As one of the biggest global bands in rock history, U2 built a huge fanbase with great singles from “I Will Follow” to “With or Without You.” However, in the beginning U2 was just a little known band from Dublin. It’s hard to imagine a time when U2 was not selling out arenas and dominating radio airwaves. In the beginning, they released some great singles to a very small audience in their home country. It took some time before anyone (even in Ireland) took more notice. As you will see below, most of their early singles were not commercially successful outside of Ireland and with some early love from Australia and New Zealand. In fact, four of their first five singles did not chart in any country.
Side A: “Out of Control”
Side B: “Stories for Boys”/”Boy/Girl
Released on CBS Ireland February 1980 as part of Three (ep and single)
“Out of Control” and “Stories for Boys” would be re-recorded for the band’s debut album Boy (1980). This was the first release by U2 and is considered by some as an EP (also known as Three) and by others as a single.
Chart Peak: The single peaked at #19 on the Irish singles charts.
Side A: “Another Day”
Side B: “Twilight” – early version of the song that would be re-recorded for the debut album Boy (1980)
Released on CBS Ireland September 1979 as a non-album single
“Another Day” would not appear on any of the band’s albums but would appear on the Deluxe Reissue of Boy
Chart Peak: The song did not make any charts
Side A: “11 O’Clock Tick Tock”
Side B: “Touch” – early version of the song that would be re-recorded for the debut album Boy (1980)
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records May 1980 as a non-album single
“11 O’Clock Tick Tock” did not appear on any of the band’s studio albums but would appear on the live ep Under a Blood Red Sky (1983)
Chart Peak: The song did not make any charts
Side A: “A Day Without Me”
Side B: “Things to Make and Do” –
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records August 1980 from the album Boy
Chart Peak: The song did not make any charts
Side A: “I Will Follow”
Side B: “Boy-Girl”(live) for the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand version
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records October 1980 from the album Boy
Other versions of “I Will Follow” would be released at later dates in other countries and with other songs of the b-side.
Chart Peak: #71 on Australian singles charts and #34 on New Zealand singles charts
Side A: “Fire”
Side B: “J. Swallo”
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records July 1981 from the album October
Chart Peak: U2’s first charting single in the UK (#35). Also peaked at #4 in Ireland
Side A: “Gloria”
Side B: “I Will Follow” (live)
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records July 1981 from the album October
Chart Peak: Ireland (#10), Australia (#32), New Zealand (#15) and UK (#55)
Side A: “A Celebration”
Side B: “Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl”
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records / Polystar March 1982 as a non-album single
“Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl” would not appear on any of the band’s studio albums but became a regular live song and would appear on the live ep Under a Blood Red Sky with the shortened title “Party Girl”
Chart Peak: Ireland (#15), Australia (#83) and UK (#47)
Side A: “New Year’s Day”
Side B: “Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)”
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records January 1983 from the album War
Chart Peak: Ireland (#2), Australia (#36), Canada (#41), The Netherlands (#9), New Zealand (#32), Sweden (#17), UK (#10) and US (#53)
Side A: “Two Hearts Beat as One”
Side B: “Endless Deep”
Released on CBS Ireland / Island Records / Festival / Polystar released in US, Uk and Australia March 1983 from the album War
Chart Peak: Ireland (#2), Australia (#53), New Zealand (#16), UK (#18)
Side A: “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
Side B: “Endless Deep”
Released on Island Records / Polystar in The Netherlands and West Germany March 1983 from the album War
Chart Peak: The Netherlands (#3), and France (#95)
