From the Artist
The Unforgettable Fire was a beautifully out-of-focus record, blurred like an impressionist painting, very unlike a billboard or an advertising slogan. …… In America there was such a backlash when we put out The Unforgettable Fire. People thought we were the future of rock’n’roll and they went, ‘What are you doin’ with this doggone hippie Eno album?’ ‘We owe Eno and Lanois so much for seeing through to the heart of U2.’ Bono, 1987
About the Artist
The Unforgettable Fire was U2’s first studio collaboration with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. There were several significant re-issues including one in October 1996 as part of the Island Master series and one as part of the MFSL Ultradisc series in both the 12″ vinyl and 5″ CD formats with a slightly longer version of 4th Of July. Other unusual releases from around the world included a Mexican release on the Bertelsmann label as part of the Rockollector series. And, in Australia, the 12″ vinyl version was packaged with a bonus stickered 12″ of Two Hearts Beat As One (extended)/New Year’s Day (edited Version)/Two Hearts Beat As One (4.24).
The album peaked at No.1 on both the UK and Australian album charts. In the US, it peaked at No.12 on the album charts and No.39 on the Top Pop Catalog Albums chart. The album was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with 3 million units sold. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, The Unforgettable Fire reached No.24 on the album charts and stayed in the charts a total of 3 weeks. It was also selected as Best Album at Ireland’s Music Industry Awards and in the Hot Press Reader’s Poll, it was voted the No. 1 album by readers.
