U2’s first studio album was titled Boy.
Released in 1980, Boy introduced the band’s early post-punk sound and featured songs including “I Will Follow,” “Out of Control,” and “A Day Without Me.” Steve Lillywhite produced the album, which was recorded primarily at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin.
The record’s themes include adolescence, identity, fear, and the transition from childhood into adulthood. Its cover features a photograph of Peter Rowen, the younger brother of Irish artist Guggi, a friend of Bono.
Boy was followed by October in 1981 and War in 1983. Those albums expanded U2’s political and spiritual themes, but Boy remains the band’s debut studio statement. It is different from U2’s early singles and demos, which preceded the album’s release.