U2 2022 In Review

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2022-12-31)

Releases Featuring U2 in 2022

Click on the images below to be taken to individual discography entries for each item.

Achtung Baby 30 Live

Announced on January 13, 2022, we waited a long time for this CD to be produced and start arriving. It started to arrive at homes in Europe in early December, and has now started to ship in North America, and as of yesterday, can now be downloaded from your U2.com account. The disc includes all 12 tracks from Achtung Baby done live throughout the years including songs from Zoo TV and every tour since, with the exception of Elevation. Most of the tracks are previously unreleased versions. The accompanying booklet is similar to previous gifts, a larger 7-inch photo booklet to house the CD. We wait patiently for the next gift to be announced, which should be revealed in the next couple of weeks.

“A Celebration” 40th Anniversary

Unlike previous years, U2 only participated in one Record Store Day event this year. In February, they announced a special 40th anniversary edition pressing of “A Celebration”. The 12-inch vinyl featured the title track, the original b-side, “Party Girl” as well as a demo version of “A Celebration” sewn together from demo takes of the song, and a live version of “Party Girl” taken from a 2015 concert in Cologne. For this performance of the song, Bono had pulled a young fan named Gilles from the audience to perform with the band.

All That You Can’t Leave Behind Interscope 30

Perhaps one of the stranger releases this year, for the 30th anniversary of Interscope Records, a special collection of limited releases of old albums on the label was announced. The collection of albums from Interscope artists included a new pressing of U2’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind which retailed for $2500. Only 100 copies were pressed, and at the time of this writing, not all have sold out. A recent version auctioned off for World Central Kitchen went for over $2200 at auction last week. 100% of the net profits were donated to the Iovine and Young Foundation, which is building a school in South Los Angeles and will use the funds toward the school. These items were advertised to ship in June / July 2022 but did not start shipping until September 2022. The artwork on the U2 album is by John Currin, and the print is attached to a cutom dyed linen wrapped jacket. The vinyl ships in a custom box designed by Gucci.

Tilt and ReTilt by Confidence Man

When U2 toured Australia in 2019 they were seen hanging out with members of an Australian band, Confidence Man. And not only did they hang out with the band, Bono and The Edge contributed to the album Tilt released in April. Bono can be heard on vocals on “Feels Like a Different Thing”. The Edge apparently plays tamborine on the album as well, most likely on the same track. A remix album called Re-Tilt was released later in the year. Bono’s vocal isn’t on the remix album, but we believe The Edge is still in the mix.

Patrick Kavanagh: Almost Everything…

Patrick Kavanagh was an Irish author, who recorded an album in 1964 on Claddagh records. This new 2022 release sees the re-release of that original album, but also includes a bonus, a collection of poems recorded by Bono, Hozier, Liam Neeson, Imelda May and others. Bono takes on “On Raglan Road”, a poem originally published in 1946 in The Irish Press under the name “Dark Haired Miriam Ran Away” and later made famous as a song by The Dubliners. Bono reads the poem here with sounds of the ocean accompanying his voice.

“The Busk” Album

Last December, Bono joined The Busk. Due to Covid, the performances were filmed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Bono performed “Running to Stand Still” with a choir of voices from the other performances. The whole thing was streamed on Christmas Eve in 2021, and this year a special vinyl version of the release was issued. The vinyl is an eco-friendly pressing, using left over and recycled vinyl and without any additional dyes, thus the vinyl ranges in colours from brown to green with a number of variations in any one pressing. The album was also released in Ireland to digital services, but has not yet been released outside of Ireland.

Now That’s What I Call Christmas

No new music here. It’s a Christmas compilation with Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, but we draw attention to it because it also contains the 12-inch mix of the song, which has been very difficult to find on CD over the years. The track is included here in full, for the first time out of hard to find CD pressings in Japan.

“Your Song Saved My Life” and Sing Highlights Album

A year ago, Bono was still promoting the Sing 2 film, and it had not yet opened worldwide. There were a couple of audio releases in 2022 as well. “Your Song Saved My Life” was sent to radio for promotion, which included some unique mixes of the track. The final version we know of sent to radio was a longer version of the song, released on January 26, 2022. And although the soundtrack for the film was released in 2021, the Japanese version of the soundtrack was released on March 18, 2022 which included a Japanese version of “Stuck in a Moment”. In August 2022 another release was done worldwide called Sing! Highlights which featured songs from both Sing films.

