Wide Awake in America (1985)
1. Bad 2. A Sort of Homecoming 3. Three Sunrises 4. Love Comes Tumbling
Now here’s an oddity. Wide Awake in America stands as one of the strangest entries in U2’s catalogue—not quite a proper EP, not quite a live release, and certainly not a full album. Just four tracks: two live performances and two studio outtakes from the The Unforgettable Fire sessions. It’s over before it really begins, and yet it still manages to leave a strong impression.
The two live cuts—A Sort of Homecoming and Bad—are fine showcases of the band’s growing power on stage. Bad in particular begins to take on the shape that would later make it a centerpiece of their live shows: slow-burning, expansive, and emotionally explosive. But these performances also underline the frustration inherent in the record’s brevity. You can’t help but feel there should be more.
The real intrigue lies in the two studio tracks. The Three Sunrises and Love Comes Tumbling both carry the dreamy, ambient fingerprints of the Eno/Lanois production style and easily could have nestled themselves into The Unforgettable Fire without disruption. That they were left off the album proper is puzzling, especially given the quality on display.
Of course, years later, when The Unforgettable Fire was reissued with bonus material, these two songs were included—effectively rendering this collection somewhat redundant in a modern context. But at the time of release, it was a minor treasure for fans eager to hear more from this evolving version of U2.
Ultimately, Wide Awake in America feels like a whisper of something greater. A brief glimpse behind the curtain during one of the band’s most transformative periods. Not essential, perhaps—but for those already invested, its charms are unmistakable.