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Island and U2 realized that longtime fans of the band wouldn't need The Best of 1980-1990. Unlike the proposed Best of 1990-2000, which would likely boast the non-LP "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" and the Passengers' "Miss Sarajevo," 1980-1990 contained nothing but material culled directly from the albums, which didn't exactly entice hardcore followers. So, the label and the band decided to pair the compilation with a collection of the group's B-sides from the '80s, none of which had ever appeared on an album before. For die-hard U2 fans, this is something of a godsend -- not necessarily a holy grail, which would have been a complete B-sides collection, including the long-missing early EPs -- since many of these tracks have been out of print for years. That's not to say they'll be entirely pleased with what they hear. The B-Sides is wildly uneven, fluctuating between a handful of lost masterpieces ("Spanish Eyes," "Sweetest Thing," "Hallelujah Here She Comes," "Silver and Gold," "A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel," "Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl"), a momentum-crushing triptych of mediocre karaoke ("Dancing Barefoot," "Everlasting Love," "Unchained Melody"), and formless filler (pretty much everything else). Despite the uneven music, fans will need The B-Sides, not just for the handful of worthy contenders but for its sheer rarity. Not only have the B-sides themselves been difficult to locate, but the disc itself was designed as a collector's item: after the first week of sales, The B-Sides was pulled from the market, and Island shipped only The Best of 1980-1990. Clearly, this was a tactic to raise press awareness and boost sales, but that doesn't mean that fans shouldn't take advantage of its limited release.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Thomas, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - KEVIN KILLEN, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
PAT MCCARTHY, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wallace, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer, Tambourine, Strings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Eno, Producer, Keyboards, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Lillywhite, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Vocals, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Meegan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Mullen, Composer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Kettle, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
PAT MCCARTHY, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wallace, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer, Tambourine, Strings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Eno, Producer, Keyboards, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Vocals, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Meegan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Kettle, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Thomas, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
PAT MCCARTHY, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wallace, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer, Tambourine, Strings, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Eno, Producer, Keyboards, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Lillywhite, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Vocals, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Meegan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mary Kettle, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Thomas, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1980 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Author, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
PAT MCCARTHY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Harris, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Joe O'Herlihy, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nicholas Milne, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Daragh O'Toole, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Una O'Kane, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Nicola Cleary, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Aengus O'Connor, Strings, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 Island Records Limited
Paul Barrett, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shelly Yakus, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Jacobs, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Iovine, Producer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Bryan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1988 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Jack Clement, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - B.B. King, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bobbye Hall, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Author, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shelly Yakus, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Jacobs, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Randy Wine, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Iovine, Producer - Dave Ferguson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phyllis Duncan, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Fergusson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Helen Duncan, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rebecca Russell, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1988 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Jack Clement, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joey Miskulin, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - The Memphis Horns, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Author, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Shelly Yakus, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Jacobs, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Iovine, Producer - Dave Ferguson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Wine, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1988 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Van Dyke Parks, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Benmont Tench, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Author, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Jacobs, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Iovine, Producer - David Tickle, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1988 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Thomas, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
DISC 2
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Author, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, Producer, Mixer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Moloney, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Brian Eno, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Meegan, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
PAT MCCARTHY, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wallace, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe O'Herlihy, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Maloney, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Eno, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Composer - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer - Larry Mullen, Composer - Kevin Maloney, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer
℗ 1998 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Barrett, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - PATTI SMITH, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ivan Kral, ComposerLyricist - Ian Bryan, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Buzz Cason, ComposerLyricist - Mac Gayden, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barrett, Mixer, Engineer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Barrett, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Alex North, ComposerLyricist - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - HY ZARET, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Meegan, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Joe O'Herlihy, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Composer, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Meegan, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Billy Preston, Hammond Organ, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Iovine, Producer - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - David Tickle, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark DeSisto, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1988 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Barrett, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Maloney, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Francisco Xavier El Príncipe Del Pacifico, Producer
℗ 1983 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Edna Wright, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Barrett, Mixer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Maxine Waters, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Iovine, Producer - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - David Tickle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julia Waters, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1988 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Bono, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1982 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
Island and U2 realized that longtime fans of the band wouldn't need The Best of 1980-1990. Unlike the proposed Best of 1990-2000, which would likely boast the non-LP "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" and the Passengers' "Miss Sarajevo," 1980-1990 contained nothing but material culled directly from the albums, which didn't exactly entice hardcore followers. So, the label and the band decided to pair the compilation with a collection of the group's B-sides from the '80s, none of which had ever appeared on an album before. For die-hard U2 fans, this is something of a godsend -- not necessarily a holy grail, which would have been a complete B-sides collection, including the long-missing early EPs -- since many of these tracks have been out of print for years. That's not to say they'll be entirely pleased with what they hear. The B-Sides is wildly uneven, fluctuating between a handful of lost masterpieces ("Spanish Eyes," "Sweetest Thing," "Hallelujah Here She Comes," "Silver and Gold," "A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel," "Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl"), a momentum-crushing triptych of mediocre karaoke ("Dancing Barefoot," "Everlasting Love," "Unchained Melody"), and formless filler (pretty much everything else). Despite the uneven music, fans will need The B-Sides, not just for the handful of worthy contenders but for its sheer rarity. Not only have the B-sides themselves been difficult to locate, but the disc itself was designed as a collector's item: after the first week of sales, The B-Sides was pulled from the market, and Island shipped only The Best of 1980-1990. Clearly, this was a tactic to raise press awareness and boost sales, but that doesn't mean that fans shouldn't take advantage of its limited release.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 30 track(s)
- Total length: 02:03:27
- Main artists: U2
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1998 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited This Compilation ℗ 1998 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
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