Surrender Audio Book

Bono’s memoir, Surrender was the big news for the year. A little less talked about was the accompanying audiobook. The audiobook was released on November 1, and included Bono reading the 40 chapters of the book for the English version. Along with 20 hours of Bono telling his own story, there are audio clips of the songs throughout, including a number of new recordings of the songs. “Two Hearts Beat as One” becomes a jazzy number, “The Fly” is reimagined as a lounge song with a deep groovy bass and drums approach. These are glimpses into the coming Songs of Surrender album, due out on March 17. The snippets included in the audiobook generally run 20-30 seconds, appearing at the start of each chapter, with additional music coming in throughout the chapters. Not all of the songs were created new, and the audiobook producer was given access to older recordings and was able to remix some of the older versions of songs as well.

Sadly, a planned physical version of the audiobook on CD was not produced. Orders for this item were cancelled at most retailers, and the publisher said it was unlikely that such a release would be done at a later date. But the full version is available on streaming platforms. We took a closer look at the audibook back in October.

U2 Singles Reissued in 2022

One of the big updates to U2’s catalog online was the reissue of 12 singles on streaming and download services online. These offerings covered the years from 2004 to 2019, and featured cleaned up versions of most of U2’s singles. Where singles such as “Love As Bigger” sometimes had two or three different versions available on these services, they were combined together into one definitive single, sometimes accompanied by new artwork.

Most of the tracks were previously widely available, however, and there were few surprises among these releases. But some of these songs were available worldwide for the first time ever, and in many cases it was the first time these songs were available on streaming services. The single for “I’ll Go Crazy” includes a live version from The Somerville Theatre which had only previously been available in limited regions. Likewise, on “All Because of You” a live version from Chicago, previously only available in the UK was made available worldwide.

Initially in July, 11 singles were released, but in September a 12th single was added with the release of “Get Out of Your Own Way”. Another set of cleaned up singles is expected to be released in mid-2023. We expect to see U2 continue to clean up their offerings on digital services as streaming continues to grow in popularity. All of these releases are done via UMC (Universal Music Catalog) which also handles reissues of older albums.


Catalog Number: 00602445871629
Total Time: 14:50
2022.09.16
Get Out of Your Own Way (03:59) / Get Out of Your Own Way (Acoustic Version) (02:57) / Get Out of Your Own Way (Switch Remix) (03:42) / Get Out of Your Own Way” (Afrojack Remix)(04:07)


Catalog Number: 00602445871667
Total Time: 06:55
2022.07.22
Ahimsa (03:50) / Ahimsa (KSHMR Remix) (03:05)

Summer of Love

Catalog Number: 00602445871650
Total Time: 44:46
2022.07.22
Summer of Love (03:24) / Summer of Love (Robin Schulz Remix) (03:35) / Summer of Love (TILT & Danny Stubbs Perfecto Remix) (05:15) / Summer of Love (‘Beach Me’ Howie B Remix) (08:40) / Summer of Love (HP. Hoeger Rusty Egan Driftaway Mix) (04:21) / Summer of Love (Hardwell Remix) (03:25) / Summer of Love (Ralphi Rosario Dub Mix) (06:36) / Summer of Love (DJLW Radio) (03:35) / Summer of Love (MINDSKAP Remix) (05:55)

Love is Bigger Than Anything in its Way

Catalog Number: 00602445871636
Total Time: 52:17
2022.07.22
Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (04:00) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (U2 x Cheat Codes) (03:10) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (Beck Remix) (03:23) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (Acoustic Version) (03:36) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (Will Clarke Remix) (06:31) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (The Funk Hunters Remix) (04:01) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (Daybreakers Remix) (07:33) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (HP. Hoeger Rusty Egan From The Heart Mix) (06:41) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (HP. Hoeger Rusty Egan Chill Mix) (06:41) / Love Is Bigger Than Anything in its Way (HP. Hoeger Rusty Egan Drift Away Mix) / (06:41)

