The Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary Countdown: The Ones That Got Away!

This week, we'll be counting down the seven days to March 9 – the date when The Joshua Tree was launched, all of 30 years ago, in 1987. It was the album that fired U2 into the stratosphere, reaching No.1 all over the world and going on to sell 25 million copies.

To mark the occasion, Hot Press has selected for your delectation seven of the less familiar tracks from the recording sessions that generated The Joshua Tree – one every day from now till March 9th. Some of our choices were never intended for a U2 record. Others might arguably have made the album even stronger. And more again just didn’t fit the flow, in an era when artists were far more limited by a requirement to come in at or under the 40 minutes you could fit comfortably onto a vinyl record.

There are any of a dozen reasons why decisions can be made to include or exclude tracks. But what we can say is that herein is an even greater abundance of U2 gold. Here's our second installment, with your guide: Valentina Magli.

4) Silver and Gold

‘Silver and Gold’ was one of the most powerful tracks to come out of The Joshua Tree sessions.

The song was composed in 1985, after Bono joined the anti-Apartheid project Sun City, and was used as a b-side for ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’ in 1987. After spending time with the likes of Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, Bono was inspired to explore both Irish and American folk roots and to experiment with blues. ‘Silver and Gold’ was the first, dramatic result. The song, which is heavily influenced by American blues, found its consecration in the live performance included in the Rattle and Hum album (1988). It is still, to this day, one of the most compelling performances ever by the band. Spine-chilling!

The song was played only 11 times during the entire of The Joshua Tree Tour. It's last performance dates back to 26 November 1987, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.