"With or Without You" - U2

Promotional Release

Track Listing:

Background Information

“With or Without You” was the first single from “The Joshua Tree” and was part of a huge promotional campaign for the new album. This included releases of the promotional single in new areas not previously covered. In Australia, Germany, and the UK, commercial copies of the 7-inch single were all used for promotion and are notated using a sticker or a stamp, or in the case of Germany, the inclusion of a one-page sheet with “single facts”. But there were also unique versions released elsewhere.

In Argentina and Mexico the promotional single issued by Ariola came in a generic sleeve and contained “With or Without You” on both sides. In Canada there were two different 7-inch promotional records produced, one with a small hole in the center and a large image of the Joshua tree on the label used for radio promotion, and a second with a large hole in the center and a smaller image of the Joshua tree which was used for juke box promotion. In Ecuador the commercial single had a blue Ariola label, but for the promotional release it was a yellow label. In Japan, the promotional single had additional text on the label, and was released in the commercial sleeve with a red promotional sticker covering the UPC. And in Spain and the USA the label was a white label vs. the colourful labels used on the commercial single.

In Japan some copies were issued with a unique photo insert. This had a large “U2” across the front, wth the title of the song above, and an image of the Joshua tree. The promotional vinyl was one-sided and contained just “With or Without You”. On the back of the insert were the lyrics to the song. This unique to Japan release was listed at number 22 in Record Collector magazine’s “Top 60 U2 Collectibles” article in 2006.

Some copies of the 12-inch single in Canada were stamped in gold for promotional use. In Spain a 12-inch single was released with a unique cover – it featured the cover of “The Joshua Tree” with a large “U2” in the space above the photo of U2 and “With or Without You” below. This was a gatefold sleeve and the lyrics were printed inside. In the USA, a 12-inch single was released with a white label, featuring “With or Without You” on both sides.

In Italy a 7-inch pressing of the single was done for juke boxes and was released with a unique sleeve featuring the lyrics of the song. This was backed with “Forgotten Town” by The Christians. This was issued in a number of different sleeves. More information about these Italian juke box singles can be found under the specific discography entry for these singles. Likewise in Brazil, a 12-inch pressing of the single came with four songs in total, but none by U2. Further information on these Brazil 12-inch pressings can be found in a separate discography entry.

The airdate on which radio stations were allowed to play the newest track from U2 was March 4, 1987. Any earlier play of the single was forbidden, and most were shipped to arrive in time for that day.

Liner Notes

With or Without You:
Written by U2. Produced by Lanois / Eno. Recorded by Flood. Assisted by Pat McCarthy. Mixed by Steve Lillywhite.

Luminous Times:
Written by U2 / Eno. Produced by Lanois / Eno / U2. Recorded by Flood. Assisted by Pat McCarthy. Mixed by Dave Meegan.

Walk to the Water:
Written by U2. Produced by Lanois / Eno / U2. Recorded by Joe O’Herlihy. Assisted by Pat McCarthy. Mixed by Dave Meegan.

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