The Fly
Front Sleeve
Release Date: October 21, 1991
Highest Chart Position: UK: 1 USA: 61
Liner Notes:
The Fly: Written by U2. Produced by Daniel Lanois. Engineered by Flood. Additional engineering by Robbie Adams. Assisted by Shannon Strong. Mixed by Flood with Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite. Assisted by Robbie Adams. Special thanks to Brian Eno. Alex Descends into Hell for a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1: Written by Bono and the Edge. Produced and arranged by Paul Barrett. Assisted by Ian Bryan. Mixed by Ingmar Kiang. Programming by Dave Clayton. Percussion by Noel Eccles. Boy Sopranos: Noel and Jerry O'Gorman. Special thanks to Dr. Albert Bradshaw. From the RSC production of "A Clockwork Orange" directed by Ron Daniels. The Lounge Fly Mix: Written by U2. Produced by Daniel Lanois. Engineered by Flood. Additional engineering by Robbie Adams. Mixed by Flood. Assisted by Shannon Strong. Photography by Anton Corbijn. Design by Works Associates (Dublin). Car painted by Thierry Noir (Berlin). * From the RSC production of "A Clockwork Orange" directed by Ron Daniels.
Track List (7" Single):
- The Fly (4:29)
- Alex Descends Into Hell For A Bottle Of Milk / Korova 1 * (3:37)
Track List (12" Single):
- The Fly (4:29)
- Alex Descends Into Hell For A Bottle Of Milk / Korova 1 * (3:37)
- The Lounge Fly Mix (6:28)
Catalog:
- Australia:
- 7": Island 868 884-7
- 12": Island 868 885-1
- Cassette: Island 868 884-4
- CD: Island 868 885-2
- Brazil:
- 12": Island 2801 531
- Canada:
- 12": Island 868 885-1
- Cassette: Island 422-868 885-4
- CD: Island 868 885-2
- France:
- 7": Island 868-884-7, Island IS 500 (Jukebox Promo)
- Cassette: Island 868 884-4
- CD: Island 868 885-2, Island Custom Box (7" and CD Single / Window Sticker)
- Germany:
- 7": Island 114 728
- 12": Island 614 728
- Cassette: Island 412 295-207
- CD: Island 664 728
- Japan:
- CD: Island / Polystar PSCD-1182, Island / Polystar PSDD 1102 (3" CD)
- Mexico:
- Cassette: Island CDEPM 5125 / 868 885-2
- CD: Island CMIX 5125 / 868 885-4
- Spain:
- 7": Island 114 728 (1A)
- 12": Island 614 728 (3A)
- UK:
- 7": Island IS500 / 868 884-7 (Four different Labels exist), Island IS500JB (Jukebox Promo)
- 12": Island 12IS500
- Cassette: Island CIS500
- CD: Island CID500
- USA:
- 12": Island 422-868 885-1
- Cassette: Island 422-868 885-4
- CD: Island 422 868 885-2, Island PRCD 6680-2 (Promo)
Media Review:
Review: The Fly [US CD]
3 stars (out of 5)
By JT Griffith, All Music Guide
This CD single is the first from U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby, and was released one month prior to that follow-up to 1989's Rattle and Hum. Previously, Red, Hot, and Blue introduced the world to a new U2 sound with their dark cover of Cole Porter's "Night and Day." Still, hearing "The Fly for the first time was stunning. This single was the first peek into the reinvention of the most important band of the 1980s, and thus occupies a nostalgic place in U2's discography. Of the two B-sides, one is especially noteworthy. "Alex Descends Into Hell for a Bottle of Milk/Korova 1" is an instrumental collage done by Bono and the Edge for a British production of A Clockwork Orange. To date, this is the only released track from that score. The "Lounge Fly Mix" is an inconsequential, but fun, remix of one of the lesser Achtung Baby tracks. Of all the singles from that album, this is perhaps the most significant but least interesting to non-collectors. It is interesting to note that while "The Fly" was a number one hit in the U.K., it peaked at number 61 on the U.S. charts. The band's overwhelming success in Europe since 1991 suggests that, with Achtung Baby (and this single), U2's reinvention was particularly European and that their alienated fans are largely American.
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