On a recent One Thirty BPM conference call, the conversation (somehow) turned to U2’s Achtung Baby and whether it is a great album or a classic album. Needless to say, opinions varied, but we can all agree that it is an important album both in U2’s catalog and rock music in general, and its 20th birthday is worth celebrating. Luckily, U2 agrees with these sentiments as the album will be reissued in various formats this fall.
Due on Halloween, five editions have been announced of the reissue of Achtung Baby. There will of course be a standard reissue, with just the album on cd as it was originally conceived. There will also be:
– The Deluxe Edition: a 2xCD set containing the reissue of the original album plus B-sides and rarities.
– The Vinyl Box Set: a limited release containing 4 LPs, two of which are pressed on translucent blue vinyl containing remixes and B-sides. The box includes a 16 page booklet.
– The Super Deluxe Edition: 6CDs and 4 DVDs, in addition to a 92 page hardback book and 16 art prints in a wallet.
– A limited, numbered Uber Deluxe Edition: a magnetic puzzle tiled box which will contain: 6 CDs including the original Achtung Baby album, the follow-up album, Zooropa, B-sides, remixes and re-workings of previously unheard material recorded during the Achtung Baby sessions. 4 DVDs including ‘From The Sky Down’, ‘Zoo TV:Live From Sydney’, all the videos from Achtung Baby plus bonus material. There will also be the Achtung Baby double vinyl album plus 5 clear 7″ vinyl singles in their original sleeves, 16 art prints taken from the original album sleeve, an 84-page hardback book, a copy of Propaganda magazine, 4 badges, a sticker sheet, and a pair of Bono’s trademark ‘The Fly’ sunglasses.
Most of these are available for pre-order in the UK here. And, now you know what to get us for Christmas.
