release date: Nov. 2, 1998
format: 2 cd (Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland
First official best of compilation by U2 covering the band's first decade. Astutely, the band released a limited 2-disc version, which was announced to be withdrawn and replaced by a standard 1-disc version after the first week. The standard being practically identical with disc 1 on the 2-disc version did come out, but the limited edition was later sold as a non-numbered Deluxe Edition - the album both comes in The Best of 1980-1990, and as The Best of 1980-1990 & B-Sides, and then some of the 2-disc issues has been released under the standard title. Anyway, the compilation rightfully covers a 10-year period, although, only three songs are from 1980 to 1983 and two of these stem from their '83 album. This basically overlooks the initial stage when the band made three full-length albums and made it from upcoming new name to an acclaimed and established brand - you could say: their most important period. Instead, focus is clearly on the band's new-found ground and especially the sound they have come up with on the albums The Joshua Tree (1987) and Rattle and Hum (1988). And speaking of sound, compilations are always a tricky matter, and in the case of U2, sound and style is a fleeting and highly temporary thing, so by putting songs from one stage together with songs from another period isn't without a distinct loss in coherency, which could be another reason for selecting most material from their most recent albums.
Then 2-discs could actually have served to have had an early period on say disc 1 and the later half of the decade on disc 2, but that probably sounds to easy. But nevertheless, that would have been a logic choice, and something that would do justice to their career. Instead we have these late 80s songs put together with B-side material, which on the other hand is far from complete. From a commmercial perspective they should have made clear and distinct choices - and frankly, I would have embraced a more fully coverage of their A-side singles on a best of album, AND a B-sides release covering their more obscure material - instead what we do have is a bit of this and that. U2 have made so many great tunes that it's a no brainer to compile a best of album, but instead we have strange songs like "Bass Trap", "A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel", "Trash Trampoline and the Party Girl", and covers like "Dancing Barefoot", "Everlasting Love", and "Unchained Melody" in place of strong B-sides like "Out of Control", "Gloria", "The Electric Co", "I Threw a Brick Through a Window", etc., etc.
Bottom line is, I think this is a bit of a mess. You cannot deny their potential, and that's basically what this represents - a band who has been all over the place, and no matter what you pick, there's an rather big audience. Of course, what you need is their full discography - at least up until 1990 after which you will do with a selection of A-side singles, but that's a whole different story.
U2 "The Best of 1980-1990 & B-Sides" is not essential - some songs are nice to know of, but ultimately, you're way better off with five to six studio albums covering this period so much better. I rate the album 3,5 / 5, acknowledging the great tunes but I would rate the selection 2 / 5.
[ 👎allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
