U2’s first commercial release, issued in Ireland in 1979, was titled U2-3.
U2-3 was a three-track extended play released by CBS Ireland on 26 September 1979. It was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin and included “Out of Control,” “Stories for Boys” and “Boy/Girl.” The release was limited to Ireland and appeared before the band had secured a major international recording contract.
The EP’s title combines the band’s name with the number of tracks. Its songs document U2’s early post-punk sound, before the more expansive production associated with albums such as The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree. “Out of Control” later became a recurring live favorite.
U2-3 is sometimes confused with “Another Day,” which was the band’s first single released in 1980. It is also distinct from Boy, U2’s first studio album, released internationally in 1980.