R.E.M. at the BBC

R.E.M. grew up with the BBC, and this historic relationship is lovingly celebrated across an incredible collection that beautifully illustrates the career trajectory of one of modern music’s greatest bands. The collection—available as a super-deluxe edition 8-CD/1-DVD box set, as well as 2-CD, 2-LP and digital formats—comprises a treasure trove of rare and unreleased live and studio recordings culled from the BBC and band archives. This is a must-have collection for R.E.M. fans and an authoritative introduction for newcomers.

Listen to ‘Losing My Religion (Live From Into The Night on BBC Radio 1 / 1991)’ HERE

In-studio performances featured in the 8-CD/1-DVD box set include a John Peel Session (1998), Drivetime and Mark and Lard appearances (2003) and a glorious Radio 1 Live Lounge performance (2008). Live broadcasts include a rough-and-tumble show from Nottingham’s Rock City (1984), the stunning 1995 Milton Keynes Monster Tour (their first after a six-year break), a blistering 1999 Glastonbury headline set and an invitation-only 2004 show at London’s St James’s Church.

The DVD kicks off with a sixty-minute intimate retrospective of the band’s legendary performances at the BBC in the Accelerating Backwards film – previously broadcast only in the UK and available commercially for the first time here.  Accelerating Backwards also includes revealing interviews with Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe, further testifying to R.E.M.’s long, special relationship with the BBC.  The DVD also offers a complete 1998 Later….With Jools Holland episode uniquely dedicated to the band, plus TV appearances on Top of the Pops and more.

The package liner notes add yet more behind-the-scenes insight to this definitive retrospective collection. Assorted BBC personalities reminiscence about what it was like to work with R.E.M both on stage and off. Respected BBC DJ/Presenter Jo Whiley recalls, “Their Glastonbury performance in 1999 was a dazzling moment: the band storming through an all-killer, no-filler setlist. As a headline performance, it was a triumph and, for me, it’s up there as one of the Glastonbury greats.”  Of a 2001 Top of the Pops performance, BBC Producer Mark Hagen muses, “”Michael once told me that he hears in colors and it was one of those nights when you felt that you could reach out and touch the music as it flowed through the air, a glorious rolling cloud of green. Just like a kudzu vine in a dream.”  Acclaimed rock journalist Tom Doyle also provides an overview of the entire thirty-year period.

In addition to the comprehensive box set, The Best of R.E.M. at the BBC is also available via 2-CD and 2-LP formats. The Best of collection offers a selection of in-studio performance and live broadcast highlights. R.E.M. at the BBC will also be available to stream or download, with the digital album offering mirroring discs 1 to 8 from the box set.

The first instant grat. single—a memorable version of “Losing My Religion” recorded in 1991 for BBC 1’s Into The Night session—is available when you pre-order the box set or Best of album (Listen or Pre-order Here). New instant grat. singles will be released each week leading up to street date.

R.E.M. at the BBC (8-CD/1-DVD) Track Listing:
Note, the digital album mirrors discs 1 – 8.

Disc 1 (64:17) – Sessions
Into The Night, BBC Radio 1, 13 March 1991

1.    World Leader Pretend 4:36
2.    Fretless 5:16
3.    Half A World Away 3:33
4.    Radio Song 4:05
5.    Losing My Religion 4:42
6.    Love Is All Around 3:09
John Peel Studio Session, 25 October 1998
7.    Walk Unafraid 4:04
8.    Daysleeper 3:18
9.    Lotus 4:13
10. At My Most Beautiful 3:16
Mark and Lard, BBC Radio 1, 15 October 2003
11. Bad Day 4:03
12. Orange Crush 3:55
Drivetime, BBC Radio 2, 15 October 2003
13. Man On The Moon 4:59
14. Imitation Of Life 3:41
Radio 1 Live Lounge, 26 March 2008
15. Supernatural Superserious 3:23
16. Munich 3:18

