U2 – I had heard of them; a former partner had 1 album – but I really woke up at Live Aid when they played a scintillating set.   First up is their debut album BOY (1980) – a very guitar driven album, where it takes a few listens to distinguish individual songs. Best are ‘I Will Follow’, ‘Into The Heart’ and ‘Out Of Control’.  A great start.  I then picked up again with The Joshua Tree (1987).  What an album – possibly their best, certainly their most popular.  Chock full of great songs – the band were in fire.  My favourites are probably ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’, ‘With Or Without You’ and ‘Bullet The Blue Sky’ – but ask me on another day and it might be different.  So, the perennial problem – how to follow that.  They managed it, and in style.  They released a double album, half live, half new songs called Rattle and Hum (1988).  In some ways it is even better than Joshua Tree, though like all double albums, maybe too long.  Featuring duets with Dylan and B.B. King and some cracking live performances of ‘Helter Skelter’ (Beatles) and ‘Star Spangled Banner’ (Hendrix version) the live songs are simply brilliant ‘Silver and Gold’ and ‘Pride In The Name Of Love’ especially.  But the studio songs are excellent too – ‘Desire’, ‘When Love Comes To Town’ and ‘Angel of Harlem’ in particular sparkle.  A three-year break before their next re-invention Achtung Baby (1991).  The boys started to combine industrial rock and electronic beats into their already pretty dense sound.  The result is, in my opinion, a bit mixed.  Sometimes listening to it, it is just a noise, but then there are some very good melodies and singing in it too.  Best are ‘One’, ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’ and ‘Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World’.   As the Nineties progressed the band struggled to define their identity, between their signature sound and the new heavier electronic music of Achtung Baby.  I missed out on Zooropa but bought Pop (1997).  The band were now using a combination of new young producers, trying to define their new direction.  The album was apparently rushed out just before a tour and the band were unhappy with it.  Personally, I’ve never liked the album, it seems a mess and the sound is far too crowded.  The only song that I like even half decently is ‘Discotheque’ though I have no idea what Bono is singing about.  All that You Can’t leave Behind came out in 2000 – and it was as if the old band was suddenly back after a missing decade.  Reuniting with producers Daniel Lanois (see L) and Eno the band came up with some great songs – and most importantly they sounded like U2.  Why they wanted to completely change this unique sound is beyond me.  Anyway, best songs are ‘Beautiful Day’, ‘Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of’ and ‘Walk On’ – though there is not a weak song here.  A brilliant return to form.   2004 saw How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.   Well, I sort of liked this one, but felt they were treading water somewhat.  The songs were okay but not essential.  Best were ‘’Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’ and ‘City Of Blinding Lights’.  My last by this extraordinary band is 2014’s Songs Of Innocence.  Ever looking for something new, they released the album on i-tunes for free for a few weeks before a physical CD emerged (making this, at 500 million possible customers, the biggest record release of all time).  A nice record, but not at all their best.  Still, I quite like ‘The Miracle’ and ‘Sleep Like A Baby Tonight’ and I cannot really recall the others in much detail.  The CD came with analogue versions of all the songs, much like demo’s – which added nothing to the CD except cost to the buyer.  Of course, I bought the excellent 2 major compilations – Greatest Hits 1980-1990 – which was their best period.  Brilliant songs such as ‘Pride In The Name Of love’, ‘New Year’s Day’, ‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’ and ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’ plus lots from Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum make this a true best ever of.  It came as a double with best of ‘B’ sides, not that they did much for me except just sound like all the other U2 songs without the rousing choruses. The companion piece Greatest Hits 1990 – 2000 is still excellent though.  Best songs ‘Mysterious Ways’, ‘Stuck In a Moment’ and ’Numb’.   Only one other, a freebie given away with Sunday Times – though why a band like U2 need to do this I have no idea.   Still, there is no denying they are one of the great British bands of all time.