U2 - First Live Album
‘Under A Blood Red Sky’ was U2’s first live album, and was released in November 1983, having been produced by Jimmy Iovine. Always referred too as a mini album, it has a running time of 35 minutes, and was cheaper to buy than a normal length album.
The album takes its name from a line in ‘New Years Day’, which is on the album, having first appeared on the ‘War’ album earlier in the year. This album was in the charts for over four years, probably helped by the price. It was a great introduction to U2, at the same time it can be said that it marked the end of the early part of their career. At the time of its release there were lots of bootleg versions of live performances by U2, it was hoped that this would stop that.
The album was recorded during the ‘War Tour’ over the summer of 1983, while there was a video release recorded at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and this was the vinyl accompaniment. The were only two tracks on the album recorded at Red Rocks, the others having been recorded at the Orpheum Theater, Boston on May 6th 1983 and Rockplast’83 in Germany on 20th August 1983.
‘Gloria’ was recorded at Red Rocks.
‘11 O’clock Tick Tock’ this version was recorded at the Orpheum Theater.
‘I Will Follow’ this version was recorded at Rockplast’83 in Germany.
‘Party Girl’ recorded at Red Rocks
‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ this version was recorded at Rockplast’83 in Germany.
‘The Electric Co’ was recorded at Rockplast’83 in Germany
‘New Years Day’ was recorded at Rockplasat’83 in Germany
‘40’ was recorded at Rockplast’83 in Germany.