Upcoming Releases: Achtung Baby, Zucchero and More

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2021-11-04)

NOTE: This report contains information about some items not yet announced. We do not report on these until we have multiple sources confirming information to us, however, before official announcements it is still possible that information may change.

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Additional information about the upcoming 30th anniversary Achtung Baby releases has been reaching us from multiple sources.

It looks like U2 may be going down a path like Inhaler for their 30th anniversary release of Achtung Baby. For their first album Inhaler launched their album with different coloured vinyl editions available in different shops, some with different covers, other with coloured vinyl or in a couple of cases picture vinyl. It’s a common tactic in the music business these days, and Taylor Swift’s last album came in eight different vinyl formats with different covers and different colour vinyl.

News has reached us that not only will U2 be releasing a 30th anniversary edition in double black vinyl, there will also be different coloured vinyl releases at some merchants. The black vinyl with added poster appears to be exclusive to independent retailers. HMV in the UK however will have a special coloured vinyl version of the album, available in blue and red vinyl. Like the black vinyl version, is due to be in shops on November 19th. Retailers are asked not to discuss this release until next week. We expect this and the other versions of the vinyl to be announced on Monday. Further, we’ve been told that there may be additional colours made available at other retailers. We’ll be keeping track of any other variations that are identified and would love to hear if you know of any others.

See below for other updates on the Achtung Baby rumours as well as other updates on upcoming projects.

UPDATE: NOVEMBER 9, 2021

Retailers have been notified about the upcoming Achtung Baby release. The release on double black vinyl, will contain a unique poster, and will be released in shops on November 19. See below for more information on this release. Stores have been asked not to mention the release until next Monday, November 15, and not to take any orders before that time. Expect that we will see an announcement of the 30th Anniversary events starting next Monday.

As well, U2 X-Radio is promising Achtung Baby content starting soon to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album. Up first? Anton Corbijn will appear on Elevation on U2 X-Radio this weekend. Corbijn has recently been working on the digital project that U2 are putting together to celebrate the anniversary. Tune in Sunday morning to see if Corbijn discusses this anniversary project!

And for those looking for the Guitar World magazine with The Edge discussing the anniversaries of Achtung Baby and October it is due to be on store shelves today.

ORIGINAL STORY: NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Yesterday we reported on the details of U2’s new single, “Your Song Saved My Life”, released on digital platforms everywhere. The digital promo sent to radio was the same version of the song. And the soundtrack it is taken from, Sing 2, features Bono singing with Scarlett Johannson on a new version of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Their characters perform the song in the film together. The soundtrack album will also feature “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” but Bono is not involved in those recordings. Expect a new trailer for the film to arrive today, perhaps with a more detailed look at the songs in the film. For those in North America you may want to check your theatre listings today. A special limited advance showing on November 27th in many cities is going on sale today if you want an early chance to see the movie.

A new trailer was released today:

But those are not the only releases that are coming this fall.

On November 19, Zucchero releases his album Discover featuring a song called “Canta La Vita”. The song is the song that Bono shared on March 17, 2020 as the pandemic was starting, “Let Your Love Be Known”. For Earth Day that year, Zucchero performed the song at an empty Colliseum in Rome, backed with Bono’s original song. It is not known if this release of “Canta La Vita” is a new recording, or taken from that Earth Day performance. The song will be out in two weeks.

Finally, shops are now getting notification of U2’s plans for the physical release of a 30th anniversary edition of Achtung Baby. The release we have been told about is a double vinyl set on 180g black vinyl. It will be packaged with a limited poster, which will be folded and included in the release. Also included will be an 8-page booklet which will include credits for the album and lyrics. We are told that the vinyl will be limited, and at this time we are not aware of how big a pressing it may be. Expect this item to be available at independent record stores in most regions as has been done with previous limited releases. Orders for this item are showing a November 19, 2021 release date. This appears to be when the vinyl will appear in stores in most regions. Although we have also seen some discussion and listings containing a January 7, 2022 release date for a new pressing of the album, we do expect it will be released on November 19 in at least some areas. Artists worldwide are seeing issues getting vinyl pressed, and many are facing delays on major album releases, so this may affect release dates in some areas. We should be hearing something official soon about the release of this new pressing. We have not seen any discussion of other physical formats at this time.

That won’t be the only celebration of Achtung Baby done. We’ve been told for a while about a new exploration into the album which will be part of a digital experience being put together by the band. That look at the album is said to focus on Berlin and the making of the album and will allow fans to explore the album in more detail, featuring photos, video, audio and other multimedia from the 1989 – 1991 recording of the album. The band have also recently joined TikTok, and as part of that announcement TikTok has mentioned, “This November also marks the 30th anniversary of the U2’s acclaimed seminal album ‘Achtung Baby’, so TikTok users can expect unearthed archival footage from the band’s performances and tours over the decades.” Expect the band to celebrate the album on their other social media platforms as well, new merchandise celebrating the era from U2.Com and likely a 30th anniversary special on U2 X-Radio on SiriusXM. (The station is already advertising they will be celebrating the album all month long.)

The band are also doing some interviews to celebrate the anniversary. The Edge is on the cover of this month’s Guitar World magazine (with a January 2022 cover date.) The interview will feature him talking about the 30th anniversary of Achtung Baby and the 40th anniversary of October which has just passed. The magazine should be appearing in shops this week. And on November 18, Bono and The Edge will appear on BBC Radio 2 with Jo Whiley to discuss the 30th anniversary of Achtung Baby.

Finally, U2 will be releasing a 40th anniversary pressing of “Gloria” this month. The release on 12-inch transparent yellow vinyl will come with a new sleeve with an image taken from early 1980s. The release will feature the studio version from the 1980s, plus three live versions of the song, one from the 90s, one from the 00s and one from the 10s. This release, like the rumoured Achtung Baby release will include a folded poster, which will include a montage of photos from various live shows across the decades. The track from the 90s was from U2’s concert in Dublin that kicked off the decade, recorded just after midnight on January 1, 1990. The track from the 00s was recorded in Boston in 2005, and the track from the 10s was recorded in London in 2015. The release is for Record Store Day’s Black Friday event, and will be released in limited quantities (7000 copies listed on the Record Store Day USA site.)

Many thanks to Paul M., Dani M. and to Jason H. for some of the information provided above. Stay tuned to U2.Com over the next few weeks for an official announcement of releases.

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