The Joshua Tree

Production notes

The Joshua Tree was recorded between 1986 and 1987 primarily at Windmill Lane Studios and STS Studios in Dublin, as well as Danesmoate House, a Georgian mansion used as a residential recording space. The album was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, with engineering by Flood, and marked a continuation of the collaborative relationship established on the previous album The Unforgettable Fire. Lanois and Eno employed a blend of ambient textures, atmospheric processing, and more direct rock arrangements, with Eno focusing on overall sonic treatments and strategic direction while Lanois worked closely on performances and hands-on production. The sessions were characterized by extensive experimentation, with many tracks evolving from improvised jams, and the use of effects processing on The Edge's guitar—including extensive delay and reverb—became a defining sonic signature. Released in March 1987, the album was shaped by the band's growing interest in American roots music, literature, and political themes, and it became one of the fastest-selling albums in history at that time, winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.