U2start.com | TMTOMH: Old and News Favourites On the Albums

Well, I'm bored again but have got U2 on the brain. So I was thinking about how my personal favourite songs on the albums have changed from my first listenings to now, and I was curious to see how other fans have changed over the years with this band - especially those of you who have been fans much, much longer than I have!

So I was thinking, if you wanna play, for each album (or one at a time, or whatever) list:

Your first favourite: what was your favourite track the first few times you listened to the album?

Your current favourite: what is your favourite track now?

Biggest step forward: what track has had the biggest improvement in your rankings, between the first few listens and now? This should be one that maybe you weren't very fond of at first but now love, one that has really grown on you.

Biggest step back: what track has had the biggest fall in your rankings, between the first few listens and now? Not necessarily one you don't like, but perhaps a track that was once one of your favourites on the album but now is one you'll skip/rarely play.

(if this already exists someplace, just relocate/exterminate/whatever this thread)

CMIPalaeo

8 years

Here's my attempt:

Boy
First favourite: I Will Follow
Current favourite: Another Time, Another Place
Biggest step forward: Shadows and Tall Trees
Biggest step back: A Day Without Me

October
First favourite: Stranger In a Strange Land
Current favourite: Tomorrow
Biggest step forward: Tomorrow
Biggest step back: October

War
First favourite: Two Hearts Beat As One
Current favourite: Like a Song...
Biggest step forward: Red Light
Biggest step back: none - this is one of only two albums where I have never come to like a song less than the first few times I heard it

The Unforgettable Fire
First favourite: Indian Summer Sky
Current favourite: Indian Summer Sky
Biggest step forward: A Sort of Homecoming
Biggest step back: Bad (just the STUDIO version!)

The Joshua Tree
First favourite: Where the Streets Have No Name
Current favourite: Exit (or Where the Streets Have No Name... it's everyone's real favourite, isn't it?)
Biggest step forward: One Tree Hill
Biggest step back: With or Without You

Rattle and Hum
First favourite: Heartland
Current favourite: Heartland
Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
Biggest step back: Desire

Achtung Baby
First favourite: The Fly
Current favourite: The Fly
Biggest step forward: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World
Biggest step back: One

Zooropa
First favourite: Lemon
Current favourite: Lemon
Biggest step forward: Some Days Are Better Than Others
Biggest step back: Numb

Pop
First favourite: Discothèque
Current favourite: Mofo
Biggest step forward: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
Biggest step back: Miami

All That You Can't Leave Behind
First favourite: Wild Honey
Current favourite: Wild Honey
Biggest step forward: New York
Biggest step back: Elevation

How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
First favourite: A Man and a Woman
Current favourite: A Man and a Woman
Biggest step forward: One Step Closer
Biggest step back: All Because of You (especially because the version on Unreleased and Rare is WAY better than the album version, in my opinion)

No Line On the Horizon
First favourite: Get On Your Boots
Current favourite: Cedars of Lebanon
Biggest step forward: White As Snow
Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

Songs of Innocence
First favourite: Iris
Current favourite: Iris
Biggest step forward: This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
Biggest step back: none - this is the second album where I have not come to like a song less than the first few times I heard it

dghickey

8 years

Nothing better to do at the office right now.

Boy
First favourite: I Will Follow
Current favourite: Twilight
Biggest step forward: Stories For Boys
Biggest step back: An Cat Dubh

October
First favourite: October
Current favourite: Gloria
Biggest step forward: Fire
Biggest step back: Scarlet

War
First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
Current favourite: Seconds
Biggest step forward: Seconds
Biggest step back: The Refugee

The Unforgettable Fire
First favourite: A Sort of Homecoming
Current favourite: The Unforgettable Fire
Biggest step forward: Wire
Biggest step back: Elvis Presley & America

The Joshua Tree
First favourite: Bullet the Blue Sky
Current favourite: Red Hill Mining Town
Biggest step forward: Trip Through Your Wires
Biggest step back: I Still Haven't Found...

