Daniel Lanois Discusses the Differences Between The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby 

Full Interview Here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vxP9kKzbCFA.htmlsi=w9ObMZwcE056YLpo

When I was in middle school, I got suspended for fighting. My dad gave me "The Joshua Tree" to listen to while I weeded the property as punishment (the weeding, not the album). I didn't really listen to music before that. I don't remember the weeding, but remember that album. It was a profound redirection. It was my dad's last act of parenting. I must have listened to that tape 1,000 times growing up. I can still play "The Joshua Tree" back in my mind's ear, almost note for note (go team autism). "The Joshua Tree" got me into music ("Bullet the Blue Sky" gave me a taste for heavy music), and "Nevermind" made me want to be a musician. Today I'm retired from work, and spend my days as an amateur multi-instrumentalist.

You should interview The Edge, he spends a lot of time in LA and the USA

Unforgettable Fire is an incredible album!!! Love it!

Achtung Baby and Automatic for the People were life defining albums for me in my youth. Still love them both to this very day.

U2 were my Beatles. Great body of work that was ever changing in sound and themes.

Joshua tree was their absolute pinnacle. Didn’t get any better than this, and loved their look back then!

the Unforgettable Fire is one of my favorite albums of all time edit) = OMG all of you MFs are right there with me - -

Everyone has their favorite U2 album, but 'Achtung Baby' just resonated with me more. It may have been for the differences in singing and style of the songs, but it was so fresh.

Another subject upon which hill I will die.... Bono, as a lyricist, is one of the greats.

An interview with both Bono and the Edge would be amazing.🎉

The final line is genius. Let's hope that melody comes back soon

Iconic albums discussed by iconic producers

to see the U2 zoo TV tour and all the Tech was life-changing. Seeing U2 work and their Incredible crew night after night. The sound was flawless. Saw this from an Opening band point of view. That album Changed the game and people weren't ready.

I’d love to hear Rick’s take on Pop. When it came out it was so different from what they had done before. I didn’t care for it much. But the older I get, the more I appreciate it as a pretty remarkable piece of art which I just didn’t get/understand at the time.

The fly is a great song. Shows the evolution in the song writing from previous albums

Living through early U2, my friends were all into U2 up through Rattle and Hum. To me, a RUSH fan, a Led Zeppelin fan, a Van Halen fan, those records weren't that interesting to me. I was a Sophomore in college when Achtung Baby came out. WOW!!!! Unbelievably great! And their follow up, Zooropa, was more great stuff. I was ready to finally interact with my friends about U2, but my friends HATED IT and moved on! We swapped roles. My friends had ZERO taste. 🙂

My wife got me a Robbie Robertson album just recently and i was surprised to see Mr.Lanois produced it. We listened to it and loved it.

Daniel's one of the best producers out there. Love his work with Robbie Robertson. Pity we lost Robbie, Rick. Would've loved to see you interview him.

I was already a U2 fan, when The Joshua Tree hit. I was 16 years old. What a glorious time in life, to discover music like that. We didn´t know, at the time, that this band was gonna go Global, with all it´s potent masculinity and rock the fuck out of here, please! I´m still all in. Cheers from Denmark.

Love watching these interviews with Daniel Lanois!!! I remember when I was a kid in high school reading the back of the 'Unforgettable Fire' and seeing that name along with Brian Eno. Putting a face to the name and talking about how they made magic is awesome.

that point about Bono being exposed to pub singers in Dublin growing up, the belt and the ache, is so important to understanding where the sound of many U2 records grew from I think too.

Daniel is a true Canadian Gem

Achtung Baby was the beginning of a new phase and All That You Can’t Leave Behind was the begining of a new phase by going back to the basics, and Songs of Innocence was the beginning of their latest phase. I hope they have at least one more starting of a new phase album left in them ..

I've always felt that Aching Baby doesn't get enough credit in the way that it influenced how music is produced even today. In my mind it changed the approach as much as Sgt Pepper did

Love Daniel's work. And his music, too! I was living in rural western Oklahoma when he released "Belladonna" and oh man I had some strange times out there hiking off path among the cacti and such with my discman playing that CD and a brain full of psilocybin. 👽 Daniel is an audio genius thru and thru. right up there with Alan Moulder and Flood for me.