You’re The Best Thing About Me

Catalog Number: 00602445871599
Total Time: 11:49
2022.07.22
You’re The Best Thing About Me (03:45) / You’re The Best Thing About Me (U2 Vs Kygo) (04:17) / You’re The Best Thing About Me (Acoustic Version) (03:47)

I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight

Catalog Number: 00602448238696
Total Time: 42:52
2022.07.22
I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (04:13) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Dirty South Full Mix) (07:10) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Redanka’s ‘Sparks of Light’ Dub Version (07:28) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Fish Out of Water Mix) (04:37) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Redanka’s ‘Kick the Darkness’ Vocal Version) (07:30) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Redanka’s ‘Kick the Darkness’ Instrumental Version) (07:29) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Live from The Somerville Theatre, Boston) (04:25)

Magnificent

Catalog Number: 00602448238702
Total Time: 58:43
2022.07.22
Magnificent (Edit) (04:20) / Magnificent (Fred Falke Full Club Mix) (07:20) / Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix) (03:26) / Magnificent (Wonderland Remix) (09:34) / Magnificent (Redanka’s 360 Version) (07:23) / Magnificent (Adam K and Soha Club Mix) (06:14) / Magnificent (Dave Aude Club Remix) (07:33) / Breathe (Live from The Somerville Theatre, Boston) (04:45) / Vertigo (Live from The Somerville Theatre, Boston) (03:47) / Magnificent (Fred Falke Radio Mix) (04:01)

Window in the Skies

Catalog Number: 00602448238771
Total Time: 16:37
2022.07.22
Window in the Skies (Single Version) (03:59) / Zoo Station (Live from Buenos Aires) (04:33) / Kite (Live from Sydney) (08:05)

All Because of You

Catalog Number: 00602448238207
Total Time: 19:25
2022.07.22
All Because Of You (Single Mix) (03:19) / Miss Sarajevo (Live from Milan) (05:13) / A Man and A Woman (Acoustic) (04:27) / She’s A Mystery to Me (Live from Brooklyn) (02:42) / All Because Of You (Live from Chicago) (03:44)

City of Blinding Lights

Catalog Number: 00602448238627
Total Time: 23:54
2022.07.22
City of Blinding Lights (Radio Edit) (04:13) / The Fly (Live from ‘Stop Sellafield’ Concert) (04:37) / Even Better Than the Real Thing (Live from ‘Stop Sellafield’ Concert) (03:50) / All Because of You (Killahurtz Fly Mix) (05:40) / City of Blinding Lights (Live from the Brooklyn Bridge) (05:34)

Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own

Catalog Number: 00602448238733
Total Time: 24:04
2022.07.22
Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own (Radio Edit / 96 BPM) (04:50) / Ave Maria (Jacknife Lee Mix) (03:34) / Vertigo (Redanka Power Mix) (07:31) / Fast Cars (Jacknife Lee Mix) (03:26) / Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own (Radio Edit / 99 BPM) (04:43)

Vertigo

Catalog Number: 00602448238757
Total Time: 20:54
2022.07.22
Vertigo (Radio Edit) (03:10) / Vertigo (Jacknife Lee 10”) (04:13) / Neon Lights (04:07) / Are You Gonna Wait Forever? (03:48) / Vertigo (Jacknife Lee 12”) (05:36)

U2 YouTube Updates in 2022

U2’s singles catalog isn’t the only thing getting a little refresh in 2022. Likewise the band has been uploading new video content to YouTube, Apple Music and other services. Much of it has been tied to the promotion of Bono’s memoir Surrender, with the songs chosen all existing as titles in the book. The videos to date have mostly been live tracks, taken from previous U2 releases. In most cases these are the first time these songs are available on streaming or download services. To date the following live videos have been released:

Other new content on YouTube in 2022 included Bono and The Edge performing “Walk On“ for Ukraine, several animated videos promoting the release of Surrender and a video for “Every Breaking Wave“ taken from Films of Innocence. A video of Bono and The Edge performing “Sunday Bloody Sunday” to mark the 50th anniversary of the massacre was posted in January, but later removed from YouTube.

