" I WENT OUT WALKING THROUGH STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD " 
BOY

Cover

Cover
 Commercial Release October 20, 1980
 Record Label Island Records
 Top Chart Position US: 94, Canada: --, UK: 52
 TRACKLISTING (Click for Lyrics)
Alternate Tracks:
  • Fire (Instrumental) (0:30)
  • An Cat Dubh (4:47)
  • Into the Heart (3:28)
COMMERCIAL SINGLES
A Day Without Me I Will Follow
PROMOTIONAL RELEASES
A Day Without Me Promo Single I Will Follow Promo Single
LINER NOTES
The Edge: Guitar Player, Bono: Singer, Larry: Drummer, Adam Clayton: Bass Player.
Producer: Steve Lillywhite; Manager: Paul McGuinness; Engineer: Paul Thomas.  Studio: Windmill Lane, Dublin.  Agent Dublin: Dave Kavanagh, Road Runner.  Agent London: Ian Wilson, Wasted Talent.  Agent New York: Frank Barsalona, Premier Talent.  Tour Manager: Tim Nicholson.  Crew: John Kennedy, Pod, Amigo O'Herlihy.  LP Mastered at the Sound Clinic by John Dent.  U2 photographs: Ian Finlay.  "Boy" photograph: Hugo McGuinness.  Design: Bruno-Christian Tilley.
OTHER NOTES
Boy was U2's first album length release.  It was released on October 20, 1980 in Europe and the UK.  This initial release was with the original "Boy" cover pictured above.  The album was released the net spring in North America, but with a very different cover, often referred to as the "Stretched Faces" cover.  The label had felt that the American public would not approve of an album cover by an unknown band, that featured a boy with no visible clothing.  Obviously the opinion would change as in 1983, War was released with a very similar cover.

Some early vinyl versions of the album contain a short 30 second instrumental track.  This track is at the end of Shadows and Tall Trees, and most agree that it is an early version of the song Fire.  Later masterings of the vinyl removed this 30s instrumental, and it has not appeared on later versions of this album on cassette and CD.  The 1989 repressing of the album in Germany did contain this short instrumental.

