Tag: R.E.M.

Listen: R.E.M. on Mountain Stage

R.E.M. made their historic visit to Mountain Stage 30 years ago this week. The appearance was just one of three shows scheduled to promote their upcoming release “Out of Time.”  The other appearances included in the media tour were “Saturday Night Live” and MTV’s “Unplugged.”

The anniversary is all the reason we need to revisit their performance of “It’s The End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” recorded live in Charleston, W.Va. on April 28th, 1991.

R.E.M.’s full Mountain Stage set was re-released in 2016 on the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of “Out of Time.”

A Big Band Comes To A Small Town: R.E.M. on Mountain Stage at 25

When R.E.M. appeared on NPR‘s Mountain Stage on April 28, 1991, they were one of the biggest bands in the world. Though when they released Out of Time, in March of that year, they decided against touring behind it, opting for media appearances instead. One of these appearances was Mountain Stage.

25 years later, that spring weekend has become legendary in Charleston, West Virginia, when a big band visited a small town.

Their Mountain Stage set is being commercially released for the first time as part of an expansive reissue of the band’s critically acclaimed album Out of Time. The Mountain Stage recording will make up the third disc of the four-disc Deluxe Edition.

To mark the occasion for ourselves, we’ve compiled stories of the weekend into “A Big Band Comes To A Small Town: R.E.M. on Mountain Stage at 25.” We’ll hear from Mountain Stage founders Larry Groce and Andy Ridenour, music journalist Annie Zaleski (who wrote the liner notes for the Out of Time reissue, who explains why the band didn’t tour), and of course, members of the Mountain Stage audience that night in 1991. 

R.E.M. to Include 'Mountain Stage' Performance on Upcoming Release

R.E.M. made a historic visit to Charleston, WV on April 28, 1991 to perform on Mountain Stage. Now, 25 years later, the music is being commercially released for the first time as part of an expansive reissue of the band’s critically acclaimed album “Out of Time.” The Mountain Stage recording will make up the third disc of the four-disc “Deluxe Edition.” Due in stores November 18, the multiple packages are available for pre-order now. Stay tuned to West Virginia Public Broadcasting on air and online for more about our plans to celebrate this anniversary and the ‘Out of Time’ release.

News of the delux reissue has already prompted highlights from RollingStone.com, Billboard and Pitchfork.

Here is the media release from R.E.M. HQ. Info on each version is below.

August 25, 2016- R.E.M. Announce 25th Anniversary Reissue Of ‘Out Of Time,’ Out November 18th Via Concord Bicycle

Includes Unreleased Demos, Rare Live Performance, Blu-Ray Versions Of Music Videos, ‘Time Piece’ Promo Film and more

“Arguably Their Most Important Record” (Pitchfork)
 

A quarter of a century after ‘Out Of Time’ helped break alternative music into the American mainstream and turned R.E.M. into a worldwide phenomenon, the band have announced a special 25th Anniversary Edition, out November 18th via Concord Bicycle.
 
‘Out Of Time’ will be released in three different formats. The 2 CD Set will include a remastered version of the original album alongside demo versions of every album track, as well as demos for two non-album b-sides and a previously unreleased song. The 3 LP Set will include remastered vinyl versions of the original album and the demos. The 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of ‘Out Of Time’ will include 4 discs, featuring the remastered album, demos, recordings from the band’s performance at Mountain Stage in 1991 (a rarity for the time, as the band did not tour to promote ‘Out Of Time’), and a Blu-Ray disc with hi-resolution audio and 5.1 Surround Sound versions of ‘Out Of Time,’ all of the music videos from the album, and the 1991 electronic press kit ‘Time Piece,’ featuring in-studio footage, exclusive performances and more. All versions will feature extensive liner notes by Annie Zaleski featuring interviews from all four band members and producers Scott Litt and John Keane. Full details below.
 
The demos, recorded at John Keane Studio in early 1990 and featured on all versions of the ‘Out Of Time’ reissue, provide key insight into the band’s creative process: from early instrumental passes to versions of “Losing My Religion” and “Texarkana” with different lyrics, and even a version of “Radio Song” that features a rare moment with drummer Bill Berry on lead vocals for a verse. While recording them, it was clear to Keane that R.E.M. were “at their peak in terms of creativity.”
 
By 1991, R.E.M. (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe) had amassed a sizable following in the United States, but ‘Out Of Time’ brought the Athens, GA band unprecedented global recognition. It was the group’s first album to top both US and UK charts, selling 12 million copies worldwide, and garnered 7 Grammy nominations, including wins for Best Alternative Music Album, Best Short Form Music Video (“Losing My Religion”), and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Losing My Religion”).
 
Instant classic songs like “Losing My Religion,” “Shiny Happy People,” “Near Wild Heaven,” and “Radio Song” broke new ground, artistically and commercially. Reviewing ‘Out Of Time,’ Rolling Stone simply said, “This may well be America’s best rock & roll band.” Earlier this year, Pitchfork called the album “arguably their most important record,” while Time Magazine named ‘Out Of Time’ one of its All-Time 100 Albums, saying it contains “ethereal beauty rarely heard on a rock record.”

PRE-ORDER ‘OUT OF TIME’- 25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION:
4 Disc Deluxe Edition: https://rem.lnk.to/OutOfTimeDeluxe 
2 CD Edition: https://rem.lnk.to/OutOfTime2CD  
3 LP Edition: https://rem.lnk.to/OutOfTime3LP
iTunes: 
https://rem.lnk.to/OutOfTimeDigital

Mountain Stage After Midnight- August 2 & 3

Celebrate the weekend with a pair of performances that share a common Drive-By Truckers thread, courtesy of “Mountain Stage After Midnight.” Broadcast from 1am-5am Saturday and Sunday mornings here on West Virginia Public Radio, “Mountain Stage After Midnight” takes the best episodes from the show’s 31 year history and shares their memories and songs with our late-night listeners. Each week we’ll hand-pick two of our favorite episodes and they’ll alternate order each night.

Join us as we flashback to performances from the year 2012 for Saturday August 2 and Sunday August 3 on “Mountain Stage After Midnight.”

First you’ll hear a February 2012 performance from American power poppers Fountains of Wayne, “Bayou Soul Man” Marc Broussard (who just released A Life Worth Living this past week), Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee, soulful vocalist Grace Weber, and Americana singer-violinist Amanda Shires. See the playlist.

Credit Brian Blauser
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Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood made his second appearance on Mountain Stage in 2012. What made this performance even more special? The surprise appearance of R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, who joined Hood on stage for the song “After It’s Gone.”

Next, an episode recorded on the campus of University of Georgia in Athens featuring Drive-By Truckers c0-founder Patterson Hood, American composer Van Dyke Parks, Faroese musician Teitur, Southern multi-instrumentalist Randall Bramblett, and Atlanta guitarist Caroline Aiken.  See the playlist.

Have a Mountain Stage performance in mind that you’d love to hear overnight weekends? Send us your recommendations over at the show’s Facebook and Twitter. While you’re at it, make sure to check out The Mountain Stage Podcast to see why Mountain Stage remains the home of live music on public radio.

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