Long live Lanois and all 1951 “babies”. Such a sonic genius. I had the great pleasure of meeting Dan her in Sydney Australia back in April 2006. He kindly signed my ACADIE vinyl LP cover and an agreed to a selfie of we two, now framed and proudly hanging above the piano. Keep it coming Rick! Love your style mate 👍🇦🇺

What a great topic. Both albums are great but Achtung has it's heels deep in me after many years.

Really interesting to see how the techie stuff gets weaved into the discussion and then back to the artist side of producing - great stuff!

As much as Joshua Tree is lauded (and rightfully so), for me their crowning achievement will always be Achtung Baby. I personally think it surpassed Joshua Tree, and their growth as a band and as songwriters took an even bigger jump. Your mileage may vary.

Daniel Lanois is such an amazing artist. His performance on 'Sessions At West 54th' blew my mind.

Saw U2 for the very first time in 1981, playing at a festival in the Netherlands…Geleen, Pinkpop…I will never forget that show and the intensity which they came out with at 11 in the morning….just watched some footage of the Las Vegas Dome and nothing has changed…to me, next to the Stones, best band on the planet!

Write this down... BEATO will bring back rock music to the forefront as high art and denim shirts. Viva la BEATO!

U2 are an amazing band but, everyone that is behind the scenes should also be celebrated. U2 always acknowledge the people around them because without them they wouldn’t be the band they have become. What a team.

"Melody cuts through all eras" 💥

I've told my two sons, both in their 20s and who love old music, that popular music today has no melody. Its mostly repetitive phrases and beats. Nothing else. Lanois is right, it will come back.

Melody is the component of music most often associated with memory.

The full Lanois interview is one of your best. Lanois is intelligent with many stories to tell. Imagine what you could learn if you had more time!

Even saying the album names sends shivers down the spine

always so special to hear about their process. tksssss

These interviews are blowing my mind!!

I loved this whole interview. ❤

Woah what a great get this interview is. Love the U2 content!

Bono’s falsetto was used on the title track of Unforgettable Fire quite nicely. ;)

His work on writing and producing the Red Dead Redemption 2 soundtrack is criminally underrated.

So glad I got my tickets to see Daniel Lanois in Montreal!!!

U2 are the only band ever to sound contemporary through every single decade

U2 got overplayed on KROQ back in the day. After my dad died we did a road trip through the south west. New Mexico to Arizona. Joshua Tree was the soundtrack. We needed healing. I also love Daniel Lanois. One morning I was at Cafe Tropical Daniel was there.

Daniel is one of my heroes as a producer. Thank you for this

God I love U2

Just wow… thank you Rick!

I had the opportunity to visit Slane Castle where Unforgettable was recorded. The little room and it's sound was so impressive on how they were able to knock out such a master piece. Of of my favorite albums of all time.

I like those rugs. Been looking for a rug with that kind of design and colors

My first Bass multi fx box was a Korg A4, I really miss that box. ❤️‍🔥

Awesome interview

Had the pleasure of meeting Dan a couple of times while he was recording an album with Venetian Snares. Genuinely nice and humble guy considering his status.

Such a great interview Rick - you need to get Edge in for an interview now 😀

Hey Rick. Come to Vegas and interview Edge.

Session stories are the best. All these back stories from 30 plus years ago make my life.

Love the interview 🙌 Maybe feature some more of his audio equipment and instrument collection 🙏

What an interview! ❤

Deviating from the rootsy Joshua Tree is a decision that still makes me remain in the U2 of the 80s. All the best to U2 and the joy they bring to millions but for me what I need from U2 I get from the Joshua Tree and the earlier albums.

When is The Edge gonna join the conversation?

Daniel Lanois is musician in his own right. I had an album of his. He worked with other musicians beside U2, I believre, actually fairly well known in the 80's. A very talented man, as a musician, a great voice, too, as well as a sought after producer in the 80's.

Man I love Daniel’s hat. Have to get one.

Achtung Baby was risk. Fear to the unknown. The possibility to not make it after a new path has been chosen. The creative and explosive triangle that was Lanois + Flood + Eno became the structure where U2 made in Berlin's Hansa Studios, their best album.

