The Best of 1980–1990

The Best of 1980–1990 is the first greatest hits compilation by Irish rock band U2, released in November 1998. It mostly contains the group's hit singles from the 1980s but also mixes in some live staples as well as one new recording, "Sweetest Thing". In April 1999, a companion video (featuring music videos and live footage) was released. The album was followed by another compilation, The Best of 1990–2000, in 2002.

The Best of 1980–1990
Greatest hits album by
U2
Released2 November 1998 (1998-11-02)
Recorded1980–1989
GenreRock, post-punk
Length65:35
LabelIsland
ProducerBrian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, Jimmy Iovine, U2, St. Francis Xavier[1]
U2 chronology
Please: PopHeart Live EP
(1997)		 The Best of 1980–1990
(1998)		 PopMart: Live from Mexico City
(1998)
Singles from The Best of 1980–1990
  1. "Sweetest Thing"
    Released: 19 October 1998

A limited edition version containing a special B-sides disc was released a week earlier than the single-disc version. At the time of release, the official word was that the two-disc album would be available the first week the album went on sale, then pulled from the stores. While this edict never materialized, it did result in the two-disc version being in very high demand. Both versions charted in the Billboard 200, with the two-disc version debuting at number two and setting a new first-week sales record in the United States for a greatest hits album by a group with 237,500 copies sold.

The boy on the cover is Peter Rowen, brother of Bono's friend Guggi (real name Derek Rowen) of the Virgin Prunes. He also appears on the covers of the early EP Three, two of the band's first three albums (Boy and War), and Early Demos.

Commercial performance
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
(Standard edition)		[2]
Allmusic
(The B sides)		[3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]

In the United States, the double-disc version of the album (The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides) debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 during the week of 21 November 1998 with 237,500 copies sold.[7] This set a new record for the best-selling opening week for a greatest hits collection by a group in the SoundScan era.[8][9] The next week, it fell to number five while the single-disc version of the album entered the chart at number 57.[10] The single-disc version of the compilation peaked at number four on the Billboard 200.[11] The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides remained on the chart for 17 weeks while the single-disc version was present on the chart for 44 weeks.[12][13] The standard edition was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting shipments of two million on 6 March 2002; on 4 December 1998, the double-disc version was certified double platinum for shipments of two million.[14]

In the United Kingdom, the limited double-disc version debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart on 14 November 1998, before dropping the following week to number two.[15] It remained on the chart for 20 weeks.[15] The single-disc edition entered at number eight on 21 November 1998, and two weeks later, it reached its peak of number four.[15] It charted for 126 weeks in the UK.[15] The single-disc edition was certified quintuple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on 8 November 2002, denoting shipments of 1.5 million units.[16]

In Canada, the double-disc version release had a numbered, limited edition of 175,000 units pressed.[9] The double-disc version of the album debuted at the top of the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for the week of 21 November 1998; this version stayed on the chart for four weeks.[17][18] The next week, the standard edition debuted and peaked at number five on the chart, before falling to number eight the following week.[19][20] The single-disc version remained on the chart for 15 weeks.[21]

In Ireland, the album debuted with the highest single-week sales since 1993, when IRMA started keeping records.[9] The album reached number one on Ireland's album charts and remained on the chart for 76 weeks.[9]

Track listing

Disc one

All music is composed by U2, with lyrics by Bono.

No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Pride (In the Name of Love)"The Unforgettable Fire (1984)3:48
2."New Year's Day" (Japanese single version)War (1983)4:17
3."With or Without You"The Joshua Tree (1987)4:55
4."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"The Joshua Tree4:38
5."Sunday Bloody Sunday"War4:40
6."Bad" (Edited version)The Unforgettable Fire5:50
7."Where the Streets Have No Name" (Edited version)The Joshua Tree4:35
8."I Will Follow"Boy (1980)3:36
9."The Unforgettable Fire"The Unforgettable Fire4:53
10."Sweetest Thing" (Single mix)Newly recorded version3:00
11."Desire"Rattle and Hum (1988)2:59
12."When Love Comes to Town"Rattle and Hum4:17
13."Angel of Harlem"Rattle and Hum3:49
14."All I Want Is You" /
"October" (Hidden track)		Rattle and Hum
October (1981)		6:30
2:21
Total length:65:35
Japan bonus track
No.TitleAlbumLength
15."One Tree Hill" /
"October" (Hidden track)		The Joshua Tree
October		5:24
2:21
Total length:69:32

Disc two (Limited Edition B-Sides)

All tracks are written by U2, except where noted.

