Note about song titles: “Night Fright” has often been listed as a missing song, but Mark Taylor in Out of Control: A Guide to U2 Bootleg Compact Discs (Rock.
Welcome to this first edition. I've been a pretty devout listener of U2 for, oh, 17 years now, and it turns out I'm also a pretty avid bootleg collector. I did other bands as well, but of course U2 remains the bulk of my bootleg prospecting.What I propose to do here is to give you a sense of the best bootlegs available out there for U2 lovers, and where to get them. Why don't we get started...
WHERE CAN I GET U2 BOOTLEGS?
- If you have a computer (preferably a Mac, because they're always preferable) with a semi-decent connection, go to the one and only source for all U2 bootlegs: www.u2start.com. They're amazing. Basically every show is there, clearly laid out, with user reviews, and often multiple download links. You'll need to register, but it's free and takes about .0005 seconds.
As a second step, get a premium membership to rapidshare.com. Again takes .0005 seconds, and you can sign up for a 1 or 3-month membership, which will comfortably allow you to download the entire known universe.
- If you're looking for CDs, you need to find stores or CD fairs that carry boots. One reliable NYC address is Bleeker Street Records, on Bleeker Street (duh), but anything soundboard-quality will cost you north of $40. Just not worth it. Stick to downloading.
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WHAT BOOTLEGS SHOULD I GET?
Many sites will give you exhaustive lists of 'all my bootlegs', which is all very 'meh....'. I've listened to pretty much ALL of them. And a large number are 'meh....', with another big chunk of 'hmmmmm', and a hefty slice of 'WTF?'. Then there are a handful of 'oh...my....god...there is meaning to the universe after all'. Here are the top 3 best ever boots:
1 - Zooropa Tour 1993 at the RDS Stadium, Dublin
- It's a soundboard recording, which doesn't guarantee it doesn't sound like shit, by the way, but this is a perfectly balanced soundboard. Sounds better than most live CDs you can buy out there, from any band.
- The sound quality is a whole lot better than the official DVD release of Zooropa 1993 from Sydney
- Bono's voice is at the right juncture between effortless (which it never is after 1993) and a bit weary (which it never really was before 1993).
- The setlist is superb, with gems such as 'Trying To Throw Your Arms...' and 'Ultraviolet' and 'Stay'
- Just a beautiful, well-rounded, complete, and supremely satisfying experience.
2 - Elevation Tour, 25 September 2001, Madison Square Garden
- I've never heard a concert recording sound this good. Not shitting you. This is astonishing sound quality
- Bono's voice is very very strong, which is particularly valuable as mostly he sang like crap throughout the Elevation Tour
- This is in NYC, shortly after 9/11, and there's a great tenderness and sense of defiance in the show. The songs from 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' already had this kindness and love and strength to them, and this show really catalyzes all this into something powerful.
- Well, it's Dublin, so it's a home town gig
- All the 2009 360 tour boots sound pretty good, simply because the sound quality at the gigs is so exceptional. This is a cut above the rest, honestly. And for once, the bass doesn't overwhelm everything the way it does in many of the U2 360 boots.
- Yes, there's the Sheffield recording which was a broadcast, but the drums are a a bit muffled ('coz it's broadcast quality). This is much better.
- Performance is fabulous. Edge fucks up in the first song, but that just gives it a more psychedelic feel.
3 (tie) - 360 Tour, Giants Stadium, 24 September 2009
- Most of the Dublin comments apply here, but the setlist is better, with 'Mysterious Ways' and 'Beautiful Day' early on.
- More playful than Dublin, with 'Rock the Casbah' and 'It's Only Rock n' Roll' thrown in.
- Bono's chattering gets tiring, especially name-checking every artist in New York City.
- I was there. The 'Thank You New Jersey!' and 'Thank You New York City!' shouts still give me a thrill.
Happy hunting to all.