Although U2's real debut came in early 1979 with 'Three' the band broke onto the scene with 'Boy,' from 1980. They had recently been signed to major label Island Records, which was home to bands like Bob Marley & The Wailers in the '70s. 'Three' was released on CBS.

But anyway, this is where it all started. Right here. 'Boy,' their major label debut, gave them their first hit, 'I Will Follow' and contained such fan favorites like the eight minute 'An Cat Dubh/Into The Heart,' one of my personal favorites 'Shadows and Tall Trees' and the early-U2 concert classic 'Twilight.'

The bonus disc is where things get interesting. If you are a casual U2 fan, just buy the standard edition of 'Boy.' However, if you are a lifelong, die-hard U2 fan like I am, than this is a real treat!

The original version of '11 O'Clock Tick Tock' should have made the original cut. I don't understand why it didn't. This song is a great one, and while many people know it from 'Under A Blood Red Sky,' I prefer the studio version. (Note: For those who haven't heard the studio version, you are in for a real treat!)

The previously unreleased tracks 'Speed of Life' and 'Saturday Night' have a more punk rock sound. Clearly influenced by bands like The Clash and The Jam, these songs proves U2 can make great punk.

And finally, 'Three' is available on CD! This is what I've been waiting for for years! This is the real highlight of the disc! 'Boy/Girl' is a classic, and another really good punk rocker. The live version from London in early 1980 that is also featured here is superb as well. And what a treat it is to hear the original 'Out of Control' and 'Stories for Boys'! The songs have a much more punk rock sound here than they do in their 'Boy' album versions.

The final two unreleased tracks that are featured here is a rare, previously unreleased live version of '11 O'Clock Tick Tock' from London in early 1980, and 'Cartoon World' a non-album track that was recorded live in Dublin. Both are really cool.

'Another Day' was released as a single in mid-1979 on CBS Records. This song is a classic. Any U2 fan, whether casual or die-hard like myself, needs to hear this song. It is, without a doubt, one of my personal favorite U2 songs. Another really great one is the instrumental 'Things to Make and Do.' I own a rare live bootleg from Boston in 1981 where that song is performed. Although this version is great, I have to say, I prefer the live Boston version instead.

'Touch,' from late '79, is another one of my personal favorites. The lyrics are great, Bono's voice and The Edge's guitar is great, especially the opening riff.

Overall, the deluxe edition of 'Boy' is the version that you need to own. Everything is digitally remastered, so the sound quality is awesome, and the bonus tracks make it really worthwhile.

This edition of 'Boy' is highly recommended for any U2 fan that wants to hear early U2 at their finest. You won't regret this purchase.

ENJOY!!!

I am simply dumb-struck when I read luke warm reviews of this album by U2 "fans". I know U2's music has evolved over the years, but my goodness gracious people!!! The beauty and majesty, the ineffable elegance of this record deserves our reverence and admiration, not just because they wrote these amazing songs as teenagers, or that NOTHING that came before it sounded ANYTHING like it--it was COMPLETELY original--or that it is everything that is great about U2 in simple, shimmering, unadulterated, perfection from beginning to end, but because it's just a great record by any standard. Just take 45 minutes, put on a pair of headphones, turn out all the lights in the room, open the shades to let in the moonlight, and open up to this musical movie. It's U2's childhood and teenage years (and yours too--'U2') wrapped up in the most chilling, unique, dark, and hopeful music rock n' roll has ever produced. What an amazing achievement is a song like "Twillight", for example, an unself-conscious minor symphony--and the record is filled with them! If you can't appreciate the beauty of this record, I really do feel sorry for you, not in a condescending way, just because it's so deeply brilliant, I wish everyone could feel the joy of it....

Just do yourself a favor, fellow U2 fans; if you don't have this record, get it, and then put all your preconceived notions of what U2 should sound like, etc., aside and spend some time with this masterpiece--at least once at night, with headphones, in the moonlight--and I guarantee you'll thank me.

One of the reviewers here also said something ho-hum about 'War'. Trust me, this is another great, great record. The first three: Boy, October, War, represent an important era in U2's music, which is so Irish (This was before they became interested in 'the roots of rock n' roll' and their place in the legacy.) and so universal....

Well, I think maybe I've gone on a little too much, so I'll wrap it up--GREAT MUSIC, don't miss out.

