Boy (album)

Last updated

8+12/10 [31]
Boy
U2 Boy.png
Studio album by
U2
Released20 October 1980 (1980-10-20)
RecordedJuly–September 1980
Studio Windmill Lane (Dublin, Ireland)
Genre Post-punk
Length42:52
Label Island
Producer Steve Lillywhite
U2 chronology
Three
(1979)
Boy
(1980)
October
(1981)
North American cover
U2 Boy America.png
Sounds Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [32]
The Village Voice C+ [33]

Boy received generally favourable reviews. Paul Morley of NME called it "honest, direct and distinctive", adding that he found it "touching, precocious, full of archaic and modernist conviction". [34] Betty Page of Sounds said that they "achieved a rare mixture of innocence and aggression", and described the album as "an overall feeling of loving care and energy intertwined with simplistic and direct hooks and chords". [32] Lyndyn Barber from Melody Maker hailed it as a "rich" record, writing that "Boy is more than just a collection of good tracks assembled in an arbitrary order", and that it had "youthful innocence and confusion". [35] Robin Denselow of The Guardian wrote that it was a "strong debut album", praising Lillywhite for helping U2 improve since a live show that the reviewer attended. Denselow said the group succeeded at their goal of achieving a balance of "power and sensitivity" and said the record "only needs slightly stronger melodies to be very impressive indeed". [36] Time Out 's critic Ian Birch hailed Boy as a "timely" album and said, "Firing off a tradition laid down by the likes of Magazine, [Siouxsie and] the Banshees and Joy Division, U2 have injected their own brand of grace and sinewy spaciousness to create a romanticism exactly right for those who sport chunky riffs and mackintoshes". [37] Declan Lynch of Irish magazine Hot Press remarked that he found Boy "almost impossible to react negatively to". [26] K.R. Walston of the Albuquerque Journal said that U2 "knows how to nurse a listener along, toying with tempo and chord structures just enough to sound original but not overly avant garde". The review concluded, "the future shines brightly for bands like this". [38]

Terry Atkinson of the Los Angeles Times called Boy a "subtly ravishing first album, by turns pretty, propulsive, playful and irresistably catchy", while further describing it as "supple and melodic, but tough and vital as well". Atkinson believed that the lyrics had "occasionally trite or vague passages" but were transcended by Bono's "heartfelt, soaring vocals". [39] Sean McAdam of The Boston Globe described it as "a hypnotic album with nuance" that he "recommended without a bit of reservation". He praised Lillywhite's production for creating an "eerie ambience" and said of the band, "U2 have the musical chops, a compelling vocalist... and most importantly 4-minute pop songs that sound at once concise and infectious". [40] Scot Anderson of the Iowa City Press-Citizen called Boy "an album that, while flawed, shows the potential of the band". Anderson thought certain songs were too long or too short, but believed U2 distinguished themselves from their peers with their spirit and humanity, making "a most refreshing splash in the New Wave". [41] Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone said the record's music was "unpretentious and riveting" and called U2 "easily the best Irish rock band since Van Morrison's original Them troupe". He also lauded Lillywhite for his "always spearheaded production". [30] In a separate review for Rolling Stone, Debra Rae Cohen found the band skilled and likeable while crediting Lillywhite for helping them "blend echoes of several of Britain's more adventurous bands into a sound that's rich, lively and comparatively commercial." Overall, she believed the album did not live up to the high standard set by the opening track "I Will Follow", finding most of it "diffuse and uneven". [29] More critical was Robert Christgau, who dismissed the album in his "Consumer Guide" column for The Village Voice : "Their youth, their serious air, and their guitar sound are setting a small world on fire, and I fear the worst." [42] The album finished in 18th place on the "Best Albums" list from The Village Voice's 1981 Pazz & Jop critics' poll. [43]

Boy Tour

Bono and the Edge performing on the Boy Tour in May 1981 Bono and Edge of U2 in Toronto 5-19-81.jpg
Bono and the Edge performing on the Boy Tour in May 1981

