Gloria

Media Review:

Review: Gloria [Ireland]

2 1/2 stars (out of 5)

By JT Griffith, All Music Guide

Gloria was the second single from U2's 1981 album October. The song, with the inclusion of the Latin phrases "In te domine" and "exultate," was one of the first U2 songs to have both carnal and spiritual interpretations. "Gloria" did not receive much mainstream airplay in the U.S., but college radio embraced it, though overall sales for the LP were lackluster. U2 began to outgrow the club scene and was soon playing in larger theatres. War would be the band's first large breakthrough, but "Gloria" would remain a popular, but lesser-known, anthem. A live version of "Gloria" recorded at Red Rocks in June of 1983 opened Under a Blood Red Sky. Gloria was released on 7" vinyl in Ireland, the U.K., and Australia with the title track and "I Will Follow" recorded live at the Paradise Theatre in Boston. With this track, U2 released its sixth song from the 1981 concert. 1998's Sweetest Thing CD 2 would contain two more tracks from the concert ("Stories for Boys" and "Out of Control"). The Gloria single has never been released on CD.

© AMG/Macrovision Corporation. All Rights Reserved.