U2 тобының "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" әнінің тарихы

"11 O'Clock Tick Tock" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was released as a single on 16 May 1980, and was produced by Martin Hannett. It followed their debut EP Three and the single "Another Day." It was the group's first release for Island Records. The song's lyrics were written by lead vocalist Bono based on his experience at a Cramps concert in London, where he watched a "lifeless, goth style" crowd from the balcony. After Island signed U2 in March 1980, the label recommended the band work with Hannett, believing he could improve their studio recordings without losing the energy of their live performances. Hannett travelled to Dublin in April 1980 to record "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" at Windmill Lane Studios. The group were impressed by Hannett's technically innovative production but had a difficult experience with him. They found him to be an eccentric personality and believed he had imposed his distinctive production style on their music. Although Hannett was in consideration to produce U2's debut album Boy, the band ultimately decided to hire Steve Lillywhite instead, beginning a career spanning working relationship with him. "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" did not chart at the time of its original release but later did after subsequent U2 releases: in January 1984, the song reached number 30 on the US Rock Albums & Top Tracks chart after its inclusion on the band's live album Under a Blood Red Sky a few months prior; in 2020, the song reached number 69 on the Irish Singles Chart after it was reissued for Record Store Day in commemoration of its 40th anniversary.

After signing a record deal with Island Records in March 1980, U2 began making plans to record an album and a single. Island A&R representative Nick Stewart was looking for a record producer who would improve the quality of the band's studio recordings without losing the energy of their live performances. He recommended they work with Martin Hannett, who was producing post punk group Joy Division—U2's favourite band at the time, according to U2 lead vocalist Bono. Stewart thought Hannett would give them the push that they needed; he said of the producer: "The man had something that very few producers have—Phil Spector's one, George Martin's another. He was a genius." Stewart's assistant Annie Roseberry called Hannett a perfectionist who stood out from most producers of the time. U2 travelled to England to meet with Hannett, where they observed the recording sessions for Joy Division's single "Love Will Tear Us Apart". They played Hannett a demo of "11 O'Clock Tick Tock", and although he was not impressed with the recording, he liked the song.

Hannett travelled to Dublin for the recording session, which took place at Windmill Lane Studios from 5–6 April 1980 on Easter weekend. The group were nervous during the session, having never recorded in a studio with a proper producer before. Clayton believes that nervousness affected the band's performances. The rhythm section, in particular, had issues playing at a consistent tempo, as they continually sped up during the song. Hannett asked drummer Larry Mullen Jr. to use a click track to stay in time, but Mullen was unsure he could play with one, having never done so before. At one point, Hannett said to guitarist the Edge, "What are we going to do? It's three in the morning and the rhythm section can't play in time together!" Three mixes of "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" are publicly known to exist, all studio cuts. The 1980 single features the 3:47 single mix. The Martin Hannett tribute album And Here Is the Young Man features a 4:03 mix. The final mix is a 4:13 version with a longer intro that featured on the 1984 UK "Pride (In the Name of Love)" 12 inch limited edition single.

The "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" title was taken from a note that Bono's friend Gavin Friday left on the front door of Bono's house after he was unable to reach him by telephone one night. In November 1983, U2 released their live album Under a Blood Red Sky, on which a performance of "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" appears. The song subsequently entered the Billboard Rock Albums & Top Tracks chart in the United States on 10 December 1983 at number 35, and it peaked at number 30 on 21 January 1984. After the single's reissue for Record Store Day, it reached number 69 on the Irish Singles Chart. The frequency of its early performances means that it is still one of U2's 25 most performed live songs.

The experience of working with Hannett was not a happy one for U2, who felt that he had imposed his distinctive production ambience upon their sound, and the personal chemistry between Hannett and the band had also been poor. Island Records had been considering him for the role of the producer of the band's yet to recorded debut album, Boy, but this was dropped after the band objected. Hannett was also severely affected by the May 1980 suicide of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis, the distress of which temporarily impaired his ability to continue work. Stewart said: "Martin by that stage was unwell; he seemed to be suffering from a little overdose of one thing or another."