The Joshua Tree

Recorded between January 1986 and January 1987, with basic recording finished by November 1986, in the studio at STS, at Danesmoate House in Rathfarnham, at Melbeach in Monkstown and at Windmill Lane. Working largely in two houses gave a relaxed atmosphere, and live takes were favoured. Flood, then Mark Ellis, engineered his first U2 album. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and Mothers of the Disappeared were built with overdubs on older drum tracks.

Where the Streets Have No Name took about 40 percent of the recording time by Eno's estimate, and much of Bono's lyric work was rewritten. Bono proposed a double album in October 1986, but the extra material was shelved and later turned up as B-sides. Lillywhite was brought in late to finish the mixing, and Kirsty MacColl set the running order. The album was shaped by the 1986 Conspiracy of Hope tour, the death of the roadie Greg Carroll, and Bono's trips to Central America.

Chart and reception

It reached number one in more than 20 countries, including the United States, where it was their first number one, and has sold over 25 million copies, with a US diamond certification. With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For both reached number one on the Hot 100. At the 1988 Grammys it won Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and it entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014 and the US National Recording Registry.

Steve Pond in Rolling Stone said it could be the big one, and Robert Hilburn in the Los Angeles Times wrote of "the greatest rock and roll band in the world." Christgau gave a mixed review and called Bono's singing pompous. Spin judged it the first wholly successful U2 album.

Singles

Red Hill Mining Town was first planned as the second single, but Bono could not sing it in pre-tour rehearsals and the band were unhappy with the video shot by Neil Jordan. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For was chosen late instead and came out in May 1987. It reached number one in the United States on 8 August 1987 and stayed there for two weeks.