They are one of the richest bands on the planet, but it seems U2 still haven't found enough of the green stuff to keep them happy.
The millionaire supergroup was last night accused of pulling a "con" by selling their fans re-packaged, re-mastered and re-released albums that are on offer for as much as €50.
The band has just launched new versions of their first three classic albums: 'Boy', 'October' and 'War'.
The albums are available in basic one-disc editions priced at €12.99, a "deluxe" two-disc set with "b-sides, live tracks and rarities" for €29.99, and a 'Boy' box set, which contains a "deluxe" CD and a t-shirt and costs €49.99.
The three re-released U2 albums are also available on vinyl. And some of the "rarities" on the deluxe, second CDs are re-worked versions of old fan favourites.
Of the 12 songs on the second disc of 'War', over half are remixes, with three new workings of 'Two Hearts Beat As One' and four of the classic 'New Year's Day'.
Despite the fact that the band says all three albums have been re-mastered and brushed up from audio tapes that are over 25 years old, music fans yesterday criticised what they saw as the latest big-name music rip-off.
"That's a rip-off, definitely a rip-off," said Jamie Farley, from Enniskillen. "I wouldn't buy it because it was a different version. If it was out years ago and I bought it then, I definitely wouldn't buy it now."
And even die-hard fans were left disillusioned by what they saw as a new attempt at "cashing in" on old material.
"Basically, I'm a bit disappointed because I think it's a con," said a "major" U2 fan who did not wish to be named. "As a big fan, I don't see what the point or the bonus is in buying it. I think it's a money spinner. Re-mastered means nothing, really," he continued.
"I'm a musician and I make records; and re-mastered, to the average punter, means sweet FA.
"If you're sitting in Windmill Lane studios and you have the speakers at full blare, of course you're going to hear a difference, but if you play it on the car stereo or at home, the average Joe won't know the difference."
The original versions of the three albums were pulled from shelves earlier this year and the band have already released a re-mastered version of 'The Joshua Tree' -- the only copies of which left in stock in HMV on Grafton Street, Dublin, now sell for €40.
"It's typical marketing," said Scheherezade Suria from Barcelona. "Most bands repackage the CDs and sell them off. I didn't know U2 did it but I'm not surprised."
However, sales of the re-packaged albums were reported to be brisk at the Dublin store yesterday.
"Combined, the three albums are our best seller today," said assistant manager Chris Keena. "That's the way a lot of artists are re-releasing stuff now. They release a greatest hits collection with an extra track."
haha the old Belfast Telegraph. Always critical of all things Irish and U2. They have a case to argue I suppose, especially with that War disc. It's only a 'rip off' and a money spinner if you buy the fecking things so why buy if your'e just gonna cry
i was just reading one of the newests news stories about how u2 is being "greedy" by re-releasing their first 3 albums..
WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT???
U2 is simply giving people a choice, they can either buy them or not. U2 has made some incredible music. They chose this path of career not only to make great music but to also make a living... some people have to make a living you know lol.
I just don't see how people bash u2 for putting these CDs out. If these three CDs sell 100000 copies in each country I believe it will still be seen as a huge success. ANDDDDD... Thirty years from now (if and when technology advances) if I were u2, I'd re-issue AGAIN!
It's like Coca-cola.. They sell millions and millions but noone bashes them for continuing to make more and more and more for over 50 something years.. move on
I just read somewhere that the Japanese deluxe version of Boy has two tracks not seen on any of the other editions, 'Bad Weed Blues' and 'Side Split'.
...if anyone has them, could he/she be so kind and send me a pm ?
I don't think that these tracks exist. From what I've seen so far, the Japan release is identical to the rest of the world. I think this is an error on HMV Japan...
It's like Coca-cola.. They sell millions and millions but noone bashes them for continuing to make more and more and more for over 50 something years.. move on
Indeed, but Coca-Cola don't, I guess, announce re-releases or a new design for the label on the bottle or the can lol...
...I'm not complaining though, I'll probably get hold of the remasters if I get the chance (i.e. money permitting), but I'm not gonna have a go at the band - they make their money from the fans etc. buying their music and their albums, and you could argue with them talking about the upcoming album being different to anything they've done before, they could just be trying to bring their old stuff back to the fore beforehand to perhaps attract new fans in who are only aware of recent stuff like Beautiful Day and Vertigo, before blowing the world away again
They're not forcing anyone to buy it for heaven's sake, so if you don't wanna buy it for whatever reason, don't!
Okay..
The track Angels Too Tied To the Ground. What gives? That's not a War era Bono singing. Sounds like an outatke from myabe post Joshua Tree. What's it doing on the War deluxe?
I find it very frustrating that there are no linwer notes on this song.... Isn't that weird?
The song isn't even mentioned in the booklet at all ! very strange....
I'm not really too bothered if they're money grabbing or whatever. At the end of the day, it's something nice to have in your collection (especially if you get one of the special ones). In that article, the 'major' U2 fan sound a bit of a idiot. I mean, any die hard U2 fan would want to get his hands on whatever he could, wouldn't he?
At least this comes 25 years or more after the original release. Nobody complains when Timbaland or Akon re-release their brand new album after about 7 months with some pathetic little thing added. Suddenly one of the biggest bands in the world releases a remastered version of an early 80's album with a bonus CD (and other things elsewhere) and everyone claims them to be greedy.
Suddenly one of the biggest bands in the world releases a remastered version of an early 80's album with a bonus CD (and other things elsewhere) and everyone claims them to be greedy.
Not fair.
Only the Belfast Telegraph is criticising them, and following Gerard's post, they're always negative.
I finally listened to October in all its remastered glory (as I misplaced it so many times and could never find it). And it seems October benefits the most.
Really? I loved the extra treatment that tracks like I Will Follow, An Cat Dubh and Out of Control get. I'll give October another listen.
fan of the month Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of this month is user haytrain. Every fan of the month has an interview with us, you can read our interview with haytrain here.
did you know? One of the working titles of the Pop album before it was finally named Pop was 'Miami'.
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latest site news It's been a year since our last big update, but here we are again. U2start 2.9 is online, and better than ever. It may look the same as the previous site, but there are a lot of new features and improvements all over .. (read more)
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notable live performance According to user RDB92 the song Walk On from the All That You Can't Leave Behind album was greatly performed on 2001-09-21 in London, England.
"The Joshua Tree is the best record we've made to date, but it will not be our best record by a long shot."
- Bono at the end of the Eighties
