Their first single, a klaxon to the world.
Artist, album and year: U2, Boy, 1980
Why is it a classic? : In 2015, it’s almost impossible to imagine U2 as a bunch of Dublin teenagers that were desperately trying to kick, scream and claw their way into the global mainstream.
Today they’re the worlds biggest band, selling out stadiums on their tours, and they can proudly say that Bruce Springsteen introduced them into the rock and roll hall of fame.
The amount of albums and singles that they’ve sold around the world probably equates to the same amount of people that love/dislike them in equal measure.
They’re a global behemoth. An Irish institution and an unstoppable force but Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry weren’t always at the top of the world.
Like any other band they faced the same nerves, excitement and hopes as they went into record their raw, energetic and timeless debut album, Boy.
I Will Follow, An Cat Dubh, Into The Heart and The Electric Co are all stellar tracks but we’ve opted for this wonderful slice of pop-punk nirvana that still has the ability to make 80,000 people all jump at once.
It’s remarkable to think that a bunch of teenagers, who were still discovering their collective sound as a band and learning their instruments, had so much confidence in their own ability. Out of Control is a blistering track.
Right from the opening, Adam Clayton’s seductive bass combined with Larry Mullen’s rhythmic drumming grounds the song before The Edge lays down that iconic riff that just keeps building and building.
Bono has frequently complained about his ‘young’ and ‘English like’ vocals on this album but this track is the epitome of Boy’s strengths.
Adolescence, frustration, boredom, disenchantment with the world and that feeling of not entirely belonging are all prevalent here.
The Edge’s riff at 1:57 still ranks as one of his most electrifying because it whips the listener into 90 mph frenzy before the band collectively cool things down.
What follows next is a frantic tour de force that has that rare ability to get your adrenalin rushing and feet jumping.
Did You Know?: Out Of Control was the very first single that U2 released but they only settled on this song after Dave Fanning asked his listeners to vote on which tune should be their first A-side.
The three songs were Out of Control, Boy/Girl and Stories For Boys. Fanning’s listeners chose Out Of Control, a song that Bono wrote on his 18th birthday.
The lyrical hook: “I was of a feeling it was out of control, I had the opinion it was out of control.”
Their performance of this song at Slane in 2001, where Bono talks about Thin Lizzy and his recently deceased father, is also one of the bands most incredible live performances.
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