U2 -- Under a Blood Red Sky
- Artist: U2
- Title: Under a Blood Red Sky
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1985 – Used, from Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
“Under a Blood Red Sky” is a great live record by U2. Mary gives it a rating of “9″ even though she thinks Bono enjoys signing a little too much(?). Based on the enthusiastic-sounding crowd I think these guys will be big one day. I just know it.
You can read more about this record at Wikipedia.
U2 -- R.O.K.
- Artist: U2
- Title: R.O.K.
- Year: 1981
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1985 – When she worked at Tower Records in D.C.
- Keeper: Yes
This four song 12 inch was recorded live at the Paradise Theatre in Boston, March 1981. U2 performs “Fire”, “J. Swallow”, “11 O’clock Tick Tock”, and “The Ocean.” It sounds good; they sound really good. The cover is the same on both sides. Not much else to report. This one is for-fans-only.
U2 -- War
- Artist: U2
- Title: War
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 10
- Owner: Tracy / Mary
- Acquired: 1983 – Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
This was the most excited I ever was about getting a U2 album. I remember buying “War” and The Ramones’ “Subterranen Jungle” on the same day. The guy at the store made a point to tell me how good the U2 record was, but he didn’t seem interested in The Ramones at all. He had a serious mullet; that’s all I’m saying.
I got to see U2 on the War tour. It was at the smallish (2500 seats?) Chrysler Hall. After the success of this record they would only play big joints. Pylon was the opening act and I really enjoyed their show despite some morons who had to keep heckling the somewhat overweight singer.
U2 -- October
- Artist: U2
- Title: October
- Year: 1981
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1981 – Unknown origin.
- Keeper: Yes
Led Zepplin had “Presence” and U2 has “October.” By that I mean these are more “challenging” records that any decent band will eventually put out, but for U2 they did it on their second release. It’s an interesting album with only one song that got any real radio attention, “Gloria.” Was there another one? I give ‘em their propers for effort, but I don’t find “October” as engaging or exciting as “Boy.”
U2 -- Boy
- Artist: U2
- Title: Boy
- Year: 1980
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1980 – Unknown origin.
- Keeper: Yes
1980?!? That’s a long time ago. I remember immediately liking “I Will Follow” when I first heard Bono singing “If you walk away, walk away…” But if you had told me then that U2 would still be making music worth listening to decades later I doubt I would have believed you.
For some reason I never bought the record. I’m glad Mary owns almost everything they’ve ever done. I’m pretty sure my friend Jeff Arthur introduced me to them.
Of course “Boy” is a great record and it still sounds modern. It’s hard to believe that U2 is now “classic rock.”
