Set List Feature - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

11th album

Released in November 2004 (UK & U.S.)

Positive reviews

No. 1 in 34 countries

No. 1 on UK Albums Chart

No. 1 on Australian ARIA Chart

No. 1 on Billboard 200

840,000 in sales in the first week in the U.S.*

*Personal best for the band

9 million copies sold worldwide 

3.3 million copies sold in the U.S. through March 2014

Impressive honor - The album and singles won all Grammy Award categories nominated in (8 total).

- Grammy Awards -

2005 - "Vertigo" -

Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Short Form Music Video 

2006 - "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" -

Song of the Year, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

2006 - "City of Blinding Lights" -

Best Rock Song 

2006 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Best Rock Album, Album of the Year 

Producer Steve Lillywhite won Producer of the Year, Non Classical

Lead single - "Vertigo"

No. 1 in the UK 

No. 31 on Billboard Hot 100

No. 1 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks

U2's best-selling digital single in the U.S. 

(2x Platinum status in the U.S.)

Namesake to the Vertigo Tour

Second single - "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"

No. 1 on UK Singles Chart

No. 15 on Billboard Adult Top 40

Review Scores -

AllMusic - 3.5/5 Stars

Entertainment Weekly - B

The Guardian - 4/5 Stars

Los Angeles Times - 4/4 Stars

NME - 9/10

Pitchfork - 6.9/10

Q - 4/5 Stars 

Rolling Stone - 4/5 Stars

Uncut - 4/5 Stars

Accolades -

The album was ranked best in 2004 by such publications as USA Today and The New York Times.  The album was ranked fourth in 2004 by Q.  The album was listed on Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2004.

Sad irony - Bono did not 100% approve of the album.  In his words -

"...the whole isn't greater than the sum of its parts..."

Vertigo Tour

Track List -

1.  Vertigo

2.  Miracle Drug 

3.  Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own

4.  Love and Peace or Else

5.  City of Blinding Lights 

6.  All Because of You

7.  A Man and a Woman

8.  Crumbs from Your Table

9.  One Step Closer

10.  Original of the Species 

11.  Yahweh

U2 -

Bono - Vocals

The Edge - Guitar

Adam Clayton - Bass Guitar 

Larry Mullen, Jr. - Drums 

Certified Gold in Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia 

Certified 3x Gold in Germany

Certified Platinum in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Sweden  

Certified 2x Platinum in Brazil, Spain

Certified 3x Platinum in Argentina, New Zealand, Portugal, U.S.

Certified 4x Platinum in Australia, Denmark, UK

Certified 5x Platinum in Canada 

Certified 10x Platinum in Ireland 

(Wikipedia)

Jazz Style - Bill Evans - Jazz Saxophonist

William D. Evans

February 9, 1958

Follow on Wikipedia.

Album Recommendation

Bill Evans - Escape

Single Favorite

"The Sunday After"

Jazz Style - Bill Evans - Jazz Pianist

William John Evans

August 16, 1929 - September 15, 1980

American jazz pianist and composer 

In 1955, Bill Evans worked with bandleader, George Russell.  

In 1958, Bill joined Miles Davis's sextet.  The band is most noted for recording Kind of Blue - the best selling jazz album of all time.

In 1959, Bill Evans for a trio that included bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian.  The trio recorded two albums - Portrait in Jazz & Explorations.  In 1961, the trio performed at New York's Village Vanguard jazz club.  This led to two other albums - Sunday at the Village Vanguard & Waltz for Debby.

In 1963, Bill Evans recorded the solo album, Conversations with Myself.  The album earned Evans a Grammy Award and impressive critical acclaim.

In the 1970s, Bill collaborated with Tony Bennett on the albums, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album (1975) & Together Again (1977).

Awards -

7 Grammy Awards & 31 Grammy Nominations

Honors -

DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame 

Posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

End of life -

Bill Evans faced devastation in his short life.  Scott LaFaro was killed in a car crash shortly after the Vanguard performances.  Evans did not work for several months.  Bill's brother, Harry, committed suicide.  Bill's girlfriend of 12 years, Ellaine Shultz, committed suicide.  Bill had a severe drug addiction that included heroin, methadone, and cocaine.  He further stopped treatment for chronic hepatitis.  When he passed at the age of 51, his friend Gene Lees described his addiction as "the longest suicide in history."

Bill Evans offered hope in his career and personal life.  He was an avid reader, artist, and golfer.  He enjoyed race horsing and dabbled in gambling with success.  He owned a racehorse named "Annie Hall."

