1987 Rock Album Spent Over 200 Weeks on the Charts—and It Still Defines a Generation
U2's hugely successful album The Joshua Tree was released on March 9, 1987, and quickly became one of the fastest-selling records of all time.
The album was U2's fifth full-length record, and rapidly became their most successful. It was their first album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and would go on to spend over 200 weeks on the charts.
'The Joshua Tree' Propelled U2 To New-Found Success
U2 had been popular in the U.K. before the release of The Joshua Tree, but this was the album that finally put them on the map as global superstars whose influence over the rock genre in the '80s couldn't be ignored.
The album includes such hits as "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "With or Without You"—both of which would become two of the band's most iconic and recognizable singles. They were also U2's only No. 1 hits in the United States.
The Joshua Tree was inspired by U2's recent trip to America and their growing fascination with American literature and politics, which can be heard all throughout the album's lyrics. The record would go on to receive Album of the Year at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
'The Joshua Tree' Broke Records for CD Sales
The Joshua Tree was also released at the perfect moment to capitalize on the popularity of CDs, which had recently become the dominant way to sell and buy music. It became the first-ever album to sell over one million CDs, cementing U2 as commercial giants and opening countless new doors for the group.
U2 would follow up The Joshua Tree's success with Rattle and Hum, a hybrid studio/live recording album released the following year in conjuction with a 'rockumentary' film directed by Phil Joanou. The project received mixed reviews from critics, with many worrying that U2 were trying to overplay their success and establish their rock legacy too early.
Today, The Joshua Tree remains U2's best-selling album in both physical and digital sales.