More! More! Please!

Daniel's Acadie album is outstanding!

My dream producer and band

Incredible! This is why I am here… Could you please please please cover the Teatro sessions with willie and Emmy Lou

Landois is so compelling with his soft delivery.

Unforgettable Fire is simply astounding. So many styles and genres were explored on this record. I really love 'Elvis Presley and America' which is a sort of experimental, trippy and hypnotic journey that builds into this great crescendo - it doesn't sound like a normal song and that's why it's brilliant.

I recall having a conversation with my sister in whichj she was trying to tell me why The Stones are better than The Bealtes. And don't get me wrong The Stones are great. But for me the reason this is not true, is because every single record The Stones makes sounds like they always did, its like AC/DC. Same every time, but still great. The Beatles however were ona journey, and their early stuff is completely different to where they ended up a few years later, which for me was a dramatic improvement.This for me is one reason why U2 are not just a good band, but are genuinely greats of the industry - one of a very very small bunch of extremely successful and yet, changing in terms of style, bands. For me this sets these few bands apart from all the others. It is not commonplace to sell 10 million plus copies of an album. But to do this with multiple records that literally sound like they are from different bands is a far rarer achievement (and yeah you can obviously recognise the vocals, but you know what i mean). I would put U2 in with The Beatles in that regard, and there really are not many others you could put in this group.

I love Lanois work on “Sling Blade”.

Idl love to hear you interview Brian Eno

Gracias 🫂

The U2 discussion is fascinating, especially his thoughts on working with Edge. Not enough time here, but I have would also like to hear Daniel’s thoughts on Trixie Whitley.

Love the hat! Way cool!

I love blues and I wish today's blues guitarists would be half as inventive and open as Edge instead of sticking to the tried and tested from past decades. Every music legend that ever was brought something unique and fresh to the table.

Daniel Lanois ...LEGEND

Great conversation , !!! Does U2 not have anything to say any more?

I met Daniel Lanois once. He was a complete gentleman.

Interview Flood. That would be awesome!

Hey Rick, what about interviewing Edge? That is going to be very interesting

"Joshua Tree" is peak U2 for me.

Surprised he didn't mention Steve Lillywhite who mixed several songs on Joshua Tree and co-produce and mixed a few songs on Achtung Baby.

Totally off topic but BlackBerry Smoke has a new album out and would be really interesting from production to songwriting, influences, etc.

Great interview and sure a very important man but why not go to the source? The Edge is the interview you need. I mean how many decades of just great music this guy has put together. And despite Larry being out with an injury they are all four still together packing in the Sphere in Las Vegas. Incredible! Plus they are for sure going back into the studio very soon for who knows maybe their last album as a group (they’re not getting any younger), such an important interview!

Daniel Lanois is a legend. I highly suggest reading his biography SOUL Mining. BTW He's Canadian.

Love it.

I thought I was the only one who noticed lack of melody in modern music. Melody is not Taylor Swift’s strong point.

It's mad how people diss Edge for relying on FX but worship Tom Morello for Over relying on FX. They diss Edge for relying on delay - but no other guitarist for using distortion on every song.

I'd love to see lanois and eno as well did a job together for u2's nw album.

Oohhhhhh this is great

I can definitely say Lanois’ influence in producing has had a huge impact on my life . There are several albums he produced, I consider essential listening: U2 (obviously- their best work , IMO) Robbie Robertson , Chris Whitley ‘s debut album, - Lanois’ way of painting sonic landscapes is brilliant

Bello/Magnifico.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🌹🏆

Big jump from Fire to Tree to Baby.

The theme from Mahogany is unbelievable

I do respect Rick went full Canadian tuxedo for a Canadian guest 🫡

Danny produced a demo (one song) by a Toronto band I was with back in the late 70s. He was working out of his Hamilton studio at the time. The demo ended up being not much to write home about. But then, the band wasn't that great either. I remember he had the drums all crammed up in this little booth thingy, which was weird and uncomfortable. Didn't make for a very good drum sound either. Footnote: A few years later, I took his sister Jocelyn - who was a bass player in a Toronto band - to a Springsteen concert. I don't think it was her kind of music. Lol