Take Five: Early R.E.M. Songs You Should Know

R.E.M. was one of the most important musical acts of their era. Groundbreaking in establishing alternative rock (or college rock, or post-punk, or whatever critics might label it), the Athens, Georgia foursome of Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass) and Bill Berry (drums) made some of the most significant music of the 1980s and beyond. They also had thew grace and good sense to quit on amicable terms while they were ahead, avoiding the self-referencing nostalgia circuit.

And while there are gems to be found throughout R.E.M.’s entire body of work, the faithful will often point to their early years, the so-called I.R.S. era during which they made their first five albums. On the 40th anniversary of the release of R.E..M.’s third album, Fables of the Reconstruction, here are five genre-defining tracks from the pride of Athens.

“Radio Free Europe” from Murmur (1983)
The band debuted with a single and then an excellent EP, 1982’s Chronic Town. A few short months later, again working with producers Don Dixon and Mitch Easter, they recorded and released Murmur. The album reached #36 on the Billboard 200, and introduced the world to the band’s jangling and mysterious sound. Murmur is filled with now-classic tracks, but “Radio Free Europe” – a re-recording of their 1981 debut single – exemplifies the R.E.M. sound. Released as a single, the new recording climbed to #25 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock singles chart.

“So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” from Reckoning (1984)
The critically acclaimed Reckoning signaled a breakthrough for R.E.M. Working yet again with Easter and Dixon, the band created an arguably more accessible album stuffed with alluring tunes and Stipe’s delightfully inscrutable vocal work. “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” served up a memorable tune – listen to Mills’ bass line – with a melancholy vocal.

Personal note: this writer named his daughter after the character referenced in Reckoning’s haunting ballad, “Time After Time (Annelise).”

“Can’t Get There From Here” from Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
Around the time of Fables of the Reconstruction, R.E.M. began its climb toward status as one of the most popular bands on the planet. They also shifted gears musically, making a denser, psychedelic-flavored album with producer Joe Boyd. Boyd had worked with Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention and other groundbreaking acts, all before producing R.E.M. “Can’t Get There From Here” subtly added horns and other auxiliary instrumentation while keeping the unique character of the band intact.

“Fall On Me” from Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
Working with producer Don Gehman, the band changed direction yet again, making a more straightforward and rock-oriented album with Lifes Rich Pageant. R.E.M. – who always credited songwriting to the entire group – came up with a winning single in “Fall On Me,” which reached #5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock singles chart.

“The One I Love” from Document (1987)
The final album of R.E.M.’s I.R.S. era, Document found the group co-producing with Scott Litt. Stipe’s lyrics are less indecipherable than on earlier records, and the band’s top-notch songwriting and arrangement skills are as sharp as ever. Document spawned three singles, including one of their most well-known songs, the Top Ten “The One I Love.” By the way, Stipe is not singing “Diane” at the end of the chorus; the word is “fire.”

R.E.M. made ten more well-received studio albums after leaving I.R.S., including the worldwide smash Out of Time in 1991; that album went Top Five in ten countries, earning 4x Platinum status in the U.S.