Tracklisting
Listening to U2 "Joshua Tree" album last night, superb album that just flows tracklisting-wise through the album. It reminded me of the story of how they came to the tracklisting decision.
The band and producer Steve Lillywhite had all drafted their tracklisting and couldn't decide on an agreed final one so Lillywhite suggested his then wife Kirsty MacColl having a go.
Next morning he comes in with this listing
1. Where The Streets Have No Name
2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
3. With Or Without You
4. Bullet The Blue Sky
5. Running To Stand Still
6. Red Hill Mining Town
7. In God's Country
8. Trip Through Your Wires
9. One Tree Hill
10. Exit
11. Mothers Of The Disappeared.
All four members all agree that this listing is perfect and ask Kirsty how she came upon this order, "Easy" she says "My Favourite song, My second favourite, Third favourite" etc etc.
Brilliant.
- More from Steve Hill.
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Nice story, though I suspect
Nice story, though I suspect apocyphal - no one could hear Mothers of the Disappeared and not think of it as a last track, surely?
Apparently, according to tape op Dave Meegan, MotD is the backing track to One Tree Hill slowed down and treated by Eno.
Being unfamiliar with the Joshua Tree…
I assumed you meant ‘Match of the Day’ was the backing track Eno slowed down for One Tree Hill… I was even tempted to go and find it online to see what it sounded like.
According to..
In their big book, the '2 put the story straight, they told Kirsty that "Where The Streets.." is the first song and "Mothers..." is the last one and then let her decide the rest.
With regard to the recycling of backing tracks, it's not the first time they had a go at this. On "The Unforgettable Fire" (one of the best albums ever made) the drums on "Elvis Presley And America" is the backing from "A Sort Of Homecoming" slowed down.
Sigh, this morning when I woke up I was pretty sure I had a life but now I'm not so sure.