U2 'Rock' Red Rocks! (Under A Blood Red Sky - U2)

Member Name: jeffjen

Product:	Under A Blood Red Sky - U2
Date:	13/11/09 (100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great live album

Disadvantages: A little short

I have recently replaced some of my old vinyl albums with the CD versions, and whilst browsing through my albums I came across U2 - Under A Blood Sky and instantly was transported back to 1983, remembering when I received this album for Christmas with its glowing red cover, and I played it over and over.

I ordered a copy on CD and have gave it a few listens since it arrived, remembering just why I loved it so much back in the 80's.

Under A Blood Red Sky is a live album recorded on the bands 'War' tour, and features eight tracks recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre Colorado, Boston Massachusetts, and St Goarshausen, Germany between May and August 1983.
The title "Under A Blood Red Sky" is taken from the lyrics of the song "New Year's Day", from the 'War' album.

Not long after the live album release, a concert video was released "Live At Red Rocks - Under A Blood Red Sky". Unlike the album, the concert was filmed entirely at the atmospheric Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado under flaming torches and in the pouring rain, and ultimately setting the scene for the success that was to follow for U2 as a live act right up to this day.
The concert video is now available as an accompanying DVD with the album, although you can buy them separately.

Rather than release a full concert for the album, U2 chose their best songs and created an out-of-order tracklisting built to maximize the album's impact and added one of their B-side's ("Party Girl") to complete the eight-track album.

The tracks :-

1. Gloria
2. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
3. I Will Follow
4. Party Girl
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday
6. The Electric Co.
7. New Year's Day
8. "40"

The album kicks off with an electrifying version of "Gloria" which was probably one of U2's lesser known tracks back then, but a very strong and anthemic track which creates the atmopshere for the rest of the album. Bono singing out to the crowd, who were quick to pick up and join in shouting "Glorrrrrrrriaaaaaa!"
"11 o'clock tick tock" could be said to be another lesser known track at that time as it did not feature on a studio album, but takes its place here as the rousing track it is, adding depth to the album. A live album of hits this definitely is not, and I think that is what makes it unique.

Of course the two massive tracks here "New Years Day" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" are also the two best-known tracks featured on the album. As Bono introduces Sunday Bloody Sunday by saying "this is not a rebel song" and The Edge's guitar intro comes in, which to this day gives me goosebumps. The song builds with Larry Mullens's almost military-like drumming, to the powerful classic it has became. Bono delivers a passionate vocal here :-
"I can't believe the news today
Oh I can't close my eyes and make it go away...."

The track slowly builds as the crowd eagerly join in to sing "Sunday Bloody Sunday".

"New Years Day" was probably the track that got me into U2 way back in the early 80's, but hearing it live here on this album where Bono's passion and effect can be felt much more clearly than on studio recordings, it simply outstrips the original :-
"Under a blood-red sky
A crowd has gathered in black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspaper says, says
Say it's true, it's true...
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one".

"I Will Follow" is another crowd pleaser and this is the best version of this song you are ever likely to hear, as is the brilliant " The Electric Co" which originally featured a 27 second snippet of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" before U2 were sued for not gaining permission to use it. It also features another great guitar intro courtesy of The Edge. The bizarre but good "Party Girl" is an added bonus to this album.
The closing sing-along of "40" from the War album ends the album where it begins - with the cheers of the audience. Like or loathe Bono, he certainly knows how to work an audience and has a great on-stage presence.

Some have said the crowd noise is too loud on this album but I disagree. It just adds to the atmosphere, and although U2 were not the massive band back then that they later became, you would certainly think they were on listening to this!
Indeed anyone interested in retracing U2's meteoric rise to becoming a massive stadium band would do well to start here with this album.

If I have one criticism it would be that at just over 35 mins this is a short album, and after watching the Live At Red Rocks concert video which includes more tracks, you do wonder why more were not included on the album. However, I do recall on first listening to the album back in 1983 that I had no complaints and was more than happy with it. It has been in later years that I wondered why it only featured 8 tracks, so it can only be a minor niggle.

Overall, I believe anyone interested in retracing U2's meteoric rise to becoming a massive stadium band would do well to start here with this album. Under A Blood Red Sky captures U2 perfectly on their rise to fame, playing like the legendary band they were yet to become.

Under A Blood Red Sky is available from Amazon priced at £5.18 with free delivery. The deluxe edition which includes the Live At Red Rocks DVD is priced at £9.98.

Summary: U2 at their best.