U2 — The Joshua Tree
Known pressings
59 distinct releases are catalogued for this album. Year, country, label and catalogue number are what identify a pressing — match all four before you buy.
| Year | Country | Label | Catalogue # | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | — | Island | CID U2 6 (842 298-2) | CD |
| 1987 | AU | Island | 842 298-2 | CD |
| 1987 | AU | Island, Phonogram | 842 298-2 | CD |
| 1987 | AU | Island | 842 298-2, CD 53220 | CD |
| 1987 | AU | Island, Festival Records | CD 53220 | CD |
| 1987 | CA | Island | CID-1127 | CD |
| 1987 | CA | Island | ISX 1127 | 12" Vinyl |
| 1987 | DE | Island | 258 219, CID U26 | CD |
| 1987 | DK | Island | U26 | 12" Vinyl |
| 1987 | FR | Island | 208 219 | Vinyl |
| 1987 | GB | Island | 842 298-2, CID U2 6 | CD |
| 1987 | GB | Island | CID U2 6 | CD — misprint |
| 1987 | GB | Island | U26 | 12" Vinyl |
| 1987 | IT | Island | CDCID U2 6 | CD |
| 1987 | JP | Island | P35D-20034 | CD |
| 1987 | JP | Island, Polystar | R28D-2066 | 12" Vinyl |
| 1987 | US | Island | — | CD — 1st US press; no barcode or catalog number; solid sliver disc by PDO |
| 1987 | US | Island | 422‐842 298‐2 | CD |
| 1987 | US | Island, RCA Music Service | 7 90581-1, R153501 | 12" Vinyl |
| 1987 | US | Island | 7 90581-2 | CD |
| 1987 | US | Island | 7 90581-2, 90581-2 | CD — made by JVC |
| 1987 | US | Island, BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. | 7 90581-2, D 153501 | CD — BMG club edition |
| 1987 | US | Island | 90581-2 | CD |
| 1987 | US | Island | A2-90581 | CD |
| 1987 | US | Island | I2 42298 | CD |
| 1987 | XE | Island | 258 219, CID U26 | CD |
| 1987 | XE | Island | CID U2 6 / 842 298-2 | CD |
| 1988 | GB | Island | 842 298-2, 842.298-2, CID U2 6 | CD |
| 1990 | US | Island | 422 842 298-2, 422-842 298-2 | CD — tracks 9 & 10 incorrectly indexed |
| 1991 | ZA | Island | STARCD 5879 | CD |
| 1996 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | UDCD 650 | CD — MFSL remaster |
| 2007 | CA | Island | — | Digital Media |
| 2007 | DE | Mercury Records | 1750948 | CD — deluxe edition |
| 2007 | GB | Mercury Records | 1744939 | CD |
| 2007 | GB | Mercury Records | 1750947 | CD — 20th anniversary edition |
| 2007 | US | Universal Island Records | B0010285-02 | CD |
| 2007 | US | Interscope Records, Island, UMe | B0010286-02 | CD — 20th anniversary edition |
| 2007 | US | Island | B0010304-00 | CD — 20th anniversary super deluxe edition |
| 2007 | US | Universal Island Records | B0010310-01 | 12" Vinyl |
| 2007 | XE | Interscope Records, Island, Mercury Music Group | 1750948 | CD — limited edition |
| 2007 | XE | Universal Island Records | LC00407 | CD |
| 2015 | ES | Island | 5364018 | CD — 2015 Kiosk Collection |
| 2017 | AL | Island, UMC | 00602557527414 | Digital Media — super deluxe |
| 2017 | JP | Island | UICI-1143 | CD — 30th anniversary regular edition |
| 2017 | JP | Island | UICI-9051 | CD — 30th anniversary super deluxe edition |
| 2017 | JP | Island | UICI-9059 | SHM-CD |
| 2017 | US | Island | — | Digital Media — super deluxe, mastered for iTunes |
| 2017 | US | Interscope Records, Island, Island Records Group | 00602557482485 | 12" Vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Island | 1443155637 | Digital Media — mastered for iTunes |
| 2017 | US | Island | B0026624-02 | CD — 30th anniversary edition |
| 2017 | XE | Island, Island Records Group | 00602557482577 | CD — 30th anniversary super deluxe 4CD box set |
| 2017 | XE | Island | 5748262 | CD |
| 2018 | US | Universal UMC | 00602557498448 | 12" Vinyl |
| 2018 | XE | UMC, Island | 00602557498448, 00602567891239, 5749844 | 12" Vinyl |
| — | — | Island, Columbia House | I2 42298 | CD — club edition |
| — | CA | Island | CCID 1127 | CD — Columbia House |
| — | US | Island, BMG Direct | 7 90581-2, 90581-2, D 153501 | CD — BMG Direct PMDC pressing |
| — | US | Island, BMG Direct | 7 90581-2, D 153501 | CD — made by UML |
| — | US | Island | I2 42298 | CD — Columbia House club edition, Pitman pressing |
What to hunt
Ten editions worth chasing for this album, from the original first pressing to promo and audiophile issues.
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Original first pressing Vinyl
U2 "The Joshua Tree" first press original vinyl
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Early country pressing Vinyl
U2 "The Joshua Tree" early pressing vinyl
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Promo / white label Vinyl
U2 "The Joshua Tree" promo white label vinyl
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Limited / numbered edition Vinyl
U2 "The Joshua Tree" limited numbered vinyl
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Audiophile pressing Vinyl
U2 "The Joshua Tree" audiophile vinyl pressing
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Early CD pressing CD
U2 "The Joshua Tree" first press early CD
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Japan pressing CD
U2 "The Joshua Tree" Japan CD pressing
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West Germany / early Europe pressing CD
U2 "The Joshua Tree" West Germany early CD pressing
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Promo / sample CD CD
U2 "The Joshua Tree" promo sample CD
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Audiophile / limited CD CD
U2 "The Joshua Tree" audiophile limited CD