U2: The Joshua Tree

The_Joshua_Tree

On March 9, 1987, “Island” label released “The Joshua Tree”, the fifth U2 studio album . It was recorded January 1986 – January 1987, at “STS Studios”, “Danesmoate House”, “Windmill Lane Studios”, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. In 1988, “The Joshua Tree” won “Grammy Awards”  for  “Album of the Year” and “Best Rock Performance” by a “Duo or Group with Vocal”.  It is U2 best sold album with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide.  In 1995, the album was certified 10× Platinum in US by “RIAA”, and  album subsequently received the “Diamond” certificate. In Canada it was certified Diamond by “Canadian Recording Industry Association”, In UK it was certified 8 x Platinum by “BPI”, with an additional silver certification for the 20th anniversary edition. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 27 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bono– lead vocals, harmonica, guitars
  • The Edge– guitars, piano, backing vocals
  • Adam Clayton– bass guitar
  • Larry Mullen, Jr.– drums, percussion
  • Brian Eno– keyboards, DX7 programming, backing vocals
  • Daniel Lanois– tambourine, Omnichord, additional guitar, backing vocals
  • The Armin Family – strings
  • The Arklow Silver Band – brass

Track listing:

All lyrics by Bono, all music by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen.

  1. Where the Streets Have No Name
  2. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
  3. With or Without You
  4. Bullet the Blue Sky
  5. Running to Stand Still
  6. Red Hill Mining Town
  7. In God’s Country
  8. Trip Through Your Wires
  9. One Tree Hill
  10. Exit
  11. Mothers of the Disappeared

Peter Banks

On March 7, 2013, Peter William Brockbanks aka Peter Banks died aged 66. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, member and  guitarist of “Yes” and had formed the bands “Flash” and “Empire”. In his career he has worked with Blodwyn Pig”, Jan Akkerman, Roger Ruskin Spearm, John Wetton, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett and “Zox & the Radar Boys”.

Viv Stanshall

On March 5, 1995, Victor Anthony Stanshall aka Viv Stanshall died aged 52. He was musician (various instruments), singe, songwriter,  painter, author  and poet, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at “Rawlinson End” and for narrating Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells”.

John Belushi

On March 5, 1982, comedian and singer John Belushi died aged 33. Belushi was one of the original cast members of “NBC” comedy show “Saturday night live”, he appeared in the movies “National Lampoon’s animal house”  and in “Neighbors” but his most memorable role was  “Joliet ‘Jake’ Blues” in the 1980 movie “The Blues brothers”. His tombstone epitaph says “I may be gone, but rock n roll lives on”.

Cab Calloway: Minnie The Moocher

Cab Calloway Minnie The Mooche

On March 3, 1931, Cab Calloway recorded the song “Minnie the Moocher” for “Brunswick” label. This is the first Jazz song sold in more then million copies. “Minnie the Moocher” is most famous for its nonsensical ad libbed (scat) lyrics (Hi De Hi De Hi De Hi). In live performances, Calloway would have the audience participate by repeating each scat phrase in a form of call and response. “Minnie the Moocher” was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame” in 1999.

Buddy Miles

On February 28, 2008, George Allen Miles aka Buddy Miles died aged 60.  He was musician (drums, percussion), singer, songwriter and producer, worked with Jimmy Hendrix, The Delfonics, The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Electric Flag, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Muddy Waters and Barry White.

musicalphabet