U2 X-Radio in 2022

U2 X-Radio seemed to focus more on the regular content provided by DJs such as Phil Taggart, Jenny Heuston, Rocky O’Riordan, Dan Hegarty, Paul Oakenfold and John Kelly. Much of the day is now filled by Heuston (morning show) and Taggart (evenings) programming a mix of music, U2 favourites, and updates and stories of the band. “Desire” continues to be a regular feature, where U2 fans are able to choose five songs and tell their own experiences behind the songs. A new feature, with host Tassoula Kokkoris called “Stories” debuted late in the year with Tassoula taking a deeper dive into the fan experience and speaking with fans who have had powerful experiences because of the band.

Adam Clayton has taken the lead on content on the station for band contributed content. Adam Clayton hosted a Q&A session with fans to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the session. He also hosts a regular monthly program where he shares a play list of songs for one theme. This year Adam shared 10 playlists including Britpop, Alternative Soul, Women’s History Month, Women of Colour, Pride, Alternative America, Summertime, Island Records, 21st Century Rock, and Holiday Comfort. In March, Adam Clayton also shared a 25th Anniversary for the Pop album where he discussed the album and all of the tracks on the album.

The Edge also popped up with three episodes of “Close to the Edge” where he speaks with scientists and musicians. This year interviews included Oliver Jeffers, a joint interview with Trombone Shorty and Quint Davis, and a recent interview with Brian Cox. There were no episodes of Bono’s “Bono Calling” program this year, but as part of the promotion for Surrender he did pop up for an extended interview about the book called “Calling Bono”. Other promotion for the book included the DJs working at the station each focusing on the songs mentioned in the book for an episode of their shows. Paul Oakenfold contributed a Discotheque mix which featured songs from the book for example. A “Songs of Surrender” special saw all fourty titles from the book being played as part of a standalone special.

Other notable specials this year included a St. Patrick’s Day special, “17 Latest and Greatest Irish Bands”, a mid year fan voted “U2 in the 1980s” special, and a special in August celebrating Bono and Ali’s 40th anniversary. These specials did not feature the band. For the second anniversary of the station, the full concert from Paris in 2015 was played on the station. It was the same edit as what is available on the audio from the home video released in 2016. One special that did feature the band was a 80th birthday special for Paul McCartney, where The Edge and Bono shared memories of McCartney and picked out their favourite McCartney tracks. Bono recited lyrics from “Blackbird” over backing acoustic guitar, then recited “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” over jazzy background music.

U2Songs Updates in 2022

Much of our work this year has been spent working on our Shows archive. We’re quite proud of what we are putting together there, and have been working diligently to get things up to date, with a focus on accuracy and going back to original sources wherever possible. As part of those investigations into the earliest days, we documented U2’s first demo session and what they recorded. We looked at the Edge and Larry’s early sessions with another band, The Drifting Cowboys. We also took a deep dive into the Pop Group 1978 contest that gave U2 their first demo sessions, and dug into U2’s earliest television appearances.

But it wasn’t just the earliest days of the band that got a focus. We also went through and documented every single show on the U2360 tour. Set lists. Intro and exit songs. Details about the performances, and the sales for these shows. Work is underway to do the same for another tour this year. We look forward to sharing that with you in the near future.

We’ve always said we would relaunch all of the old U2Wanderer.org content over here at U2Songs. That still means we have a few things waiting to launch, however, this year we did take a big step forward launching the Books section. Not every U2 book is listed, but we’ve tried to focus on those issued by the band, or those that the band have been directly involved in, as well as looking at other official publications like fan club magazines.

When the site first launched we kept digital releases separate from phyiscal releases in many cases. So you had a discography page for “Magnificent” as a digital single, and a separate page for the physical versions of the single. We’ve spent a lot of time this year bringing all that together, and making our singles pages as complete as possible.

We also contributed to a number of articles for Record Collector Magazine this year for their year end U2 special. Harry and Aaron worked with Michael Lamuth to put together a list of “Top 100 Collectables”, Aaron wrote “Mysterious Ways – Rare Promo Items” and provided a “Select UK Discography” for the issue. Brad and Don and others also assisted with the “Top 100 Collectables”. In all cases, the team at U2Songs.com contributed to the articles and photos, but the pricing of collectibles was handled by the magazine itself. The issue can be ordered here.

Past Years

This year’s review is the fifth in a series of year end reviews we have done since 2018. For a look back at the earlier years, please check out our stories below:

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