The Best of 1980–1990

The Best of 1980–1990
Greatest hits album by U2
Released 10 November 1998 (1998-11-10)
Recorded 1980–1989
Genre Rock, post-punk
Length 64:08
Label Island
Producer Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, Jimmy Iovine, U2, St. Francis Xavier[1]
U2 chronology
Please: PopHeart Live EP
(1997)		 The Best of 1980–1990
(1998)		 Hasta la Vista Baby!
(2000)
Singles from The Best of 1980-1990
  1. "Sweetest Thing"
    Released: 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic
(Standard edition)		 [2]
Allmusic
(The B sides)		 [3]
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

The Best of 1980–1990 is the first greatest hits compilation by Irish rock band U2, released in November 1998. It mostly contains the group's hit singles from the eighties but also mixes in some live staples as well as one new recording. In April 1999, a companion video (featuring music videos and live footage) was released. The album was followed by another compilation, The Best of 1990–2000, in 2002.

A limited edition version containing a special B-sides disc was released on the same date as the single-disc version. At the time of release, the official word was that the 2-disc album would be available the first week the album went on sale, then pulled from the stores. While this threat never materialized, it did result in the 2-disc version being in very high demand. Both versions charted in the Billboard 200.

The boy on the cover is Peter Rowan, brother of Bono's friend Guggi (real name Derek Rowan) of the Virgin Prunes. He also appears on the covers of the early EP Three, two of the band's first three albums (Boy and War), and Early Demos.

Contents

Track listing

Disc one

All music composed by U2, with lyrics by Bono.

No. Title Album Length
1. "Pride (In the Name of Love)"   The Unforgettable Fire 3:48
2. "New Year's Day" (Special version) War 4:17
3. "With or Without You"   The Joshua Tree 4:55
4. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"   The Joshua Tree 4:38
5. "Sunday Bloody Sunday"   War 4:40
6. "Bad" (Best Of edit) The Unforgettable Fire 5:50
7. "Where the Streets Have No Name" (Best Of edit) The Joshua Tree 4:35
8. "I Will Follow"   Boy 3:36
9. "The Unforgettable Fire"   The Unforgettable Fire 4:56
10. "Sweetest Thing" (Single mix) "Sweetest Thing" 3:00
11. "Desire"   Rattle and Hum 2:59
12. "When Love Comes to Town"   Rattle and Hum 4:17
13. "Angel of Harlem"   Rattle and Hum 3:49
14. "All I Want Is You"   Rattle and Hum 6:31
15. "October" (hidden track) October 2:20
Total length:
 64:08
Japan bonus track
No. Title Length
15. "One Tree Hill"   5:24
16. "October" (hidden track) 2:20
Total length:
 69:32

Disc two (Limited Edition B-sides Disc)

All songs written and composed by U2, except where noted. 

No. Title Originally Released on Length
1. "The Three Sunrises"   "The Unforgettable Fire" single 3:52
2. "Spanish Eyes"   "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" single 3:14
3. "Sweetest Thing"   "Where the Streets Have No Name" single 3:03
4. "Love Comes Tumbling"   "The Unforgettable Fire" single 4:40
5. "Bass Trap" (Best Of edit) "The Unforgettable Fire" single 3:31
6. "Dancing Barefoot" (extended version; Patti Smith, Ivan Kral) "When Love Comes to Town" single 4:45
7. "Everlasting Love" (Buzz Cason, Mac Gayden) "All I Want Is You" single 3:20
8. "Unchained Melody" (Alex North, Hy Zaret) "All I Want Is You" single 4:52
9. "Walk to the Water"   "With or Without You" single 4:49
10. "Luminous Times (Hold on to Love)"   "With or Without You" single 4:35
11. "Hallelujah Here She Comes" (Best Of edit) "Desire" single 4:00
12. "Silver and Gold"   "Where the Streets Have No Name" single 4:37
13. "Endless Deep"   "Two Hearts Beat as One" single 2:57
14. "A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" (Best Of edit) "Angel of Harlem" single 4:32
15. "Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl"   "A Celebration" single 2:33
Total length:
 59:46

