Under a Blood Red Sky

Last updated

Under a Blood Red Sky
U2uabrs.jpg
Live album (mini)by
U2
Released21 November 1983 (1983-11-21)
Recorded6 May – 20 August 1983
Venue
Genre Post-punk
Length35:29
Label Island
Producer Jimmy Iovine
U2 chronology
War
(1983)		Under a Blood Red Sky
(1983)		 U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky
(1984)
Singles from Under a Blood Red Sky
  1. "I Will Follow"
    Released: August 20, 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly A− [3]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The New Zealand Herald 8/10 [5]
Pitchfork 9.0/10 [6]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Village Voice A− [10]

Under a Blood Red Sky is a live mini-album by Irish rock band U2, produced by Jimmy Iovine and released on 21 November 1983. [11] The record's eight tracks were compiled from three concerts during the group's 1983 War Tour, including two songs from their 5 June performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The concert film U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky , recorded at the same Red Rocks show, was released as a companion to the live album. Both releases helped establish U2's reputation globally as a renowned live act.

Contents

History

The album consists of live recordings from three shows on the band's War Tour, from Colorado and Boston in the US and from Germany.

An accompanying concert video entitled Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky was released the following year. The film was recorded entirely at the outdoor Red Rocks Amphitheatre on 5 June 1983, while two songs from that show are included on the album.

The title is taken from the lyrics of the song "New Year's Day", originally released on U2's War album.

The album was re-released on 29 September 2008 as a remastered CD with a DVD of the Red Rocks concert. [12]

In November 2023, the band celebrated the 40th anniversary of the album with a newly remastered release on Record Store Day Black Friday. [13] [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by U2, with lyrics by Bono

Side one
No.TitleRecording location/dateLength
1."Gloria" (from October ) Red Rocks Amphitheatre on 5 June 19834:32
2."11 O'Clock Tick Tock" (single) Orpheum Theatre (Boston) Boston, Massachusetts on 6 May 19834:34
3."I Will Follow" (from Boy ) Freilichtbühne Loreley Sankt Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 19833:36
4."Party Girl" (B-side of "A Celebration" single)Red Rocks Amphitheatre on 5 June 19832:52
Side two
No.TitleRecording location/dateLength
1."Sunday Bloody Sunday" (from War )Sankt Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 19834:55
2."The Electric Co." (from Boy)Sankt Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 19835:18
3."New Year's Day" (from War)Sankt Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 19834:29
4."40" (from War)Sankt Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 19833:36

Notes
During the performance of "The Electric Co.", Bono included a 27-second snippet of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns". When Under a Blood Red Sky was released, U2 failed to get permission and pay the appropriate licensing and royalty fees to include Sondheim's tune on the album. When Sondheim objected, U2 agreed to pay a $50,000 (US) penalty for the unauthorized use and to press all future releases with a new version that did not include the snippet.

Essentially, there are now two versions of the vinyl album: the original with the full "The Electric Co." running 5:18 and the edited version which runs 4:51. However, the various CDs pressed around the world all vary in the versions of the song that are included.

On the streaming platforms YouTube Music, Spotify, and Apple Music the album contains the edited version of the song.

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [30] 4× Platinum280,000^
Belgium (BEA) [31] Gold25,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [32] 2× Platinum200,000^
France (SNEP) [33] Platinum300,000*
Germany (BVMI) [34] Platinum500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [35] Platinum15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [36] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [37] 3× Platinum900,000^
United States (RIAA) [38] 3× Platinum3,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  2. ↑ Kot, Greg (6 September 1992). "You, Too, Can Hear The Best Of U2". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Wyman, Bill (29 November 1991). "U2's Discography". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 24 September 2015.
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  38. ↑ "American album certifications – U2 – Under a Blood Red Sky". Recording Industry Association of America.
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