Billboard.com
Oct 16

To celebrate the 20th birthday of its landmark album "The Joshua Tree," U2 is reissuing the set in four different incarnations on Nov. 20 via UMe. The album will be available as a remastered single CD, a 2-CD set, a 2-CD/1-DVD collectible box and a double-vinyl package.

The single-disc will be housed in a jewel case, but the 2-CD set comes in a hard back case. The 2-CD/1-DVD version has a base and lid to accommodate the discs as well as five portfolio prints. Band members have contributed new liner notes for the package.

Of most interest to fans is the inclusion of rare material on the expanded editions. Although details have yet to be announced, "Joshua Tree" demos, alternate versions and B-sides from the period are expected to appear.

The DVD is understood to comprise a July 4, 1987, show at the Paris Hippodrome, as well as the documentary "Outside It's America."

Produced by Brian Eno, "The Joshua Tree" shot U2's commercial fortunes into the stratosphere. The album's first three tracks were huge singles, with both "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

is there anything these guys wont do to get cash from their fans ?
this most be one of the most overrated albums of all time. The production is terrible and in parts Bonzo sounds like a cat being strangled...self important fools

peppeken said:

Listen to this...from the same time...but 100000 times better:

whoever's talking trash about reissuing a 20 year old cd...have you listened to it recently or tried to make a mix with songs from the old cd? the volume is lower (the sound on exit is just awful) and a lot of the stuff you catch on the vinyl is just not there. this is a welcome reissue, for sure!

i have the documentary on an old vhs tape but it will be nice to have the live show (and the documentary in a better format).

not to mention that in in a day where brand new records are reissued as "special editions" just in time for christmas with only a remix or two added, i'm thrilled u2 is taking the time to put together a cool package for the reissue.

sassybritches said:

I still have not forgave them for U218 Singles...
[Edited 10/16/07 8:48am]

sassybritches said:

At least it's a timberfake deluxe edition with a duet with boriyoncé

I am VERY excited about this release (as excited as I can get about re-issues, anyway, which is less than a new album). Over the years, The Joshua Tree has become tied favorite with Achtung Baby for me, and while I have owned the CD at different points, I lost it a while back and now have to settle for my iPod rip. I'll be getting the 2CD+DVD set.

Any info on the second disc?

Just the b-sides or more stuff?

99.9% of the time the artist arent involved with this anyway, so its not them cashing in as much as its universal doing what they can to bring in extra money to save the year, and its the holidays, they all do this every year. You have your blockbuster releases like Mariah and then you get reiusses and greatest hits collections.

MikeMatronik said:

YES!!!!!
no doubt about this

Document is a better album

MikeMatronik said:

None of the U2 sites I visit (that first mentioned this a while ago) know anything about what's on the second disc, although I saw one mention of a version of "People Get Ready".

The other tracks from the time that have been released already are:

Luminous Times (Hold On To Love) - from With Or Without You single
Walk To The Water - from With Or Without You single
Spanish Eyes - from I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For single
Deep In The Heart - from I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For single
Silver And Gold - from Where The Streets Have No Name single
Sweetest Thing (original) - from Where The Streets Have No Name single
Race Against Time - from Where The Streets Have No Name single
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - from A Very Special Christmas
Jesus Christ - from Folkways: A Vision Shared: A Tribute To Woody Guthrie And Leadbelly
Beautiful Ghost / Introduction To Songs Of Experience - from The Complete U2: Unreleased & Rare digital release

Hopefully we'll get more than this, though.

The tracklist for the concert that will be released on the DVD is as follows (although some songs may get edited out, of course):

July 4, 1987 at The Hippodrome
Stand By Me
C'Mon Everybody
I Will Follow
Trip Through Your Wires
I Still Haven't Found What I’m Looking For
MLK
The Unforgettable Fire
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Exit
In God's Country
Electric Co.
Help
Bad
October
New Year's Day
Pride
Encores:
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
With or Without You
Party Girl
40

booyah said:

I never heard those 3 songs.

MikeMatronik said:

All good songs. Christmas and Jesus Christ are covers (and, I just checked, Jesus Christ was actually from the Rattle And Hum sessions, not Joshua Tree, so I was wrong there). Beautiful Ghost is very moody and atmospheric - definitely more of an introduction than a song. If you know Alex Descends Into Hell For A Bottle Of Milk / Korova I (the b-side of The Fly), this is along the same lines.

booyah said:

Thanks for the info. I like Alex descends...great tune

I'm glad to hear this; Joshua Tree needs to be remastered

i look forward to getting this.

This is gonna be great! Can't wait!

can't wait for details.

