U2’s Iconic ‘Under A Blood Red Sky’ Set To Return For Black Friday 2023

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of U2’s Under A Blood Red Sky (originally release 1983), the 2023 Black Friday vinyl campaign sees a newly remastered release of the iconic live album on limited edition red vinyl through UMR/Island Records.

Consisting of live recordings from three shows on the band’s much-acclaimed “War” tour, the album helped to cement U2’s reputation globally as one of the greatest live acts of all time. Featuring legendary live versions of early classics including “Gloria,” “I Will Follow,” “New Year’s Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” the album remains faithful to the original track list, but has been newly remastered at the renowned studio Bernie Grundman Mastering for Black Friday 2023. The new edition of Under A Blood Red Sky also includes double sided insert with credits and lyrics, plus a large 2-sided poster.

U2 had been honing their stagecraft for the best part of 5 years by the time Under A Blood Red Sky was released as their first live album on November 21, 1983. But in the slipstream of their hugely successful third studio album War, issued some nine months earlier, this was the record that told the world that the Irish band were well on the way to becoming one of the greatest attractions in all of live music. As writer Adam Sweeting put it in his Melody Maker review: “Anyone who’s caught the full blast of U2 at full tilt has to admit it’s a rare old shiver.”

The album entered the UK chart at No.2, and has to date spent 73 weeks in the Top 40 and a dazzling 201 in the Top 100. Among its huge worldwide achievements and certifications, Under A Blood Red Sky was gold in the US in three months, platinum in about 18, and went triple platinum in 1994.

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