The Best of 1980–1990

The Best of 1980–1990 is the first greatest hits compilation by Irish rock band U2, released in November 1998. It mostly contains the group's hit singles from the 1980s but also mixes in some live staples as well as one new recording, "Sweetest Thing". In April 1999, a companion video (featuring music videos and live footage) was released. The album was followed by another compilation, The Best of 1990–2000, in 2002.

The Best of 1980–1990
Greatest hits album by U2
Released	2 November 1998 (1998-11-02)
Recorded	1980–1989
Genre	Rock, post-punk
Length	65:35
Label	Island
Producer	Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, Jimmy Iovine, U2, St. Francis Xavier[1]
U2 chronology
Please: PopHeart Live EP (1997) The Best of 1980–1990 (1998) PopMart: Live from Mexico City (1998)
Singles from The Best of 1980-1990
"Sweetest Thing" Released: October 19, 1998

A limited edition version containing a special B-sides disc was released a week earlier than the single-disc version. At the time of release, the official word was that the two-disc album would be available the first week the album went on sale, then pulled from the stores. While this edict never materialized, it did result in the two-disc version being in very high demand. Both versions charted in the Billboard 200, with the two-disc version debuting at number two and setting a new first-week sales record in the United States for a greatest hits album by a group with 237,500 copies sold.

The boy on the cover is Peter Rowen, brother of Bono's friend Guggi (real name Derek Rowen) of the Virgin Prunes. He also appears on the covers of the early EP Three, two of the band's first three albums (Boy and War), and Early Demos.

Commercial performance

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic (Standard edition)	[2]
Allmusic (The B sides)	[3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	[4]
Entertainment Weekly	B[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]

In the United States, the double-disc version of the album (The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides) debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 during the week of 21 November 1998 with 237,500 copies sold.[7] This set a new record for the best-selling opening week for a greatest hits collection by a group in the SoundScan era.[8][9] The next week, it fell to number five while the single-disc version of the album entered the chart at number 57.[10] The single-disc version of the compilation peaked at number four on the Billboard 200.[11] The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides remained on the chart for 17 weeks while the single-disc version was present on the chart for 44 weeks.[12][13] The standard edition was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting shipments of two million on 6 March 2002; on 4 December 1998, the double-disc version was certified double platinum for shipments of two million.[14]

In the United Kingdom, the limited double-disc version debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart on 14 November 1998, before dropping the following week to number two.[15] It remained on the chart for 20 weeks.[15] The single-disc edition entered at number eight on 21 November 1998, and two weeks later, it reached its peak of number four.[15] It charted for 126 weeks in the UK.[15] The single-disc edition was certified quintuple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on 8 November 2002, denoting shipments of 1.5 million units.[16]

In Canada, the double-disc version release had a numbered, limited edition of 175,000 units pressed.[9] The double-disc version of the album debuted at the top of the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for the week of 21 November 1998; this version stayed on the chart for four weeks.[17][18] The next week, the standard edition debuted and peaked at number five on the chart, before falling to number eight the following week.[19][20] The single-disc version remained on the chart for 15 weeks.[21]

In Ireland, the album debuted with the highest single-week sales since 1993, when IRMA started keeping records.[9] The album reached number one on Ireland's album charts and remained on the chart for 76 weeks.[9]

Track listing

Disc one

All music is composed by U2, with lyrics by Bono.

No.	Title	Album	Length
1.	"Pride (In the Name of Love)"	The Unforgettable Fire (1984)	3:48
2.	"New Year's Day" (Japanese single version)	War (1983)	4:17
3.	"With or Without You"	The Joshua Tree (1987)	4:55
4.	"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"	The Joshua Tree	4:38
5.	"Sunday Bloody Sunday"	War	4:40
6.	"Bad" (Edited version)	The Unforgettable Fire	5:50
7.	"Where the Streets Have No Name" (Edited version)	The Joshua Tree	4:35
8.	"I Will Follow"	Boy (1980)	3:36
9.	"The Unforgettable Fire"	The Unforgettable Fire	4:53
10.	"Sweetest Thing" (Single mix)	Newly recorded version	3:00
11.	"Desire"	Rattle and Hum (1988)	2:59
12.	"When Love Comes to Town"	Rattle and Hum	4:17
13.	"Angel of Harlem"	Rattle and Hum	3:49
14.	"All I Want Is You" / "October" (Hidden track)	Rattle and Hum October (1981)	6:30 2:21
Total length:			65:35

Japan bonus track

No.	Title	Album	Length
15.	"One Tree Hill" / "October" (Hidden track)	The Joshua Tree October	5:24 2:21
Total length:			69:32

Disc two (Limited Edition B-Sides)

All tracks are written by U2, except where noted.

