Under a Blood Red Sky - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
There seem to be two major camps of U2 fans now: Those who dig the early albums (good and sensible people), and those who only like the ones from the '90s, putting everything previous down as "classic rock." But U2 only became a classic rock sort of band in 1984, with The Unforgettable Fire. The real early stuff, from '80 to '83, still comes off as edgy--and it's comparatively ignored. Here's a sampler: Under a Blood Red Sky is from a U.S. tour (1983's) in which U2 still thought of itself as a hungry little band from Ireland--and draws (fairly wisely) from the band's first three albums. There's nary a misstep on the entire disc, although it could stand a few more tracks. --Gavin McNett

Customer Reviews: Read 78 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Passion & Energy July 17, 2000
34 out of 37 found this review helpful

Two of things that make U2 such as special band is their passion and energy. While these traits are present on their studio albums, they come to the front in their live performances. Under A Blood Red Sky perfectly captures all their raw emotions and energy. The album opens with the soaring "Gloria" from their October album and then seiges into "11 O'Clock Tick Tock". Next is a scorching version of their first hit "I Will Follow". "Party Girl" is a great lost U2 song. It was originally issued as a b-side and available on imports only. It starts off with just the Edge strumming his guitar and builds up to a powerful crescendo. Bono states on the record that "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is not a rebel song, but it is definately an anthem. Bono has always had a bit of a preacher in him and as he urges the crowd to chant "no more", the album takes on the feel of an old time revival. After whipping things up to a fever-pitch, "The Electric Co." and "New Year's Day" follow and they mellow things out. The hymn-like "40" is the final track and the album ends on a poignant note with just the crowd singing the chorus. For those of you who may only be familar with the U2 of the 90's and their mammoth Pop Mart and Zooropa concerts, this album is a fine sampler of their earlier efforts. While the approach is simplier in nature, it produces just as big of a sound.

5 out of 5 stars

A 5 Star Record With Much Room For Improvement March 29, 2005
25 out of 28 found this review helpful

This is a five star album for a variety of reasons:

A. The song selection. This is a release from a supremely confident band, trusting that their audience will enjoy the songs they enjoy playing and not just the obvious favorites. Party Girl? 11 O'clock Tick Tock? Rock on!

B. If you are of a certain age, UABRS is inextricably linked to the Red Rocks concert video that was incessantly played on MTV for months and months (and months) back when MTV was not only concerned with music but on a mission to break high quality, envelope-pushing new music in America

C. It is a snapshot of one of Rock's great bands peaking for the first time

All that said, Under A Blood Red Sky cries out for the Deluxe Edition treatment. This short (under 40 minutes) album was sold as an EP upon it's 1983 release and if memory serves was priced accordingly. It seems like this sold for under $6.00 on vinyl. In my humble opinion, Island should blow the dust off the masters re-release it:

A. Remastered in SACD format

B. Fleshed out with all or most of the songs played on the dates originally recorded for the album (I saw this tour at the old Paramount Theater in Portland, OR in 1983 and I remember they were still playing some of the great tunes from Boy, An Cat Dubh particularly sticks in my memory)

C. With a second-disc DVD containing the whole Red Rocks concert

D. Why not add some MTV interview footage from the time?

E. A liner note essay from Paul McGuinness telling the story of the first American transformation: From obscure Irish New Wave up and comers to America's Alterna-Rock heroes with the release of War and the Red Rocks video

UABRS compares favorably to the Who's Live At Leeds. The Who release was an explosive live document also, marred only by it's brevity. The Deluxe Edition remedied that and proved a revelation. Come on Island, get on the stick!

1 out of 5 stars

If not for spliced Electric Co. November 19, 1999
15 out of 18 found this review helpful

I am a fan of U2 and this recording shows them at a pivotal point of their career but I cannot get myself to buy the CD version because a crucial part of Electric Co. is missing. I don't know if this is a global phenomenon or not or this is for copyright West Side Story reasons but can't believe they would cut that part out when it exists on the record. Borrowed this CD from a friend just to listen to that part of the song. If you can get the vinyl version or maybe tape version (not sure if they cut it out from the tape) buy that instead. Other U2 fans know what I'm talking about.

5 out of 5 stars

U2 - 'Under A Blood Red Sky' (Island) October 8, 2006
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Review no. 73. Another classic '80's alternative CD reissue. Unless I'm wrong,I believe this very show took place literally a few days after their 'War' tour hit my hometown.Liked the way that Mtv,VH1 Classic and Nightline used to run music videos for this album endlessly.I seem to remember a one-time 2am TV special that aired songs from this very show that WASN'T on the lp.Would love to have a complete recording of this 1983 concert.Tracks that more than hold their own here are "Gloria",their first ever hit "I Will Follow",the political "Sunday Bloody Sunday","New Years Day" and "40".By today's standards,this album might be considered to be more of a live EP than an lp.Recommended.

4 out of 5 stars

U2 rocks out at Red Rocks June 5, 2000
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will follow," an animated Bono cries out at the start of the amazingly energetic "I Will Follow" on "Under a Blood Red Sky." Judging by the cheers of the crowd that follow this proclamation, it sounds like the sentiment is mutual. The liveliness of audience and band on "Under a Blood Red Sky" is hard to resist. From the opening moments heard on the rollicking "Gloria," when Bono yells "Two, three four!" you get the sense that U2 was truly hitting its early 1980s stride -- and that bigger things would be coming down the horizon.

Bono and U2 are an excellent live band. When I saw them back in 1992 on the Achtung Baby tour, I was amazed how closely the band's live sound so evenly matched what was on its studio albums. And like any great live band, U2's stage act probably exceeds its studio records. "Under a Blood Red Sky" flows along nicely at a brisk pace, and though it's only eight songs long, the band chose a nice blend of sing-along stadium rockers mixed with mid-tempo and obscure tracks that would likely please any U2 fan. Musically, U2 is on fire at Red Rocks: Bono's booming wail is heartfelt and resonates beautifully among the canyons and crowd; The Edge's guitar pierces the night air like a sword; Larry Mullen Jr.'s drums are, as usual, dependable and buoyant; and Adam Clayton's bass gives the whole thing a semblance of gravity.

The album seems to hit a climax halfway through on the blistering and well-known "Sunday Bloody Sunday," but really it's the lesser-known tunes like "11 O'Clock Tick Tock," the quirky "Party Girl" and the rocker "The Electric Co." that give this album further musical depth and personality. Thankfully, the CD is not a steady stream of U2's best-known radio hits.

The sublime closing song, "40," is almost hymnal, and the enthusiastic way the crowd replaces Bono as lead singer at the tail end of the record aptly displays how music can, at times, transform into a communal and spiritual experience.

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