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| Under a Blood Red Sky | 
 enlarge | Artist: U2
Label: Island
Category: Music
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $0.26
You Save: $9.72 (97%)
New (21) Used (67) Collectible (7) from $0.26
Avg. Customer Rating:  85 reviews
Sales Rank: 6461
Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 818008
UPC: 042281800825
EAN: 0042281800825
ASIN: B000001F5F
Release Date: June 15, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Short But Satisfying Ride Through U2's Early Days October 5, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
"Specially Priced Mini-LP" was how this collection was described way back when old-timers like myself first grabbed it on vinyl in late 1983. The appellation still fits, I suppose, as UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY is, at just over thirty-five minutes, too long for an EP but still a bit brief for a proper live album. In any case, this was, I recall, an exciting time to be a U2 fan. The band had just taken off in America on the strength of its third album, WAR, various singles from which were in regular rotation on FM radio and the then-embryonic format of MTV. Meanwhile, classic rock bands were breaking up left and right; punk was dead as a legitimate cultural phenomenon; heavy metal had happened; the new wave was fast exhausting its extremely limited bag of tricks; and of course, Michael Jackson ruled the universe. For a genre in jeapordy, the need was desperate; U2 filled it then, as it's continued to do for much of the two decades since.
UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY captures the band at the height of its WAR tour, drawing together eight songs (Why not more?) from a trio of shows in Germany, Denver and Boston. Each of U2's first three albums is represented, and while the song selection may not be all that surprising it certainly highlights the energy and earnestness that made stars of this young quartet. "Gloria," the opening track from OCTOBER, starts things off here as well in an effective rendition which clearly got the crowd on its feet. From BOY, "I Will Follow" and "The Elecric Co." are both present, the latter distinguished by the inclusion of its rousing in-concert preface, "Cry." Not surprisingly, WAR is the most thoroughly covered of the LPs, with "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "New Year's Day" and "40" taking up most of the second half. "40" makes a particularly strong closer, as the audience continues chanting the "How long to sing this song?" refrain even after the band, one by one, has left the stage. Other than that, the tunes aren't greatly expanded upon, as U2 has never exactly been a jamming band - indeed, the entire last verse of "New Year's Day" is omitted, Bono and Company choosing for some reason to perform the single edit of the song (although, perhaps by way of compensation, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is slightly extended). Of particular interest is the inclusion of two non-LP numbers: "Eleven o'Clock, Tick Tock," an excellent and infectiously danceable A-side from the BOY era which, like far too many early U2 singles, has never been reissued on CD; and "Party Girl," a bizarre B-side from 1982 originally done as a whiny acoustic track (available on the out-of-print THE B-SIDES, 1980-1990).
I should mention that there is a curious bit of editing on the CD version of this album, as Bono's improvised vocal (to the tune of "Send In the Clowns") over the slow middle section of "The Electric Co.," which I clearly remember from the vinyl version, has been excised. A licensing problem? Or did rock's most notoriously verbose frontman sing something he later wished he hadn't? It will, I suppose, just have to remain a mystery....
UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY gave most of us our first taste of live U2, and in retrospect it serves as a nice summing-up of the band's early years. When next they appeared, in the fall of 1984, it would be with a markedly different sound, new producers and a far less youthful worldview. But that's another story.
Good CD, Great Video! March 21, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
U2 is one of the few rock bands that can make a great studio recording and turn it into a memorable stage performance. And nowhere is that ability more fully realized than on this CD. "Under a Blood Red Sky" captures some of the group's better moments during their 1983 concert tour in the States and in Germany. The album starts off with a rousing good version of "Gloria" and ends with the powerful "40." In addition to all the great songs on this CD, one that is definitely worth any U2 fan's attention is "11 o'clock Tick Tock." I don't believe there ever was a studio version of this song and I'm not sure why it wasn't included on any of U2's previous albums. In any case, this is one of U2's finer concert performances and that, in of itself, would justify adding this CD to your collection. If you want to fully appreciate the energy and excitement of this concert tour then you will definitely want to buy a copy of this video. Believe me, you won't be disappointed.