No.TitleOriginally Released onLength
1."The Three Sunrises""The Unforgettable Fire" single3:52
2."Spanish Eyes""I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" single3:14
3."Sweetest Thing""Where the Streets Have No Name" single3:03
4."Love Comes Tumbling""The Unforgettable Fire" single4:40
5."Bass Trap" (Best Of edit)"The Unforgettable Fire" single3:31
6."Dancing Barefoot" (extended version; Patti Smith, Ivan Kral)"When Love Comes to Town" single4:45
7."Everlasting Love" (Buzz Cason, Mac Gayden)"All I Want Is You" single3:20
8."Unchained Melody" (Alex North, Hy Zaret)"All I Want Is You" single4:52
9."Walk to the Water""With or Without You" single4:49
10."Luminous Times (Hold on to Love)""With or Without You" single4:35
11."Hallelujah Here She Comes" (Best Of edit)"Desire" single4:00
12."Silver and Gold""Where the Streets Have No Name" single4:37
13."Endless Deep""Two Hearts Beat as One" single2:57
14."A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" (Best Of edit)"Angel of Harlem" single4:32
15."Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl""A Celebration" single2:33
Total length:59:53
  • Note: The version of "Bass Trap" found on this compilation is a shortened edit from the original 5:14 version found on "The Unforgettable Fire 12" single EP of 1985. Same goes for the version of "A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" which is an edit from the original version (5:29) on the "Angel of Harlem" single from 1989.

Chart positions

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[73]
Standard edition 		3× Platinum 180,000^
Argentina (CAPIF)[73]
+ B-Sides 		Platinum 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[74] 8× Platinum 560,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[75] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Belgium (BEA)[76] 6× Platinum 300,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[77] 6× Platinum 600,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[78] Platinum 50,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[79] Gold 29,864[79]
France (SNEP)[80] 2× Platinum 600,000*
Germany (BVMI)[81] Platinum 500,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[82] 2× Platinum 60,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[83] Gold  
Italy (FIMI)[84]
sales since 2009 		Gold 25,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[85] 2× Platinum 400,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[86] 2× Gold 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[87] 9× Platinum 135,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[88] Platinum 50,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[89] Platinum 100,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[90] 4× Platinum 400,000^
Sweden (GLF)[91] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[92] 3× Platinum 150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] 5× Platinum 1,500,000^
United States (RIAA)[14]
Standard edition 		2× Platinum 2,000,000^
United States (RIAA)[93]
+ B-Sides 		2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[94] 7× Platinum 7,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Video
The Best of 1980–1990
Video by
U2
ReleasedApril 1999
Recorded1980–1989, 1998
GenreRock, post-punk, roots rock
Length78 mins
LabelIsland / PolyGram
DirectorDonald Cammell, Meiert Avis, Barry Devlin, Gavin Taylor, Phil Joanou, et al.
U2 chronology
PopMart: Live from Mexico City
(1998)		 The Best of 1980–1990
(1999)		 Elevation 2001: Live from Boston
(2001)

Music and words by U2. All tracks have been remastered for this release.

  1. "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
  2. "New Year's Day"
  3. "With or Without You"
  4. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
  5. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (from U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky)
  6. "Bad" (from Rattle and Hum)
  7. "Where the Streets Have No Name"
  8. "I Will Follow"
  9. "The Unforgettable Fire"
  10. "Sweetest Thing"
  11. "Desire"
  12. "When Love Comes to Town"
  13. "Angel of Harlem"
  14. "All I Want Is You"
  15. "One Tree Hill" (Live - from a previously unreleased cut of Rattle and Hum)

Personnel

See also

References
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