No.	Title	Originally Released on	Length
1.	"The Three Sunrises"	"The Unforgettable Fire" single	3:52
2.	"Spanish Eyes"	"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" single	3:14
3.	"Sweetest Thing"	"Where the Streets Have No Name" single	3:03
4.	"Love Comes Tumbling"	"The Unforgettable Fire" single	4:40
5.	"Bass Trap" (Best Of edit)	"The Unforgettable Fire" single	3:31
6.	"Dancing Barefoot" (extended version; Patti Smith, Ivan Kral)	"When Love Comes to Town" single	4:45
7.	"Everlasting Love" (Buzz Cason, Mac Gayden)	"All I Want Is You" single	3:20
8.	"Unchained Melody" (Alex North, Hy Zaret)	"All I Want Is You" single	4:52
9.	"Walk to the Water"	"With or Without You" single	4:49
10.	"Luminous Times (Hold on to Love)"	"With or Without You" single	4:35
11.	"Hallelujah Here She Comes" (Best Of edit)	"Desire" single	4:00
12.	"Silver and Gold"	"Where the Streets Have No Name" single	4:37
13.	"Endless Deep"	"Two Hearts Beat as One" single	2:57
14.	"A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" (Best Of edit)	"Angel of Harlem" single	4:32
15.	"Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl"	"A Celebration" single	2:33
Total length:			59:53

• Note: The version of "Bass Trap" found on this compilation is a shortened edit from the original 5:14 version found on "The Unforgettable Fire 12" single EP of 1985. Same goes for the version of "A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel" which is an edit from the original version (5:29) on the "Angel Of Harlem" single from 1989.

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (1998-2014)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22]	1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[23]	1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24]	1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25]	1
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[26]	1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[27]	8
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28]	1
French Compilations (SNEP)[29]	1
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[30]	3
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31]	1
Irish Albums (IRMA)[9]	1
Italian Albums (FIMI)[32]	36
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[33]	80
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[34]	1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[35]	2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[36]	46
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[37]	1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[38]	1
UK Albums (OCC)[39]	1
US Billboard 200[40]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)	Position
German Albums Chart[41]	41
Chart (1999)	Position
German Albums Chart[42]	27

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[43] Standard edition	3× Platinum	180,000^^
Argentina (CAPIF)[43] + B-Sides	Platinum	60,000^^
Australia (ARIA)[44]	8× Platinum	560,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[45]	2× Platinum	100,000^*
Belgium (BEA)[46]	6× Platinum	300,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[47]	6× Platinum	600,000^^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[48]	Platinum	50,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[49]	Gold	29,864[49]
France (SNEP)[50]	2× Platinum	600,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[51]	Platinum	500,000^^
Greece (IFPI Greece)[52]	2× Platinum	60,000^^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[53]	Gold
Italy (FIMI)[54]	Gold	50,000^*
Japan (RIAJ)[55]	2× Platinum	400,000^^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[56]	2× Gold	200,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57]	9× Platinum	135,000^^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[58]	Platinum	50,000^*
Poland (ZPAV)[59]	Platinum	100,000^*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[60]	4× Platinum	400,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[61]	Gold	40,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[62]	3× Platinum	150,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[16]	5× Platinum	1,500,000^^
United States (RIAA)[14] Standard edition	2× Platinum	2,000,000^^
United States (RIAA)[63] + B-Sides	2× Platinum	1,000,000^^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[64]	7× Platinum	7,000,000^*
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Video

The Best of 1980–1990
Video by U2
Released	April 1999
Recorded	1980–1989, 1998
Genre	Rock, post-punk, roots rock
Length	78 mins
Label	Island / PolyGram
Director	Donald Cammell, Meiert Avis, Barry Devlin, Gavin Taylor, Phil Joanou, et al.
U2 chronology
PopMart: Live from Mexico City (1998) The Best of 1980–1990 (1999) Elevation 2001: Live from Boston (2001)

Music and words by U2. All tracks have been remastered for this release.