(Wikipedia)

(Discography)

I choose to take away the history of Bill Evans's career as what to remember.  He had pain and vices.  Yet, he also had talent shared with a variety of jazz talents in their own right.  Consider his trio.  Consider his collaborations.  Consider his impact on contemporary and later musicians.  I choose this to honor Bill Evans.

Set List Royalty

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

b. May 2, 2015

Wales Princess in Yellow

Music in 2015

In early 2015, "Uptown Funk" reigned No. 1 from January 3rd to February 7th.  On May 2nd, "See You Again" (by American rapper Wiz Khalifa and American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth) was ranked a No. 1 single.

On January 3, 2015, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's album x ranked as a No. 1 album.  On May 2nd, American singer Josh Groban's album Stages ranked as a No. 1 album.

"Uptown Funk" ranked as the No. 1 single for the year 2015 with sales totaling 1, 760,000.

25, by Adele, ranked as the No. 1 album for the year 2015 with sales totaling 2,496,000.

(Wikipedia)

- 2015 BRIT Awards -

British Album of the Year - X by Ed Sheeran

British Single of the Year - "Uptown Funk"

British Male Solo Artist - Ed Sheeran

British Female Solo Artist - Paloma Faith

British Group - Royal Blood

British Breakthrough Act - Sam Smith

International Male Solo Artist - Pharrell Williams

International Female Solo Artist - Taylor Swift

International Group - Foo Fighters

British Video of the Year - 

One Direction,  "You & I"

British Producer of the Year - Paul Epworth

(Wikipedia)

Royal Princess Charlotte was born in a very busy year in British music.  Play it on Set List.  Salute to the princess.

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Grammy Hall of Fame - A History

- Grammy Hall of Fame -

- A History -

The Grammy Hall of Fame was established in 1973.  Selected inductees are compiled by The Recording Academy in the United States.  Singles and albums in all genres are included in the selection process.  Recordings must be over 25 years old to be considered.

List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award Recipients (A-D)

List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award Recipients (E-I)

List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award Recipients (J-P)

List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award Recipients (Q-Z)

- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award -

Awarded by The Recording Academy

"...to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording..."

First award issued in 1963 to Bing Crosby

The latest honor was issued in 2025 to Frankie Beverly, The Clash, Bobby Jones, Taj Mahal, Prince, Roxanne Shante, & Frankie Valli. 

The Who

My Generation

(UK)

The Who Sings My Generation

(U.S.)

Debut album released in December 1965 (UK) 

Released in April 1966 in the U.S.

(The U.S. album title was The Who Sings My Generation, the artwork was different, and the track list was tweaked.)

Genres considered - Mod Pop, Garage Rock, R&B, Power Pop

No. 5 on UK Albums Chart

Failed to chart in the U.S.

Retrospectively seen as one of the best rock albums of all time

Noted for hard rock sound "unusual for the time"

Point of interest - The album was not favored by the band as it was recorded quickly after their first singles charted.  They felt it was a "rush job."

(Duran Duran felt the same about The Wedding Album after the leaked "Ordinary World."  You can go from there.)

"My Generation" - No. 2 on UK Singles Chart...Released before the album

"The Kids Are Alright" - No. 8 in Sweden

"My Generation" & "The Kids Are Alright" are The Who's most covered songs.

Review Scores -

AllMusic - 5/5 Stars

The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - 4/5 Stars

The Great Rock Discography - 7/10

The Guardian - 4/5 Stars

MusicHound Rock - 3/5 

PopMatters - 9/10

Rolling Stone - 4/5 Stars

The Rolling Stone Album Guide - 5/5 Stars

 

UK Track List -

Side One -

1.  Out in the Street

2.  I Don't Mind (James Brown cover)

3.  The Good's Gone

4.  La-La-La-Lies

5.  Much Too Much

6.  My Generation

Side Two -

1.  The Kids Are Alright

2.  Please, Please, Please (James Brown cover)

3.  It's Not True

4.  I'm a Man (Bo Diddley cover)

5.  A Legal Matter

6.  The Ox

U.S. Track List -

Side One - 

1.  Out in the Street

2.  I Don't Mind

3.  The Good's Gone

4.  La-La-La-Lies

5.  Much Too Much

6.  My Generation

Side Two - 

1.  The Kids Are Alright 

2.  Please, Please, Please

3.  It's Not True

4.  The Ox

5.  A Legal Matter

6.  Instant Party (Circles)

The Who -

Roger Daltrey - Lead Vocals

Pete Townshend - Electric Guitar

John Entwistle - Bass Guitar

Keith Moon - Drums

Certified Gold in the UK (release of 1980)

Certified Silver in the UK (release of 2012)

(Wikipedia)