Following the album's release, U2 embarked on the Boy Tour, their first concert tour of continental Europe and the US. [3] Despite being unpolished, these early live performances demonstrated the band's potential, as critics complimented their ambition and Bono's exuberance. [44] On an otherwise successful American leg of the tour, Bono's briefcase containing in-progress lyrics and musical ideas (which were intended for the group's second album, October ) was lost backstage during a March 1981 performance at a nightclub in Portland, Oregon. [45] [46]

Legacy

Retrospective professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [47]
The Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [48]
The A.V. Club A [49]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [50]
Entertainment Weekly B [51]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [52]
Pitchfork 8.3/10 [53]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [54]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [55]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 6/10 [56]

In 2003, Boy was included at number 417 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". The magazine wrote, "Too ingenuous for punk, too unironic for new wave, U2 arrived on Boy as big-time dreamers with the ambition to back it up." [57] In 2006, Uncut ranked the album at number 59 on its list of the "100 Greatest Debut Albums". [58] It was ranked as the seventh-best U2 album in a 2017 list by Newsweek 's Zach Schonfeld, who also called it "a U2 album without the ego" and the "preaching or presumptions of saving the world" that plagued them in the future. [59] In 2020, Rolling Stone included Boy in their "80 Greatest albums of 1980" list, praising the band for creating "an incredible collection of songs steeped in lost innocence and apprehensions about entering the adult world." [60]

In The Austin Chronicle , Margaret Moser recalled the popularity of Boy in Austin amidst the closures and decline of local music clubs: "The newer, hipper Club Foot was a beacon, and we danced away the summer on its cement floor to U2. Boy was a glimmer of hope in the approaching darkness of the Reagan years". In her opinion, the record was "a shout disguised as a whisper, the calm before a storm", its musical formula foreshadowing the band's subsequent success. [48]

Reviewing the 2008 reissue, Q appraised Boy as a remarkably ambitious debut, noting a distinct "adolescent energy" and "gauche charm" to the album, [54] while Mojo said it retained its "palpable ardency" years after its release. [52] According to Steven Hyden of The A.V. Club , "Boy showed U2 had a strong enough musical identity to command the world's attention from the very beginning". [49]

Some critics have been less impressed by the album in retrospect. Writing for Entertainment Weekly , Bill Wyman found it "heady" but "erratic", [51] while Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot described the album as "callow post-punk that owes a lot to Joy Division and early Public Image Ltd." [50] According to Ann Powers in the Spin Alternative Record Guide (1995), the album "established what might be called [U2's] revelationary reputation, hints at the impulse toward faith (after all, its hit was 'I Will Follow'), but mostly communicates confusion of the adolescent variety." [56] Uncut critic David Quantick was more negative in his reappraisal, recalling his enjoyment of the album in 1980 as a "rockier" contemporary of Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen, in spite of Bono's "preening" vocal performance, but upon listening to the reissue, felt "shock at how bad it is". He wrote: "Lilywhite's production is stunningly thin, Bono's voice is awful, the lyrics are dismal, and only the singles—the Ian Curtis-obsessed 'I Will Follow' and the great 'Out of Control'—stand up. The rest is awful prog noodling". [61]

Boy is one of only three U2 albums from which every song has been performed live at least once. Boy held this distinction individually until 2017 when all songs from The Joshua Tree were performed live on the album's 30th anniversary tour. [62]

Track listing

All tracks are written by U2

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."I Will Follow"3:40
2."Twilight"4:22
3." An Cat Dubh "4:46
4."Into the Heart"3:27
5."Out of Control"4:12
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Stories for Boys"3:04
2."The Ocean"1:34
3."A Day Without Me"3:12
4."Another Time, Another Place"4:31
5."The Electric Co."4:47
6."Shadows and Tall Trees" (contains brief instrumental, "Saturday Matinee", on some copies)5:13
Total length:42:52

Early vinyl and some cassette copies have an unlisted and untitled 30-second instrumental sample at the end of the album (following "Shadows and Tall Trees") of "Saturday Night", a song that would later become "Fire" on the 1981 record October . It was dropped from most vinyl and all early CD versions, but was reinstated as an unlisted 12th track on the 2008 remastered edition of Boy and appeared in full for the first time as "Saturday Night" on the Deluxe Edition B-sides CD. The 30-second sample is now known as "Saturday Matinee" since the release of the album on online streaming services. Until the remastered release of Boy, it was referred to as an early sample of the song "Fire."

