Great Rock Albums of 1984: U2- Under a Blood Red Sky
Maybe U2 were trying to follow in the lead of Blackfoot in the sense that after three albums, release a live album. The difference here is that the three Blackfoot albums are all considered classics while the same can’t be said for the three U2 albums. Now don’t get me wrong, I like all three of these albums, “Boy,” “October” and “War.” However, the first two didn’t propel them to stardom the way “War” did. “Boy” turned my head in their direction but when I mentioned U2 to others, I mostly got blank stares. “October,” on the other hand, is U2’s best kept secret. Not a lot of people seem to know too much about the album but I’ve always liked it. “War” goes without saying, it made the band a worldwide name. It is on the back of “War” that the live “Under a Blood Red Sky” album was released.
When most people think of this live album, they automatically assume it’s from the filmed concert “U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky,” it’s not. The songs are live but recorded separately from concerts in Colorado, Boston and Germany. Furthermore, the filmed concert is nearly and hour and a half long while the album consists of just eight songs and is just over thirty-five minutes.
Ironically, the album starts with the best known song from the “October” album, “Gloria.” Probably a good opener as any for U2 at this stage of their career. What’s more, the next two songs are off the “Boy” album but then, “I Will Follow” is my all time favourite U2 song and it’s played very well. The crowd really get into it and if I had been there, I would have too. The fourth song, “Party Girl,” doesn’t appear on any of the albums but it’s still okay. Remember, back in 1983, U2 were still hungry and making their mark on the music world and all of the songs reflect that on the album.
It’s not until song five we get anything from the “War” album and that is the phenomenal “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” My second favourite U2 song and the way it’s played here is pure magic. Next is another good song from the debut album in the form of “The Electric Co.” For me, it’s played just as well live as when I hear it on the “Boy” album. Were there studio fixes here? I can’t say. The last two songs from “War” take the album out brilliantly. First is the fantastic “New Year’s Day” and there is no better song for them to close a concert with than “40.” When I saw them in 1985, they would close the show with that song and it was mind blowing. I have to say that “Under a Blood Red Sky” takes me back to another time and almost seemingly another U2 because they were actually good but it hadn’t gone to their heads yet.
Track Listing:
- Gloria
- 11 O’Clock Tick Tock
- I Will Follow
- Party Girl
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- The Electric Co
- New Year’s Day
- 40
Bono- lead vocals, guitar
The Edge- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, bass on “40”
Adam Clayton- bass, guitar on “40”
Larry Mullen Jr- drums
“Under a Blood Red Sky” may not go down as one of the greatest live albums in history but it’s still a good album. Especially if you like U2 when they were more hungry and less with the ego.
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March 15, 2017 at 11:21 pm
Great album. When I want to listen to Sunday Bloody Sunday, it is this version I want to hear.
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March 16, 2017 at 9:18 pm
The live version is definitely better.
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March 16, 2017 at 12:42 pm
I haven’t heard this in about 20 years. My old man is a fan. Or was a fan – they’re not half the band they used to be in those early days and even he stopped listening to them a good while back.
I can’t claim I was ever a big fan, but they first four or five albums are absolutely vital. After that, the vitality and urgency is gone. They truly embraced their biggest band on the planet status and replaced all that good stuff with, well, some great songs. The fire was out, though. Soon the great songs were replaced by pedestrian songs and a cynical ‘back to our roots’ approach on their last bunch of albums. Lordy, U2 bore me. Couldn’t be accused of boring my old man back then.
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March 16, 2017 at 9:21 pm
J I think most people are of the same mind of you and your old man on U2. Everybody loved them in their early days but now they have become boring like you say. Don’t even get me started on Bono and his pompous, self righteous bullsh*t.
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March 16, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Still have this album and used to also watch the accompanying live video concert Live At Red Rocks. Classic U2.
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March 16, 2017 at 9:23 pm
I think this might be the last cassette I bought in 2004. It is classic U2 like you said.
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March 17, 2017 at 12:00 am
Great review of a great Lp.
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March 17, 2017 at 9:03 pm
Thank you, that’s made my day!
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March 17, 2017 at 9:05 pm
I proudly state that I own no U2 albums. Not one.
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March 18, 2017 at 8:27 am
Depending on which side of the fence you talk to you’re either a hero or an infidel. I was given “Boy” from a friend who recorded it from vinyl and I picked up this in at a market stall for $1. I never had to buy “War” because everyone I knew owned it.
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March 18, 2017 at 11:05 pm
My wife has plenty of U2 should I ever feel the need!
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March 19, 2017 at 10:30 am
That’s a good back up.
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