'The Joshua Tree': 1987 U2 Album Hit No. 1 39 Years Ago Today

There's no denying it -- U2 is one of the greatest rock bands of all time. The four-piece Irish outfit has kept its finger on the pulse of sociopolitical commentary while evolving its anthemic rock sound. With a whopping 15 studio albums under their belt in their prolific 50-year career, the band seems to show no signs of slowing down.

One album in U2's versatile catalog really cemented their legacy as titans of the genre. That's right: The Joshua Tree. The band's fifth studio effort hit music stores on March 9, 1987, but it skyrocketed to No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart on April 25, 1987. It proceeded to take the crown on eight other global charts, including UK Albums and Canadian Albums. The Joshua Tree became one of the best-selling albums of all time, as well as U2's best-selling album. It achieved a Diamond certification in the US.

While The Joshua Tree is almost 40 years old, it still resonates today. U2 had a generational run with the album's singles alone. "With or Without You," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," and "Where the Streets Have No Name" are iconic in their own right. Inspired by Irish roots music and American culture, The Joshua Tree delves into the rock band's fascination with "mythical America" while running the thematic gamut of political violence, redemption, substance abuse, and spirituality. It blends U2's signature stadium-rock sound with elements of blues and gospel music.

Retrospective reviews paint The Joshua Tree in a glowing light (as they should). Rolling Stone has consistently ranked the album on multiple versions of its "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list, with the 2020 ranking placing The Joshua Tree at 135th. Time also included the album on its "All-TIME 100 Albums" list, while Apple Music ranked The Joshua Tree at number 49 on its "100 Best Albums" list in 2024.

After its induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014, the US Library of Congress selected U2's The Joshua Tree for preservation in the National Recording Registry. At the time, it was the first Irish work to receive the honor.