When U2 released The Joshua Tree in March 1987, it wasn’t just an album – it was a seismic cultural moment. Its massive success and enduring legacy cemented U2 as one of the biggest bands in the world, and its themes of spirituality, politics, and a fascination with America’s cultural landscape resonated deeply with audiences.
The Joshua Tree was an instant commercial and critical triumph. It became U2’s first album to reach number one in the United States and the United Kingdom, and it spawned iconic singles like With or Without You, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and Where the Streets Have No Name. The album won two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and has since sold over 25 million copies worldwide. Its blend of rock, blues, and gospel influences set a new standard for stadium rock and proved that U2 could mix introspection with social commentary while still achieving widespread appeal.
The album’s themes tackled the complexity of the American dream, the struggles of the underprivileged, and spiritual searching. Songs like Bullet the Blue Sky critiqued US foreign policy, while Mothers of the Disappeared highlighted human rights abuses in Latin America. The stark desert imagery used in the album’s artwork, shot by photographer Anton Corbijn, further emphasised its hauntingly timeless tone. The Joshua Tree not only captured the zeitgeist of the late 1980s but also influenced countless artists who followed, both sonically and thematically.
The lush, layered sound of The Joshua Tree didn’t happen by accident. It was a triumph of cutting-edge recording technology and the vision of producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, who pushed the band to experiment while retaining their raw emotional core. Here’s a glimpse into the tech that brought the album to life:
- Recorder: The album was recorded on an Otari MTR-90 24-track recorder, providing a high level of clarity and flexibility for layering the intricate arrangements.
- Vocals: Bono’s vocals were primarily recorded through a Shure SM58 microphone, a simple yet effective choice that contributed to the album’s raw feel. However, for Trip Through Your Wires, he used a Sony C-500 microphone, adding a unique warmth to the track. Vocals were processed through a Summit EQP-200B equaliser and compressed with a Summit TLA-100, ensuring a polished yet emotive performance.
- Effects and Processing: A host of effects units were employed to create the album’s atmospheric textures:
- DBX 160 and Urei 1176 compressors for tight, punchy dynamics.
- TC Electronic TC 2290 delay for rich, rhythmic echoes.
- Lexicon PCM 70 and 224X digital reverbs for lush ambient depth.
- Yamaha SPX90 and Eventide H3000 for additional effects and modulation.
- Korg SDD-3000 digital delay and Sony MU-R201 digital reverb for pristine, layered soundscapes.
These tools allowed the band and producers to craft a sonic landscape that was expansive yet intimate, capturing the vastness of the album’s desert inspiration. Nothing sounded like The Joshua Tree in 1987, or since.
Decades after its release, The Joshua Tree remains a cultural and musical landmark. It’s been reissued, celebrated with anniversary tours, and continues to inspire new generations of artists. U2’s ability to balance heartfelt emotion, political urgency, and cutting-edge production ensured the album’s timeless appeal.
Whether you’re drawn to the soaring anthems, the poetic lyrics, or the production wizardry, The Joshua Tree stands as a testament to U2’s genius and a reminder of the transformative power of music. To many, me included, it was their finest album.