Rattle and Hum
First favourite: God Part II
Current favourite: Hawkmoon 269
Biggest step forward: All I Want Is You (just something magical about the album version)
Biggest step back: Desire

Achtung Baby
First favourite: The Fly
Current favourite: Acrobat
Biggest step forward: Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Biggest step back: Zoo Station

Zooropa
First favourite: Numb
Current favourite: Lemon
Biggest step forward: Some Days...
Biggest step back: Daddy's Gonna Pay...

Pop
First favourite: Discotheque
Current favourite: Do You Feel Loved
Biggest step forward: Playboy Mansion
Biggest step back: Miami

All That You Can't Leave Behind
First favourite: Elevation
Current favourite: Wild Honey
Biggest step forward: Grace
Biggest step back: Elevation

How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
First favourite: City of Blinding Lights
Current favourite: One Step Closer
Biggest step forward: Man & A Woman
Biggest step back: Vertigo

No Line On the Horizon
First favourite: Crazy Tonight
Current favourite: Crazy Tonight
Biggest step forward: Magnificent
Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

Songs of Innocence
First favourite: This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
Current favourite: The Troubles
Biggest step forward: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
Biggest step back: California (Love it live, can't stand the Bar-bar-barbara intro on the album)

LikeASong

8 years

I'm including least favourite too

Boy
First favourite: I Will Follow
Current favourite: I Will Follow
Biggest step forward: Shadows and Tall Trees
Biggest step back: Into The Heart
Least favourite: Into The Heart

October
First favourite: October
Current favourite: Tomorrow
Biggest step forward: Tomorrow
Biggest step back: I Threw A Brick Through A Window
Least favourite: Is That All?

War
First favourite: Like A Song
Current favourite: Like a Song...
Biggest step forward: Drowning Man
Biggest step back: Two Hearts Beat As One
Least favourite: The Refugee

The Unforgettable Fire
First favourite: Bad
Current favourite: bad
Biggest step forward: A Sort of Homecoming
Biggest step back: MLK
Least favourite: 4th Of July

The Joshua Tree
First favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
Current favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
Biggest step forward: One Tree Hill
Biggest step back: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Least favourite: Trip Through Your Wires

Rattle and Hum
First favourite: Heartland
Current favourite: Heartland
Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
Biggest step back: Desire
Least favourite: Angel Of Harlem

Achtung Baby
First favourite: Who's Gonna RIde Your Wild Horses
Current favourite: Love Is Blindness
Biggest step forward: Love Is Blindness
Biggest step back: The Fly
Least favourite: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

Zooropa
First favourite: Zooropa
Current favourite: Stay
Biggest step forward: Dirty Day
Biggest step back: Numb
Least favourite: Numb

Pop
First favourite: Please
Current favourite: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
Biggest step forward: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
Biggest step back: Discothèque
Least favourite: The Playboy Mansion

All That You Can't Leave Behind
First favourite: Walk On
Current favourite: Kite
Biggest step forward: In A Little While
Biggest step back: Elevation
Least favourite: Grace

How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
First favourite: Miracle Drug
Current favourite: Original Of The Species
Biggest step forward: A Man and a Woman
Biggest step back: City Of Blinding Lights
Least favourite: One Step Closer

No Line On the Horizon
First favourite: Breathe
Current favourite: Breathe
Biggest step forward: Fez - Being Born
Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots
Least favourite: Get On Your Boots

Songs of Innocence
First favourite: Cedarwood Road
Current favourite: Cedarwood Road
Biggest step forward: The Crystal Ballroom
Biggest step back: The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
Least favourite: Song for Someone

RUMMY

8 years

It's 5:00am and I can't sleep. Ah, who am I kidding, I'd do this in the middle of the day. I love stuff like this!

Boy
First favourite: I Will Follow
Current favourite: I Will Follow
Biggest step forward: Another Time, Another Place
Biggest step back: Shadows and Tall Trees
Least favourite: Shadows and Tall Trees

October
First favourite: Gloria
Current favourite: October
Biggest step forward: Tomorrow
Biggest step back: I Fall Down
Least favourite: Is That All?

