October is the title of U2's second album, originally released on October 12, 1981.

The album features significant spiritual and religious themes; it was written at a time when Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. were involved with a group named the Shalom Fellowship, and they were strongly considering breaking up U2 as they felt they couldn't be Christians and in a rock band at the same time. They later realized the group was a cult.

Part of October was written during a soundcheck before a show at Minneapolis' First Avenue club; Bono's original lyrics were stolen during a show in Portland, OR, complicating matters. However, the band had already booked studio time and couldn't back out; this caused Bono to improvise new lyrics in the studio, causing the final cuts to be somewhat disjointed.

Two singles ("Fire" and "Gloria") were released; "Fire" peaked at #35 in the UK, while "Gloria" only reached #55.

Track List
1. Gloria (4:14)
2. I Fall Down (3:39)
3. I Threw a Brick Through a Window (4:54)
4. Rejoice (3:37)
5. Fire (3:51)
6. Tomorrow (4:39)
7. October (2:21)
8. With a Shout (Jerusalem) (4:02)
9. Stranger In a Strange Land (3:56)
10. Scarlet (2:53)
11. Is That All? (2:59)

2008 Remaster

U2's first three albums were remastered in 2008 under supervision of The Edge, and like the others, October's remaster had three versions: The CD, with full lyrics, new photos and liner notes written by Neil McCormick; a deluxe version with the album as well as a bonus disc of rarities and b-sides and extended liner notes by The Edge explaining the selections; and also a 180-gram vinyl album with restored packaging was released.

Bonus Disc Track List
1. Gloria (Live in London) (4:43) - BBC Radio broadcast
2. I Fall Down (Live in London) (3:02) - BBC Radio broadcast
3. I Threw a Brick Through a Window (Live in London) (3:52) - BBC Radio broadcast
4. Fire (Live in London) (3:32) - BBC Radio broadcast
5. October (Live in London) (2:22) - BBC Radio broadcast
6. With a Shout (BBC Radio Session) (3:34)
7. Scarlet (BBC Radio Session) (2:46)
8. I Threw a Brick Through a Window (BBC Radio Session) (4:18)
9. A Celebration (2:57) - A Celebration single
10. J. Swallo (2:20) - Fire b-side
11. Party Girl (2:36) - A Celebration b-side
12. I Will Follow (Live in Boston) (3:44) - Gloria b-side
13. The Ocean (Live in Boston) (2:15) - Fire b-side
14. The Electric Co. (Live in Boston) (4:28) - Fire b-side
15. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (Live in Boston) (4:57) - Fire b-side
16. I Will Follow (Live in Hattem) (3:52) - I Will Follow live single
17. Tomorrow (Common Ground Remix) (4:36) - Common Ground compilation album

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