1. "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
2. "New Year's Day"
3. "With or Without You"
4. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
5. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (from U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky)
6. "Bad" (from Rattle and Hum)
7. "Where the Streets Have No Name"
8. "I Will Follow"
9. "The Unforgettable Fire"
10. "Sweetest Thing"
11. "Desire"
12. "When Love Comes to Town"
13. "Angel of Harlem"
14. "All I Want Is You"
15. "One Tree Hill" (Live - from a previously unreleased cut of Rattle and Hum)

Personnel

• Bono – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica
• The Edge – guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Adam Clayton – bass guitar
• Larry Mullen Jr. – drums, percussion

See also

• U2 discography
• The Best of 1990–2000
• List of best-selling albums in Argentina

References

1. The Best of 1980–1990 & B-Sides (CD liner/inlay). U2. Island Records. 1998. CIDDU211/524612-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
2. The Best of 1980–1990 at AllMusic
3. The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides at AllMusic
4. Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: U". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan. ISBN 0312245602. Retrieved 30 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
5. Hermes, Will (11 December 1998). "The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
6. "U2: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 18 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
7. Mayfield, Geoff (21 November 1998). "Between The Bullets". Billboard. Vol. 110 no. 47. p. 94. ISSN 0006-2510.
8. McGee, Matt (2008). U2: A Diary. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 208–209. ISBN 978-1-84772-108-2.
9. "The Best Of 1980-1990". U2.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
10. "The Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 110 no. 48. 28 November 1998. p. 72. ISSN 0006-2510.
11. "The Best Of 1980-1990". U2.com. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
12. "U2 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
13. "U2 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
14. "American album certifications – U2 – Best of 1980-1990". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
15. "U2: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
16. "British album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Best of 1980-1990 in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
17. "Canadian Albums: Top Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
18. "U2 Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
19. "Canadian Albums: Top Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
20. "Canadian Albums: Top Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
21. "U2 Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
22. "Australiancharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
23. "Austriancharts.at – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
24. "Ultratop.be – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
25. "Ultratop.be – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
26. "U2 Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
27. "Danishcharts.dk – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
28. "Dutchcharts.nl – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
29. "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" (PHP). InfoDisc (in French). Find "U 2" under the drop-down menu to see statistics.
30. "Finnishcharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990" (in Finnish). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
31. "Offiziellecharts.de – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
32. "Italiancharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
33. "Mexicancharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
34. "Charts.nz – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
35. "Norwegiancharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
36. "Spanishcharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
37. "Swedishcharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
38. "Swisscharts.com – U2 – The Best Of 1980-1990". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
39. "U2 | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
40. "U2 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
41. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
42. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
43. "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
45. "Austrian album certifications – U2 – Best of 1980-1990" (in German). IFPI Austria.
46. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2007". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
47. "Canadian album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990". Music Canada.
48. "Danish album certifications – U2 – Best of". IFPI Denmark.
49. "U2" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
50. "French compilation certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980–1990" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
51. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (U2; 'The Best of 1980-1990')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
52. "Greek album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990" (in Greek). IFPI Greece.
53. "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2000" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
54. "Italian album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2014" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "The Best of 1980-1990" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
55. "Japanese album certifications – U2 – The Best Of 1980 - 1990" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 11 June 2019. Select 1999年1月 on the drop-down menu
56. "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type U2 in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and The Best of 1980-1990 in the box under TÍTULO
57. "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
58. "Norwegian album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980-1990" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
59. "Polish album certifications – U2 – The Best of 1980–1990" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
60. "Spanish album certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Select Albums under "Chart", enter 2005 in the field "Year". Select 04 in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts".
61. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
62. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (U2; 'The Best Of 1980 - 1990')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
63. "American album certifications – U2 – Best of 1980-1990/The B Sides". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
64. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2004". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

External links

• The Best of 1980–1990 (standard edition) at U2 Wanderer, with comprehensive details on various editions, cover scans, lyrics, and more
• The Best of 1980–1990 (limited edition) at U2 Wanderer
• The Best of 1980–1990 (video) at U2 Wanderer