Wide Awake in America

by

U2

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Wide Awake in America is an EP released after U2's career-defining appearance at 1985's Live Aid. It consists of live performances of "Bad" (NOT the version from Live Aid) and "A Sort of Homecoming," both from 1984's The Unforgettable Fire, as well as two outtakes from that album, "Love Comes Tumbling" and "The Three Sunrises."

"Bad" was recorded in November of 1984 in Birmingham, England (not in the U.S. as the EP's title suggests), well before Live Aid. This version of the song is absolutely amazing- it's infused with all the passion of the studio version as well as the energy from the audience. "A Sort of Homecoming" was recorded at London's Wembley Arena several days later as a soundcheck- the audience noise was edited in later. While knowing that somewhat dampens my enjoyment of the track, I still must say that it's performed with great energy and enthusiasm that were less present on the studio version.

The two studio tracks are quite good, and I agree with the other reviewers that say that they belong on The Unforgettable Fire in place of some of the questionable material from that album ("Elvis Presley & America" in particular). "Love Comes Tumbling" is a slower, brooding piece not unlike "Bad" or the title track from The Unforgettable Fire. "The Three Sunrises" is more joyous and uptempo, and has a sing-along feel to it. These are two of the best U2 B-sides.

Wide Awake in America is a fantastic EP and something that I'd recommend to anyone interested in U2. However, there's the matter of this being an EP that's sold at an LP's price. Myself, I downloaded the whole album from iTunes for $4. That's probably the best way to go with this.

Ah, there's something about record companies...

Wide Awake In America, like its low-cost twin Under A Blood Red Sky, was originally released as a budget-priced EP for the American market in the wake of U2's epochal performance at Live Aid, and it features only four songs - two live songs taken from the Unforgettable Fire tour and two studio outtakes from the sessions for the album.

And what's actually here is quite good. The live selections are arguably the two best songs from The Unforgettable Fire, "Bad" and "A Sort Of Homecoming," and while I initially found the performances disappointing, that was an illusion perpetrated by the fact that they're DIFFERENT from their original versions, but actually quite equal in quality as well. "A Sort Of Homecoming" is the most radically altered, with a slower, almost incantatory opening, and a shortened length. At first I missed the windswept passion of the studio cut, but this performance has an ambience all its own, and one which is just as valid. "Bad," on the other hand, simply BLOWS the original performance away. It's longer, more hypnotic, and features a wash of crystalline synthesizers. Truly amazing.

The studio tracks are darn good too: "The Three Sunrises" is arguably better than half of the tracks which made it ONTO The Unforgettable Fire ("Promenade," "Indian Summer Sky," "4th Of July," "Elvis Presley And America"), but I can see why it was excluded, as its sound wasn't in keeping with that LP's atmosphere. "Love Comes Tumbling" is less distinguished, just a groove really, but certainly no travesty.

So all's good, except for the fact that there are only 4 songs and 20 or so minutes on this CD. And it sells for full price now, where it originally was budget-line. Also, the two studio songs are available on the B-sides CD of the new Best-Of. So it's good, but for the price of $10 to $16, it's simply not worth it. Get it to complete your collection once you've decided you're a fan, and if it's live U2 you crave, get the stunning Under A Blood Red Sky instead.