Chart positions and certifications

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australian Top 50 Albums[4] 1
Austrian Top 75 Albums[5] 1
Belgium (Flanders) 100 Albums[6] 1
Belgium (Wallonia) 100 Albums[7] 1
Canadian Albums Chart[8] 1
Finnish Top 50 Albums[9] 3
French Compilations[10] 1
German Albums[11] 1
Netherlands Top 100 Albums[12] 1
New Zealand Top 40 Albums[13] 1
Norwegian Top 40 Albums[14] 2
Swedish Top 60 Albums[15] 1
Swiss Top 100 Albums[16] 1
UK Albums Chart[17] 1
US Billboard 200[8] 2
Chart (2005) Peak
position
Danish Top 40 Albums[18] 8
Spanish Top 100 Albums[19] 46

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[20]
Standard edition		 3× Platinum 180,000x
Argentina (CAPIF)[21]
+ B-Sides		 Platinum 60,000x
Australia (ARIA)[22] 8× Platinum 560,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[23] 2× Platinum 100,000x
Belgium (BEA)[24] 6× Platinum 300,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[25] 6× Platinum 600,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[26] Platinum 50,000^
Finland (IFPI Finland)[27] Gold 29,864[27]
France (SNEP)[28] 2× Platinum 600,000*
Germany (BVMI)[29] Platinum 500,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[30] 2× Platinum 60,000^
Hungary (Mahasz)[31] Gold  
Mexico (AMPROFON)[32] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RIANZ)[33] 9× Platinum 135,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[34] Platinum 50,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[35] Gold 50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[36] 4× Platinum 400,000^
Sweden (GLF)[37] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[38] 3× Platinum 150,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] 5× Platinum 1,500,000^
United States (RIAA)[40]
Standard edition		 2× Platinum 2,000,000^
United States (RIAA)[41]
+ B-Sides		 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[42] 7× Platinum 7,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Video

The Best of 1980–1990
Video by U2
Released April 1999
Recorded 1980–1989, 1998
Genre Rock, post-punk, roots rock
Length 138 mins
Label Island / PolyGram
Director Donald Cammell, Meiert Avis, Barry Devlin, Gavin Taylor, Phil Joanou, et al.
U2 video chronology
PopMart: Live from Mexico City
(1998)		 The Best of 1980–1990
(1999)		 Elevation 2001: U2 Live from Boston
(2001)

Music and words by U2. All tracks have been remastered for this release.

  1. "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
  2. "New Year's Day"
  3. "With or Without You"
  4. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
  5. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (from Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky)
  6. "Bad" (from Rattle and Hum)
  7. "Where the Streets Have No Name"
  8. "I Will Follow"
  9. "The Unforgettable Fire"
  10. "Sweetest Thing"
  11. "Desire"
  12. "When Love Comes to Town"
  13. "Angel of Harlem"
  14. "All I Want Is You"
  15. "One Tree Hill" (from a previously unreleased cut of Rattle and Hum)

