U2 - Zooropa (1993)

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NM Original 1st Pressing

Island Records: 518047-1
Format: 12" LP, Standard Black Vinyl
All U.S. copies are actually UK imports
Includes: Original Custom Graphics/Liner Notes Inner Sleeve and Custom Lyrics Insert
Cover Condition: VG++, Minor split at top edge (see photo), No cut-outs or ring wear. Always stored vertically in a protective poly sleeve.
Vinyl Condition: NM! Beautiful copy, real nice! Lables are NM.
The inner sleeve is also NM! 

Release Info: Zooropa (pronounced /zuːˈroʊpə/, zoo-ROH-pə)[a] is the eighth studio album by the Irish rock band U2. Produced by Flood, Brian Eno, and The Edge, it was released on 5 July 1993 on Island Records. Inspired by the band's experiences on the Zoo TV Tour, Zooropa expanded on many of the tour's themes of technology and media oversaturation. The record continued the group's experimentation with alternative rock, electronic dance music, and electronic sound effects that began with their previous album, Achtung Baby, in 1991.

U2 began writing and recording for Zooropa in Dublin in February 1993, during a six-month break between legs of the Zoo TV Tour. The record was originally intended as an EP to promote the "Zooropa" leg of the tour that was to begin in May 1993, but during the sessions, the group decided to extend the record to a full-length LP. Pressed for time, U2 wrote and recorded at a rapid pace, with songs originating from many sources. The album was not completed in time for the tour's resumption, forcing the band to travel between Dublin and their tour destinations in May to complete mixing and recording.

Zooropa, much like Achtung Baby, was critically and commercially successful, peaking at number one in several countries, despite none of its three singles—"Numb", "Lemon", and "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)"—being clear hits. In 1994, Zooropa won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.

The sleeve was designed by Works Associates of Dublin under the direction of Steve Averill, who had created the majority of U2's album covers. The cover features a sketch of the circle of stars from the Flag of Europe with a "sad astronaut" drawing in the center. The illustration, created by Shaughn McGrath, was an alteration of the "graffiti babyface" by Charlie Whisker that was originally taken from the face of the Achtung Baby compact disc/vinyl record. The cover's drawing was meant to represent the Soviet cosmonaut left floating in orbit for weeks after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the background is a 3-by-3 montage of blurred images—similar to the 4-by-4 arrangement of images on Achtung Baby's sleeve. The images include shots of a woman's face and mouth, as well as photographs of European leaders, including Vladimir Lenin, Benito Mussolini, and Nicolae Ceauşescu. These images are obscured by distorted purple text, which comprises the names of unfinished songs from the album sessions, including "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me", "Wake Up Dead Man", and "If You Wear That Velvet Dress". Author Višnja Cogan described this text as giving the impression of a "torn veil".

Zooropa was named for the "Zooropa" leg of the Zoo TV Tour, which began in May 1993 while the band completed the record. The name is a portmanteau of "zoo" (from Zoo TV Tour and "Zoo Station") and "Europa". One of the album's proposed titles was Squeaky.

All songs written and composed by U2, with lyrics by Bono (except where noted).

1. "Zooropa" 6:31
2. "Babyface" 4:01
3. "Numb" 4:20
4. "Lemon" 6:58
5. "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" 4:58
6. "Daddy's Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car" 5:20
7. "Some Days Are Better Than Others" 4:17
8. "The First Time" 3:45
9. "Dirty Day" (Bono and The Edge) 5:24
10. "The Wanderer" 5:41