Spotify playlist featuring these tracks.
Also, check out our U2 Album Ranking: From 'Boy' to 'No Line on the Horizon' feature here.
Elvis Presley and America
From the album The Unforgettable Fire
(1984)This track was an improvisation over the altered drumbeat to 'A Sort of Homecoming
.' Bono's vocals were apparently a first take of off-the-cuff lyrics. Producer Brian Eno wouldn't allow him to do a second take and it appears on the album as-is. It's one of my favorite U2 tracks, and the band has never performed it live.Love Comes Tumbling
Released on the EP Wide Awake in America (1985)
Shortly after the release of The Unforgettable Fire
, U2 released a 4-song EP called Wide Awake in America
. 'Love Comes Tumbling' was one of the two new songs on that EP. It is brilliantly haunting.Acrobat
From the album Achtung Baby (1991)
So incredibly emotional. The only song from Achtung Baby to have not been performed live (yet).
Heartland
From the album Rattle and Hum (1988)
A beautiful track - and my favorite from that release.
The Hands that Built America
Released on the Gangs of New York soundtrack (2002)
11 O'Clock Tick Tock
Released as non-album single (1980)
Mostly known as a live track, which was included on 1983's Under A Blood Red Sky
video and album, this studio version was U2's second single, and was produced by famed Joy Division producer Martin Hannett.
The First Time
From the album Zooropa (1993)
One of the best cuts from Zooropa
. Poetic.Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
From the album Achtung Baby (1991)
Amazing.
Scarlet
From the album October (1981)
The lyrics feature only one single word.
Touch
Released as b-side to '11 O'Clock Tick Tock' single (1980)
Also produced by Martin Hannett.
Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad
Released as b-side to If God Will Send His Angels single (1997)
Bono wrote this one for Frank Sinatra. Although Ol' Blue Eyes never got the chance to record a version, his daughter Nancy released a version
back in 2004 with none other than Larry Mullen Jr. on drums and Adam Clayton on bass.Winter
Released as part of the accompanying Anton Corbijn film - Linear - with the deluxe edition of No Line on the Horizon (2009)
Another U2 gem that didn't make the album. 'Winter' was also used in the movie - Brothers
Another U2 gem that didn't make the album. 'Winter' was also used in the movie - Brothers
Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl
Released as b-side to A Celebration single (1982)
Like '11 O'Clock Tick Tock
,' 'Party Girl' was made known as a live track on Under A Blood Red Sky
. A studio version was released a year or so before - as the b-side to another U2 rarity 'A Celebration
.'Disappearing Act
Released as a bonus track on the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Unforgettable Fire
(2009). There were a few unreleased, leftover songs from the UF sessions, including this gem.Unknown Caller
From the album No Line on the Horizon (2009)
My favorite song from a really underappreciated album.
Gone
From the album Pop (1997)
My favorite song from Pop - it should have been a single!.
Miss Sarajevo
Released as single; appeared on the album Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1 (1995)
The late opera star, Luciano Pavarotti, makes a stunning vocal performance on this collaboration between U2 and Brian Eno - under the name Passengers.
Love is Blindness
From the album Achtung Baby (1991)
The intense closing track to a stunning record. The emotion that pours out of Edge's fingers in that one-note guitar solo is so captivating.
Your Blue Room
Released as b-side to Staring at the Sun single (1997); appeared on the album Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1 (1995)
Another beautiful moment from the Passengers album.
Invisible
Released as a digital non-album single (2014)
'Invisible' is one of the absolute best U2 songs of the last 25 years.
Wow....Thanks for posting. I have always liked alot of these tracks, but thanks for pointing out a few I haven't listened to.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Glad you were able to hear a few new ones. Thanks for stopping by! :)
ReplyDelete