Personnel

See also

References

  1. ^ (1998) Album notes for The Best of 1980–1990 & B-Sides by U2 [CD liner/inlay]. Island Records (CIDDU211/524612-2).
  2. ^ The Best of 1980–1990 at Allmusic
  3. ^ The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides at Allmusic
  4. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). Australian Charts. Hung Medien. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  5. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (in German) (ASP). Austrian Charts. Hung Medien. http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  6. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (in Dutch) (ASP). Ultratop. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  7. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (in French) (ASP). Ultratop. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  8. ^ a b "The Best of 1980–1990/The B-sides – U2". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/album/u2/the-best-of-1980-1990-the-b-sides/331100. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  9. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). Finnish Charts. Hung Medien. http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  10. ^ "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" (in French) (PHP). InfoDisc. http://www.infodisc.fr/Albums_ChartRun.php.  Find "U 2" under the drop-down menu to see statistics.
  11. ^ "Chartverfolgung / U2 / Longplay" (in German). Music Line. Media Control Charts. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/U2/?type=longplay. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  12. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (in Dutch) (ASP). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  13. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  14. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). Norwegian Charts. Hung Medien. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  15. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  16. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). Swiss Charts. Hung Medien. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  17. ^ "All the Number One Albums: 1998". The Official Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all-the-number-one-albums-list/_/1998/. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  18. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). Danish Charts. Hung Medien. http://danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  19. ^ "U2 – The Best of 1980–1990 (Album)" (ASP). Spanish Charts. Hung Medien. http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=U2&titel=The+Best+Of+1980%2D1990&cat=a. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
  20. ^ "Argentinian album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=U2&album=The+Best+of+1980-1990&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP. 
  21. ^ "Argentinian album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980 - 1990 B". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=U2&album=The+Best+of+1980+-+1990+B&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP. 
  22. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm. 
  23. ^ "Austrian album certifications – U2 – Best of 1980-1990" (in German). IFPI Austria. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin.  Enter U2 in the field Interpret. Enter Best of 1980-1990 in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  24. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina - 2007". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/certifications.asp?year=2007. 
  25. ^ "Canadian album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=The+Best+of+1980-1990&sa=U2&smt=0. 
  26. ^ "Danish album certifications – U2 – Best of". IFPI Denmark. http://www.hitlisterne.dk/default.asp?w=34&y=2005&list=a40. 
  27. ^ a b "Finnish album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/artistit/U2. 
  28. ^ "French compilation certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980–1990" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=1999&type=25. 
  29. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (U2; 'The Best of 1980-1990')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=The+Best+of+1980-1990&strInterpret=U2&strTtArt=alben&strAwards=unchecked. 
  30. ^ "Greek album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980–1990" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20020602064050/www.ifpi.gr/chart01.htm. 
  31. ^ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2000" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=arany_es_platinalemezek&menu2=adatbazis&ev=2000. 
  32. ^ "Mexican album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. http://www.amprofon.com.mx/certificaciones.php?artista=U2&titulo=The+Best+of+1980-1990&categoria=ALBUM&contenido=buscar. 
  33. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. http://web.archive.org/web/20110724195845/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=61. 
  34. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. http://www.ifpi.no/sok/lst_trofeer_sok.asp?type=artist. 
  35. ^ "Polish album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980–1990" (in Polish). Polish Producers of Audio and Video (ZPAV). http://www.zpav.pl/rankingi/wyroznienia/zlote/index.php. 
  36. ^ "Spanish album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980–1990" (in Spanish) (PDF). Productores de Música de España. http://promusicae.es/files/listassemanales/albumes/historial/TOP%20100%20ALBUMES%2005_04.pdf. 
  37. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (in Swedish) (PDF). IFPI Sweden. http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf. 
  38. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (U2; 'The Best Of 1980 - 1990')". Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=U2+The+Best+Of+1980+-+1990. 
  39. ^ "British album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter The Best of 1980-1990 in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  40. ^ "American album certifications – U2 – Best of 1980-1990". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Best+of+1980-1990%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  41. ^ "American album certifications – U2 – Best of 1980-1990/The B Sides". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Best+of+1980-1990%2FThe+B+Sides%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  42. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2004". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2004.html. 

External links

Preceded by
I've Been Expecting You by Robbie Williams		 UK number one album
14 November 1998 – 20 November 1998		 Succeeded by
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael by George Michael
Preceded by
The Living End by The Living End		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
9 November – 6 December , 1998
28 December 1998 – 3 January 1999		 Succeeded by
Chef Aid: The South Park Album
by Various artists
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