War
First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
Current favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
Biggest step forward: Drowning Man
Biggest step back: Two Hearts Beat As One
Least favourite: The Refugee

The Unforgettable Fire
First favourite: Pride
Current favourite: Bad
Biggest step forward: A Sort of Homecoming
Biggest step back: Elvis Presley and America
Least favourite: 4th Of July

The Joshua Tree
First favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
Current favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
Biggest step forward: One Tree Hill
Biggest step back: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Least favourite: Trip Through Your Wires

Rattle and Hum
First favourite: All I Want Is You
Current favourite: All I Want Is You
Biggest step forward: Heartland
Biggest step back: Hawkmoon 269
Least favourite: When Love Comes to Town

Achtung Baby
First favourite: One
Current favourite: Ultra Violet
Biggest step forward: Even Better Than The Real Thing
Biggest step back: Mysterious Ways
Least favourite: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

Zooropa
First favourite: The FIrst Time
Current favourite: Stay
Biggest step forward: The Wanderer
Biggest step back: Numb
Least favourite: Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car

Pop
First favourite: Staring At The Sun
Current favourite: Please
Biggest step forward: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
Biggest step back: Discothèque
Least favourite: The Playboy Mansion

All That You Can't Leave Behind
First favourite: Walk On
Current favourite: Kite
Biggest step forward: In A Little While
Biggest step back: Elevation
Least favourite: Grace

How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
First favourite: Original Of The Species
Current favourite: Original Of The Species
Biggest step forward: Yahweh
Biggest step back: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Least favourite: Love and Peace or Else

No Line On the Horizon
First favourite: Magnificent
Current favourite: No Line on The Horizon
Biggest step forward: Fez - Being Born
Biggest step back: I Know I'll Go Crazy...
Least favourite: Get On Your Boots

Songs of Innocence
First favourite: California
Current favourite: Cedarwood Road
Biggest step forward: Volcano
Biggest step back: The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
Least favourite: Lucifer's Hands

DutchU2Fan

8 years

Boy:
First favourite: I Will Follow
Current favourite: A Day Without Me
Biggest step forward: Another Time, Another Place
Biggest step back: Into The Heart

October:
First favourite: October
Current favourite: Rejoice
Biggest step forward: I Fall Down
Biggest step back: Scarlet

War:
First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
Current favourite: Two Hearts Beat As One
Biggest step forward: Two Hearts Beat As One
Biggest step back: Sunday Bloody Sunday

Unforgettable Fire:
First favourite: Pride
Current favourite: Bad
Biggest step forward: A Sort Of Homecoming
Biggest step back: Pride

Joshua Tree:
First favourite: Bullet The Blue Sky
Current favourite: Red Hill Mining Town
Biggest step forward: Trip Through Your Wires
Biggest step back: One Tree Hill

Rattle And Hum:
First favourite: Helter Skelter
Current favourite: Hawkmoon 269
Biggest step forward: Heartland
Biggest step back: Van Diemens Land

Achtung Baby:
First favourite: The Fly
Current favourite: The Fly
Biggest step forward: Acrobat
Biggest step back: Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

Zooropa:
First favourite: Lemon
Current favourite: Stay
Biggest step forward: The Wanderer
Biggest step back: Numb

Pop:
First favourite: Discotheque
Current favourite: Last Night On Earth
Biggest step forward: Wake Up Dead Man
Biggest step back: Miami

All That You Can't Leave Behind:
First favourite: Elevation
Current favourite: Elevation
Biggest step forward: Grace
Biggest step back: In a Little While

How To Dismantle an Atomic bomb:
First favourite: Vertigo
Current favourite: City Of Blinding Lights
Biggest step forward: Miracle Drug
Biggest step back: A Man And A Woman

