Original Soundtracks 1

Background

Original Soundtracks 1 is a studio album recorded by the Irish rock band U2 and English producer Brian Eno as a side project under the pseudonym Passengers. Released on 6 November 1995, the album is a collection of songs written for mostly imaginary films. Owing to Eno's involvement as a full songwriting partner and the album's experimental nature, the moniker "Passengers" was chosen to distinguish it from U2's conventional albums, as it featured a far more electronic-heavy, stripped-back post-rock sound that contrasted heavily with the grander music they were usually known for. It was commercially unnoticed by the band's standards and received generally mixed reviews. Guest musicians on the record included Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti and producer Howie B, who would co-produce U2's following album, Pop (1997). However, the art-pop single Miss Sarajevo, featuring Luciano Pavarotti, did rather successfully upon release.