Amnesty International delaying TJT release:

Rolling Stone -

Amnesty International began plotting the first tour just weeks after Live Aid


Edge says -

One of the first calls they made was to U2. “It couldn’t have been worst timing,” the Edge said in the book U2 by U2. “We were building up to go into the studio [to record The Joshua Tree] and I was worried all the focus and concentration would be lost.”


Rolling Stone:

But it was an offer they couldn’t refuse, and they agreed to not only delay the recording of their album but actually lobby other artists to join the tour. “We rang everybody we knew,” said Bono. “Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Prince…”

The actual 6 concerts only took up 11 days.

However the planning, rehersals, promotion & lobbying by U2 may have been several months. Afterwards they would have wanted some downtime.

It certainly prevented a 1986 release of TJT. But did it prevent U2 releasing a double album?

The March 87 release of TJT was perfectly timed for a summer stadium tour.

A late 86 release would not have been.

U2 may have decided to keep recording into 1987.

Minimum needed for a double would be 18 songs. So another 7 songs needed. Without Amnesty International they would have had time.

Heartland would be on it.

Sweetest Thing would be on it. Probably a cross between the 87 & 98 version.


The songs which were the singles B sides needed a lot of improvement or to be scrapped altogether.

The 11 song version of TJT wasn't bad! Instantly hailed as the album of the decade & elevating U2 to challenge The Beatles.

They were used to short album gaps & at a creative peak in 86.

With no 'Amnesty International' could they have produced another 7 JT quality songs by March 87. The 18 song album instantly becoming the album of the century?

Sadly we will never know.

Not surprised U2 were approached.

'War' & UABRS had simultaneously showed U2 to be a political band & the decades best live band.

Then 1984 & 85 had seen them get more critical acclaim & fans. Having U2 on board instantly gave Amnesty International early gravitas

elevating U2 to challenge The Beatles

I was around in 1987, and, no.

Quote from: Zoo adam on January 09, 2023, 08:47:42 AM

elevating U2 to challenge The Beatles

I was around in 1987, and, no.

https://forum.talku2.com/index.php?topic=7037.msg373065#msg373065

Thread discussed this. The Beatles wobbled in the late 80's from U2's challenge.

You started a thread about it. Doesn’t mean U2 challenged the Beatles.

Says TJT was recorded Jan 86 - Jan 87.

The Amnesty International concerts were June 86.

If there were a couple of months either side where U2 were lobbying, promoting rehearsing & resting, that would have really damaged the chances of a double.

Always thought it was Edge who wanted a double. But it was Bono.

Seems that these would have been the released B sides & the album release date would have been the same.  He must have been out-voted. Correctly. 

Singles were still important then. Bono was probably appeased that these songs would now be B sides.

Another compromise could have been to keep TJT a single album & add a song to it. A beefed up 'Silver & Gold' with a big guitar solo could have ended side 1.

TJT could have morphed into a 1988 release. It being a double album.

What would the extra songs be? The songs that ended up on R&H of course. The songs on each album are not that different. Bono said in 87 before TJT release it is wrapped up in America. As R&H was.

How about this for a track listing -

Streets
ISHFWILF
WOWY
Van Diemens Land
Bullet

Running to stand still
Angel of Harlem
Hawkmoon 269
Red Hill Mining Town
In Gods Country

Desire
Exit
When Love Comes..
Trip through...
One Tree Hill

Mothers
God part 2
Heartland
Love Rescue Me
All I want is you.

The downside here is there is another year to wait for the album. Or maybe 6 months if they didn't get diverted by another Amnesty tour.

But what a double.

Would have preferred that to TJT/R&H combo.  Wasn't a fan of live songs, even pre Youtube. Already had UABRS.

Doing this would have meant there was no R&H film. Not a bad thing.

Nah fuck that - no rattle and hum/film would have likely meant no 90's reinvention.

After Live Aid, fans would have waited the extra time. But it would have to be worth the extra wait.

No one would have complained about the result.

Would tour the album until the end of the decade. Even BB King might turn up. Six or 7  monster singles would be released.