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Radio 2 listeners name U2’s Joshua Tree the ultimate album of the 80s

By | Published on Monday 12 October 2020

U2

BBC Radio 2 listeners have voted U2’s ‘The Joshua Tree’ the greatest album of the 1980s. This is why we can’t have nice things.

The poll was announced to coincide with National Album Day, which was on Saturday. Did you listen to lots of albums? Did you listen to ‘The Joshua Tree’? Did you do either of those things remembering that Saturday was National Album Day?

“‘The Joshua Tree’ changed everything for us as a band”, says guitarist The Edge. “It was written in the mid-80s, during the Reagan-Thatcher era of British and US politics, a period when there was a lot of unrest. And it feels like we’re right back there in a way, politics are still so polarised”.

“We’ve had the privilege of playing ‘The Joshua Tree’ live all over the world in the last few years and it’s almost like the album has come full circle”, he goes on. “We’re just THRILLED that people are still connecting with these songs, night after night, year after year. Huge thanks to Radio 2 and everyone who voted!”

Radio 2’s Head Of Music Jeff Smith, adds: “The 80s saw the introduction of the CD and a renaissance for the album format but now in pristine digital audio”.

Thanks, Jeff, that’s good to know. Gary Davies, who presented the full top 40 rundown for the BBC station, adds: “Because there were so many brilliant albums in the 80s having to choose just one is really difficult. I’m very pleased to see that the Radio 2 listeners have impeccable taste by choosing an album from my all-time favourite band and agree with me that the ultimate 80s album just has to be ‘The Joshua Tree’ from U2”.

Here’s the top ten:

1. U2 – The Joshua Tree

2. Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms

3. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses

4. Michael Jackson – Thriller

5. Guns N Roses – Appetite For Destruction

6. The Human League – Dare

7. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead

8. Paul Simon – Graceland

9. ABC – The Lexicon Of Love

10. Prince – Purple Rain

Listen to the full rundown on BBC Sounds here

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