Some pressings of the album, (mostly in North America) indexed the track length of "An Cat Dubh" and "Into the Heart" at 6:21 and 1:53, respectively. The 2008 remastered edition of the album reinstated the original European track lengths of 4:47 and 3:28. Early compact disc releases (West German-pressed and in a digipak) combined the two songs into a single track at 8:15, as did some US jewel-case versions (on the disc itself, but not on the packaging).

2008 remastered edition

On 9 April 2008 U2.com confirmed that the band's first three albums (Boy, October and War ) would be re-released as newly remastered versions. [63] The remastered Boy was released on 21 July 2008 in the UK, with the US version following it the next day. As with The Joshua Tree, the cover artwork has been standardised to the original UK release. The remaster of Boy was released in three different formats: [63]

  1. Standard format: A single CD with re-mastered audio and restored packaging. Includes a 16-page booklet featuring previously unseen photos, full lyrics and new liner notes by Paul Morley. The 11 tracks match the previous release of the album.
  2. Deluxe format: A standard CD (as above) and a bonus CD including b-sides, live tracks and rarities. Also includes a 32-page booklet with previously unseen photos, full lyrics, new liner notes by Paul Morley, and explanatory notes on the bonus material by the Edge.
  3. Vinyl format: A single album re-mastered version on 180 gram vinyl with restored packaging.

Bonus CD

All tracks are written by U2

No.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."I Will Follow" (Previously unreleased mix)Previously unreleased3:38
2."11 O'Clock Tick Tock" (Single version)"11 O'Clock Tick Tock" single3:47
3."Touch" (Single version)"11 O'Clock Tick Tock" single3:26
4."Speed of Life" (Instrumental)Previously unreleased outtake from Boy sessions3:19
5."Saturday Night" (Early version of "Fire")Previously unreleased outtake from Boy sessions5:13
6."Things to Make and Do""A Day Without Me" single2:17
7."Out of Control" (Single version) Three EP3:53
8."Boy-Girl" (Single version)Three EP3:23
9."Stories for Boys" (Single version)Three EP2:42
10."Another Day" (Single version)"Another Day" single3:28
11."Twilight" (Single version)"Another Day" single4:35
12."Boy-Girl" (Live at The Marquee, London, 22 September 1980)"I Will Follow" single3:26
13."11 O'Clock Tick Tock" (Live at The Marquee, London, 22 September 1980)Previously unreleased4:59
14."Cartoon World" (Live at The National Stadium, Dublin, 26 February 1980)Previously unreleased4:20
Total length:52:26

Personnel

U2 [9] [64] [nb 1]

Technical [64]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [81] Gold35,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [82] Platinum100,000^
France (SNEP) [83] Gold100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [84] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [85] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U2</span> Irish rock band

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin, formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.. Initially rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's chiming, effects-based guitar sounds. Bono's lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several elaborate tours over their career.

<i>Achtung Baby</i> 1991 studio album by U2

Achtung Baby is the seventh studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 18 November 1991 on Island Records. After criticism of their 1988 release Rattle and Hum, U2 shifted their direction to incorporate influences from alternative rock, industrial music, and electronic dance music into their sound. Thematically, Achtung Baby is darker, more introspective, and at times more flippant than their previous work. The album and the subsequent multimedia-intensive Zoo TV Tour were central to the group's 1990s reinvention, by which they abandoned their earnest public image for a more lighthearted and self-deprecating one.

<i>The Joshua Tree</i> 1987 studio album by U2

The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 9 March 1987 on Island Records. In contrast to the ambient experimentation of their 1984 release, The Unforgettable Fire, the band aimed for a harder-hitting sound within the limitation of conventional song structures on The Joshua Tree. The album is influenced by American and Irish roots music, and through sociopolitically conscious lyrics embellished with spiritual imagery, it contrasts the group's antipathy for the "real America" with their fascination with the "mythical America".

