New '81 R.E.M. footage - earliest footage to surface!

[Sweden]

(Or actually, there are at least two or three known earlier examples of video footage, from 1980, but those haven't been made widely available at any point (and one of them lack sound from what I know).)

Anyway, Slicing Up Eyeballs have posted this video of a full set from February 1981 in Atlanta, courtesy of Wuxtry Record in Athens who had the footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... iZW_Wlj8Kw

Peter Buck can be seen here using his first Rickenbacker, a MG 365 or 330 or something (look like a tremolo tailpiece with the arm removed). It was stolen later that year, after which he bought the JG 360 he used througout the band's carrier. And Stipe's a pretty fascinating frontman, that's for sure! Rememeber this was less than 9 months after their first gig ever...

More info here: http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2012/1 ... are-video/

[Kingbreaker]

- The early REM live recordings ARE the band for me. Just simple, well-written songs performed with skill and passion. I do like the albums, but listen to bootlegs now almost exclusively.

- Stipe seems to be channeling Elvis!

- The guitar looks like a 360. The edge is rounded and it's got sharkfins.(Clearly at around 22:10)

- Mike Mills' haircut could only improve with time!

EDIT: For REM fans, the "deluxe" versions of Murmur and Reckoning on ITUNES includes two full live shows that used to be available only on grainy bootlegs.

[Folkie]

Thanks for the link, David. My You Tube is freezing up, so I'll have to try again later.

Hey, John, I used to have a whole library of R.E.M. bootlegs, including one recorded around the same time as the concert David has referenced. I agree with you that the sound quality of the remastered bootlegs on the Deluxe Editions of "Mumur" and "Reckoning" is much improved. I didn't think so much of the
"Fables" Deluxe package, even though it's my favorite of their albums.

Can you list the names and dates of your bootlegs?

Robert

[paologregorio]

Sounds just like the Buddy Holly and the Crickets rendition.

[collin]

Cool performance!

Buck appears to be playing a 375 MG from 1965-1969, very nice guitar, sad that it was stolen.

First tune is a Buddy Holly cover!

[electrofaro]

I had read the news but didn't look at the video yet. I downloaded it as 480 mp4 video... should have a look at it

[electrofaro]

EDIT: For REM fans, the "deluxe" versions of Murmur and Reckoning on ITUNES includes two full live shows that used to be available only on grainy bootlegs.

I didn't think so much of the "Fables" Deluxe package, even though it's my favorite of their albums.

To me the Fables and Pageant anniversary editions are way better than the Murmur and Reckoning rereleases...there's tons of live recordings of the band, demos in good quality is something else, though.

[Sweden]

Cool performance!
Buck appears to be playing a 375 MG from 1965-1969, very nice guitar, sad that it was stolen.

Thanks for identifying it. Like one of these then, I guess:


Mike is playing a Dan Armstrong plexi bass, which he did for the first two or three years until also getting a Rick.

[electrofaro]

Yeah, it's a 375 MG - screenies from the video:

375pic1.png

375pic2.png

[Folkie]

EDIT: For REM fans, the "deluxe" versions of Murmur and Reckoning on ITUNES includes two full live shows that used to be available only on grainy bootlegs.

I didn't think so much of the "Fables" Deluxe package, even though it's my favorite of their albums.

To me the Fables and Pageant anniversary editions are way better than the Murmur and Reckoning rereleases...there's tons of live recordings of the band, demos in good quality is something else, though.

Werner,

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I thought there was no additional live material on the Deluxe edition of "Fables," just "The Athens Demos." These incude very rough versions of all the songs, with two tracks that never made it to the album. I found that many of the songs sounded pale and lifeless without Peter's trusty 360/12. "Maps and Legends," "Life and How to Live it," "Green Grow the Rushes," and "Good Advices," in particular, sound really dull without those octave and unison strings chiming out. I would much have preferred another remastered bootleg from the 1985 "Fables" tour, but no such luck. I don't own the "Lifes Rich Pageant" anniversary edition, so I have no comments on that.

