"Boy" by U2 - October 1980 UK - March 1981 USA Debut Album - Both On Island Records (July 2008 UK Universal-Island Interscope Mercury Records 1CD Reissue and Re-Master) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Blood At The Garden Gate..."

Here's my U2 debut-album story. I was living in Dublin in 1979 and every Saturday afternoon, a mate of mine and I used to wander uptown to a side road off Grafton Street and visit a place called the “Dandelion Market”. It was a kind of indoor bizarre with stalls selling ex-chart 7" singles in their new and snazzy label bags or picture sleeves for 10p, cheese-cloth shirts, clogs and joss sticks (yum yum on all counts). And they had a stage there too where you could see new and unsigned bands for 50p (extortion, I know).

 

So we're there browsing through the CBS, Warner Brothers and Island label bags and of course - U2 came on. After 3 truly awful pastiche punk tunes (sort of a bad Dr. Feelgood) and with that mouthy git out front, I turned to my Irish friend and uttered the following words of unparalleled wisdom and insight - "That's the worst band I've ever seen. They're never going to get anywhere…"

 

Cut (as they say in the movies) to a year later and I'd begun working for Aer Lingus at Dublin Airport and was able to got cheap flights on standby. So when I arrived in New York in late spring of 1981 off the EI105 to JFK, I was amazed to see that their newly issued "Boy" LP (with different artwork to the UK version) was absolutely huge (in a sort of underground kind of way). 

 

Not only had U2 made it, but like The Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Kinks and The Who - America and Americans took to Ireland's upbeat and chiming U2 music instantly. I couldn't believe it when I saw young cool types in record stores wearing American-sleeve "Boy" buttons on their jackets like it was a badge of honour. I also vividly remember hearing "I Will Follow" pinging out of a New York radio on a drive out to Connecticut with a girl I was hanging out with. This Irish Band had developed past those pastiches into something audibly special. 

 

I say all of this now, because the wonder I felt back in 1980 and 1981 has been beautifully recaptured on this 2008 reissue – the sheer blast of U2's explosive arrival. And like so many after it, my wide-eyed mates and I bought "War" in 1983, "The Unforgettable Fire" in 1984 and then the stunning "Joshua Tree" in 1987 (and so on). But there has always been a little bit of wonder in our Celtic hearts for this bombastic beginning.

 

Listening now in March 2022, I don't know if U2's "Boy" is the debut masterpiece so many claim it is (or the best album they ever did) - it isn't. But man - what a starter for ten and this 2008 CD Remaster does that account-opener justice. Details...

 

UK released 21 July 2008 - "Boy" by U2 on Universal-Island, Interscope Records, Mercury Records 1764646 (Barcode 602517646469) is a Re-Mastered Audio 1CD Reissue (album only) that plays out as follows (42:55 minutes): 

 

1. I Will Follow [Side 1]

2. Twilight 

3. An Cat Dubh 

4. Into The Heart 

5. Out Of Control 

6. Stories For Boys 

7. The Ocean 

8. A Day Without Me 

9. Another Time, Another Place 

10. The Electric Co. 

11. Shadows And Tall Trees

12. Saturday Night *

Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Boy" - released 20 October 1980 in the UK, 3 March 1981 in the USA both on Island Records ILPS 9646. The American issue had the same tracks but different artwork front and rear. Produced by STEVE LILLYWHITE – their debut peaked at No. 52 in the UK LP charts and No. 63 on the US Billboard Album charts. * Track 12 is an uncredited 30-second instrumental called "Saturday Night" that only appeared after "Shadows And Tall Trees" ends on original vinyl pressings. It has been re-instated for the 2008 Remaster, but left uncredited.

 

Real fans bought the 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Boy" (also released 21 July 2008) with the 45-single A-side mixes, Non-LP B-sides, unreleased outtakes and live material on the 14-Track CD2. But Mercury/Island 1761670 (Barcode 602517616707) is now long deleted and a pricey collectable. So for us schlepping it in the cheap-to-broke seats, this single CD variant will do nicely. 

 

"Boy" CD1 carries over the Remasters done by U2's Guitarist THE EDGE, CHERYL ENGELS and ARNIE ACOSTA (at Bernie Grundman Mastering) for all the 2008 reissues and jumps chiming out of your speakers with huge balls and presence. To hear Bono’s voice this clear, Larry Mullins, Jr. hammering those drums, Adam Clayton on thumping Bass and the sheer harmonic-guitar-pings power of The Edge – is thrilling and something fans have waited decades for. Steve Lilywhite captured them on "Out Of Control" – but now you can actually hear the energy.

 

The chunky 24-page booklet is also a shockingly tasty affair with outtake photos of the cover child, the lyrics from the inner sleeves, single release dates and more. The typeface and backing even mimics the silver and white sleeve of the 1980 UK original. They include the ultra rare postcard that came with original copies of Ireland's "Another Day" and the picture sleeve for March 1981's WIP 6656 "I Will Follow". It also gives you the PAUL MORLEY liner notes on the history of the debut and those heady years. 

 

Audiowise, lesser-heard cuts like "The Ocean" and the starting-a-landslide to my ego "A Day Without Me" sound fantastic, but my heart goes straight way to Edge's fab guitar-work opening to "Another Time, Another Place" and the sheer guitar mania in the stunning exploration that is "The Electric Co." is enough to make me cry. 

 

For sure the single-CD version of U2's "Boy" lacks those B-sides and the better bits of CD2 on the 'Deluxe Edition' - but as a stand-alone (complete with lovely looks and huge audio) - it rocks like the proverbial horse's knackers. Now if I could only re-write that 1979 opinion...