<i>Pop</i> (U2 album) 1997 studio album by U2

Pop is the ninth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Flood, Howie B, and Steve Osborne, and was released on 3 March 1997 on Island Records. The album was a continuation of the band's 1990s musical reinvention, as they incorporated alternative rock, techno, dance, and electronica influences into their sound. Pop employed a variety of production techniques that were relatively new to U2, including sampling, loops, programmed drum machines, and sequencing.

<i>All That You Cant Leave Behind</i> 2000 studio album by U2

All That You Can't Leave Behind is the tenth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and was released on 30 October 2000 through Island Records and Interscope Records. Following the band's experimentation with alternative rock and dance music in the 1990s and the mixed reception to their 1997 album, Pop, U2 returned to a sound more akin to their earlier records for All That You Can't Leave Behind. The group reunited with Eno and Lanois, who had produced three prior U2 albums together. The record was originally named "U2000", which had been a working title for their PopMart Tour.

<i>Zooropa</i> 1993 studio album by U2

Zooropa is the eighth studio album by Irish rock band U2. Produced by Flood, Brian Eno, and the Edge, it was released on 5 July 1993 on Island Records. Inspired by the band's experiences on the Zoo TV Tour, Zooropa expanded on many of the tour's themes of technology and media oversaturation. The record was a continuation of the group's experimentation with alternative rock, electronic dance music, and electronic sound effects that began with their previous album, Achtung Baby, in 1991.

<i>October</i> (U2 album) 1981 studio album by U2

October is the second studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 12 October 1981 by Island Records, and was produced by Steve Lillywhite. The album was lyrically inspired by the memberships of Bono, the Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. in a Christian group called the Shalom Fellowship, and consequently it contains spiritual and religious themes. Their involvement with Shalom Fellowship led them to question the relationship between the Christian faith and the "rock and roll" lifestyle, and threatened to break up the band.

<i>War</i> (U2 album) 1983 studio album by U2

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."

<i>Under a Blood Red Sky</i> 1983 live album by U2

Under a Blood Red Sky is a live album by Irish rock band U2, produced by Jimmy Iovine and released on 21 November 1983. The record's eight tracks were compiled from three concerts during the group's 1983 War Tour, including two songs from their 5 June performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The concert film U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky, recorded at the same Red Rocks show, was released as a companion to the live album. Both releases helped establish U2's reputation globally as a renowned live act.

<i>How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb</i> 2004 studio album by U2

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is the eleventh studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 22 November 2004 in the United Kingdom by Island Records and a day later in the United States by Interscope Records. Much like their previous album All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), the record exhibits a more mainstream rock sound after the band experimented with alternative rock and dance music in the 1990s. It was produced by Steve Lillywhite, with additional production from Chris Thomas, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Flood, Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, and Carl Glanville.

<i>The Unforgettable Fire</i> 1984 studio album by U2

The Unforgettable Fire is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and released on 1 October 1984 by Island Records. The band wanted to pursue a new musical direction following the harder-hitting rock of their previous album, War (1983). As a result, they employed Eno and Lanois to produce and assist in their experimentation with a more ambient sound. The resulting change in direction was at the time the band's most dramatic. The album's title is a reference to "The Unforgettable Fire", an art exhibit about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Will Follow</span> 1980 single by U2

"I Will Follow" is a song by rock band U2. It is the opening track from their debut album, Boy, and it was released as the album's second single in October 1980. Lead singer Bono wrote the lyrics to "I Will Follow" in tribute to his mother, who died when he was 14 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertigo (U2 song)</span> 2004 single by U2

"Vertigo" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track on their eleventh studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004). It was released to radio as the album's lead single on 8 November 2004, and upon release, it received extensive airplay. The song was an international success, bolstered by its usage in a television advertisement featuring the band for Apple's iPod digital music player. The song lent its name to the band's 2005–2006 Vertigo Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk On (U2 song)</span> 2001 single by U2

