In 1979, a little-known Dublin band called U2 released its first commercial record, U2-3, an Ireland-only three-track release that introduced the world to a group that would eventually become one of the most acclaimed rock acts in history.
Issued through CBS Ireland, the record featured “Out of Control,” “Stories for Boys” and “Boy/Girl,” with the songs recorded at Dublin’s Windmill Lane Studios. U2’s official archive identifies the release as the band’s first single and notes that only 1,000 copies of the original 12-inch pressing were produced, each individually numbered.
From 1,000 Copies to a Greatest-of-All-Time Ranking

The modest scale of U2-3 makes the band’s eventual transformation even more remarkable. The release became U2’s first chart success in Ireland, with the 7-inch edition reaching No. 19 on the Irish Singles Chart. Its three-song format is also significant because it captured the young band before its international breakthrough and before the 1980 arrival of Boy, the debut album that would establish U2 beyond Ireland.
Decades later, U2’s standing had expanded far beyond anything suggested by that tiny first pressing. Rolling Stone ranked U2 No. 22 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, placing the Irish group alongside foundational figures including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.
The magazine also ranked Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. among the greatest singers, guitarists and drummers respectively.
Rock Hall Recognition Cemented the Legacy
That critical stature has been matched by institutional recognition. U2 entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, with Bruce Springsteen delivering the induction.
The Recording Academy lists U2 with 22 Grammy wins from 46 nominations, including Album of the Year victories for The Joshua Tree and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
So, when U2-3 emerged from Dublin in 1979, it was in retrospect, the opening document of a career that would place U2 firmly among the most celebrated artists in popular music history.
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Author: Philip Uwaoma






