Thought I'd mark a couple of 20th anniversaries we just passed in November...
One is the Best of 1980-1990. I know it's a bit silly to mark the anniversary of a hits compilation, but this one played a big part in my personal musical journey. I was only 14 at the time, and this is pretty much what made me become the fan I am today. I had heard a few tracks from JT and UABRS in the summer of 1998(I think maybe music channels were already promoting the Best Of in July, months before its release), and when I got this set in November, I listened the crap out of it all fall/winter.
The problems with the Best of 1990-2000 had been discussed ad nauseum, and U218 seemed to be some kind of contractual-obligation type release, but 1980-1990 was really well done, imo. Yeah, they could've included Gloria or Bullet or RTSS or whatever, but the 15 tracks on the disc really do a great job of capturing what the band was in the 80s. Those songs are timeless.
Plus, there's the 1998 version of Sweetest Thing. I know some of you prefer the 1987 version, and I like both, but the 1998 version is a perfect pop song that never fails to put a smile on my face.
But half of what makes this set so special to me is the b-sides disc. I really think that b-sides disc changed the way I listen to music. Again, I was only 14, and that disc was a revelation of, oh, it's not all about the big singles, sometimes the best stuff doesn't even make the album. And this was 1998, so it wasn't even easy to be able to listen to that material on that second disc, so it was really a treasure trove, for die-hards and new fans alike.
And yes, I even like the covers, btw. I know some aren't crazy about them, but I love those versions of Dancing Barefoot and Everlasting Love, in particular. It was my first exposure to those songs, period.
Anyway, yeah, 1980-1990 is special to me for sentimental reasons, but it's also, by far, the best of their three Best Ofs, imo, and listening to it yesterday only re-enforced that.
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The second is the 20th anniversary of the release of Popmart Live From Mexico City. While not quite reaching the heights of its legendary predecessor, ZooTV Live From Sydney, it's still one of the band's more essential live documents, imo, even with Bono's weaker late-90s voice.
If for no other reason, because those Pop songs have disappeared from their live repertoire. In that context, a full live show including Mofo, Gone, Last Night On Earth, Please, Discotheque, Velvet Dress, and Wake Up Dead Man matters. It just does. And don't forget HMTMKMKM(even though I think the 360 version was vastly superior).
For me, the biggest highlights are the epic Please/Streets segue, Mofo, and this may surprise you, but the Edge solo SBS, something totally unique to that tour and a fresh and touching take on a warhorse.
It is a vibrant snapshot of the band they were at that time.