U2 to reissue 3 albums with rarities

Members of the band U2 (L-R) Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen pose for photographers as they arrive for the premiere of ''U2 3D'' the first digital 3D concert film by directors Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah January 18, 2008.

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Irish rock band U2 will reissue its first three albums next month with a wealth of previously unreleased and rare material.

"Boy," "October" and "War," all due July 22 via Universal, will be available as remastered single CDs, deluxe sets with a second disc of extras, and on vinyl.

U2's 1980 debut album, "Boy," features the previously unreleased tracks "Speed of Life," "Saturday Night" and "Cartoon World" and a previously unreleased mix of "I Will Follow." Live versions of "Boy-Girl" and "11 O'Clock Tick Tock," taped at London's Marquee club, are also included.

The new edition of 1981's "October" boasts a series of tracks drawn from London's Hammersmith Palais and Boston's Paradise Theatre, including "Gloria" and "I Will Follow," a BBC session with Richard Skinner and Common Ground's remix of "Tomorrow."

"War" (1983) includes the previously unreleased track "Angels Too Tied to the Ground," several remixes of "New Year's Day" and "Two Hearts Beat as One," as well as the 7-inch single edit of "New Year's Day."

U2, which last year reissued its 1987 album "The Joshua Tree" with various bells and whistles, is recording its next album with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. No release date has been set, but rumblings are that it may be out before the end of the year via Interscope.

Reuters/Billboard