For those familiar with U2 only as the larger-than-life superstars responsible for socially conscious anthems such as "Where the Streets Have No Name," "One," and "Beautiful Day," their debut album Boy should surprise. It's their most rocking album (their latest, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, is really pretty timid), their most apolitical, and their most energetic. The young U2's energy, enthusiasm, and ear for a good song more than make up for any lack of musical refinement (The Edge in particular seems to be having a whole lot of fun on the guitar, while never getting too technical). This is their best album of the `80's (along with 1983's War, but that's another review), besting even The Joshua Tree in terms of strength and consistency.

Boy's most recognizable song, "I Will Follow," begins the album. If there were one song to define U2's energy and optimism at this point in their careers, this is it. "Twilight" includes one of The Edge's best guitar solos ever; it's so simple yet so evocative of the pensive mood of the song. "An Cat Dubh" is the album's high point. It's a very dark song, with a fantastic instrumental finale (that also serves as the beginning of "Into the Heart"). Adam Clayton's bass and Larry Mullen Jr's percussion really shine here.

Other highlights include "Stories for Boys" and "Out of Control" (U2's first single), two great hard rockers. "The Electric Co." is a great jam piece, and "The Ocean" provides a nice, calm change of pace.

What might be the most valuable thing about Boy is it's picture of U2 as a very young band, free of any spotlight, making energetic, earnest music. This is essential for any rock music collection.

This 1980 release of the band's first solo debut album did not immediately herald success for this band of four Irish men. This album is for fan's who are into the real early sounds and melodies of U2. The songs on this album were bland in sound but made up in the lyrical side with heavy hitting lyrics based on many current social issues that affects the world today. The great songs of this album were 'I Will Follow', 'A Day Without Me' and 'The Electric Co'. This was a CD I needed to get to complete my majestic U2 music collection - it is worth 3.5 stars out of 5.

"Boy" - A Historical Footnote to A Rock Classic

So many of rock's bands in the 70's and 80's had kick-butt debut albums, and U2 was certainly no exception. Although "U2 3" is their first release (3 song EP), "Boy" introduced the world to the combination of post-punk and new wave that was to change the face of American and British music for the 80's and most of the 90's. United States audiences half-way embraced United Kingdom new wave or punkmusic, but until U2 emerged with their unique sound, most of the US was totally ignorant of any music coming from Europe. Their allegiances, in the late 70's and early 80's were still confined to the supergroups of Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton, the Eagles and Doobie Brothers. It was ripe for a completely new genre to come and displace the formula-matic pop rock that had so dominated FM rock.

Credit FM radio's AOR (album-oriented-music) and College Radio for making the US aware of bands like U2. I saw the first U2 tour in 1981- right when U2's second album came out "October." Back then, it was not unusual for three bands to play a concert, and fairly big acts, but the third act was usually a cutting edge band. U2 was the 3rd billed band that night behind the J.Geils Band and Steve Miller. Both of those bands were supposed to be two of the best live bands in the world, and damn if U2 didn't blow them both away! Yup! That's how hot they were right out of the gate. I remember Bono jumping off 15 foot super stacked amplifiers, doing a tuck and roll, coming up precisely midstage, while all the while singing while doing these gymnastics. I've seen hundreds of concerts (being an FM disc jockey) but had never, and still have never seen an act with more energy that Early U2. That night, EVERYONE walked away stunned asking: "Who WAS that band?" The local record stores quickly sold every U2 album in stock within the week.

So what was so unique about this debut that changed the face of rock and roll? It married the Punk rock movement with the New Wave movement into a singular sound that was based on both primitive rhythms, and elaborate jangling guitar work. It had a frantic pace that U2 never quit duplicated, so that makes "Boy" sort of the hard rockers favorite U2 albums. They had flashes of it later on, but "October" and "Boy" had an intensity and compact sound that was later slowed down and more maturely attuned to. It was enough to capture the US interest and provided the base clay that virtually all of the new wave bands of the 80's tried to emulate. This was the album that did that: roots rock of New Wave and Alternative music. It took another three or four albums for U2 to completely break out, but after "War" and "Joshua Tree", virtually all rock lovers knew who U2 was.

I think it is critical for rock fans to understand the context of WHY this album release was so important, so forgive me a bit if I didn't really review the new deluxe edition of `Boy". That was not my intent with this writeup. I am just trying to give you a bit of a background on the album itself.

Thanks for reading my diatribe (LOL) and if you think this review was helpful,please check the box below

Jeff Feezle of Macafeez