Customer Reviews
Good but not enough 
2009-01-16
Well I was waiting for this CD to come out in it's remastered from but was Disappointed when it came out and they had only remastered the CD and had added nothing to it. Most Groups when they remaster a CD they add extra tracks to the Cd. The songs that they have on there are great but would have been better it there was more on the CD. The DVD is great
Great CD, but Electric Co. still butchered! 2008-12-15
I bought this as a vinyl EP record when it first came out in 1983 or so, and played it until the grooves wore out. It is definitely one of the great musical documents of the era - one of my favorites - and captures a moment in time that I have been reliving for 25 years.
I was thrilled when the original CD version came out in the early 90s, but like many people, was shocked to find that they had cut a part out of the middle of The Electric Co., where Bono is doing some vocal riffing and climbing the tower on the side of the stage. It's the pivotal part of the song, and when you know it's there it's like cutting the heart out of the song. I don't know what it sounds like if you've never heard the uncut version, but to me it entirely kills it. All I can figure is there were some royalty issues concerning "Send in the Clowns" which he is riffing on. The uncut VHS tape also went out of print a long time ago.
After waiting for many years for this to be remastered, I was hoping so much that they would restore the uncut version of the song. You'd think after all these years any copyright problems could be taken care of. However, the cut is still there, and it is in fact, EVEN BIGGER. Yes, there is an even bigger chunk out of the song at the same place. I guess they thought it would flow better that way, but it still sounds like crap. I've never heard any official explaination, but I suppose it's possible that the uncut tapes simply don't exist anymore. After all, this was recorded for a German TV show, not for a live album or with any notion that we'd be using it 25 years later. Either that or it's just laziness or greed. I don't know, but it's very disappointing.
Overall, the remastering is OK, but the audio quality is not really that much better than the original CD, there aren't any of the additional songs that are on the new DVD, and it has an even worse cut in the Electric Co. (Note that the DVD has the same cut, as well as a couple of other similar edits. The entire part where Bono climbs the tower is gone. If you want to see that you need to get an old VHS copy.) So, if you already have the original CD, you might not feel the need to buy this one. If you are expecting it to be uncut like the original EP, you will be disappointed. Get the DVD for the additional songs, though - they should have at least put them on the CD.
In the Top 5 all time of Live Rock N Roll Albums 
2008-11-19
This Album came out when I was in High School. I remember hearing it for the 1st time & just being amazed about how Awesome U2 sounded live. This Album has so much energy. I listened to it constantly. I wore out the cassette & had to buy it when it came out on CD. A lot of good memories come back to me from 25 yrs ago. It reminds me of being young. This album has to be one of the greatest recorded live performances of all time. I saw U2 for the 1st time in March 1985 at UIC Pavilion in Chicago & they were outstanding. It lived up to the Hype. They are still a good band, but not a great one like they were in the 80's & 90's.
Are they opening or headlining? 
2008-09-16
3 1/2
Brief but blistering early live documentation of the group who, back in their earnest heyday, made terms like "arena-rock" seem powerful, UABLS might not have been the landmark early live disc fans were hoping for, but still offered ample reason why this sound should be documented (particularly that of Edge's fascinating textures). If they would have put a little more variety into their classic renditions and added a few more choice live cuts the disc could have been necessary (something they are apparently trying to remedy with the upcoming remastered double disc).
a classic live performance 2008-08-18
this remains one of the best live albums I own. It's funny because I am listening to it now, in 2008, after not having listened to it for years, and I am struck by the freshness and just sheer brilliance of it. It's a shame that U2 started going down the drain as of The Joshua Tree... It wouldn't have taken that much to keep these levels up without becoming yet another globalised band. This still sends shivers down my spine. Every song. More than 20 years after I first listened to it. Amazing.
Big Dan says 2008-08-01
The remastered Under a Blood Red Sky album was originally released in November 1983, and consists of live recordings from three shows on the band's War Tour through Europe and America.
Great live record! 2008-06-15
U2's 'Under A Blood Red Sky' is a superb live record from U2. It's one of the best live records of the '80s in my opinion. The eight songs here are all essential for any U2 fan. This is a must-own for any U2 lover.
But, I do have a few things to say for the U2 collector.
-First, not all of the songs here were recorded at Red Rocks, making this more of a live album than a soundtrack to a film. These were all taken during three stops on the 'War' tour. Only two were recorded at Red Rocks, and those were 'Gloria' and 'Party Girl.' 'I Will Follow,' 'Electric Co.,' 'New Year's Day,' 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and '40' were all recorded in Germany, and '11 O' Clock Tick Tock' was recorded in Boston. All were recorded in 1983.
-The second is more of a note to collectors than casual fans. 'The Electric Co.' has a snippit chopped off. Bono sings 'Send In The Clowns' in the middle of the song, and because of copyright issues, Island was forced to remove the song from the CD release. This won't bother casual U2 fans, but for die-hards like me, it is a tad annoying.
If you collect bootlegs like I do, you probably have the whole Red Rocks show and the full version of 'Electric Co.' that was featured on the vinyl.
But still, despite that one flaw about the edited version of 'The Electric Co.,' this is a superb live album. One of the best from U2.
Highly recommended. A must-listen live album. ENJOY!!!
My favorite U2 Album 2008-02-14
Bono's voice was meant to be heard live. He's a passionate political activist and all of his raw energy clearly comes through in a live format.
Live singles do not make an album. 
2007-10-06
This "album" is a collection of singles. U2 needs to take a whole concert and put it on CD. And only eight songs!
Twisting, turning 2007-08-02
I still have my original cassette tape of this--my very first U2 purchase. I adored it, and I adore it, still. I realize one of the tracks isn't exactly "live" as they are all labeled, but no matter. The passion and strength of the songs on this CD stand. It's brilliant!