IGN.com
10/18/07


U2's The Joshua Tree has been meticulously remastered from the original analog master tapes to mark 20 years since its release and will be available on November 20, 2007.

To celebrate the anniversary The Joshua Tree will be available in four different formats.

A standard CD featuring liner notes from Bill Flanagan, lyrics and unseen photographs from long time collaborator Anton Corbijn.

Tracklist for Remastered CD:
Where The Streets Have No Name / I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / With Or Without You / Bullet The Blue Sky / Running To Stand Still / Red Hill Mining Town / In God's Country / Trip Through Your Wires / One Tree Hill / Exit / Mothers Of The Disappeared

A double 12" gatefold vinyl format, with the original album pressed across two 180 gram audiophile discs. Plus a 16-page booklet containing lyrics and liner notes by Bill Flanagan, as well as previously unseen Anton Corbijn photos.

Tracklist for double vinyl:

SIDE ONE Where The Streets Have No Name / I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / With Or Without You SIDE TWO Bullet The Blue Sky / Running To Stand Still SIDE THREE Red Hill Mining Town / In God's Country / Trip Through Your Wires SIDE FOUR One Tree Hill / Exit / Mothers Of The Disappeared

The deluxe package comprises The Joshua Tree CD, and a Bonus Audio CD. The bonus audio CD features b-sides and rarities from the Joshua Tree sessions. The 2-CD format also includes a 36 page bound book, featuring liner notes by Bill Flanagan with a special essay by The Edge, previously unseen photos by Anton Corbijn and handwritten lyrics by Bono.

Tracklist for the Bonus CD:
Luminous Times (Hold On To Love) / Walk To The Water / Spanish Eyes / Silver And Gold / Sweetest Thing / Deep In The Heart / Race Against Time / Where The Streets Have No Name (Single edit) / Silver And Gold (Sun City) / Beautiful Ghost/Introduction to Songs of Experience / Wave Of Sorrow (Birdland) / Desert Of Our Love / Rise Up / Drunk Chicken/America


A limited edition box set containing two CD's and a DVD featuring The Joshua Tree Tour live from the Hippodrome in Paris and other rare video footage. The 3 disc box-set format contains The Joshua Tree CD, the bonus CD, and a bonus DVD. This package also includes a 56 page hardback embossed book, featuring previously unseen Anton Corbijn photos, handwritten lyrics by Bono and liner notes by Bill Flanagan, Bono, Adam Clayton, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Anton Corbijn, Steve Averill, David Batstone, Ren Castro and a special essay by The Edge.

Content for the Bonus DVD:
U2 Live from Paris - filmed at the Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris, on July 4 1987, on the European leg of The Joshua Tree tour.

The tracklist is as follows:

I Will Follow / Trip Through Your Wires / I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / MLK / The Unforgettable Fire / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Exit / In God's Country / Electric Co. / Bad / October / New Year's Day / Pride (In The Name Of Love) / Bullet The Blue Sky / Running To Stand Still / With Or Without You / Party Girl / 40
Outside It's America - a 40 minute documentary
With Or Without You - music video, alternative version
Red Hill Mining Town - music video directed by Neil Jordan

Copycat said:

I think I haven't heard half of the tunes off the bonus disc

Great news....

Now I can hear all the songs that won't go away even more.

To be honest I liked Joshua and Achtung, but it has been so force fed for so many years that I can no longer hear a U2 song and not get angry.

Bonus tracks are cool and I love reissues.. IF I buy 2 copies will Bono stay out of the media for just a week or two..... Please!!!



I am in a sarcastic mood.....

wow, Bono really is the record! Stan was right

MikeMatronik said:

"Document" is a great album! Though it may sound a bit dated to some...

peppeken said:

Ya know, I've grown to dislike Bono over the years, so much so that I thought I couldn't possible enjoy old U2. But damned if One Tree Hill didn't come on the radio a few days ago and give me chills. If you can separate the ego from the music, when they were good, they were GOOD.
[Edited 10/25/07 7:19am]

I'm going to have to go with the 2CD/DVD set, since the track list for the live concert looks great, including "Party Girl," which I love.

Yeah, reissues are often record company cash cows, and they can be pretty lame, offering little other than remastering and lame alternate takes (or worse, "edits" which is basically "your favorite songs, but shorter")

But, this looks pretty substantial.

And, this is an album that really is worthy of getting a second go-round. This isn't Beyonce's B-day being reissued 6 months after the original. Plus, it's been 20 years (scary), so the intention to please fans (not just cash in) at least seems more sincere.

Pavement did some excellent, extensive reissues of albums, including Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. Very much worth the extra money. I'm betting the Joshua Tree reissue is also worth it.

yay for a tracklist!