30 years ago today U2 released "The Joshua Tree". The album would win the band 2 Grammy Awards as well as sell over 25 Million copies worldwide.
As a music fan its hard to pinpoint any single record, or create "best ofs" because the moods always change. 30 years on though I can say this album ranks in my top 10, regardless of my moods.
I was 16 when it came out, March of 1987. I was a junior in high school and over the prior few years had started to "get in to music". About a year before I started to look at punk records and "indie label"bands. I'd go to Newbury Comics and buy the newest issue of NME (it would be at least a month old) to read about what I should be listening to.
At the time the web and all our conveniences with access to bands/music was a few years off. Any glimpse, mention, even song on the radio felt fleeting. If you missed it, you'd never see or hear it again. U2 threw me in to that hole of "following" a band. Granted I was working a part time job for $3.35 an hour but by god I was going to buy every magazine, single, ep, cd, record, tape that was released. Even if the cover was different I needed it. I clipped articles, I tried to talk with like minded friends. A few got it, others did not. I was able to see them a few times on the various legs of this tour as well.
This summer the band will celebrate the 30th by taking it out on the road. U2 has been at it for a long time that many greeted this with a collective "eye roll". The shows sold quickly and additional nights were added in many cities.
Perhaps its taking folks back to "good times". Heck at the time 17 years old was confusing, frustrating, happy, sad all in the matter of a day sometimes, yet when I look at this album cover I only feel happy. I can't think of the bad times.
Music has that power.
So, Happy Birthday to the Joshua Tree. You still "get me", and I thank you.
