THE SONGS THAT INSPIRED THE BAND
Never a band to shy away from namedropping their most beloved influences, U2 remain wholly proud of incorporating other styles and forms into their own unique sound - which has all but become a genre in its own rite. And the history of the group has been a trail of musical discovery for its four founder members, each of whom now boasts a musical knowledge and taste far wider than most of their contemporaries.
So while The Ramones and The Clash have been firm favourites since the very earliest practice sessions, B.B. King, Johnny Cash and Billie Holiday all entered the fray a little later. But memories too from the era when the lads were growing up are also represented here; Frank Sinatra was rarely off the gramophone in the Hewitt household during the 1960s and 70s, and each one of this extraordinary quartet still gets a tingle down the spine when hearing again that monster hit from the glorious summer of 1976, Peter Frampton’s ‘Show Me The Way’ - the song the band, then known as Feedback, opened their first two gigs with some 35 years ago. Elsewhere on this collection, David Bowie rubs shoulders with Chuck Berry, Allen Ginsberg co-exists with John Lee Hooker and Bob Dylan sits close to Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Roy Orbison.
1. Show Me The Way – PETER FRAMPTON 4:29
2. Johnny B. Goode – CHUCK BERRY 2:39
3. Glad To See You Go / Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment – THE RAMONES 3:35
4. Rollin’ Stone – MUDDY WATERS 3:02
5. Maggie’s Farm (Live) – BOB DYLAN 3:48
6. The Magnificent Seven (Live) – THE CLASH 4:42
7. C’mon Everybody – EDDIE COCHRAN 1:56
8. Hey Bo Diddley – BO DIDDLEY 2:14
9. Save A Seat For Me – B.B. KING 3:05
10. Lover Man – BILLIE HOLIDAY 3:19
11. Crawlin’ King Snake – JOHN LEE HOOKER 3:01
12. Howl – ALLEN GINSBERG 4:36
13. Last Days Of The Suicide Kid – CHARLES BUKOWSKI 2:45
14. Jesus Christ – WOODY GUTHRIE 2:40
15. NOT FADE AWAY – BUDDY HOLLY 2:22
16. Only The Lonely – ROY ORBISON 2:11
17. La Bamba – RITCHIE VALENS 2:05
18. Big River – JOHNNY CASH 2:32
19. You Make Me Feel So Young – FRANK SINATRA 2:57
20. Mystery Train – ELVIS PRESLEY 2:27
21. Young Americans (Live) – DAVID BOWIE 4:58