120,000+ Classic Rock Album Covers Database (1948-2026): U2 - U218 Singles (Compilation) (2006)

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

U2 - U218 Singles (Compilation) (2006) | Album Analysis, Fun Facts & Trivia

U2 - U218 Singles (Compilation) (2006)

Tracklist front / back album covers art images

🎧 U2 – U218 Singles (2006)

📀 Album Overview

Artist: U2
Title: U218 Singles
Release Date: 20 November 2006
Label: Island Records / Interscope
Genre: Rock
Length: 79:43
Producer(s): Various (incl. Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, Flood, Jacknife Lee, Rick Rubin)

U218 Singles is a greatest hits compilation covering U2’s career from 1980 to 2006. It features 16 previously released hit singles plus two new tracks recorded with producer Rick Rubin.

🎼 Tracklist

Beautiful Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Pride (In the Name of Love)
With or Without You
Vertigo
New Year’s Day
Mysterious Ways
Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
Where the Streets Have No Name
Sweetest Thing (2006 version)
Sunday Bloody Sunday
One
Desire
Walk On
Elevation
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
The Saints Are Coming (with Green Day)
Window in the Skies

🏆 Awards & Certifications

Certified Platinum in multiple countries including the UK and US.
Reached Top 10 in several European charts.
“The Saints Are Coming” was nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal).

While the compilation itself did not win major awards, many songs included on it are Grammy-winning tracks from U2’s catalog.

📊 Commercial Performance

Debuted at #12 on the US Billboard 200.
Peaked at #6 on the UK Albums Chart.
Sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

The release coincided with the Vertigo Tour era, boosting sales and visibility.

⭐ Most Popular Tracks

Among the most streamed and enduring songs from this compilation:

With or Without You
One
Beautiful Day
Where the Streets Have No Name
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

These tracks remain staples of U2’s live performances and classic rock radio.

🎨 Cover Art

The cover features a black background with a large gold “U2” logo centered prominently. Above it appears the title U218 Singles in minimal gold typography. The clean, bold design reflects U2’s classic branding style.

🎙 Fun Facts

The title “U218” refers to U2 + 18 singles.
“Window in the Skies” was one of the last U2 tracks produced by Rick Rubin.
“Sweetest Thing” appears in its 2006 re-recorded version, originally written in the 1980s as an apology from Bono to his wife Ali.

🤓 Trivia & Did You Know?

Did you know? This compilation replaced 1998’s The Best of 1980–1990 and The Best of 1990–2000 as the band’s primary single-disc hits collection.
Did you know? “The Saints Are Coming” was recorded to benefit Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Did you know? The album was also released in a deluxe edition with a live DVD from Milan during the Vertigo Tour.