On White Vinyl

25 Nov 202038

On White Vinyl
 
From 'I Will Follow' to 'Shadows and Tall Trees' it was forty years ago last month that the band's debut album Boy was released. 
 
If you're old enough to have bought a copy at the time, chances are you bought it on vinyl and in your local record store. And to celebrate Boy's fortieth, the album returns this Friday,  November 27th, in a  special limited edition release on white vinyl to mark Black Friday and Record Store Day UK.
 
Recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin and produced by Steve Lillywhite, Boy was originally released on 20th October 1980 and features the singles 'A Day Without Me' and 'I Will Follow' as well as live staples 'Out Of Control' and 'The Electric Co.'.
 
The limited edition white vinyl pressing includes an additional double-sided poster plus a lyrics/credits insert.  The release is exclusive to independent retailers for Black Friday, November 27th, 2020. Find a participating shop. 
 
12" Info
• 1LP 180g white vinyl
• Double-sided poster (B2 size, folded)
• Double-sided lyrics & credits insert (12” x 12”)

Did you buy a copy of Boy when it came out first time around ? 
Can you remember where and when…and what it meant to you? 
Tell us about in the comments below.

Comments
38
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WABrower
The Wall @ Montgomeryville Mall
I bought my first Boy Album from a little record store call The Wall At the Montgomery Mall in Lansdale PA. I believe it was around 1982 or 83. I still have it today and still spin it when the mood strikes.
erik.nielsen
I've never had a copy on vinyl until now
Having become a fan in the mid-80's, I mainly collected the band on cassette (from the US-based RCA/BMG club) and later in the 90's I bought it all again on CD. I did get some vinyl here and there, from Zooropa onward I bought vinyl as it came out. This 40th edition is a perfect way for me to get a copy and it looks and sounds great. Well done. Can't wait for a color version of War, Rattle and Hum, Achtung and ATYCLB to complete the set.
JuanVerde
40 Years Young
Golden Discs - Grafton Street was where I purchased this LP as a young teenager and it was ever present on my turntable in my bedroom. I think my parents got so tired of the "noise" that they got me a pair of headphones. I perfected my tennis racket guitar playing to The Electric Co. The hairs on the back of my neck still go up when I listen to this song now. Loved U2 in the early days with October and War keeping my interest enough to collect all the 7" from the 3 LP's.Some other music in Dublin caught my ear (The Blades, Golden Horde, A-House) and my U2 interest dropped a little but came back with a vengeance with Achtung Baby and Zooropa and it has never stopped. This release brings me a full 40 year circle and it still sounds young fresh and youthful now to these very not so young anymore ears.Companions on our life journey. Thanks@U2
electricco
Birthday 2020
My BoyFriend got me a Copy of this White Vinyl for my Birthday ... I have to wait until december 10 ; ))) Incredible comments for the ON WHITE VINYL news ; == I LOVE EveryONE these are Real U2 Fans comments ; ))) I wish it was the 80's
THEJOSHUA73
The best album debut
I think that Boy was the greatest album debut of the history 's rock. When I was young I.... Consumed this album. 10 years ago I bought incredible CD deluxe and now Lp... For my private U2' museum. In this album there are songs very important for my growth... Like Another time another place, an Cat dubh for me a great masterpiece.... So twilight. Love this album very deep emotional.
SARDE
Boy Oh Boy
I was to young when this album was released. I got into the back catalogue when I first heard War. That was the album that turned me on to U2. One listen to Sunday Bloody Sunday and I was hocked. The Boy album already demonstrated how U2 already had song creating ability. The songs were genuinely good. One listen wasn’t enough and like all U2 songs the more you listen the more you like. U2 have always said that it’s not “making it” that counts but the steps you take towards that goal that are the most important. Boy being their first album was one first step for U2, one giant step for all U2 fans. They’re still relevant after all these years.
Fuzzyduck
40 years Jeeeezo!
I remember as if it was only yesterday I was only 13 when I first stumbled upon this Lp I was at my freinds house playing snooker in his attick, my freinds big brother had purchased this and Im glad he did because this is what got me into U2, after hearing it I thought wow! I saved up my pocket money and bought this in the coming weeks, I even bought the Boy T-shirt also, the one with the green lettering saying U2 on the back of the t shirt this was my all time favourite t-shirt until it faded away Sure wish they bring it back in the U2 shop
Fuzzyduck
40 years Jeeeezo!
