Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Gloria
2. I Fall Down
3. I Threw A Brick Through A Window
4. Rejoice
5. Fire
6. Tomorrow
7. October
8. With A Shout (Jerusalem)
9. Stranger In A Strange Land
10. Scarlet
11. Is That All?

Disc 2:

1. Gloria
2. I Fall Down
3. I Threw A Brick Through A Window
4. Fire
5. October
6. With A Shout (Jerusalem)
7. Scarlet
8. I Threw A Brick Through A Window
9. A Celebration
10. J.Swallow
11. Trash, Trampoline And The Party Girl
12. I Will Follow
13. The Ocean
14. Cry/The Electric Co.
15. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
16. I Will Follow
17. Tomorrow

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10863 in Music
• Released on: 2008-07-21
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Deluxe Edition, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .48 pounds
• Running time: 101 minutes

CD Description
The second in a series of three re-mastered and re-releasedU2 albums, 1981's 'October' is the seminal stadium rockers'most spiritual to date. Twenty-seven years after its original release, the re-mastered version includes a bonus CD packed with b-sides and live rarities. Although the album originally received a lukewarm reception, tracks such as 'Gloria' and 'October' were staples of U2's renowned live set in the years after its release.

Customer Reviews

Great Album
One reviewer describes "October" as "underwhelming". I disagree. As soon as "Gloria" bursts through the speakers you know you are onto a good thing. I'll admit that "I Fall Down" and "I Threw a Brick" are a little dull (with better versions on the bonus disk); but the rest of the album is first class - one of their best five albums in my view.

This remastering gives a slightly richer, fuller, sound and clearer vocals, but it is not a massive improvement in the original. The bonus disk is a revelation, with energetic live tracks; a fantastic BBC session and some rare tracks. It is every bit as enjoyable as the original album.

If, like me, you think that U2 did their best work in the 1980's, this is a very enjoyable purchase.

Essential
A must have for any self-respecting U2 fan, these deluxe editions follow in the footsteps of last year's Joshua Tree anniversary release.

Overseen by The Edge himself, the original albums have been fully remastered, but its the 2nd disc that will most appeal - containing B-sides, rarities and live versions that would take a small fortune to track down on the original singles. Notable on October Deluxe, is the great lost U2 single, 'A Celebration', which was released between October and War in 1982, but then fell out of favour with the band. (Although it's B-side '...Party Girl', also included, has become a live favourite to this day). Extensive liner notes, lyrics and unseen photographs are included in each version.

The first three albums represent the band's early punk influences (Boy) religious leanings (October) and the first steps toward stadium rock (War) and the fact that U2 still play songs from this period in their live set today is testament to the quality of the albums.

Almost Brilliant
Building on the muscularity and vigour of the first album and showing more variation in texture, October boasts moments of brilliance but at times sounds somewhat directionless. Like Boy, the first track is impressive, Gloria builds in power from a voice crying out in pain and desperation. The guitar and rhythm section is perfectly judged so that the return of the chorus becomes joyful and uplifting, possibly the first great U2 song.
I Fall Down with its piano backing and Bono's voice once more inspirational; a song which demonstrates the band's ability to mix broad blasts of powerful rock with surprising subtlety.
Then another change of texture. I Fall Down introduced by blistering drumming. Bono's voice swooping into falsetto. So far, so brilliant and Rejoice is effortlessly inspirational.
Fire however falls back, a mid-tempo piece, undistinguished. Yet the band are able to adjust the texture again. Tomorrow introduces the sound of pipes over a growling bass. Bono's vocal performance is almost melodramatic but desperately sincere and the song builds and builds. October reintroduces the piano giving the short track a sense of majety and importance, a lovely quiet number.
With A Shout a loud song, great guitar playing, Bono cries out for Jerusalem but doesn't tell us what he hopes to find there.
As the main album draws to a close, we are reminded of the flaws of the first album; a reliance on mid-tempo numbers, a loss of focus.
The CD comes with an impressive array of bonus tracks including live versions of songs from the album and a good selection of other tracks.