Under a Blood Red Sky

Infobox Album
Name = Under a Blood Red Sky
Type = live
Artist = U2


Released = November 1983
Recorded = 6 May 1983 – 20 August 1983, Effanel Mobile
Genre = Rock
Length = 35:29
Label = Island
Producer = Jimmy Iovine
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dpfyxq95ldde link]
*Pitchfork Media (9.0/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/145879-u2-under-a-blood-red-sky link]
*Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=u2 link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/102415 link]
Last album = "War" (1983)
This album = Under a Blood Red Sky (1983)
Next album = "The Unforgettable Fire" (1984)

"Under a Blood Red Sky" is the name of both a live album and concert video recorded by the rock band U2, released in 1983. Both helped establish U2's reputation as a remarkable live band, and both were produced by Jimmy Iovine.

History

The album consists of live recordings from three shows on the band's War Tour. Album highlights include a fiery rendition of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (famously introduced by Bono with the words, "this is not a rebel song") and a jaunty run-through of the B-side "Party Girl".

An accompanying concert video of the same name was also released at the same time as the album, although many tracks performed at the concert (such as "Two Hearts Beat as One") were not included on the album or video. Unlike the album, it was recorded entirely at the dramatic outdoor Red Rocks Amphitheatre on 5 June 1983. Steady rain, large lighted torches surrounding the stage, and the natural cliffs of Red Rocks provided a dramatic context for the video. Segments of the video were frequently shown on MTV and helped expand U2's American following.Fact|date=March 2007

U2 recording at Red Rocks was subsequently selected in "Rolling Stone"'s list of the "50 Moments that Changed Rock and Roll". [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6085455/the_moments The Moments : Rolling Stone ] ]

The phrase "Under a blood red sky" is taken from the lyrics of the song "New Year's Day", originally released on U2's "War" album.

The album was re-released as a remastered CD on September 29, 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?news_id=2246 |title=LIVE AT RED ROCKS AND UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Album

Track listing

tracklist|
all_writing = U2, with lyrics by Bono
total_length = 35:29
extra_column = Recording Location/Date

title1 = Gloria
note1 = live
length1 = 4:45
extra1 = Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado on 5 June 1983

title2 = 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
note2 = live
length2 = 4:43
extra2 = Boston, Massachusetts on 6 May 1983

title3 = I Will Follow
note3 = live
length3 = 3:47
extra3 = St. Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 1983

title4 = Party Girl
note4 = live
length4 = 3:08
extra4 = Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado on 5 June 1983

title5 = Sunday Bloody Sunday
note5 = live
length5 = 5:17
extra5 = St. Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 1983

title6 = The Electric Co.
note6 = live
length6 = 5:18
extra6 = St. Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 1983

title7 = New Year's Day
note7 = live
length7 = 4:36
extra7 = St. Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 1983

title8 = "40"
note8 = live
length8 = 3:43
extra8 = St. Goarshausen, Germany on 20 August 1983

During the recording of "The Electric Co.", Bono included a 27 second snippet of Stephen Sondheim's "Send In The Clowns".When the "Under A Blood Red Sky" LP was released, U2 failed to get permission and pay the appropriate licensing and royalty fees to include that piece of 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 27 seconds of "Send In The Clowns."

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 are a different story altogether.

*the trifold digipack CD pressed in the U.S. correctly lists "The Electric Co." at 4:51 and contains the edited version of the song.
*later U.S. CD pressings in the standard jewel box format incorrectly list "The Electric Co." at 5:18, but have the edited version of the song.
*some, and perhaps all, European pressings of the CD correctly list "The Electric Co." at 5:18 and have the unedited version of the song (the same is likely true of other worldwide CD pressings).
*an Australian pressing of the CD lists the track at 4:57, but the song actually runs the full 5:18.

Chart positions and sales

Concert video

Infobox album
Name = Under a Blood Red Sky: Live at Red Rocks
Type = video
Artist = U2


Released = November 1983
Recorded = 5 June 1983, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado
Genre = Rock, post-punk
Length = 55 mins
Label = Island
Director = Gavin Taylor
Producer = Rick Wurpel, Doug Stewart
Reviews =
This album = "Under a Blood Red Sky: Live at Red Rocks"
(1983)
Next album = "The Unforgettable Fire Collection"
(1985)
# "Out of Control" "(DVD only)"
# "Twilight" "(DVD only)"
# "An Cat Dubh" "(DVD only)"
# "Into the Heart" "(DVD only)"
# "Surrender"
# "Two Hearts Beat As One" "(DVD only)"
# "Seconds"
# "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
# "Cry/The Electric Co."
# "October"
# "New Year's Day"
# "I Threw a Brick Through a Window"
# "A Day Without Me"
# "Gloria"
# "Party Girl"
# "11 O'Clock Tick Tock"
# "I Will Follow"
# "40"

All tracks recorded in Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado on 5 June 1983.

Music by U2, words by Bono, except "Send in the Clowns", a showtune written by Stephen Sondheim.

For legal reasons, the snippet excerpt of "Send in the Clowns" in "The Electric Co." only appears on some editions of the album. Some versions of the video omit the song entirely.

This is the only official release which features all four members contributing vocals, although the film does not show Adam or Larry singing clear (Adam on "I Will Follow", Larry on "Surrender").

A DVD version was released on September 29, 2008 with all tracks from the concert except "I Fall Down" in the main feature. [cite web |url=http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?news_id=2246 |title=LIVE AT RED ROCKS AND UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY |accessdate=2008-08-11] U2.com are releasing this as a cd for subscribers and resubscribers in November 2008.

Personnel

*Bono – lead vocals
*The Edge – guitar, piano, backing vocals, lap steel on "Surrender", bass guitar on "40"
*Adam Clayton – bass guitar, guitar on "40", backing vocals on "I Will Follow"
*Larry Mullen Jr. – drums, backing vocals on "Surrender"

ee also

*U2 discography
*Red Rocks Amphitheatre

References

Photos from the Red Rocks show can be seen at gwigler.com

External links

* [http://www.u2wanderer.org/disco/alb004.html "Under a Blood Red Sky"] at U2 Wanderer, with comprehensive details on various editions, cover scans, lyrics, and more
* [http://www.u2wanderer.org/disco/vid001.html "Under a Blood Red Sky" (video)] at U2 Wanderer
* [http://www.threechordsandthetruth.net/u2lyrics/bloodredsky.htm Lyrics]