I remember this as if it was only yesterday time goes by so fast I was only 13 years old when I first heard this for the first time and thought wow what an unusual sound At my freinds house playing snooker in his attick, his big brother had purchased and while our parents celebrated the new year we played snooker and we listened to this Lp while playing snooker, I was so impressed with it I saved up my pocket money and purchased it a few weeks later Id even bought the t-shirt that they had for this album, the lime green U2 writing on the back with bands photo from the album artwork, this was my all time favourite t-shirt, its a pity the moths mothballed it I've managed to get a copy of this latest edition pity I can't get a new t-shirt
Dan
Recollections...
Being in the US, I bought the “stretched” version of Boy first. Really loved the album! The record store in the mall had an import section and I found the UK version and bought it immediately. I loved the package compared to the US copy. I recently noticed it doesn’t have a bar code either... The new release is great too... love the package and the white vinyl! Thank you!
gps01
Discovery of a lifetime
I didn’t buy this album when it was first released. I discovered U2 in 1984. I was 14 and watched the new release video for New Year’s Day on Countdown ( a music tv show in Australia). It changed my world, I had discovered my band. I went straight out and bought war, then had to have their earlier work.. Boy and October were gifted to me that Christmas, best ever! I have grown up with U2, and they have helped shape me as a person. The old cliche “ soundtrack of my life”. I picked up the white vinyl today, my beautiful wife bought it for me, she gets my affinity with U2, you could say she is the best thing about me. Absolutely this was one of the best debut albums for any band. Thanks Bono,Edge,Adam and Larry for a lifetime of music.
alebiou2
boy
I had no way to buy the album at the time of its release in 1980, as I am from Brazil and the album only arrived here between 1984-1985. And unfortunately this item, like so many others at U2, is not launched in Brazil, causing some to reach a value well above the minimum wage here in Brazil!
fabrizio1960
Boy
One copy ,when ready
fernand
White Vinyl limited edition... so nice!!
freshly received this morning in my letterbox the reissue of the LP of "Boy" in white and limited version on the occasion of Black Friday. The versions of I will Follow and Out of Control are particularly successful, what happiness !! and good listening for those or those who were able to obtain the precious sesame. Good listening
MichaelHarris
Mick Harris 1966
I bought the Boy album after i bought and listened to the War album so raw and youthful back in the 80's. Today i have managed to buy Boy and War again on white vinyl (Boy) and Blue vinyl 10 inch double album War in 2020, another two to add to my collection all thanks to my local record shop Vaughn's vinyl Guernsey Chanel Islands. Both albums are true classics
bragi
columbia house record club
That's were I got mine many years later
jonnyrwez
The best debut album ever?
Oh the memories come flooding back. Like Bono in his tiny bedroom described on the I&E tour, I hibernated in my box room back in the early 80's and played this non stop for virtually 12 months until the next offering was released. Hard to believe that this is actually their first album as it sounds timeless today and as fresh as it did on the day of release. Side 1 of the album is faultless IMO. Its a classic U2 album, right up there in my top 5. Almost as good as 'October' but not quite.....
eric naulaerts1
i bought it in Turnhout, Belgium
A student tipped me for the band u2. I watched a part of a concert in Brussels of the Boy tour on TV and bought Boy as my 5th ever lp, after Bob Marley - Uprising, The Cure - Seventeen Seconds, UB40 - Signing Off and The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys. I always found it weird when the B-side ended with what later appeared a piece of Fire. My favourite song was A Day Without Me and An Cat Dubh with Into The Heart. The Faith Tour by The Cure was my first international concert and the Rock Werchter edition of 1981 with Dire Straits, Robert Palmer, The Cure, Elvis Costello, Toots & Maytals and De Kreuners was my first festival. After that summer I went to see the October Tour in Herenthout on a sunday evening. On monday i was late at school, the only time in my whole career, but hey, i went to u2!
tel
tel
Top album.Listening to it now. The start of the success. I really miss looking forward to a U2 concert. Achtung Baby literally saved my life when I lost my brother in 94.
joegreco1965
U2 BOY
Sunrise Records
Seoul_Tom
Please give us chance to buy!
I have the old paper case CD of BOY from my undergrad days in the early 80's. I live in Korea now and I have no way of buying this version of Boy LP since no physical stores on this web site. Please consider selling to members with address in country with no physical shops and limit to 1 per member. Many fans just want at least 1 LP. I would buy 2 if I can so I can listen to 1 and keep the unopened for collection. Please let me buy 1 as a fan.
eiledon
I pre ordered Boy 1980!!
