Side 1 of TUF v side 1 of TJT

Vote please.

Both sides had 5 songs.

Both sides had monster openers. Both sides finishing with slow songs.

Bullet became a live favourite but TUF is a fan favourite song.

Huge hit singles from both sides.

TJT gave U2 number 1's in America & topped the charts for 9 weeks. The Beatles started to wobble. But potential fans after Live Aid wouldn't have become fans if TUF wasn't a classic.

Easily Joshua Tree

The opening 3 songs of JT is their finest run of 3 ever and is what hooked me on the band.  Basic take, I know, but it's basic for a reason.  Bullet, though better live, is a classic.  Running to Stand Still is incredible, one of their best.

I like all of the first 5 songs on UF quite a bit, but they're not even close overall.  Don't come back to Promenade or Wire very much.  I adore A Sort of Homecoming, and Pride is a monster classic of course, but they don't measure up to those first 3 on Joshua Tree either.

Joshua Tree side one is probably "objectively better" but I truly love every track on side one of TUF, whereas I Still Haven't Found and With Or Without You are just 'pretty good' IMO.

Song 3 is quite a contrast. Perhaps there most universal song against a song the public won't know.

But WOWY doesn't get it all it's own way as Wire rocks.

RTSS seems to be a more commercial version of Promenade. Which would be a potential single and sang at concerts.

That is fine. U2 were going for world domination. However Promenade does have a beauty about it.

If unsure you could take into account length of wait.

TUF released only 19 months after War & less than a year after UABRS.

TJT a 28 month wait. However worth the wait & they had earnt the right to take there time & do Amnesty International after taking the gamble at Live Aid.

Vote please.

Well, side 1 of Unforgettable Fire has 3 songs that are in my top 10 U2 songs of all time. Side 1 of Joshua Tree has 2 songs that are in my top 10 U2 songs of all time. So I went with Side 1 of the Unforgettable Fire.

Quote from: Zoo adam on January 18, 2024, 12:56:43 PM

Vote please.

Well, side 1 of Unforgettable Fire has 3 songs that are in my top 10 U2 songs of all time. Side 1 of Joshua Tree has 2 songs that are in my top 10 U2 songs of all time. So I went with Side 1 of the Unforgettable Fire.

That is a good way of deciding.

I couldn't decide so I flipped a coin as was frustrated that I couldn't see the results.

It's going to be a close one.

If one ignores Pride which is horrific, TUF is the clear winner. Only WOWY and BTBS from TJT match the best of TUF. I never liked ISHFWILF, Streets has a decent intro then falls flat. RTSS is nice enough, though.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say TJT is one of the few examples where side 2 is stronger. I much prefer listening to IGC, RHMT, Exit and OTH. I can take or leave ITTYW, though.

Apart from Pride, I’d say side A and side B of TUF are equally strong. Pride rudely interrupts what is otherwise a perfect sonic flow.

Heard lots of albums where the lead single is either a lot better than the rest of the album.

Or the lead single is totally different from the rest of the album.

Or both.

In these cases the single was usually a huge hit.

Should be thankful Pride wasn't a lot different or a lot better than the rest of TUF. Although a huge hit.

Pride was a lot worse, and a lot different, from the rest of TUF