R.E.M. - Little America (1983)

R.E.M.'s debut album 'Murmur' had been hungrily embraced by the band’s burgeoning fanbase, and this was enhanced in the autumn of 1983 when the group made their first major US TV appearance, appearing on Late Night With David Letterman, and performing a triumphant version of ‘Radio Free Europe’ and a rough version of a new song,'So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)'. Despite a relentless touring schedule, resting on their laurels was not an option for the band, who were keen to record their second album before the end of 1983. In November of that year, they recorded a batch of songs with Neil Young producer Eliot Mazer, who they briefly considered as the man to oversee the making of their second album, but the band were less than impressed with the end results, and instead chose to reconvene with 'Murmur' producers Don Dixon and Mitch Easter. The bulk of the songs from the Mazer demos turned up in completed form on 'Reckoning', and others were used as b-sides of contemporary singles. The only song on here whose source has been questioned is 'That Beat', as in the studio chatter (which I've removed) Stipe can clearly be heard talking to someone called 'Don', who would almost certainly have been Don Dixon, so that suggests that this recording may come from a different session than the others. It would also explain why the sound is quite different to the rest of the songs, but I've decided to leave it on here as it's one of the demos which never made it onto the album. Of the 22 tracks which have leaked out, I've selected all the ones which were not re-recorded for 'Reckoning', plus three which did, but which are worth hearing in these early versions, and also three covers which they used to warm up in the studio. Two of the tracks are band jokes, with 'Cushy Tush' being their idea of an advertisement for toilet paper, and 'Walter's Theme' (which I've pieced together from two separate takes) being written for Walter's BBQ restaurant in Athens, Georgia. I've done the best I can to improve the sound quality, although I have to admit that it's still not the best, but as a historical document it's certainly worth a listen.    

Track listing

01 That Beat
02 Burning Down
03 Little America
04 All The Right Friends
05 Cushy Tush
06 Windout
07 Femme Fatale
08 Burning Hell
09 Harborcoat
10 The Lion Sleeps Tonight
11 Skank
12 Walter's Theme
13 Second Guessing
14 Pale Blue Eyes
15 Just A Touch