U2's eleventh studio How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb turns 20 this year and will be reissued on 29 November via Island Records/UMR, together with bonus track "Fast Cars". But that's not all: when digging back into The Edge's personal archive, the band uncovered a wealth of recordings that had been set aside during the album sessions, for one reason or another. Of those demos, ten have been resurrected for a new "shadow album" titled How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb released the same day.
Some of the songs will be familiar. An alternate version of 2004 single "All Because of You", "Vertigo" B-side "Are You Gonna Wait Forever?", and The Edge's instrumental "Theme from The Batman" are all included, as well as an early version of "Fast Cars" titled “Picture of You (X+W)” and "Smile", which first appeared on The Complete U2 best-of compilation. There's also "Luckiest Man in the World", which leaked almost two decades ago under its working title "Mercy", and four never-before-heard songs: "Treason", "Evidence Of Life", "Country Mile" and "Happiness".
Listen to “Picture of You (X+W)” and "Country Mile" below:
How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb will be released digitally and as a standalone Record Store Day vinyl, as well as part of a deluxe boxset with the original album available on 8LP or 5CD. Both albums will be packaged together for digital release on 22 November, a week ahead of the physical editions.
How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb tracklist:
1. Picture Of You (X+W)
2. Evidence Of Life
3. Luckiest Man In The World
4. Treason
5. I Don't Wanna See You Smile
6. Country Mile
7. Happiness
8. Are We Gonna Wait Forever?
9. Theme From The Batman
10. All Because Of You 2
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb 20th Anniversary Reissue tracklist:
1. Vertigo
2. Miracle Drug
3. Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
4. Love and Peace or Else
5. City of Blinding Lights
6. All Because of You
7. A Man and a Woman
8. Crumbs from Your Table
9. One Step Closer
10. Original of the Species
11. Yahweh
12. Fast Cars
Watch a trailer for the releases below:
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