No Line On The Horizon:
First favourite: Get On Your Boots
Current favourite: Moment Of Surrender
Biggest step forward: I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

Songs Of Innocence:
First favourite: The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
Current favourite: Raised By Wolves
Biggest step forward: This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
Biggest step back: The Troubles

Bullet_Blue

8 years

Boy
First favourite: The Electric Co.
Current favourite: Shadows And Tall Trees
Biggest step forward: A Day Without Me
Biggest step back: Another Time, Another Place

October
First favourite: I Threw A Brick Through A Window
Current favourite: I Threw A Brick Through A Window
Biggest step forward: Rejoice
Biggest step back: Tomorrow

War
First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
Current favourite: New Year's Day
Biggest step forward: Surrender
Biggest step back: Like A Song

The Unforgettable Fire
First favourite: The Unforgettable Fire
Current favourite: A Sort Of Homecoming
Biggest step forward: Elvis Presley And America
Biggest step back: The Unforgettable Fire

The Joshua Tree
First favourite: Bullet The Blue Sky
Current favourite: Exit
Biggest step forward: Running To Stand Still
Biggest step back: Mothers Of The Disappeared

Rattle And Hum
First favourite: Helter Skelter
Current favourite: Heartland
Biggest step forward: All Along The Watchtower
Biggest step back: God Part II

Achtung Baby
First favourite: Until The End Of The World
Current favourite: Love Is Blindness
Biggest step forward: Zoo Station
Biggest step back: Mysterious Ways

Zooropa
First favourite: Lemon
Current favourite: Lemon
Biggest step forward: Some Days Are Better Than Others
Biggest step back: The Wanderer

Pop
First favourite: Mofo
Current favourite: Gone
Biggest step forward: Staring At The Sun
Biggest step back: Discotheque

All That You Can't Leave Behind
First favourite: Beautiful Day
Current favourite: New York
Biggest step forward: Kite
Biggest step back: Walk On

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
First favourite: City Of Blinding Lights
Current favourite: City Of Blinding Lights
Biggest step forward: Love And Peace Or Else
Biggest step back: Original Of The Species

No Line On The Horizon
First favourite: Magnificent
Current favourite: Breathe
Biggest step forward: Fez/Being Born
Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

Songs Of Innoncence
First favourite: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
Current favourite: Cedarwood Road
Biggest step forward: Volcano
Biggest step back: Every Breaking Wave

LikeASong

8 years

Originally posted by DutchU2Fan:Joshua Tree:
Biggest step forward: Trip Through Your Wires
Biggest step back: One Tree Hill

Alvin

8 years

this is how I see it

Boy
First favourite: I Will Follow
Current favourite: Stories For Boys
Biggest step forward: Twilight
Biggest step back: Into The Heart
Least favourite: Shadows and Tall Trees

October
First favourite: Gloria
Current favourite: Gloria
Biggest step forward: I Fall Down
Biggest step back: Scarlet
Least favourite: Scarlet

War
First favourite: New Years Day
Current favourite: Like A Song
Biggest step forward: Seconds
Biggest step back: Sunday Bloody Sunday
Least favourite: The Refugee

The Unforgettable Fire
First favourite: Pride
Current favourite: The Unforgettable Fire
Biggest step forward: Bad
Biggest step back: Pride
Least favourite: Elvis Presley and America

The Joshua Tree
First favourite: Bullet The Blue Sky
Current favourite: Exit
Biggest step forward: Where The Streets Have No name
Biggest step back:I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Least favourite: With Or Without You

Rattle and Hum
First favourite: When Love Comes to Town
Current favourite: God Part II
Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
Biggest step back: Angel of Harlem
Least favourite: Love Rescue Me

Achtung Baby
First favourite: Zoo Station
Current favourite: The Fly
Biggest step forward: Acrobat
Biggest step back: One
Least favourite: So Cruel

Zooropa
First favourite: Lemon
Current favourite: Dirty Day
Biggest step forward: Zooropa
Biggest step back: Babyface
Least favourite: The Wanderer