Disc 2 (62:32) – Sessions
BBC Radio 1 Session, 25 October 1998

1. Introduction :26
2. Losing My Religion 4:44
3. New Test Leper 5:53
4. Lotus 4:48
5. Parakeet 4:23
6. Electrolite 4:23
7. Perfect Circle 4:39
8. The Apologist 4:40
9. Daysleeper 4:44
10. Country Feedback 7:23
11. At My Most Beautiful 4:14
12. Walk Unafraid 4:52
13. Man On The Moon 6:11

Disc 3 (58:49) – Live Broadcasts
Rock City, Nottingham, 21 November 1984

1. Second Guessing 2:57
2. Hyena 2:57
3. Talk About The Passion 3:04
4. West Of The Fields 3:07
5. (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville 4:29
6. Auctioneer (Another Engine) 3:01
7. So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) 4:51
8. Old Man Kensey 4:24
9. Gardening At Night 3:26
10. 9-9/Hey Diddle Diddle/Feeling Gravitys Pull 5:39
11. Windout 1:49
12. Driver 8 3:25
13. Pretty Persuasion 3:33
14. Radio Free Europe 3:49
15. Wendell Gee 3:21
16. Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars) 4:47

Disc 4 (51:59) – Live Broadcasts
Milton Keynes, 30 July 1995

1. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? 3:58
2. Crush With Eyeliner 4:42
3. Drive 3:51
4. Turn You Inside Out 4:17
5. Try Not To Breathe 3:50
6. I Took Your Name 4:15
7. Undertow 5:16
8. Bang And Blame 4:58
9. I Don’t Sleep I Dream 4:14
10. Strange Currencies 4:31
11. Revolution 3:20
12. Tongue 4:38

Disc 5 (56:43) – Live Broadcasts
Milton Keynes, 30 July 1995

1. Man On The Moon 5:46
2. Country Feedback 6:49
3. Half A World Away 4:04
4. Losing My Religion 4:54
5. Pop Song 89 3:27
6. Finest Worksong 3:48
7. Get Up 2:54
8. Star 69 4:00
9. Let Me In 3:59
10. Everybody Hurts 7:24
11. Fall On Me 3:11
12. Departure 3:52
13. Its the End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) 5:15

Disc 6 (43:05) – Live Broadcasts
Pyramid Stage Glastonbury Festival, 25 June 1999

1. Lotus  4:36
2. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?  4:09
3. So Fast, So Numb  4:47
4. The Apologist  4:36
5. Fall On Me  3:26
6. Daysleeper  3:29
7. The Wake-Up Bomb  5:01
8. The One I Love  3:27
9. Sweetness Follows  5:50
10. At My Most Beautiful  3:37

Disc 7 (53:28) – Live Broadcasts
Pyramid Stage Glastonbury Festival, 25 June 1999

1. Losing My Religion  5:24
2. Everybody Hurts  6:47
3. Walk Unafraid  4:17
4. Star 69  3:04
5. Finest Worksong  4:22
6. Man On The Moon  5:43
7. Why Not Smile  2:10
8. Crush With Eyeliner  4:40
9. Tongue  5:19
10. Cuyahoga  4:37
11. Its the End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)  6:58

Disc 8 (55:24) – Live Broadcasts
St. James’ Church, London Radio 2, 15 September 2004
1. Intro  :47
2. So Fast, So Numb  5:13
3. Boy In The Well  5:20
4. I Wanted To Be Wrong  5:19
5. E-Bow The Letter (with Thom Yorke)  5:09
6. Around The Sun  5:02
7. Aftermath  3:58
8. Losing My Religion  4:47
9.vWalk Unafraid  5:10
10. Leaving New York  4:48
11. Imitation Of Life  4:35
12. Man On The Moon  5:34

Disc 9 (DVD) – Television Broadcasts

Accelerating Backwards
Moon River
Pretty Persuasion
Pop Song 89
Orange Crush
Losing My Religion
Half A World Away
Crush With Eyeliner
Man On The Moon
Daysleeper
Imitation Of Life
So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
All The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be A Star)
Leaving New York

