Angel of Harlem

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Angel of Harlem" by U2 from the album Rattle and Hum, and Zoo Freaks, get ready for some cool trivia about this soulful track. Inspired by U2’s first trip to New York City during the Joshua Tree Tour in 1987, the song is a tribute to jazz legend Billie Holiday, nicknamed "Lady Day." Bono shared in the book U2 by U2 that the band arrived at JFK, hopped into a limousine—a guilty pleasure for the punk-influenced rockers—and heard Holiday’s voice on the radio station WBLS as they crossed the Triborough Bridge, with the Manhattan skyline glowing in the snow. This moment sparked the song’s creation, capturing the city’s vibrant jazz history and Holiday’s complex life, as reflected in lyrics like “Angel in devil’s shoes / Salvation in the blues.”

Recorded at the iconic Sun Studio in Memphis, where legends like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash laid down tracks, “Angel of Harlem” features the Memphis Horns, adding a rich soul and R&B flavor. Producer “Cowboy” Jack Clement, a Sun Studio veteran, brought a lighthearted vibe to the session, though Bono recounted a funny mishap when Clement scolded him for giving the horn section Absolut Vodka, joking, “You try playing a horn when your lips won’t work!” The song’s music video, directed by Richard Lowenstein, was shot at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre in November 1988, blending black-and-white performance footage with scenes of New York City and clips of Billie Holiday. Fans on Reddit praise the song’s joyous energy, with one user noting how it opened their eyes to Holiday’s cultural legacy, despite some criticism of U2’s dive into American roots music.

“Angel of Harlem” became a standout live track, especially during the 1989 Lovetown Tour, where it was performed with B.B. King’s band. A memorable moment came during the 2009 U2 360° Tour in Berlin, when Bono invited three young fans from Prague holding signs to join the band onstage, lending them instruments to play the song together. The track, released as the second single from Rattle and Hum in December 1988, hit number one in Canada and New Zealand and reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. B.B. King himself praised Bono’s lyrics, reportedly telling him, “Those are powerful lyrics from someone so young,” as noted in fan comments on Songfacts.

U2, the Irish rock band behind “Angel of Harlem,” formed in Dublin in 1976 when drummer Larry Mullen Jr. posted a notice at Mount Temple Comprehensive School seeking musicians. Teenagers Paul “Bono” Hewson (vocals), David “The Edge” Evans (guitar), Adam Clayton (bass), and Mullen, all with limited musical skills, came together under the name Feedback, later changing to The Hype and finally U2. Influenced by post-punk and driven by a desire to create anthemic, socially conscious music, they honed their sound through local gigs. By 1980, they signed with Island Records and released their debut album, Boy, which showcased Bono’s emotive vocals and The Edge’s distinctive, effects-driven guitar. Their early work, produced by Steve Lillywhite, was raw and minimalistic, evolving into the more textured, ambient sound of The Unforgettable Fire (1984) with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.

U2’s breakthrough came with The Joshua Tree (1987), a global smash that cemented their status as rock icons with hits like “With or Without You.” Their exploration of American roots music in Rattle and Hum reflected their fascination with blues, gospel, and jazz, though it faced backlash for perceived overreach. Still, U2’s ability to reinvent themselves, as seen in the 1990s with Achtung Baby, kept them at the forefront of rock. With 15 studio albums, 22 Grammy Awards, and an estimated 150–170 million records sold, U2 remains one of the world’s best-selling artists, known for epic live shows and advocacy for human rights through campaigns like Amnesty International and Product Red.

Connect with U2 on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest news, tour dates, and more. Fans can dive deeper at u2songs.com, a comprehensive site for discography, lyrics, and videography, or join discussions on the r/U2Band subreddit. The fan site atu2.com (though no longer active as of 2013) was once a hub for U2 devotees, and Facebook groups like U2 Fans keep the Zoo Freak spirit alive with vibrant community chats.