Another great live performance December 26, 2001
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Unless you've been living in a cave for the past few decades, you'll no doubt be familiar with the songs that are on this live release (and since you're obviously a hip, with-it, and technologically-friendly person who browses dot coms for your music needs, we can safely discount the cave-theory). For a recording of material that's as well-known as these tracks are, the question is not "How good are the songs?" but rather "How good of a live band are these people?" Happily, U2 give some of the best live performances in music today, and UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY gives a great sample of some of their earliest songs.The sound quality on this album is quite good -- not great, but quite good. There are a few places where it isn't as clear as one would like it, but it is certainly listenable. The recordings are taken from several different dates, rather than all being from the same concert. However, this shouldn't be a problem for anyone other than the die-hard purists. The performances of the songs themselves are well up to U2's excellent standards. No matter how good something sounds that U2 has created in the studio, their live performance of the same material will almost always end up sounding superior. The songs included here are further proof of this. "Gloria", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "I Will Follow" and "The Electric Company", in particular, come across with a lot more passion and energy. Even the reworked version of "Party Girl" works amazingly well. If you like early U2 then there shouldn't be any hesitation about picking up this album. It sounds fresh and alive. The material is still new to the world and to the band performing it. It's definitely worth it for anyone interesting in having a great collection of U2's best early material.
Energetic live performance of early U2 material November 9, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The 1983 U2 release "Under a Blood Red Sky" captures the energy of their early live performances. What makes this especially dramatic is being able to capture a song lyric from "New Year's Day" that matches the visuals from the Red Rocks venue. Of course, here we just get the audio, but back in the day cuts from this concert were MTV staples, especially "Sunday Bloody Sunday" with Bono's "this is not a rebel song..." and flag waving.
This EP contains the essential songs from the first three releases, "Gloria," "I Will Follow," "Sunday Bloody Sunday," and "New Year's Day." All are performed with energy and verve, and minus all the effects of later releases. This is U2 stripped down to its bare essentials: Bono on vocals, The Edge on guitar, occasional piano (New Year's Day), Adam Clayton on bass, and Larry Mullen, Jr. on drums.
The second cut, "11 o'clock tick tock" has a cool guitar riff.
"Party Girl" appears as a live version that doesn't make it on a studio release until the B-sides portion of the 1980-1999 Best of compilation. There's a part where The Edge actually attempts a traditional solo, with mistakes and all.
"The Electric Co." is another high energy piece, and the sing-along anthem "40" closes out the set. If your U2 collection starts at Unforgettable Fire, you're missing out. This is a worthy addition.
 Great live work from an eternal band... January 13, 2005
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
As a genuine music connoisseur who appreciates a wide and eclectic variety of styles, I realize what makes a true album. Two ingredients: one, an album must genuinely reflect the best of the band at that particular time and, two, the album must be able to conjure up an emotion, if not many emotions, within the listener's soul, heart and body.
With all that mumbo-jumbo out of the way, I am proud to say that U2's 1983 release "Live: Under A Blood Red Sky" meets my previous two ingredients. With only eight songs, U2 proves that you don't need black makeup, a mosh pit and growling to produce hard rock (although I highly respect bands like Tool, Marilyn Manson, and a little bit of Slipknot).
U2 have proven over the years that they can keep a solid band together. Ever since the early '80s, when they were producing hit songs like "I Will Follow", "Two Hearts Beat as One" and "New Year's Day", they have stood the test of time amidst shallow, heartless and plastic Mickey Mouse Club set up groups like N*Sync, Britney Spears, Christina A., and other such meaningless, sappy fluff.
Now, on to the album: I give this album 5 stars because each song is diverse in its own way, while maintaining a type of chain, bringing this 35-minute lp true life. My favorite tracks are "The Electric Co." (killer guitar work by The Edge in the first thirty seconds), "Party Girl", "40", and especially "Gloria", UABRS's opening track.
In conclusion, I must say that the best way to listen to this album is by getting it on vinyl. Although CD's are the new wave of music, I recommend getting this one on the big black circle. The album sleeve also makes for beautiful wall artwork, with Bono hunched over on his microphone amidst a deep, red background.
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