Music

5 things you didn't know about 'The Joshua Tree' album

If you already know everything... Congrats, here's a virtual medal.

Tune in all day to listen to tracks from 'The Joshua Tree'

1. Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Stones' Keith Richards were major influencers and advisors during the creation of 'The Joshua Tree'. The trio had suggested U2 to bring in both American and Irish roots into the production.

2. The song "With or Without You" is inspired from Bono's self-struggles of being a husband and a musician. He says that he realised neither roles defined him, but instead, Bono has become who he is because of the tension between the two characters. The track is also the first single to be widely released in CD format.

3. Producer Brian Eno was so close to scrapping 'Where the Streets Have No Name' because it had taken the band far too long to record it right. He once said that he felt that U2 would be better off if he had 'accidentally' deleted all the tapes. Fortunately, an observant engineer foresaw Eno's plan and 'dropped a tray of tea' which physically restrained Eno from going through with his plan. Kudos, mate!

4. The album title stems from the twisted desert plant called Joshua trees. Named by early settlers after the Old Testament prophet, Joshua, the plant's stretched out branches resembled Joshua raising his hands to pray. After learning about the plant during the iconic photo shoot at California's Mojave Desert with Anton Corbijn, Bono declared to call the album 'The Joshua Tree'.

5. In 2014, the USA's Library of Congress had chosen 'The Joshua Tree' for preservation in the National Recording Registry because of how culturally, historically and aesthetically significant the album was.