| After fostering a dour public image for years, U2 visibly 
      loosened up on Achtung Baby, cracking jokes and even letting themselves 
      be photographed in color. "It's a con, in a way," Bono admitted 
      to Rolling Stone in 1992. "We call it Achtung Baby, grinning up our 
      sleeves in all the photography. But it's probably the heaviest record we've 
      ever made." Recorded in Berlin with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, the 
      album has lots of uncertainty, irony and distortion. It also has one of 
      the most beautiful songs U2 ever recorded: "One," a ballad in 
      which Bono wonders whether individuality also means eternal loneliness and 
      comes down on the side of hope. (Rolling Stone) Total album sales: 5,328,000 Peak chart position: 1
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