"October" is the second studio album by Irish rock band U2, released on October 12, 1981, by Island Records. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album reflects the band's involvement with the Shalom Fellowship, a Christian group, and features spiritual and religious themes that led to internal conflicts about the relationship between faith and their rock lifestyle.
Following the completion of the Boy Tour in February 1981, U2 began writing material for October, recording primarily at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin. The process was complicated by the loss of Bono's briefcase, which contained important lyrics and ideas. This prompted a hurried and improvisational approach to completing the album. The lead single "Fire" was released in July 1981, followed by "Gloria" in conjunction with the album's release.
Lyrically, October emphasizes themes of spirituality, evident in songs like "Gloria," "With a Shout (Jerusalem)," and "Tomorrow." Musically, the album continues U2's riff-rock style while incorporating new elements, such as The Edge's use of piano and the inclusion of Uilleann pipes in "Tomorrow."
The album received mixed reviews upon release and had limited radio play but was later reissued in a remastered edition in 2008, including B-sides and rarities. The music video for "Gloria," directed by Meiert Avis, marked the beginning of U2's integration of music videos into their artistic vision during the rise of MTV.
