In the coming weeks, U2’s debut album will be re-released in three versions, including one with b-sides and rarities. The album was recorded during June through September 1980. For this album some old live favorites were abandoned and new songs were recorded. This is can be seen by comparing the track listing of their sellout concert in the National Stadium in Dublin on the 26th of February 1980 with the actual track listing of Boy.
U2’s last date on their Irish tour, brought them a deal with Island Records that led to the release of their debut album some eight months later. That’s why it is interesting to compare the two. Of the sixteen tracks performed live on that evening only six songs would eventually become part of their debut: Stories for Boys, Another Time, Another Place, Shadows and Tall Trees, A Day Without Me, Twilight and Out of Control. Some of these six tracks were prior released as singles, as was the case with Stories for Boys and Out of Control that appeared on U2 Three and Twilight which was the b-side to the Another Day single.
With six songs becoming part of their first album, U2 were leaving behind ten songs. In some cases those songs eventually turned up. The song Trevor became the b-side to the 11 O’Clock Tick Tock single and was renamed Touch. The New Year’s Day single featured a reworked Pete the Chop under the guise of Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop?). Unfortunately, the remaster doesn’t provide us with all these lost songs. Only Cartoon World, from the Dublin gig, and Speed of Life are on the remaster. Although the song Saturday Night could be another song from their live set under a different name, but we have to wait to be sure. Furthermore, the digital box set The Complete U2 is lacking those songs, so much for being complete. So, this remaster leaves us wanting of songs never recorded, but part of early U2: Silver Lining, The Magic Carpet, Pete the Chop, The Dream is Over, Cartoon World and Jack in the Box.
Finally, I’m curious whether this remaster includes the 30 second snippet of Fire, as my old vinyl album features.