Small town Sweden, East Coast, 1980. 17 year of age, very much into new wave Skids, Cure, Simple Minds, you name them. All of a sudden one evening Radio Luxembourg aired this fantastic song called I will follow!! The rest is history. I pre ordered Boy from my local record store. Really one of the first takers Of U2 in Sweden. I still have to this day, a much cherished belonging. Still playing the songs and Out of Control was beating my car speakers as late as yesterday. Long may it last!!!! I’m still there. Saw U2 live last in Berlin 2018.
iandudley
Rare find
Living in South Africa in the 80's there weren't many places you could get U2 records but there was a small record shop in Johannesburg called Moola's (incidentally he also imported Doc Martin boots that were hugely popular at the time) so when I saw this record on the shelf I bought it without hesitation and brought my U2 record collection up to the staggering count of 3, having purchased The Unforgettable Fire a few months earlier after it's local release and Under a Blood Red Sky a year so before. The rawness of the band in those early days are probably what hooked me right there and then, having already moved them to the top of my list with the Live performance at Red Rocks. I'm now in my fifties and they still make me feel like a kid when I'm lucky enough to put those old records on the player and turn up the volume.
reineverard
Boy himself
What had become of the boy who’s portrait was on the album sleeve - does anybody know? Hope he’s OK. Would have been a great salute to this person (grown into a 40+ years old man) if U2 would’ve put his contemporary portrait on the sleeve’s backside of the re-issue, provided he’d fancy that (and receive some royalties too). Anyway, he should be proud to be part of this classic album.
GinnyVMustLoveDogs
Hello and Inhaler
I have been following you since 1981-1982 when you came to Ohio (Cincinnati/Columbus) area to play. I've loved your music ever since. Funny how times flies. Your music has gotten me through both the ups and downs of my life, and I enjoy hearing some Beatles influences in your music. I also LOVE the cover you did of T-Rex. Finally Marc Bolan is in the RR Hall of Fame. (I sure wish Mick Ronson would also get inducted. Anyway, I have also listened to Inhaler and they are great! I'd like to hear some of their tunes on XM Radio U2 Station, if the boys approve. (Plus adore your kids on the cover of Innocence and Experience.) Anyway, God Bless..I've known you 40 years. Hope for many more. Love and God Bless you.
HOONDY
U2 BOY
I think it was my second LP back when I was 15 years old. My lifelong treasure now.
Bullet_The_Blue_Sky
The first time I heard "I Will Follow" i
I was in college and went to a party where a live band was playing covers of familiar tunes. When they started playing I Will Follow it immediately caught my attention because I had never heard it before and it was such an amazing tune. Fast forward a couple of weeks and I was walking past a record store and I again heard I Will Follow but it sounded a lot better than what I remembered from the party a few weeks earlier. The store had the album's cover on display by the band U2 who I had never heard of. Being somewhat of an airplane geek and knowing the history of the U2 spy plane and Francis Gary Powers getting shot down while flying one over Russia I was intrigued and immediately purchased the LP; I'm forever glad that I did. I Will Follow - YES I WILL and YES I HAVE!!! I loved every song on that album and every song they have written since. I have seen U2 a few times live the most recently on their 30th anniversary Joshua Tree Tour - 30 years after I first saw them. And the 30 year old concert shirt still fit! https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-fans-celebrate-u2-joshua-tree-concert-1987-2017-1.4113385 https://twitter.com/ChadPawson/status/863199517092360192?s=19
Thor u2
Brilliant
I bought this fantastic album when it was first released in October 1980 and has always been a firm favourite of mine. I love coloured vinyl records and have collected all of the band's reissued editions so far and hope that you release the final few still to be issued in this way especially Achtung Baby. Well done!
bruyere
a french boy
I bought a vinyl copy in the 90s I first had a cassette in the 80s today again after 35 years I'm still a fan of the band I was pleasantly surprised to see that this reedition will take place on my birthday on November 27th while waiting for news of a future album COMMENTS
bgans
Back in the Dark Ages
I was 12 when Boy was released and as a kid growing up on Long Island, New York, I missed the initial release of this album. Two and a half years later, when War was released, my beloved uncle said "there's this great band with a new single - you should listen to it." He was referring to "New Year's Day." As soon as I heard it, I wanted all of their "old" stuff. So off I went to the small, local record store, long gone and name long forgotten, babysitting earnings in hand. And so it began. . . . .
jimryan
Boy
Supporting the local band Always something about them Remember Seeing them support thin lizzy at the first ever slane concert and thought they were special even then Jim Ryan
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