dsmith2904
ONE love, blood, life
With or Without You?
U2 announced earlier this week that they are to release a new greatest hits album in the run-up to Christmas.
The band confirmed the collection will feature 'The Saints Are Coming' - their collaboration with Green Day - and one brand new song - but the remaining tracks have not been revealed.
The band have had more than 30 hits since they first broke into the UK charts with 'Fire' in 1981 and debate is raging about which tracks should be included on the forthcoming compilation.
With so many songs to choose from, narrowing it down to one album is going to be a very difficult task with many favourites likely to be missed out.
Will the band pay homage to their early days or focus on the stadium rock anthems of recent years?
Will they choose the songs that performed best in the charts or will they opt for live favourites and songs that their hardcore fans like best?
Devlin Smith, who helps to run the leading U2 fansite Interference, reckons the compilation will mainly focus on songs from 'Joshua Tree', 'Achtung Baby', 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' and 'How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' with a sprinkling of tracks from 'Boy', 'War,' 'Unforgettable Fire' and 'Rattle And Hum'.
She reckons three of his favourite albums - 'October', 'Zooropa' and 'Pop' will be ignored as the band focus on their "best-known" songs.
Here are the U2 tracks that Devlin reckons will make the final cut:
I Will Follow
"Even though this wasn't a big single, this was the song that got U2 its first broad following and is familiar to all ranges of fans. The band needs to represent its early days on any collection and I think this is the safest bet."
Sunday Bloody Sunday
"One of U2's greatest anthems, I can't imagine this not making it onto the collection."
New Year's Day
"Same as 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', it's so classically U2 that I think it has to be included."
Pride (In the Name Of Love)
"Another classic U2 anthem. Also, 'Unforgettable Fire' was one of U2's big moments, the band getting pushed into the mainstream, so it has to be represented by something but I don't think the general public is familiar enough with 'Bad' or the album's title track for either of those to make it. 'Pride' has to be the one to represent 'Unforgettable Fire'."
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
"'Joshua Tree' will probably get the most tracks because it's, arguably, the best-known and best-loved U2 album. 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' is a true classic for the band and seems an easy bet for inclusion."
Where the Streets Have No Name
"Pretty much the same argument for this song as for 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', though this song may have a slight edge since it was performed during the Vertigo Tour."
With or Without You
"Another U2 classic that I can't see the band skipping over for this collection."
Desire
"A crowd favorite and a great song in general, plus it seems good for the band to represent 'Rattle And Hum.'"
Even Better Than The Real Thing
"'Achtung Baby' is held nearly as high as 'Joshua Tree' so will probably also get a good amount of representation on this collection. 'Even Better Than The Real Thing' really helped introduce the "New U2" to the world so I think deserves inclusion."
One
"Is this even in question? No way."
Mysterious Ways
"A live favourite, a fan favourite, so a pretty safe bet for inclusion."
Beautiful Day
"The representation of U2's rebirth as a "classic" rock band, it has to be on the collection. Plus, it's become a real anthem after September 11 and Hurricane Katrina."
Walk On
"Grammy-winning and the anthem for a variety of causes, including the Free Burma Campaign, I think this is another given."
Elevation
"It was the name of one of the biggest tours of all time and a song that always gets fans jumping. Definitely worthy of inclusion."
Vertigo
"'How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' deserves its due on the collection for winning the band its first Best Album Grammy in more than a decade, and I think this first single is a great place to start."
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
"Another Grammy-winning track, coupled with its connection to Bono's late father I think earns this track inclusion."
Do you agree with Devlin's choices? Send your comments to editor@pipex.com.
--Pipex.com
U2 announced earlier this week that they are to release a new greatest hits album in the run-up to Christmas.
The band confirmed the collection will feature 'The Saints Are Coming' - their collaboration with Green Day - and one brand new song - but the remaining tracks have not been revealed.
The band have had more than 30 hits since they first broke into the UK charts with 'Fire' in 1981 and debate is raging about which tracks should be included on the forthcoming compilation.
With so many songs to choose from, narrowing it down to one album is going to be a very difficult task with many favourites likely to be missed out.
Will the band pay homage to their early days or focus on the stadium rock anthems of recent years?
Will they choose the songs that performed best in the charts or will they opt for live favourites and songs that their hardcore fans like best?
Devlin Smith, who helps to run the leading U2 fansite Interference, reckons the compilation will mainly focus on songs from 'Joshua Tree', 'Achtung Baby', 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' and 'How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' with a sprinkling of tracks from 'Boy', 'War,' 'Unforgettable Fire' and 'Rattle And Hum'.
She reckons three of his favourite albums - 'October', 'Zooropa' and 'Pop' will be ignored as the band focus on their "best-known" songs.
Here are the U2 tracks that Devlin reckons will make the final cut:
I Will Follow
"Even though this wasn't a big single, this was the song that got U2 its first broad following and is familiar to all ranges of fans. The band needs to represent its early days on any collection and I think this is the safest bet."
Sunday Bloody Sunday
"One of U2's greatest anthems, I can't imagine this not making it onto the collection."
New Year's Day
"Same as 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', it's so classically U2 that I think it has to be included."
Pride (In the Name Of Love)
"Another classic U2 anthem. Also, 'Unforgettable Fire' was one of U2's big moments, the band getting pushed into the mainstream, so it has to be represented by something but I don't think the general public is familiar enough with 'Bad' or the album's title track for either of those to make it. 'Pride' has to be the one to represent 'Unforgettable Fire'."
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
"'Joshua Tree' will probably get the most tracks because it's, arguably, the best-known and best-loved U2 album. 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' is a true classic for the band and seems an easy bet for inclusion."
Where the Streets Have No Name
"Pretty much the same argument for this song as for 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', though this song may have a slight edge since it was performed during the Vertigo Tour."
With or Without You
"Another U2 classic that I can't see the band skipping over for this collection."
Desire
"A crowd favorite and a great song in general, plus it seems good for the band to represent 'Rattle And Hum.'"
Even Better Than The Real Thing
"'Achtung Baby' is held nearly as high as 'Joshua Tree' so will probably also get a good amount of representation on this collection. 'Even Better Than The Real Thing' really helped introduce the "New U2" to the world so I think deserves inclusion."
One
"Is this even in question? No way."
Mysterious Ways
"A live favourite, a fan favourite, so a pretty safe bet for inclusion."
Beautiful Day
"The representation of U2's rebirth as a "classic" rock band, it has to be on the collection. Plus, it's become a real anthem after September 11 and Hurricane Katrina."
Walk On
"Grammy-winning and the anthem for a variety of causes, including the Free Burma Campaign, I think this is another given."
Elevation
"It was the name of one of the biggest tours of all time and a song that always gets fans jumping. Definitely worthy of inclusion."
Vertigo
"'How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' deserves its due on the collection for winning the band its first Best Album Grammy in more than a decade, and I think this first single is a great place to start."
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
"Another Grammy-winning track, coupled with its connection to Bono's late father I think earns this track inclusion."
Do you agree with Devlin's choices? Send your comments to editor@pipex.com.
--Pipex.com