"Walk On" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track on their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000). The song was first released in Canada on 20 February 2001, then was given a UK release in November of the same year; it was the album's second single in Canada and the fourth internationally. The song was written about Burmese academic Aung San Suu Kyi, who was the chairperson of the National League for Democracy and was placed under house arrest from 1989 until 2010 for her pro-democracy activities, which led to the song being banned in Burma. In 2002, the song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, marking the first time an artist had won the award for songs from the same album in consecutive years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11 O'Clock Tick Tock</span> 1980 single by U2

"11 O'Clock Tick Tock" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was released as a single on 16 May 1980, and was produced by Martin Hannett. It followed their debut EP Three and the single "Another Day." It was the group's first release for Island Records. The song's lyrics were written by lead vocalist Bono based on his experience at a Cramps concert in London, where he watched a "lifeless, goth-style" crowd from the balcony.

"An Cat Dubh" and "Into the Heart" are two songs by Irish rock band U2. They are the third and fourth tracks, respectively, on the band's debut album, Boy. The two tracks are played together as one song, both on the album and during live performances.

<i>No Line on the Horizon</i> 2009 studio album by U2

No Line on the Horizon is the twelfth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite, and was released on 27 February 2009. It was the band's first record since How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), marking the longest gap between studio albums of their career to that point. The band originally intended to release the songs as two EPs, but later combined the material into a single record. Photographer Anton Corbijn shot a companion film, Linear, which was released alongside the album and included with several special editions.

<i>U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky</i> 1984 concert video by U2

U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky is a concert film by Irish rock band U2. It was recorded on 5 June 1983 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, United States, on the group's War Tour. Originally released in 1984 on videocassette, U2 Live at Red Rocks was the band's first video release. It accompanied a 1983 live album entitled Under a Blood Red Sky, on which two tracks from the film appear. The video was directed by Gavin Taylor and produced by Rick Wurpel and Doug Stewart.

<i>Songs of Experience</i> (U2 album) 2017 studio album by U2

Songs of Experience is the fourteenth studio album by Irish rock band U2. Released on 1 December 2017, it was produced by Jacknife Lee and Ryan Tedder with Steve Lillywhite, Andy Barlow, Jolyon Thomas, Brent Kutzle, Paul Epworth, Danger Mouse, and Declan Gaffney. The album is intended to be a companion piece to U2's previous record, Songs of Innocence (2014). Whereas its predecessor explored the group members' adolescence in Ireland in the 1970s, Songs of Experience thematically is a collection of letters written by lead vocalist Bono to people and places closest to his heart. The album features guest appearances from several musical acts, including Haim, Kendrick Lamar, and Lady Gaga.

<i>Songs of Surrender</i> 2023 album by U2

Songs of Surrender is an album of re-recorded songs by Irish rock band U2. Produced by guitarist the Edge, it was released on 17 March 2023 on Island Records and Interscope Records. Largely the effort of the Edge and lead vocalist Bono, the album comprises re-recorded and reinterpreted versions of 40 songs from the group's back catalogue, many in stripped-down and acoustic arrangements. The album is a companion to Bono's memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story (2022), which was structured into 40 chapters titled after U2 songs. Rearranged versions of the songs were first included in the audiobook edition of the memoir, and were performed by Bono during the book's promotional tour.

