They had been building up a reputation as a live band. Boy & October were brilliant but under the radar albums.
Everything seemed to fall into place in 83.
NYD was one of the classic singles of the 80's. Two Hearts a good rocker follow up.
SBS one of the album tracks of the decade & The Refugee the third single that never was.
Jacko stepped aside as War crashed in at number 1. Surely the rock album of the decade.
People that bought NYD, Two Hearts or War would buy the earlier albums & U2 now had more fans & were now playing bigger venues.
However they were not finished.
UABRS swooped in. Both the album and video. U2 were the worlds best live band & Bruce had been demoted from The Boss to the Office Junior.
They could have knocked out The Beatles in 87 with 10 shows at Wembley Stadium. But 83 was when stage one was completed - the decade.