"The Unforgettable Fire" - U2

Remastered Album (25th Anniversary)

Track Listing: (Disc One):

Track Listing (Disc Two):

Video Content (DVD in Deluxe Version):

Track Listing Notes:

The DVD available in the deluxe set also contained

  • “The Making of The Unforgettable Fire” – U2 (28:03)
  • “Live Aid Intro” – Jack Nicholson (00:36)

The “Making of” documentary was previously available on “The Unforgettable Fire Collection” VHS and the “U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle” DVD. This documentary includes a video for “Pride” shot in the studio, at Slane Castle. The Live Aid section of the DVD also includes an “Intro” which is 00:36 and features Jack Nicholson introducing U2. Two versions of the “Pride” video are available other than the one recorded at Slane, these are the same audio, but one is in colour and the other is in sepia throughout. Both of these make use of the 03:50 version of “Pride” but the videos are 04:07 in length due to the dock noises at the start of the videos.

Background Information

After issuing a 20th anniversary remastered edition of The Joshua Tree in 2007 and remastered versions of Boy, October, War, and Under a Blood Red Sky in 2008, U2 released a similar 25th anniversary edition of The Unforgettable Fire in 2009. The first official word of this release came in the form of the merchandise bags used on The U2360 Tour in the spring of 2009, which promoted the U2 catalogue reissue program and indicated that a remastered Unforgettable Fire was coming in October. The Unforgettable Fire became the second catalogue reissue, after The Joshua Tree, to be offered not only in a two-disc format but also a three-disc “super deluxe” version. All told, the reissued Unforgettable Fire was available in five formats: a single CD containing just the remastered album; a 2CD version adding a CD of outtakes and rarities; a “super deluxe” box set including both CDs plus a DVD, hardback book, and art prints; a 180g vinyl version (remastered album only; no bonus tracks); and a digital version available through online storefronts such as iTunes. As with previous reissues in the campaign, remastering of the audio (sourced from the original analogue tapes) was overseen by The Edge.

The second CD in the two-disc and super deluxe sets includes material originally released during the 1984-1985 period. Taken from the “Wide Awake in America” EP are a live version of “Bad” from Birmingham and a live version of “A Sort of Homecoming” from London. “Love Comes Tumbling,” “The Three Sunrises,” “Bass Trap” and “Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come” are all taken from various versions of “The Unforgettable Fire” single (“Love Comes Tumbling” and “The Three Sunrises” also rounded out “Wide Awake in America”). “Boomerang I,” “Boomerang II,” “Pride (Single Version)” and “11 O’Clock Tick Tock (Long Version)” are all taken from various versions of the “Pride” single. “Wire (Celtic Dub Mix)” was taken from a 1985 NME Magazine giveaway 7-inch vinyl. Rounding out the content on the bonus CD are several previously unreleased tracks. These include “Yoshino Blossom,” “Wire (Kervorkian 12” Vocal Remix),” “A Sort of Homecoming (Daniel Lanois Remix),” and “Disappearing Act.” The latter track originated during The Unforgettable Fire sessions but had additional material added in 2009, including new vocals.

The DVD included in the box set features the music videos and documentary footage previously released on The Unforgettable Fire Collection VHS, including two versions of “Pride” and one version each of “The Unforgettable Fire,” “Bad,” and “A Sort of Homecoming.” The documentary footage was also previously released on the U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland DVD. New material included on the bonus DVD included live performances of “MLK,” “Pride,” and “Bad” from Giant’s Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on June 15, 1986, and a live performance of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” in London, England for Live Aid on July 13, 1985. One final video is “11 O’Clock Tick Tock,” recorded live at Croke Park, Dublin, on June 29, 1985, and labeled here as the “Bootleg Version.”

The single-disc remaster was issued in either a standard jewel case or a so-called “Super Jewel Box,” depending on the territory. The two-disc set was issued in a hardback book format, with card sleeves for the two CDs fixed inside the front and back covers of the book. An outer slipcase fits around the book to hold the package closed. The super-deluxe set was issued in a box, with the individual discs placed inside three separate “mini LP-style” gatefold picture sleeves within the box. This set also included a larger-format hardback book with additional liner notes, photos, and essays, along with a set of art prints.

Liner notes include short essays by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, written specifically for this release, as well as a longer essay by Bert Van De Kamp, a journalist from The Netherlands, who has interviewed Bono and U2 a number of times over the years. The deluxe edition and box set also include notes, written by The Edge, for each of the songs on the CD of b-sides and rarities.

Despite promotional material promising “more U2 catalogue remasters to follow,” The Unforgettable Fire was apparently the final release in this campaign, at least in this format. While a 20th anniversary edition of Achtung Baby was released in 2011, it did not have the same characteristics as the previous reissues (no remastered audio, no liner notes by The Edge, different packaging for the 2CD version, etc.). Although Achtung Baby was put together by the same team at Nick Stewart Associates, that was the last project they worked on for the band, and the next boxed set of The Joshua Tree for that album’s 30th anniversary, was put together by a new team instead.