Robert

[rickboy88]

I enjoyed watching it and was going to ask about the bass.

[Folkie]

EDIT: For REM fans, the "deluxe" versions of Murmur and Reckoning on ITUNES includes two full live shows that used to be available only on grainy bootlegs.

I didn't think so much of the "Fables" Deluxe package, even though it's my favorite of their albums.

To me the Fables and Pageant anniversary editions are way better than the Murmur and Reckoning rereleases...there's tons of live recordings of the band, demos in good quality is something else, though.

Well, on rereading your post, I understand what you're saying, Werner, namely that there are plenty of bootlegs out there but very few good quality demos. My objections to the demos in my last post still stand. What exactly is on the anniversary edition of "Lifes Rich Pageant"?

[electrofaro]

sound really dull without those octave and unison strings chiming out.

To me they sound great, just because of that - they're bare tracks, with little to no overdubs and mixing, thus providing an insight into what's hidden down in the final album track and can barely be heard. Most tracks are simply live in studio... except no audience distractions. Most tracks were already worked on live at gigs, but the initial demo then is the basic track they started working on in the studio.

The Pageant reissue has demos as well - all highly enjoyable to me. I remember, visiting Murmurs.com over the years that the fans there all complained the band only had live tracks as b-side or extras... no demos, outtakes or covers. So, I know I am not alone in being extremely disappointed with more of the same live tracks as "bonus". What will the Green reissue bonus material be? The Westwoord One show again? I got the stations discs for syndicated airplay, got it also on double bootleg LP (same as can be bought on iTunes nowadays actually) and have had it om various silver CD bootlegs so I don't need the show yet again. Although I do have the Green demos on vinyl LP, I would love to have them in decent quality instead of mp3 based torrent downloads. Live tracks to me are only interesting if they've played unreleased songs, or early versions of songs that differ quite a bit from their first studio demos. Next to that I kept such bootlegs - all the remainder of my silver CD bootlegs with live shows are almost all sold on now. A live recording can never replaces having been at the actual gig... I mean, it's nice to hear myself on the Olympia recordings, but it'll be a souvenir, being there can't be recreated by listening to it, it does bring up good memories though.

That said I enjoyed the video enormously... the song that stood out to me was Gardening at Night. Well, White Tornado (the instrumental for those who are wondering) was another track that jumped out from the set. Highly entertaining to watch them do songs like Narrator, Different Girl, such songs never properly released. I would've preferred the demos of such songs on the Murmur and Reckoning reissues!

[Folkie]

Werner,

Well, there's something to be said for pared down, "live in the studio," recordings. You can hear plenty of them on "Dead Letter Office." What you said about the basic shell that's "hidden down in the final album track and can barely be heard" is very revealing, because, as you know, "Fables" is rife with overdubs, so many that at times it's very difficult to isolate individual voices and instruments. That's part of the atmospheric magic of the album. But the point I think you're making is, the demos can have a raw and visceral power that's sometimes missing from the finished takes.

That's really impressive that you have such a large library of their bootlegs. Now that I no longer own any, the live material is indeed a "bonus" for me, especially since it's been so nicely remastered. I agree with you that listening to a live recording can never replicate the experience of actually attending a show, but I do think a bootleg or You Tube link is the closest we can get to actually being there.

I'll have to check out that "Lifes Rich Pageant" reissue as soon as possible. Thanks again, Werner, for sharing your formidable R.E.M. knowledge!

It's time for me to dig in to the 1981 footage that is the subject of this thread. Now that's what I call a bonus!

Robert

[Folkie]

Thanks for the link, David. This is quintessential early R.E.M. My two favorites were "Gardening at Night" and "Radio Free Europe," two songs I didn't know were already written in 1981. Also of interest were a few tracks that later appeared with new lyrics on albums as late as "Lifes Rich Pageant." This set captures all the raw energy of the band in embryo. Thanks, again, David for posting.