"How to Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb" - U2

Album

Track Listing:

Background Information

This ten-track album of demos taken from the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb 20th anniversary album, was released as a standalone vinyl record for the Black Friday 2024 Record Store Day event. The record is on red and black vinyl, and is the only standalone physical release of the demo tracks. Copies of the album are also packaged with the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb 20th anniversary album in the digital format, and the two deluxe box sets (CD and vinyl, where the record is black vinyl.) A standalone digital release of How to Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb will also be available on November 29, 2024, a week after it is released as part of How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

The cover is a gatefold sleeve, cover and additional photos are by Anton Corbijn.

Some titles are familiar, “I Don’t Wanna See You Smile” is a version of “Smile” that previously appeared on “The Complete U2“ and “Are You Gonna Wait Forever?” was a B-side to the original “Vertigo” single. “Picture of You (X+W)” is a different demo version of “Xanax and Wine”, which eventually became “Fast Cars”. The Edge’s “Theme from The Batman” will be included as well, the instrumental piece was the title track for the cartoon, The Batman in 2004.

Other titles are new songs for the band including “Evidence of Life”, “Luckiest Man In the World”, “Treason”, “Country Mile”, and “Happiness”. Although we do have some notes about “Treason“, a song that Bono developed with Dr. Dre and David Stewart (of the Eurythmics) in 2002, and further developed in studio with U2. The version here is produced by David Stewart and Jacknife Lee, Stewart also appears on guitar. It does not appear that Dr. Dre’s work on the track has been included, although his protege, Mike Elizondo is credited with programming. Backing vocals are by the Gateway Ambassador Singers. “Mercy” is included in the set as “Luckiest Man in the World” with slightly altered lyrics from the original 2004 demo. Additional work is done on the track by Duncan Stewart suggesting some recent work was done in studio on the track. (“Happiness” also appears to use some of the lyrics from “Mercy” so it may be here twice…)

U2 regularly participate in Record Store Day, and we maintain a list of all of the releases via this event celebrating the independent record store here.

Liner Notes

Picture of You (X+W): Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono. Produced by Chris Thomas. Engineered by Carl Glanville. Assisted by Chris Heaney. Mixed by Carl Glanville.
Evidence of Life: Music by The Edge. Lyrics by The Edge with Bono. Produced by The Edge and Duncan Stewart. Recorded by Dan Vickers and Duncan Stewart. Mixed by Duncan Stewart. Keyboards: Bono. Additional Drums by The Edge.
Luckiest Man in the World: Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono. Produced by Jacknife Lee. Additional production by Duncan Stewart. Recorded by Carl Glanville and Duncan Stewart. Assisted by Chris Heaney. Mixed by Jacknife Lee and Duncan Stewart. Additional Guitar by Bono.
Treason: Music by U2 and Dave Stewart. Lyrics by Bono with The Edge. Produced by Dave Stewart and Jacknife Lee. Recorded by Carl Glanville with Duncan Stewart. Assited by Chris Heaney. Mixed by Jacknife Lee. Additional mixing by Duncan Stewart. Keyboards and Additional Guitar by Dave Stewart. Programming by Mick Elizondo. Choral backing vocals by Gateway Ambassador Singers.
I Don’t Wanna See You Smile: Music by U2. Lyrics by Simon Carmody. Produced by Steve Lillywhite and Jacknife Lee. Recorded by Carl Glanville. Assisted by Chris Heaney. Mixed by Jacknife Lee.
Country Mile: Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono. Produced by Chris Thomas. Additional Production by Duncan Stewart. Engineered by Carl Glanville. Assisted by Chris Heaney.
Are You Gonna Wait Forever?: Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono. Produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Recorded and mixed by Richard Rainey. Assisted by Chris Heaney. Backing vocals by The Edge.
Theme from ‘The Batman’: Music by The Edge. Produced by The Edge. Engineered by The Edge.
All Because of You 2: Produced by Chris Thomas. Engineered by Carl Glanville. Assisted by Chris Heaney. Additional recording by Duncan Stewart. Mixed by Carl Glanville. Backing vocals by The Edge.

Related Promotional Videos

Related News

Catalog of Releases