U2

The Joshua Tree

First released1987

The Joshua Tree, U2's fifth studio album, was recorded primarily between 1985 and 1987 across multiple locations including a rented house in the Arizona desert, Dublin's Windmill Lane Studios, and various other studios in Europe and the United States. The album was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, who brought a more atmospheric and expansive sonic approach compared to the band's previous work, emphasizing ambient textures and spatial production techniques. Recording sessions took place over an extended period with the band experimenting extensively with drum sounds, synthesizers, and the Edge's distinctive guitar textures, while Lanois's production philosophy focused on capturing spontaneous performances and layering multiple takes. The album's sound was technically influenced by advances in digital recording and effects processing available in the mid-1980s, combined with live instrumentation and analog warmth that Lanois deliberately pursued. Released in March 1987, The Joshua Tree became one of the best-selling albums of all time and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1988, establishing U2 as a major international act.