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

Album

Track Listing:

Background Information

How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb is a 10-track album of demos and b-sides, released by U2 in 2024 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. All of the recordings on this album were developed while they were recording How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Standalone versions of How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb were released on November 29, 2024. This included a physical version of the album on red and black vinyl for the Black Friday Record Store Day. Also on that day, standalone versions are available digitally on streaming services and digital storefronts, in regular resolution, high resolution and Atmos versions.

The Record Store Day vinyl is a black and red marbled vinyl, which will be released in a gatefold sleeve. The US Record Store Day site, which traditionally notes the number of copies available in the USA, list this album at 20,000 copies. Universal Music in Canada has confirmed that Canada will get 300 copies of this release. U2 regularly participate in Record Store Day and we maintain a list of all releases via these events here.

Ahead of the standalone release of the album, copies were available with the 20th anniversary editions of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The album was included in the CD box set (the only way to get the album on CD), the vinyl box set (with a slightly different cover, and on black vinyl) as well as in the “Re-Assembled” digital release, which included the 12-tracks from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and the 10-tracks from How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb. Information about these items released with the main album, please see the discography entry for How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb 20th anniversary edition.

The cover and additional photos used in the record are by Anton Corbijn. The cover shot is taken from a 2003 photo shoot that the band did with Corbijn in London. Of the cover, Anton shared, “This 2004 image above was my attempt to create a cover for the Atomic Bomb record, shooting the guys in a London photo-studio individually (analogue), put them together and retouch them digitally. I then painted around them which is what we see here. Kind of basis on which I subsequently wrote the album title and the name U2 a few times over each other by hand. I love using paint to get away from perfection.”

The tracks are from a variety of sources. “I Don’t Wanna See You Smile” was previously released under the name “Smile” in “The Complete U2” and some digital copies of U218 Singles and “Are You Gonna Wait Forever?” is the B-Side from the “Vertigo” single. Both are remastered here but otherwise have little changes. “All Because of You 2”, “Theme from Batman” and “Picture of You (X+W)” were previously released songs but have new elements added here. (The latter was released as both “Xanax and Wine” as well as “Fast Cars”.) “Luckiest Man in the World” was leaked in 2004, but not officially released until 2010 when it appeared as a live track on “Wide Awake in Europe” under the name “Mercy”. The remaining tracks are new for this compilation including “Evidence of Life”, “Treason”, “Country Mile”, “Happiness”.

New elements were added to several songs through a three week session in studio in June 2024 to complete these songs for release. The songs with newly recorded elements include “Evidence of Life”, “Luckiest Man in the World”, “Treason”, “Happiness” and “All Because of You 2”. Additional “Country Mile” has had some additional production completed in 2024 to finish the song.

The Edge spoke about the album when announced, “The sessions for How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb were such a creative period for the band, we were exploring so many song ideas in the studio. We were inspired to revisit our early music influences, and it was a time of deep personal introspection for Bono who was attempting to process – dismantle – the death of his father. For this anniversary edition I went into my personal archive to see if there were any unreleased gems and I hit the jackpot. We chose ten that really spoke to us. Although at the time we left these songs to one side, with the benefit of hindsight we recognize that our initial instincts about them being contenders for the album were right, we were onto something. What you’re getting on this shadow album is that raw energy of discovery, the visceral impact of the music, a sonic narrative, a moment in time, the exploration and interaction of four musicians playing together in a room… this is the pure U2 drop.”

The album was announced on September 26, 2024, and two songs, “Country Mile” and “Picture of You (X+W)” were sent out immediately for promotion. On October 14, two additional songs, “Happiness” and “Luckiest Man in the World” were sent out as 1 minute previews for social media, followed by releases for radio on October 24 and November 22. All four songs have had lyric videos completed, and all have been edited for release to radio. Additionally, to promote the album and the 20th anniversary edition of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb release, a number of merchandise items were made available via U2.Com as well as Spotify. Listening sessions to hear the new Re-Assemble album were held in nine cities worldwide, with fans being invited via U2.com to these small intimate sessions that ranged from 30 – 200 listeners.

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.

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