U2 – War (2008 Reissue Remastered on 180g Vinyl)

War is the third studio album by U2. It was produced by Steve Lillywhite, and was released on 28 February 1983 on Island Records. The album is regarded as U2’s first overtly political album, in part because of songs like Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year’s Day, as well as the title, which stems from the band’s perception of the world at the time; lead vocalist Bono stated that ‘war seemed to be the motif for 1982.’

U2 recorded the album from September–November 1982 at Windmill Lane Studios with Lillywhite producing, the group’s third consecutive album made at the studio with the producer. While the central themes of U2’s previous albums Boy and October were adolescence and spirituality, respectively, War focused on both the physical aspects of warfare, and the emotional after-effects. Musically, it is also harsher than the band’s previous releases. The album has been described as the record where the band ‘turned pacifism itself into a crusade’.

War was a commercial success for the band, knocking Michael Jackson’s Thriller from the top of the UK charts to become the band’s first No. 1 album there. It reached No. 12 in the US and became the band’s first gold-certified album there. In 2012, the album was ranked 223rd on Rolling Stone’s list of ‘The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time’.

Track Listing

Side One

1. Sunday Bloody Sunday
2. Seconds
3. New Year's Day
4. Like a Song…
5. Drowning Man

Side Two

1. The Refugee
2. Two Hearts Beat As One
3. Red Light
4. Surrender
5. '40'

Producer: Bill Whelan, Steve Lillywhite

Format: Vinyl / 12” Remastered Album

Label: Island Records

Catalogue No: 1761674

Barcode: 0602517616745

Release Date: 21 Jul 2008