References

Notes

  1. The Edge's backing vocals are uncredited in the liner notes but listed here based on his de facto primary role in the group.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McCormick (2006), pp. 96–100
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Jobling (2014), pp. 65–68
  3. 1 2 de la Parra (2003), pp. 16–17
  4. 1 2 3 Dalton, Stephen (December 1999). "U2 – the early years: 'There was a presence, a magnetism...'". Uncut . No. 31. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. McCormick (2006), pp. 56, 58, 96
  6. 1 2 Lillywhite, Steve (29 June 2005). "The U2 I Know". Hot Press . Vol. 29, no. 12. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Carty, Pat (18 November 2020). "Interview: Steve Lillywhite On U2, Boy, and All That You Can't Leave Behind". Hot Press . Vol. 44, no. 11. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. 1 2 McGee (2008), p. 32
  9. 1 2 Green, Jim (March 1982). "U2: Pluck of the Irish". Trouser Press . Archived from the original on 30 November 2020 via atu2.com.
  10. Savage, Mark (18 July 2008). "U2's producer reveals studio secrets". BBC News . BBC . Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  11. Martin, Gavin (14 February 1981). "Kings of the Celtic Fringe". NME .
  12. Nolan, Tom (May 1982). "On the Edge of Success". U2 Magazine. No. 3. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020 via atu2.com.
  13. Morley, Paul. Boy remastered 2008 Liner Notes, Mercury Records Ltd (London), ASIN: B0013LPS6Q
  14. Costello, Elvis (9 December 2009), Spectacle: Elvis Costello with Bono and The Edge of U2, Sundance Channel
  15. Kokkoris, Tassoula E. (6 March 2006). "@U2 Interview: Peter Rowen". atu2.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  16. Stealing Hearts at a Travelling Show official U2 book, p. 101, 2003
  17. 1 2 Sams, Aaron J.; Morgan, Don (19 October 2016). "Shadows and Tall Trees: The Alternate Cover for Boy". U2Songs.com. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  18. 1 2 McGee (2008), p. 41
  19. Partridge, Kenneth (20 October 2015). "U2's 'Boy' at 35: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review". Billboard . Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  20. Henke, James (9 June 1983). "Blessed Are the Peacemakers". Rolling Stone . No. 397. p. 13.
  21. Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "A Day Without Me" Single". U2songs.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  22. Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "I Will Follow" Single". U2songs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  23. "Billboard Rock Albums & Top Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 16. 25 April 1981. p. 28. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  24. "Bono Speaks". U2 Magazine. No. 10. February 1984.
  25. Willman, Chris (27 November 2020). "Record Store Day Gets in a Black Friday Groove With Aimee Mann, John Prine, U2, the Weeknd, Drive-By Truckers and More". Variety . Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  26. 1 2 Lynch, Declan (10–24 October 1980). "Boy". Hot Press. Vol. 4, no. 10. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  27. Shechik, Rick (11 April 1981). "Clapton's latest shows he's better at being mellow now". The Muncie Evening Press . p. T-6.
  28. Westwood, Chris (4 October 1980). "Essence of Ireland". Record Mirror . p. 16.
  29. 1 2 Cohen, Debra Rae (16 April 1981). "Boy". Rolling Stone . No. 341. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2005.
  30. 1 2 Marsh, Dave (22 March 1981). "New Dury album's rich style evokes best of British rock". St. Petersburg Times . p. 7E.
  31. Starr, Red (16–29 October 1980). "U2: Boy". Smash Hits . Vol. 2, no. 21. p. 29.
  32. 1 2 Page, Betty (4 October 1980). "Young poets of the year". Sounds . p. 37.
  33. Christgau, Robert (30 March 1981). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved 20 June 2012. Revised from the originally published version at "U2: Boy – Consumer Album Guide". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  34. Morley, Paul (25 October 1980). "Boy's own weepies". NME .
  35. Barber, Lyndyn (4 October 1980). "U2 Takes Us Over The Top". Melody Maker .
  36. Denselow, Robin (12 November 1980). "Stevie Wonder returns to hot form". The Guardian . p. 10.
  37. Birch, Ian (1 November 1980). "U2: Boy". Time Out .
  38. Walston, K.R. (22 February 1981). "U2 Has Different Sound, but Basics Shine Through". Albuquerque Journal . p. D3.
  39. Atkinson, Terry (8 March 1981). "Pop Album Briefs". Los Angeles Times . section Calendar, p. 93.
  40. McAdam, Sean (5 March 1981). "U2: Boy: Island". The Boston Globe . section Calendar, p. 6.
  41. Anderson, Scot (28 February 1981). "Boy U2 (Warner Brothers)". Iowa City Press-Citizen . p. 12D.