There are also two very different mastering jobs on CD pressings of Boy.  The North American releases tend to have An Cat Dubh (6:21) / Into the Heart (1:53), whereas European releases have these as An Cat Dubh (4:47) / Into the Heart (3:28).  When comparing the physical vinyl, you can see this difference, although listening to the album will not show any differences as these tracks flow into one another.  The overall track is identical for both releases, just the division point is different on the two.
CATALOG INFORMATION
 12" VINYL:
Label:
UPC:
Package:
Catalog Information:
Argentina, Island, TLP 70023 [1987] Japan, Island / Polystar, R25D-2083 [1987]
Argentina, Island, 842 296-1 Japan, Island / Toshiba, 81395 [withdrawn]
Australia, Island, L37517 New Zealand, Island, L37517
Brazil, Island, 202.913 Phillipines, Island, ILPS 9646
Brazil, Island, 610.7089 (33.509) [1986] Portugal, Island / Dacapao, 10.202913.50
Brazil, Island, 670.9052 [1989] Portugal, Island / Dacapao, 202.913
France, Island, 6313 105 South Africa, Island, ILPC 29646
Germany, Island, 202 913 South Africa, Island, ILPS 29646
Germany, Island, 202 913-320 [1989] Spain, Island, 1-202.913
Greece, Island / EMI, VG 71409 Sweden, Island / Tumba, ILPS 9646
Greece, Island / EMI, 062-VG71409 [1985] Sweden, Island / Syb-Tryk, ILPS 9646
Greece, Island / BMG, 71409 Sweden, Island, ILPS 9646 [Blue Vinyl - 15 copies]
Ireland, CBS, 84658 UK, Island, ILPS 9646
Israel, Island, BAN 129646 UK, Island, ILPM 9646 [1995]
Italy, Island, ILPS 19646 Venezuela, Island, 7523
Japan, Island, 20S-77 Yugoslavia, Island / Jugoton, LSI 73202 
Japan, Island / Polystar, 25S-77
Track Listing:
As listed above.  Early pressings and some later pressings include the 30s instrumental version of "Fire".  An Cat Dubh (4:47) / Into the Heart (3:28) is the common breakdown between these songs.  All released with the "Boy" cover.
Further Information:
Released in a cardboard sleeve. Some versions contained an inner sleeve with a black and white photo of Bono and lyrics.  Label was either a generic record company label or a picture label with Peter Rowan looking to one side.
Other Images:
Additional images from international pressings always welcome!
Label:
UPC:
Package:
Catalog Information:
Canada, Island, ISL 9646 USA, Island, ILPS 9646
Mexico, Island, LPR25027 [1990] USA, Island, 90040-1 [1990]
Mexico, Island, LPR25027 [Brown Vinyl]
Track Listing:
As listed above. Instrumental version of Fire not included on release.  An Cat Dubh (6:21) / Into the Heart (1:53) is the usual breakdown of the songs.
Further Information:
US and Mexican releases feature an inner sleeve with the same stretched faces and the lyrics on the reverse.  The Canadian inner sleeve features the "Boy" cover picture on one side and lyrics on the reverse.  The Mexican release was a 1990 re-release.
Other Images:
Additional images not available above always welcome!
 CASSETTE:
 Germany Pressing, 402 913
Label: Island Records
UPC: 007194 029134
Package: Hardshell Case
 UK Pressing, ICT946
Label: Island Records
UPC: None
Package: Hardshell Case
 UK Pressing, ICT946
Label: Island Records
UPC: None
Package: Cardboard Case
Note: 1+1 Cassette
Catalog Information:
Argentina, Island, 842 296-4 (67544) South Africa, Island, ZILP 29646
Argentina, Island, TMS 70023  UK, Island, ICT946
Australia, Island, 842 296-4 Spain, Island, D-402913
Germany, Island, 402 913 Sweden, Island, ZCI 9646
Greece, Island / EMI, 262 VG 71409  UK, Island, ICT946
Ireland, CBS, 40-84658  UK, Island, ICT946 [1+1]
Italy, Island, ILK719646 UK, Island, ICT946 [1+1 Cardboard Case]
Italy, Island, 402 913  Yugoslavia, Island / Jugoton, CAI9252
Track Listing:
As listed above.  The instrumental version of Fire is not included on any versions of the cassette.  Tracks on a cassette are not separated by markers so it is impossible to determine from which version of the master An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart came from.
Further Information:
Other Images:
Additional images not available above always welcome!
 Canada Pressing, ISLC-9646
Label: Island Records
UPC: None
Package: Hardshell Case
 USA Pressing, 7-90040-4
Label: Island Records
UPC: None
Package: Hardshell Case
Catalog Information:
Canada, Island, ISLC 9646 USA, Island, A4-90040
Mexico, Island, MCR 25027 USA, Island, 422-842 296-4
USA, Island, 7 90040-4
Track Listing:
As listed above.  The instrumental version of Fire is not included on any versions of the cassette.  Tracks on a cassette are not separated by markers so it is impossible to determine from which version of the master An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart came from.
Further Information:
Other Images:
Additional images not available above always welcome!
 5" CD:
 Japan Pressing, UICY 2355
Label: Island / Universal Records
UPC:
Package: Regular Jewel
Matrix:
Note: 2002 Pressing
 UK Pressing, IMCD211 / 842 296-2
Label: Island Records
UPC: 0 42284 22962 3
Package: Regular Jewel
Matrix: 8422962 01 %
Note: 1996 Repressing
Catalog Information:
Australia, Island / Festival, D37517 Japan, Island / Phonogram, PHCR-4701 [1995]
Brazil, Island, 842.296-2 Japan, Island / Phonogram, PHCR-4833 [1998]
France, Island, 842 296-2 Japan, Island / Universal, UICY 2355 [2002]
Germany, Island, 610 561 Japan, Island / Universal, UICY 9707 [2004]
Italy, Island, CDICD 9646 South Africa, Island, MMTCD 1938
Japan, Island / Polystar, P33D-20020 UK, Island, CID110
Japan, Island / Polystar, P24D-10048 UK, Island, IMCD211 / 842 296-2
Japan, Island / Phonogram, PHCR-1701
Track Listing:
As listed above. An Cat Dubh (4:47) / Into the Heart (3:28) is the common breakdown between these songs.  The "Fire" instrumental is not included on any CD pressings.
Further Information:
All released with the "Boy" cover. 
Other Images:
Additional images not available above always welcome!
 Canada Pressing, 7 90040-2
Label: Island / BMG Records
UPC: None
Package: Regular Jewel
Matrix: 422 842 296-2 03@
Note: Record Club Pressing
 USA Pressing, 422 842 296-2
Label: Island Records
UPC: 0 422-842296-2 3
Package: Regular Jewel
Matrix: 422 842 296-2 05%
Catalog Information:
Canada, Island, CID110 USA, Island, 90040-2 [Digipack]
Canada, Island, 7 90040-2 USA, Island / BMG, 7 90040-2
Mexico, Island, 422-842 296-2 3 USA, Island, 422-842 296-2
Track Listing:
As listed above. Instrumental version of Fire not included on release.  An Cat Dubh (6:21) / Into the Heart (1:53) is the usual breakdown of the songs.
Further Information:
Other Images:
Additional images not available above always welcome!
October (1981)