Real Life On A Cloud (Godfather Records GR 740)
The Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA – November 14th, 1981
(67:07): Intro., Gloria, Another Time Another Place, I Threw A Brick Through A Window, An Cat Dubh, Into The Heart, With A Shout, Rejoice, The Cry, The Electric Co., I Fall Down, October, Stories For Boys, I Will Follow, Twilight, Out Of Control, Fire, 11 O’Clock Tick Tock, The Ocean
U2 were savvy enough to court the media in their early tours of the US, and they continue to this day. Real Life On A Cloud is a silver pressed edition of one of their early radio broadcasts. The November 14th, 1981 concert in Boston, the second stop on the October tour, was broadcast live over WBCN in Boston and later, in edited form, on the King Biscuit Flower Hour.
The DJ comments are omitted and is in stereo. It was shows like this that helped establish U2 as one of the most consistent and powerful live acts. And it’s interesting to hear the band play songs solely from their early catalogue, many of which were never hits.
Some of the songs are well known such as “Gloria,” “I Will Follow” and “October,” but it’s great to hear songs live that are rarely played today such as “Another Time Another Place,” “I Threw A Brick Through A Window,” “Rejoice” and “Cry The Electric Company.”
The band also offers up a fiery versions of “Out Of Control,” “Fire” and the catchy “11 O’Clock Tick Tock.”
Real Life On A Cloud is packaged in a trifold gatefold sleeve, an overall gorgeous job by Godfather, who are really the only label who consistently produce quality U2 silver titles. This is an excellent sounding and energetic early performance by the band and is worth having.