Pop
First favourite: Last Night On Earth
Current favourite: Please
Biggest step forward: Mofo
Biggest step back: If God Will Send His Angels
Least favourite: The Playboy Mansion

All That You Can't Leave Behind
First favourite: Beautiful Day
Current favourite: Elevation
Biggest step forward: Kite
Biggest step back: Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Least favourite: Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of

How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
First favourite: Vertigo
Current favourite: Love And Peace Or Else
Biggest step forward: All Because Of You
Biggest step back: City Of Blinding Lights
Least favourite: Crumbs From Your Table

No Line On the Horizon
First favourite: Fez/Being Born
Current favourite: Breathe
Biggest step forward: Unknown Caller (just don't like that "Sunshine, Sunshine" at the start)
Biggest step back: Get on Your Boots
Least favourite: White as Snow

Songs of Innocence
First favourite: Cedarwood Road
Current favourite: The Troubles
Biggest step forward:
Biggest step back: Song For Someone
Least favourite: California

fleavox

8 years

Very good topic... and I'm including also, the first least favourite

Boy
First Favourite: I Will Follow
Current Favourite: A Day Without Me
Biggest step forward: A Day Without Me
Biggest step back: I Will Follow
First least favourite: Shadows And Tall Threes
Current least favourite: The Ocean

October
First Favourite: I Threw A Brick Trough A Window
Current Favourite: Gloria
Biggest step forward: With A Shout
Biggest step back: Rejoice
First least favourite: Scarlet
Current least favourite: Is That All?

War:
First Favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
Current Favourite: Like A Song
Biggest step forward: Two Hearts Beat As One
Biggest step back: New Year's Day
First least favourite: Red Light
Current least favourite: Red Light

The Unforgettable Fire:
First Favourite: Pride
Current Favourite: Bad
Biggest step forward: A Sort Of Homecoming
Biggest step back: Pride
First least favourite: Elvis Presley And America
Current least favourite: Elvis Presley and America

The Joshua Tree
First Favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
Current Favourite: One Tree Hill
Biggest step forward: Red Hill Mining Town
Biggest step back: In God's Country
First least favourite: Mothers of Disappeared
Current least favourite: In God's Country

Rattle And Hum
First Favourite: All I Want Is Yoy
Current Favourite: Heartland
Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
Biggest step back: Desire
First least favourite: Helter Skelter
Current least favourite: Helter Skelter

Achtung Baby
First Favourite: One
Current Favourite: So Cruel
Biggest step forward: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World
Biggest step back: Mysterious Ways
First least favourite: Even Better Than The Real Thing
Current least favourite: Even Better Than The Real Thing

Zooropa
First Favourite: Numb
Current Favourite: The Wanderer
Biggest step forward

he Wanderer
Biggest step back: Stay
First least favourite: Lemon
Current least favourite: Lemon

Pop:
First Favourite: Staring At The Sun
Current Favourite: Please
Biggest step forward: Miami
Biggest step back: Mofo
First least favourite: Discotheque
Current least favourite: Playboy Mansion

All That You Can't Leave Behind
First Favourite: Kite
Current Favourite: Kite
Biggest step forward: When I Look At The World
Biggest step back: New York
First least favourite: Wild Honey
Current least favourite: Elevation

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
First Favourite: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your On
Current Favourite: Original Of The Species
Biggest step forward: Crumbs From Your Table
Biggest step back: City Of Blinding Lights
First least favourite: A Man And A Woman
Current least favourite: Vertigo

No Line On The Horizon
First Favourite: Moment Of Surrender
Current Favourite: Unknown Caller
Biggest step forward: Magnificent
Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots
First least favourite: Cedars Of Lebanon
Current least favourite: Cedars Of Lebanon

Songs Of Innocence
First Favourite: Every Breaking Wave
Current Favourite: Iris
Biggest step forward: Cedarwood Road
Biggest step back: Volcano
First least favourite: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
Current least favourite: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight

LikeASong

8 years