"Even Better Than the Real Thing" - U2

Promotional Release

Track Listing:

Background Information

“Even Better Than the Real Thing” was the fourth single released to promote the “Achtung Baby” album, and was released in two formats. One was a traditional single, and one was a single filled with remixes. Promotional singles followed the same release pattern.

Two promotional releases were made available on 5-inch CD in the USA. The first was a one-track CD, containing just the “Single Version” of “Even Better Than the Real Thing”. This was released in a regular jewel case with front and back inserts. There was also a CD of remixes released, which was released with an additional remix over what was released commercially, “The Perfecto Mix – Radio Edit” of “Even Better Than the Real Thing”. This promotional release had six mixes in total, and was released in a regular jewel case with no inserts, however, the front of the case had a printed sticker that resembled the inserts on the commercial releases of the remixes CD.

On 7-inch vinyl a number of promotional releases were made available. A 7-inch juke box promotional release was pressed in France for use in Euorpe. This was pressed with a silver molded label, rather than a paper label, and some copies were released with a large centre, and others with a small centre hole. This release featured the title track with “Salome” on the reverse. A 7-inch vinyl featuring “Even Better Than the Real Thing (The Perfecto Mix – Radio Edit)” on both sides was issued in the UK. This was issued in a generic sleeve. As well this was also issued by Dyna in conjunction with Island Records in the Philippines, but with a different label.

A unique 12-inch promotional release was also pressed in the UK. Unlike the commercial release, the promotional release came in a black sleeve which has a hole cut out in the centre so the label of the vinyl is visible. The titles are added to this sleeve by the addition of a sticker, and are not printed on the sleeve itself. As well in both France and the USA, copies of the commercial release on 12-inch were both used for promotion, in France these had a sticker applied to notate they were promotional, and in the USA a gold promotional stamp was added to the release sleeve.

Liner Notes

Even Better Than the Real Thing (Single Version):
Words by Bono. Music by U2. Produced by Steve Lillywhite with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Engineered by Robbie Adams and Paul Barrett. Mixed by Steve Lillywhite and Robbie Adams. Assisted by Sean Leonard and Willie Mannion. Additional editing and mastering: Arnie Acosta.

Salome:
Words by Bono. Music by U2. Produced by Paul Barrett and U2. Mixed by Paul Barrett and U2. Mixed by Paul Barrett. Engineered by Ian Bryan, Louise McCormick and Paul Barrett. Additional backing vocals by Ian Bryan and Paul Barrett.

Even Better than the Real Thing (The Perfecto Mix):
Remixed by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne.

Even Better than the Real Thing (The Perfecto Mix Radio Edit):
Remixed by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne.

Even Better than the Real Thing (Trance Mix):
Remixed by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne.

Even Better than the Real Thing (Sexy Dub Mix):
Remixed by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne.

Even Better than the Real Thing (Apollo 440 Stealth Sonic Remix):
Remixed by Apollo 440

Even Better than the Real Thing (V16 Exit Wound Remix):
Remixed by Apollo 440

Even Better than the Real Thing (Apollo 440 vs. U2 Instrumental Remix):
Remixed by Apollo 440.

Artwork

Photography by Anton Corbijn. Design by Works Associates, Dublin.

Related Promotional Videos

Related News

Catalog of Releases