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Staring At The Sun

By Jonathan on April 15, 1997 8:45 AM
Staring At The Sun Front Sleeve

Staring At The Sun
Front Sleeve

Staring At The Sun Alternate CD Version Front Sleeve

Staring At The Sun
Alternate CD Version | Front Sleeve

Release Date: April 15, 1997

Highest Chart Position: UK: 3 USA: 26

Liner Notes:

Staring at the Sun (Album Version): Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono & The Edge. Produced by Flood. Additional production by Steve Osborne. Recorded by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Howie B. Assisted by Rob Kirwan. Mixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Steve Osborne. Assisted by Conal Markey and Richard Rainey. Programming: Ben Hillier. Loops: Larry Mullen. Keyboards: Steve Osborne. North and South of the River: Music by U2. Lyrics by Christy Moore, Bono and the Edge. Produced by Flood. Recorded by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Rob Kirwan. Mixed by Rob Kirwan. Your Blue Room: Music and lyrics by U2 and Brian Eno (Passengers). Produced by U2 and Brian Eno. Recorded by Danton Supple. Assisted by Rob Kirwan. Staring at the Sun (Monster Truck Mix): Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono & The Edge. Original recording produced by Flood. Additional production by Steve Osborne. Recorded by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Howie B. Assisted by Rob Kirwan. Mixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Steve Osborne. Assisted by Conal Markey and Richard Rainey. Programming: Ben Hillier. Loops: Larry Mullen. Keyboards: Steve Osborne. Remixed by the Sonic Morticians. Produced by Butch 'The Embalmer' Vig and Danny 'Necrophiliac' Saber. Engineered by John 'Carcass Humper' X. Second engineers: Wes 'Grave Robber' Johnson & Jonathan 'Grave Digger' Burtner. Remixed at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles. Staring at the Sun (Sad Bastards Mix): Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono & The Edge. Original recording produced by Flood. Additional production by Steve Osborne. Recorded by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Howie B. Assisted by Rob Kirwan. Mixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Steve Osborne. Assisted by Conal Markey and Richard Rainey. Programming: Ben Hillier. Loops: Larry Mullen. Keyboards: Steve Osborne. Remixed by the Sonic Morticians. Remixed by Flood and Rob Kirwan. Mixed by Rob Kirwan. Staring at the Sun (Lab Rat Mix): Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono & The Edge. Original recording produced by Flood. Additional production by Steve Osborne. Recorded by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Howie B. Assisted by Rob Kirwan. Mixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Steve Osborne. Assisted by Conal Markey and Richard Rainey. Programming: Ben Hillier. Loops: Larry Mullen. Keyboards: Steve Osborne. Remixed by the Sonic Morticians. Remixed by the Sonic Morticians. Produced by Butch 'The Embalmer' Vig and Danny 'Necrophiliac' Saber. Engineered by John 'Carcass Humper' X. Second engineers: Wes 'Grave Robber' Johnson & Jonathan 'Grave Digger' Burtner. Remixed at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles. Photography by Stephane Sednaoui. Design and computer treatments by ABA, Dublin.

Track List (7" Single):

  1. Staring at the Sun (Album Version) (4:37)
  2. North and South of the River (4:38)

Track List (12" Single):

  1. Staring at the Sun (Monster Truck Mix) (5:06)
  2. Staring at the Sun (Sad Bastards Mix) (6:19)
  3. Staring at the Sun (Lab Rat Mix) (5:05)

Track List (CD Single):

  1. Staring at the Sun (Album Version) (4:37)
  2. North and South of the River (4:38)
  3. Your Blue Room (5:28)

Track List (Alternate Version CD Single):

  1. Staring at the Sun (Monster Truck Mix) (5:06)
  2. Staring at the Sun (Sad Bastards Mix) (6:19)
  3. North and South of the River (4:38)
  4. Staring at the Sun (Lab Rat Mix) (5:05)

Catalog:

  • Australia:
    • Cassette: Island 854 972-4
    • CD: Island 854 975-2 (Digipak), Island 854 973-2
  • Canada:
    • CD: Island 422-854 973-2, Island PR12 7463-1 (Promo / Sleeve printed in Canada)
  • Europe:
    • CD: Island CIDT658 / 854 972-2, Island CID658 / 854 975-2, Island CIDX658 / 854 973-2
  • France:
    • 7": Island ISJB 658 (Jukebox Promo)
  • Japan:
    • CD: Island PHCR-8397
  • Korea:
    • CD: Island DO 0549 (Promo / Printed with Korean Catalog Number)
  • Mexico:
    • CD: Island CDP 581-2 (Promo)
  • South Africa:
    • CD: Island MAXCD037
  • UK:
    • 7": Island ISJB 658 (Jukebox Promo)
    • 12": Island 12IS658DJ (Promo)
    • Cassette: Island CIS 658 / 854 972-4
    • CD: Island CID658 / 854 975-2 (Digipak), Island CIDX658 / 854 973-2, Island CIDT 658, Island SUNCD1 (Promo / Different PS)
  • USA:
    • 7": Island 422-854 972-7
    • 12": Island PR12 7463-1 (Promo)
    • Cassette: Island 422-854 972-4
    • CD: Island 422-854 975-2, Island 422-854 973-2, Island PRCD 7445-2 (Promo)

Media Review:

Review: Staring at the Sun [#1]

4 stars (out of 5)

By JT Griffith, All Music Guide

This is the second single from U2's 1997 album Pop. It is no surprise that the "Monster Truck Mix" is produced by Butch Vig, because it sounds just like his band Garbage. This version is faster than the original with a speedy breakbeat rhythm that gets the pulse racing. The stuttering drum'n'bass addition makes this song a pure adrenaline rush. The "Sad Bastards Mix" sounds like a "Millennium Led Zeppelin Mix" with a pounding John Bonham-style rhythm. The "Lab Rat Mix" applies a vocal filter similar to "Your Blue Room" from Passengers: Original Soundtracks to a revved-up rhythm similar to the "Monster Truck Mix." Fans of aesthetics and production will consider this the best "Staring at the Sun" released to date (except, perhaps, for the live version on the "Please" single). The only non-LP song on this CD is "North and South of the River," which is one of the best U2 B-sides since the "Rattle and Hum" days. The lyrics were written by Christy Moore and the melody had its birth in the infamous Achtung Baby Sessions' "Take Today" (disc two, track six). The Curtis Mayfield-inspired soulful song is another powerful U2 ballad about political differences. In the 1980s this song would have had a backing gospel choir singing the chorus, but made in the late '90s, it has a subtle synthesizer instead. Most people who will buy this single will do so for the variations of "Staring at the Sun," but the gem of the set is this previously unreleased song. The Staring at the Sun CD is as good as the "Please" single, but not as essential, because, frankly, none of the songs on Pop can compare to Joshua Tree live versions. However, the Staring at the Sun CD single (and especially "North and South of the River") come very close.

© AMG/Macrovision Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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This page contains a single entry by Jonathan published on April 15, 1997 8:45 AM.

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