War (U2 album)

War is the third studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in 1983.

War
Studio album by U2
Released	28 February 1983
Recorded	17 May–20 August 1982, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
Genre	Rock, post-punk
Length	42:03
Label	Island
Producer	Steve Lillywhite
U2 chronology
October (1981) War (1983) The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
Singles from War
"New Year's Day" Released: January 1, 1983 "Two Hearts Beat as One" Released: March 11, 1983 "Sunday Bloody Sunday" Released: March 11, 1983

The band's first album, Boy is about childhood and the second album, October is about spirituality. This album is about war and politics. This is because of songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday". The album was named War because of what was happening in the world while they were recording. Bono said that "everywhere you looked, from the Falklands to the Middle East and South Africa, there was war."

War sold well for the band right away. Michael Jackson's album, Thriller fell from the top of the charts. War became U2's first album in the United Kingdom to reach #1. It was not well liked by British critics at first, but over the years has gained approval.

Recording

U2 began recording War in May 1982. Bono and his bride Alison, had just been married. The band took a break while Bono and Alison went on a honeymoon in Jamaica. But Bono worked on the lyrics for the upcoming album while on vacation.

Track listing

All of the songs and the lyrics were written by U2.

1. Sunday Bloody Sunday - 4:38
2. Seconds - 3:09
3. New Year's Day - 5:38
4. Like a Song… - 4:48
5. Drowning Man - 4:12
6. The Refugee - 3:40 (produced by Bill Whelan)
7. Two Hearts Beat as One - 4:00
8. Red Light - 3:46
9. Surrender - 5:34
10. 40 - 2:36

People

U2

• Bono – lead vocals, additional guitar
• The Edge – guitar, piano, lap steel, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Seconds," bass and guitar on "40"
• Adam Clayton – bass, except on "40"
• Larry Mullen Jr. – drums

Others

• Kenny Fradley – trumpet on "Red Light"
• Steve Wickham – electric violin on "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Drowning Man"
• The Coconuts: Cheryl Poirier, Adriana Kaegi, Taryn Hagey, Jessica Felton – backing vocals on "Like A Song…", "Red Light", and "Surrender"