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R.E.M.: Eponymous

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: I.R.S. Records
Released: 1988.10.17
Time:
 43:06
Category: Alternative Rock
Producer(s): Joe Boyd, Mitch Easter, Don Dixon, Don Gehman, Scott Litt, R.E.M.
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.remhq.com
Appears with: Name
Purchase date: 2012
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


Side one: Early

[1] Radio Free Europe [original Hib-Tone single, 1981] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:47
[2] Gardening at Night [different vocal mix] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:30 *
[3] Talk About the Passion [from Murmur, 1983] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:20
[4] So. Central Rain [from Reckoning, 1984] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:15
[5] (Don't Go Back To) Rockville [from Reckoning, 1984] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 4:32
[6] Cant Get There from Here [from Fables of the Reconstruction, 1985] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:39


Side two: Late

[7] Driver 8 [from Fables of the Reconstruction, 1985] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:23
[8] Romance [from soundtrack album to the 1987 film Made in Heaven] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:25
[9] Fall on Me [from Lifes Rich Pageant, 1986] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 2:50
[10] The One I Love [from Document, 1987] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:16
[11] Finest Worksong [mutual drum horn mix) (from "Finest Worksong" single] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 3:50
[12] It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) [from Document, 1987] (B.Berry/P.Buck/M.Mills/M.Stipe) - 4:05

* - Different mix from version on Chronic Town.

Track listing note: On the vinyl and cassette releases, R.E.M. labeled side one (tracks 1-6) as the "Early side" and side two (tracks 7-12) as the "Late side."

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Bill Berry - Drums, Producer on [1,2,8,10-12]
Peter Buck - Guitar, Producer on [1,2,8,10-12]
Mike Mills - Keyboards, Bass, Background Vocal, Producer on [1,2,8,10-12]
Michael Stipe - Vocals, Producer on [1,2,8,10-12]

Joe Boyd - Producer on [6,7]
Don Dixon - Producer on [3-5
Mitch Easter - Producer on [1-5]
Don Gehman - Producer on [9]
Scott Litt - Producer on [8,10-12]
Sam Hughes - Photography
Kenneth Garrett - Photography
Ron Scarselli - Artwork
Geoff Gans - Additional Inspiration

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Notes from the CD:

"Radio Free Europe" Recorded Spring 1981 in Winston-Salem, N.C. Later "made over" for "Murmur." This is the original track released as Hib-Tone 45 in July 1981. Check out "cattle call" vocal available on bootlegs. Mike and Jefferson think this one crushes the other one like a grape. Original version appears on "Murmur" (SP 70014).

"Gardening at Night" Autumn 1981, Oct. 2, 3, 4, 7. Again at Mitch's recorded for "Chronic Town" EP. This is the original vocal take, which was replaced for the EP. Written on a mattress in the front yard. Now condominiums. Original version appears on "Chronic Town" (SP 70502).

"Talk About the Passion" Hunger song. Never played live until recorded for "Murmur" and after that not very often. Finally a single. Trans: how much time. From "Murmur" (SP 70014).

"S. Central Rain" First song written during late 1983 preparations for tour with Let's Active and "Reckoning." Played it on David Letterman before it had a title. The vocal for the video was sung live. From "Reckoning" (SP 70044).

"Rockville" Early thrash became country for "Reckoning" as a joke on Bertis. From "Reckoning" (SP 70044).

"Can't Get There From Here" Philomath is located between Lexington and Crawfordville and used to have its own post office. From "Fables of the Reconstruction" (IRS-5592).

"Driver 8" Train song from "Fables" with a train video to match. From "Fables of the Reconstruction" (IRS-5592).

"Romance" Written long ago (with, errr, "Stumble") just before first trip to Northeast as openers on Gang of Four tour. Used a microsecond in the still despairing Alan Rudolf's 1987 film - "Made in Heaven". From the "Made in Heaven" soundtrack.

"Fall on Me" from "Pageant," sometimes misunderstood but generally in the right direction. Michael likes this one. From "Lifes Rich Pageant" (IRS-5783).

"The One I Love" This one went to #9. Radio, video, etc. From "Document" (IRS-42059).

"It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" No it's not. Soon to be released in Soviet Union for Greenpeace. From "Document" (IRS-42059).

"Finest Worksong" Another song from "Document that gained horns for 12" and 7" versions. This is the "should-have-been" horn mix had instinct prevailed at the time. Michael likes this one, too. From "Document" (IRS-42059).