Later… with Jools Holland Presents R.E.M.
Intro
Losing My Religion
Lotus
New Test Leper
Daysleeper
Electrolite
At My Most Beautiful
The Apologist
Country Feedback
Parakeet
So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
Walk Unafraid
Man On The Moon
The Passenger

Bonus Videos
I’ve Been High
Nightswimming
Bad Day

The Best of R.E.M. at the BBC (2-LP) Track Listing:

Disc 1 – Sessions

A1. World Leader Pretend 4:36
A2. Radio Song 4:05
A3. Losing My Religion 4:42
Recorded for Nicky Campbell Session Into The Night on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast on 13 March 1991
A4. Lotus 4:13
A5. At My Most Beautiful 3:16
Recorded for John Peel Session on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast 25 October 1998
B1. Bad Day 4:03
B2. Orange Crush 3:55
Recorded for Mark and Lard on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast on 15 October 2003
B3. Man On The Moon 4:59
B4. Imitation Of Life 3:41
Recorded for Drivetime on BBC Radio 2
First broadcast 15 October 2003
B5. Supernatural Superserious 3:23
Recorded for Radio 1 Live Lounge on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast 26 March 2008

Disc 2 – Broadcasts

C1. Driver 8 3:25
C2. Radio Free Europe 3:49
First broadcast on 21 November 1984 from Rock City, Nottingham
C3. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? 3:54
C4. Drive 3:51
C5. Half A World Away 4:04
C6. Pop Song 89 3:27
First broadcast on 30 July 1995 from Milton Keynes
D1. Everybody Hurts  6:47
D2. Its the End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)  6:58
First broadcast on 25 June 1999 from Pyramid Stage Glastonbury Festival
D3. Losing My Religion 4:47
D4. Man On The Moon 5:34
First broadcast on 15 September 2004 from St. James’s Church, London

The Best of R.E.M. at the BBC (2-CD), Track Listing:

Disc 1 – Sessions
1. World Leader Pretend 4:36
2. Half A World Away 3:33
3. Radio Song 4:05
4. Losing My Religion 4:42
Recorded for Nicky Campbell Session Into The Night on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast on 13 March 1991
5. Lotus 4:13
6. At My Most Beautiful 3:16
Recorded for John Peel Session on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast on 25 October 1998
7. Electrolite 4:23
8. Perfect Circle 4:39
9. Daysleeper 4:44
Recorded for John Peel Session on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast 25 October 1998
10. Country Feedback
Recorded for Later… with Jools Holland on BBC1
First broadcast on 27 October 1998
11. Bad Day 4:03
12. Orange Crush 3:55
Recorded for Mark and Lard on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast on 15 October 2003
13. Nightswimming
Recorded for Later… with Jools Holland on BBC1
First broadcast on 14 October 2003
14. Man On The Moon 4:59
15. Imitation Of Life 3:41
Recorded for Drivetime on BBC Radio 2
First broadcast 15 October 2003
16. Supernatural Superserious 3:23
Recorded for Radio 1 Live Lounge on BBC Radio 1
First broadcast 26 March 2008

Disc 2 – Broadcasts

1. (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville 4:29
2. So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) 4:51
3. Gardening At Night 3:26
4. Driver 8 3:25
5. Radio Free Europe 3:49
First broadcast on 21 November 1984 from Rock City, Nottingham
6. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? 3:54
7. Crush With Eyeliner 4:42
8. Drive 3:51
9. Half A World Away 4:04
10. Pop Song 89 3:27
11. Finest Worksong 3:48
First broadcast on 30 July 1995 from Milton Keynes
12. Fall On Me  3:26
13. The One I Love  3:27
14. Everybody Hurts  6:47
15. Its the End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)  6:58
First broadcast on 25 June 1999 from Pyramid Stage Glastonbury Festival
16. E-Bow The Letter (with Thom Yorke) 5:09
17. Losing My Religion 4:47
18. Man On The Moon 5:34
First broadcast on 15 September 2004 from St. James’s Church, London