  42. Hilburn, Robert (28 October 1990). "A Guide, Gossip, a Glimpse of Glory: MIXED MEDIA: A SPECIAL BOOKS EDITION: 'CHRISTGAU'S RECORD GUIDE: THE '80S' By Robert Christgau Pantheon Books". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  43. "The 1981 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice . 1 February 1980. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
    • Morse, Steve (7 March 1981). "A New Sound Under Pressure". The Boston Globe .
    • Browning, Boo (27 February 1981). "U2: Aiming for Number 1". The Washington Post . p. WK39.
    • McNally, Charlie (17 April – 1 May 1981). "U2 Could Be in L.A." Hot Press. Vol. 5, no. 7. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
    • Smith, C.P. (23 March 1981). "U2: Intriguing New Band Explodes on the American Scene". Orange County Register .
  44. McCormick (2006), pp. 113–120
  45. Rose, Joseph (22 March 2016). "How U2, a Portland bar and a missing briefcase altered music history (photos)". OregonLive.com . Advance Internet . Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  46. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Boy – U2". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  47. 1 2 Moser, Margaret (30 March 2001). "U2: Boy (Island)". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  48. 1 2 Hyden, Steven (28 July 2008). "U2". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  49. 1 2 Kot, Greg (6 September 1992). "You, Too, Can Hear The Best Of U2". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  50. 1 2 Wyman, Bill (29 November 1991). "U2's Discography". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  51. 1 2 "U2: Boy". Mojo . No. 177. August 2008. p. 121.
  52. Tangari, Joe (24 July 2008). "U2: Boy / October / War". Pitchfork . Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  53. 1 2 "U2: Boy". Q . No. 265. August 2008. p. 151.
  54. Considine, J. D.; Brackett, Nathan (2004). "U2". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  833–34. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  55. 1 2 Powers, Ann (1995). "U2". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 422–24. ISBN   0-679-75574-8.
  56. Blashill, Pat; DeCurtis, Anthony; Edmonds, Ben; et al. (11 December 2003). "Boy: U2". Rolling Stone . No. 937. p. 164. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  57. "100 Greatest Debut Albums". Uncut . No. 111. August 2006.
  58. Schonfeld, Zach (5 December 2017). "What Is the Best U2 Album? Every Record Ranked From 'Boy' to 'Songs of Experience'". Newsweek . Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  59. "The 80 Greatest Albums of 1980 What came out of all this was, arguably, the greatest year for great albums ever". Rolling Stone . 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  60. Quantick, David (15 July 2008). "U2 – Reissues – Boy / October / War". Uncut . Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  61. Axver, Matthias Muehlbradt, Andre; Axver, Matthias Muehlbradt, Andre. "U2gigs.com - U2 Experience + Innocence Tour 2018". U2gigs.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  62. 1 2 "Boy, October, War: Remastered". U2.com. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
  63. 1 2 Boy (Vinyl). U2. Island Records. 1980.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  64. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 317. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  65. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0338". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  66. "Charts.nz – U2 – Boy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  67. "Swedishcharts.com – U2 – Boy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  68. "U2 | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  69. "U2 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  70. "Dutchcharts.nl – U2 – Boy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  71. "Irish-charts.com – Discography U2". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  72. "Ultratop.be – U2 – Boy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  73. "Ultratop.be – U2 – Boy" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  74. "Offiziellecharts.de – U2 – Boy" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  75. "Italiancharts.com – U2 – Boy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  76. "Spanishcharts.com – U2 – Boy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  77. "Portuguesecharts.com – U2 – Boy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  78. "1ste Ultratop-hitquiz". Ultratop . Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  79. 1 2 "U2: Charts and Awards". Allmusic . Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  80. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  81. "Canadian album certifications – U2 – Boy". Music Canada.
  82. "French album certifications – U2 – Boy" (in French). InfoDisc.Select U2 and click OK. 
  83. "British album certifications – U2 – Boy". British Phonographic Industry.
  84. "American album certifications – U2 – Boy". Recording Industry Association of America.

Bibliography