On May 24, 2019, a new pressing of The Unforgettable Fire on vinyl was announced. This new pressing is on “wine-coloured” vinyl, and is being released for the 35th anniversary of the album to independent record stores. We are told that it will use the same mastering as the 25th anniversary pressings on black vinyl.

Liner Notes

Original Credits:
Produced and engineered by Eno / Lanois. Additional engineering by Kevin Killen. Assistant Engineer: Randy Ezratty. All tracks recorded in Ireland at Slane Castle, Co. Meath and Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin.
Bono – vocals. The Edge – guitar, keyboards, vocals. Adam Clayton: Bass. Larry Mullen Junior: Drums. Additional vocals, instruments and treatments – Eno / Lanois. String Arrangement: Noel Kelehan. Fairlight – Paul Barrett.
Management: Paul McGuinness, Anne-Louise Kelly – Principle Management Dublin, Ellen Darst – Principle Management New York.
U2 Crew: Dennis Sheehan, Joe O’Herlihy, Steve Iredale, Tom Mullally, Steve Rainford, Peter Williams, Tim Buckley, Lord Henry Mountcharles.
Thanks to Mrs Christine Kerr.

2009 Edition:
Re-mastering directed by The Edge.
Album production managers: Brian Celler, Candida Bottaci.
Research and archive analysis: Cheryl Engels, Partial Productions. Remastering produced by Cheryl Engels, Partial Productions. Remastering engineering by Scott Sedillo, Bernie Grundman Mastering. Technical support by Thomas “Beno” May. U2 catalogue re-release co-ordinator: Nick Stewart & Associates.

Individual Songs:
Disappearing Act: (From The Unforgettable Fire sessions):
Produced by Brian Eno. Engineered by Daniel Lanois. Additional engineering by Declan Gaffney. Additional vocals by Bono and The Edge. Piano by The Edge. Keyboards by Declan Gaffney.

A Sort of Homecoming (Live): (B-side to “The Unforgettable Fire”, and from the “Wide Awake in America EP”):
Recorded at Wembley Arena, London, England, 15th November, 1984. Produced by Tony Visconti. Location engineer: Kevin Killen. Additional recording at Good Earth Studios, London, England. Mixed by Kevin Killen.

Bad (Live): (From the “Wide Awake in America” EP):
Recorded at the NEC, Birmingham, England, 12th November 1984. Produced by U2. Location engineer: Kevin Killen. Mixed by Ron St. Germain.

Love Comes Tumbling (Out-take One): (B-side to “The Unforgettable Fire”, and from the “Wide Awake in America” EP):
Produced by U2. Engineered by Paul Thomas. Mixed by U2 and Kevin Moloney.

The Three Sunrises (Out-take Three): (B-side to “The Unforgettable Fire”, and from the “Wide Awake in America” EP):
Produced by U2, Brian Eno, and Daniel Lanois. Engineered by Kevin Moloney. Mixed by U2 and Kevin Moloney.

Yoshino Blossom: (From The Unforgettable Fire Sessions):
Produced by U2. Engineered by Paul Thomas.

Wire (Kervorkian 12” Vocal Remix):
Remix produced by Francois Kervorkian. Remix engineering by Frank Filipetti.

Boomerang I (Instrumental) (B-side to Pride):
Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Additional engineering by Kevin Killen.

Pride (Single Version):
Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Engineered by Daniel Lanois. Additional Engineering by Kevin Killen.

A Sort of Homecoming (Daniel Lanois Remix):
Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Remixed by Daniel Lanois. Additional vocals by Peter Gabriel and Daniel Lanois.

11 O’Clock Tick Tock (B-Side to “Pride”):
Produced by Martin Hannett. Engineered by Paul Thomas and Martin Hannett.

Wire (Celtic Dub Mix) (Track on 7” Vinyl given away free with NME, May 1985):
Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanoie. Remix produced by Francois Kervorkian. Remix engineering by Frank Filipetti.

Bass Trap (B-side to “The Unforgettable Fire”):
Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Engineered by Daniel Lanois and Kevin Moloney. Mixed by Kevin Moloney.

Boomerang II: (B-side to Pride):
Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Additional engineering by Kevin Killen.

4th of July (Single Version): (B-side to “Pride”):
Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Additional engineering by Kevin Killen.

Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come (Out-Take Two): (B-side to “The Unforgettable Fire”):
Produced by U2, Brian Eno, and Daniel Lanois. Engineered by Paul Thomas. Mixed by U2 and Kevin Moloney.

Artwork

Original:
Sleeve – Conception by Anton Corbijn / Stephen Averill
Realisation – Anton Corbijn / The Creative Dept. Ltd.
Based on a concept of Simon Marsden.

2009 Edition:
Cover design and art direction by Steve Averill
Packaging design by Gary Kelly at Four5One Creative.

Additional photography by Colm Henry.

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