Basically a singles collection from R.E.M.'s first five albums, Eponymous gives the listener a sense of the band's change from folk-rock to rock. The songs are intelligently selected, distilling most of the best moments from their first five albums for IRS. Included is the original single of "Radio Free Europe," and different mixes of "Gardening at Night" (where it's actually possible to hear the vocal) and "Finest Worksong," and the previously unreleased (and unspectacular) "Romance." Note: An import collection, The Best of R.E.M., doesn't have the rarities, but has 16 songs, including the remainder of Eponymous, plus many other important songs from their IRS years. Worth the couple of extra dollars for the beginner.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine - All Music Guide



Much as the outtake and B-side collection Dead Letter Office anthologizes the many oddities of R.E.M., 1988's Eponymous is a document testifying to the astounding strength of their formative I.R.S. years. Eponymous reinforces the notion that the inchoate R.E.M. was a rare and brilliant gem of a group. While a somewhat brief CD, it provides quality listening from start to finish with hits such as "The One I Love," "(Don't Go Back to) Rockville," and "Driver 8" tucked amid the likes of an alternate take of "Finest Worksong" and the wonderfully mysterious "Gardening at Night." Especially noteworthy is the inclusion of the original seven-inch version of "Radio Free Europe," the band's 1981 release.

Lorry Fleming - Amazon.com



It seems most of my reviews start off with a bit of a background story. At the time I purchased this album, the only R.E.M. I was familiar with was 1987's masterpiece Document. I was walking through the Kennesaw Wal-Mart, looking for something to buy when I found Eponymous in the Radiohead bin. "Silly people," I thought. On my way back to return the CD to its rightful slot (I am a perfectionist), I stopped by Wal-Mart's relatively new scan and play thing to see what the album was like. While I'd like to say that I felt a feeling of euphoria or something else cliche for an album that would change my musical life as much as this. Instead, I mentioned that I was getting the album to my friend, and I cooly walked towards the camping section of the store.

Eponymous is R.E.M.'s greatest hits collection before In Time picks up. It is the perfect introduction to the 1980's R.E.M. for someone who can't decide which of the five regular albums to pick up first. In my opinion, the '80's were the prime time of R.E.M. They were still a happy jangle-pop alternative rock band. By the '90's, they would become a much darker, softer-sounding band that while still good, did not sound the same as the band credited with starting the alternative rock scene in America. This album introduced me to the rest of the band's '80's material, and for that, I owe it a lot.

The disc, while short, spans all five LP's and the Chronic Town EP R.E.M. recorded with the I.R.S. label. It includes songs that any die-hard early R.E.M. fan would recognize, but it features an interesting twist. Three of the songs are in an alternate format. Radio Free Europe is presented at a faster pace that I prefer over Murmur's version. Finest Worksong features a horn section that should have made it onto Document. Besides the altered tracks, the offerings are still worthy as well. Minor hits such as the beautiful ballads South Central Rain (I'm Sorry) and Fall on Me are featured, as well as more famous songs like The One I Love and the ubiquitous It's the End Of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).

However, besides the more familiar material, people who like the overall sound will fall in love with the deeper cuts. Driver 8 is a great country-rocker, albiet with a slightly dark feel. Radio Free Europe is an upbeat rocker. Then there's one of my favorites, the slightly dark, yet pretty Gardening at Night. And if you haven't had enough, there's the funky Can't Get There From Here.

With a few listens, you'll notice that R.E.M. at the time aren't about flashy, complex music. They present simple, classy jangle-rock without taking themselves very seriously. If you're already a fan, I'd go for the other albums of the period unless you really want the three alternate versions presented here. If, however, you're not sure about where you should start, I'd pick this up.

   Pros:
Great overview of early R.E.M. material
No weak tracks
Alternate versions of some songs are an interesting listen.

   Cons:
If you don't like jangle-rock, you won't like this
A but on the short side (Only about 40 minutes)
If you already like them, it's only worth the purchase if you really want the alternate songs.

Pechorin  - February 3rd, 2006
Copyright 2005-2014 Sputnikmusic.com



Eponymous is the first greatest hits and the second compilation album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1988. It was their last authorized release on I.R.S. Records, to whom they had been contracted since 1982, having just signed with Warner Bros. Records.

Eponymous is notable for its inclusion of several rare or alternative versions of known tracks, most notably the soundtrack contribution "Romance", which had not previously appeared on an R.E.M. record. Spanning from the Chronic Town EP to the previous year's breakthrough hit album Document, Eponymous provides a fair overview of R.E.M.'s early work.

The album features the alternate title "File Under Grain", a reference to the cover photograph. A previous album, Document, had "File Under Fire" inscribed on it and Reckoning, featured the words "File Under Water". On the backside of the LP cover was a photograph of singer Michael Stipe with the words "They Airbrushed My Face" above his head.

Released in October 1988, just a month before R.E.M.'s Warner Bros. debut Green appeared, Eponymous reached #44 in the US and #69 in the UK.

Wikipedia.org
 

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