War is the third studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Steve Lillywhite, and was released on 28 February 1983 on Island Records. The album is regarded as U2's first overtly political album, in part because of songs like "S…
War is the third studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Steve Lillywhite, and was released on 28 February 1983 on Island Records. The album is regarded as U2's first overtly political album, in part because of songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day", as well as the title, which stems from the band's perception of the world at the time; lead vocalist Bono stated that "war seemed to be the motif for 1982."
U2 recorded the album from September–November 1982 at Windmill Lane Studios with Lillywhite producing, the group's third consecutive album made at the studio with the producer. While the central themes of U2's previous albums Boy and October were adolescence and spirituality, respectively, War focused on both the physical aspects of warfare, and the emotional after-effects. Musically, it is also harsher than the band's previous releases. The album has been described as the record where the band "turned pacifism itself into a crusade".
War was a commercial success, knocking Michael Jackson's Thriller from the top of the UK charts to become U2's first number-one album there. In the United States, it reached number 12 and became the band's first album certified gold. War received generally favourable reviews, although some British journalists criticised it. The band supported the album with the War Tour through the end of 1983. In 2008, a remastered edition of War was released. In 2012, the album was ranked 223rd on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Tracklist:
Side 1
1. Sunday Bloody Sunday 0:00
2. Seconds 4:39
3. New Year's Day 7:49
4. Like a Song... 13:25
5. Drowning Man 18:14
Side two
1. The Refugee 22:26
2. Two Hearts Beat as One 26:08
3. Red Light
4. Surrender
5. 40
U2
Bono – lead vocals, guitar
The Edge – guitar, piano, lap steel guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Seconds" (bass guitar on "40"; uncredited on the album)
Adam Clayton – bass guitar (except "40"; still credited on the album)
Larry Mullen Jr. – drums, percussion
