All That You Can't Leave Behind
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| All That You Can't Leave Behind | ||
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| Studio album by U2 | ||
| Released | October 30, 2000 (UK) October 31, 2000 (U.S.) |
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| Recorded | HQ, Windmill Lane Studios, Westland Studios, and Totally Wired, Dublin, Ireland 2000 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 49:23 | |
| Label | Island (UK) Interscope (U.S.) |
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| Producer(s) | Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| U2 chronology | ||
| Hasta La Vista Baby! (2000) |
All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) |
7 (2002) |
All That You Can't Leave Behind is the tenth studio album by the Irish rock band U2, released in 2000 by Island Records in the UK and Interscope Records in the U.S.. The album was ranked by Rolling Stone as the 139th greatest album of all time. [1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Reuniting the band with the production duo of Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno—who also produced The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby— it is seen as a return to the band's traditional sound after their more experimental records of the 1990s. In many ways, however, this is an oversimplification, as the album breaks new ground by retaining the sonic nuances of their 1990s work and reconciling it with the melodic, hook-filled rock of their 1980s work. The first song (and lead single), "Beautiful Day", for instance, is an optimistic anthem that opens with a drum machine and a rhythm sequencer. The album also includes "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of", a song written by Bono for his friend Michael Hutchence, who committed suicide in 1997.
Following the comparatively poor reception of their previous album Pop, U2 declared on a number of occasions that they were "re-applying for the job ... of best band in the world." [1] Promotional activities included a number U2 firsts such as appearances on MTV's Total Request Live, USA Network's Farm Club, and Saturday Night Live.
The album met wide acclaim from critics and the public, debuting at #1 in 28 countries (but only reaching #3 in the United States). Rolling Stone magazine declared it as U2's third masterpiece, alongside The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. [2] The first single released was "Beautiful Day", which reached #1 in the UK single charts (which track the popularity of individual songs) and in most European countries, Canada and Australia. All That You Can't Leave Behind became the fourth highest-selling U2 album, with total sales of over 12 million.
Both "Beautiful Day" and "Walk On" scored the prestigious Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years; the former in 2001 and the latter in 2002. The album also netted the Best Rock Album award in 2002, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation" in 2001 and 2002, respectively, Song of the Year for "Beautiful Day" in 2001, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of."
The accompanying Elevation Tour was also deemed very successful. "Elevation" and "Beautiful Day", which debuted on the tour, are two of only four U2 songs to have been played at every concert since their introduction (the other two being "One" and "Vertigo").
In 2003, the album was ranked number 139 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
[edit] Track listing
- "Beautiful Day" – 4:06
- "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" – 4:32
- "Elevation" – 3:46
- "Walk On" – 4:55
- "Kite" – 4:23
- "In a Little While" – 3:37
- "Wild Honey" – 3:45
- "Peace on Earth" – 4:46
- "When I Look at the World" – 4:15
- "New York" – 5:28
- "Grace" – 5:31
- "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" – 3:43 (UK Bonus Track)
[edit] Credits and notes
- Music by U2, words by Bono and the Edge.
- Produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno.
"Beautiful Day", "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of", "Walk On", and "Elevation " were released as singles.
The 7 EP was released in the U.S., collecting many B-sides previous unavailable in that region.
In Japan, Australia and the UK, "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" 3:44 is a bonus track at the end. The song is written by Salman Rushdie, and he features in the video, shown writing the song. Rushdie also provides an account of his relationship with the band and how the song came to be written in his book of essays, Step Across This Line.
Various limited edition copies in the U.S. included a bonus disc with either "Always" 3:46, "Summer Rain" 4:06, or "Big Girls Are Best" 3:37.
The photographs used on the cover were taken in Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, and the video for "Beautiful Day" was also filmed there. There is a subtle reference to a biblical passage on the cover with slight doctoring to "J33-3->" on the departure notices. Bono has confirmed that it is a reference Chapter 33 verse 3 of Jeremiah: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and hidden things which you have not known." (Rolling Stone, Jan 18 2001).
[edit] Chart positions
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Albums Chart | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 200 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Internet Albums | 1 |
[edit] Personnel
- Bono - lead vocals
- The Edge - guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Adam Clayton - bass guitar
- Larry Mullen, Jr. - drums
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- U2 Wanderer - Discography - last accessed on October 31, 2005
- All Music - U2 Charts and Awards - last accessed on October 31, 2005
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/sampler/printout/0,8816,212605,00.html]
- ^ Rolling Stone review of All That You Can't Leave Behind http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/u2/albums/album/232369/review/6068360/all_that_you_cant_leave_behind
[edit] External links
- Discography entry at U2 Wanderer - Comprehensive details on various editions, cover scans, lyrics, and more.
- Album lyrics - Searchable album lyrics.
- U2 tours overview at U2-Vertigo-Tour.com - Includes setlists for every date on the Elevation Tour.
- Quotes and information - Detailed background on each song.
- U2MoL - Contains fan interpretations and interview excerpts for each song.
