How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
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How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is an album by the Irish rock band U2, first released November 22, 2004. This album was awarded eight Grammy Awards in 2005 and 2006, winning in all of the categories in which it was nominated. It was awarded the Album of the Year award in 2006. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" from the album was awarded Song of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. "City of Blinding Lights" was awarded the award for Best Rock Song, and the album was also awarded Best Rock Album. In 2005, the single "Vertigo" from the album won in all three categories in which it was nominated: Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Short Form Music Video.
History
U2 lead singer Bono has described the album as "our first rock and roll record." Although not a concept album in the traditional sense, most of the music on the record deals with the world at the crossroads of its existence. Love, war, peace and harmony are running themes throughout the album.The album is produced by Steve Lillywhite. Others involved in the production include Flood, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Chris Thomas, Daniel Lanois, and Brian Eno.
The album was preceded by the lead single "Vertigo", which topped the charts in several countries, including the UK. The single was also successful in the US, where it reached #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Vertigo" was also extremely successful as a digital single; it topped the digital downloads chart in both the US and the UK, becoming U2's best-selling single ever in the US with 2x Platinum status.
Following the November 22, 2004 release, the album debuted at #1 for 34 countries, including the US Billboard 200, the UK album chart, and the Aria charts. Worldwide sales as of 2006 number close to 10 million copies sold. The album had sold about 3,100,000 copies in the United States.
The second single in the UK was "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" which became U2's first-ever follow-up single to top the charts. The single was also fairly successful in the US on adult contemporary radio, reaching #15 on the Adult Top 40 and also placing on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the Pop 100, and the Hot 100.
"City of Blinding Lights" was the third UK release. It peaked at #2 and spent nine weeks on the chart. It also placed on the US Adult Top 40.
The second single in the US was "All Because of You". The song was not a chart success. Although it received some airplay on rock radio, reaching #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and #20 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the song had little mainstream exposure. When released in the UK, it peaked at #4 but only spent four weeks on the chart.
"Original of the Species" has been released to airplay in the US. So far, it has been added to the playlists of 12 US alternative rock radio stations. It has peaked at #6 on the Triple A Chart according to mediaguide.com and the video has reached #12 on VH1's top 20 video countdown. The track has also made brief appearances on the Hot AC charts according to Radio and Records and MediaGuide.
The album's release was followed by the Vertigo Tour which ended in 2006.
Mercy
In late 2004, "Mercy", an unreleased track taken from the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb sessions, surfaced on the internet thanks to a fan who had been given a copy of the album containing the extra track. Though it is still unknown where this copy of the album came from, the track brought great excitement to the U2 fan community. Numerous websites hosted the track, touting it as a yet unreleased B-side (after Bono told the same fan who received the 'special copy' weeks after meeting the singer to "Watch out for Mercy" as it was one of his favourite songs from the sessions and "the best B-side ever recorded").
The track, in its current form floating around on the internet, is of less than standard audio quality. However, it has created a debate over its lack of inclusion on "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" (it was left off, along with "Fast Cars", which surfaced as a bonus track in some countries, to prevent the album from running too long over an hour). Many fans believe it should have been on the album, whereas others feel the track should be finalized and cleaned up for U2's next album.
Trivia
- Singer Michael W. Smith joined the band in the studio during the Atomic Bomb sessions and worked on at least one track with them. That track has yet to surface in any form.
- The song "Miracle Drug" is one of only two U2 songs to feature three members of U2 on vocals - Bono, The Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr.
- The album features two songs written for Bono's deceased father - "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own", and "One Step Closer".
- The track "Vertigo" was originally known as "Native Son".
- The song "Love And Peace Or Else" finally made it onto an album - the very earliest versions of this song come from the studio sessions to Pop.
- One person mixed the full length version of "City of Blinding Lights" with the Coldplay song "Clocks" to create a track called "City of Blinding Clocks'".
- A demo version of the album (Edge's copy) was stolen while the band was on holiday in France. It contained unfinished versions of several songs that made it onto the album. The band publicly announced that if those tracks were leaked online, they would release the album immediately. Several months later, tracks from the album were released online, but they were the finished products, and not the rough demos from The Edge's stolen CD.
- Between the end of the Elevation tour and the release of this album, 24 songs were created. 12 of them have since been released - the 11 songs from the album and the bonus track "Fast Cars". A thirteenth song is known to be "Mercy". "Are You Gonna Wait Forever", the b-side to "Vertigo", was actually recorded for All That You Can't Leave Behind.
- "One Step Closer" is billed in the album with thanks to Noel Gallagher of Oasis. The title of the song comes from a conversation Bono had with Gallagher about Bono's dying father. Bono asked, "Do you think he believes in God," to which Gallagher replied, "Well, he's one step closer to knowing."
- Almost all of the tracks on the album are about God, if the lyrics are closely listened to.
Track listing
- Music by U2, words by Bono and the Edge.
- "Vertigo" – 3:13
- "Miracle Drug" – 3:54
- "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" – 5:05
- "Love and Peace or Else" – 4:48
- "City of Blinding Lights" – 5:46
- "All Because of You" – 3:34
- "A Man and a Woman" – 4:27
- "Crumbs from Your Table" – 4:59
- "One Step Closer" – 3:47
- "Original of the Species" – 4:34
- "Yahweh" – 4:22
- *"Fast Cars" – 3:44 – was an additional track on the Japan and UK CD editions of the album, as well as the deluxe editions of the album in all regions and the digital version included in The Complete U2.
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Billboard 200 | 1 |
| 2004 | Top Internet Albums | 12 |
| 2004 | Top Canadian Albums | 1 |
| 2004 | Dutch Album Mega Top 100 | 1 |
Personnel
- Bono - lead vocals, piano on "City of Blinding Lights"
- The Edge - guitar, keyboards, vocal backups
- Adam Clayton - bass guitar
- Larry Mullen, Jr. - drums, additional vocals on "Miracle Drug"
- Jacknife Lee - keyboards, synthesizers
- Daniel Lanois - guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, shaker
- Brian Eno - synthesizers
See also
External links
- [Official U2.com Page on the album]
- [Discography entry at U2 Wanderer] – Comprehensive details on various editions, cover scans, lyrics, and more.
- [Vertigo the mini site] – Everything about U2's hit single.
- [Album lyrics] – Searchable album lyrics.
- [U2 tours overview at U2-Vertigo-Tour.com] – Includes setlists for every date on the Vertigo Tour.
- [U2MoL] – Contains fan interpretations and interview excerpts for each song.
| U2 |
|---|
| Bono - The Edge - Adam Clayton - Larry Mullen Jr. |
| Paul McGuinness - Brian Eno - Daniel Lanois - Steve Lillywhite - Jimmy Iovine - Flood - Howie B |
| U2 discography |
| Albums: Boy - October - War - Under a Blood Red Sky - The Unforgettable Fire - The Joshua Tree - Rattle and Hum - Achtung Baby - Zooropa - Pop - All That You Can't Leave Behind - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb |
| Compilations: The Best of 1980-1990 - The Best of 1990-2000 - The Complete U2 |
| Video Releases: - - - - |
| Live and other projects: Wide Awake in America - Original Soundtracks 1 - Melon - Hasta La Vista Baby! - The Million Dollar Hotel Soundtrack - U2.Communication |
| Tours |
| War Tour - Unforgettable Fire Tour - Joshua Tree Tour - Lovetown Tour - Zoo TV Tour - Popmart Tour - Elevation Tour - Vertigo Tour |
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