U2
lead singer Bono has described the album as "our first rock and roll record." Although not a concept album in the traditional
sense, most of the music on the record deals with the world at the crossroads of its existence. Love, war, peace and harmony
are running themes throughout the album.
The
album is produced by Steve Lillywhite. Others involved in the production include Flood, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Chris
Thomas, Daniel Lanois, and Brian Eno.
The
album was preceeded by the lead single "Vertigo", which topped the charts in several countries, including the UK.
The single was also successful in the US, where it reached
#31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Vertigo" was also extremely successful as a digital
single; it topped the digital downloads chart in both the US
and the UK, becoming U2's best-selling single ever in the
US with 2x Platinum status.
Following
the November 22, 2004 release, the album debuted at #1 for 34 countries,
including the US Billboard 200, the UK album chart, and the
Aria charts. Worldwide sales as of 2005 number over 10 million. It is on pace to becomming U2's best selling album ever according
to manager Paul McGuinness.
The
second single in the UK was "Sometimes You Can't Make It on
Your Own" which became U2's first-ever follow-up single to top the charts. The single was also fairly successful in the US
on adult contemporary radio, reaching #15 on the Adult Top 40 and also placing on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the Pop 100,
and the Hot 100.
"City
of Blinding Lights" was the third UK
release. It peaked at #2 and spent nine weeks on the chart. It also placed on the US Adult Top 40.
The
second single in the US was "All Because of You". The song
was not a chart success. Although it received some airplay on rock radio, reaching #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and
#20 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the song had little mainstream exposure. When released in the UK,
it peaked at #4 but only spent four weeks on the chart.
"Original
of the Species" has been released to airplay in the US. So
far, it has been added to the playlists of 12 US alternative
rock radio stations.
The
album's release was followed by the Vertigo Tour which is still ongoing. The band played a record breaking three nights at
Croke Park in their home city of Dublin.
Support acts included the gifted singer songwriter Paddy Casey, Snow Patrol and The Thrills.
1. "Vertigo" - 3:13
2. "Miracle Drug" - 3:54
3. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" - 5:05
4. "Love and Peace or Else" - 4:48
5. "City of Blinding Lights" - 5:46
6. "All Because of You" - 3:34
7. "A Man and a Woman" - 4:27
8. "Crumbs From Your Table" - 4:59
9. "One Step Closer" - 3:47
10. "Original of the Species" - 4:34
11. "Yahweh" - 4:22
"Fast
Cars" - 3:44 - was an additional track on the Japan
and UK CD editions of the album, as well as the deluxe editions of the album in all regions and the digital version included
in The Complete U2.