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Radio Free Europe by R.E.M. (1981 Original Mitch Easter cassette tape version)
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- čas přidán 18. 08. 2024
- Unfortunately it took the breakup of the band to start seeing some of these ultra-rare deals come to light.
Thanks to a gracious reader of the blog, it's my honor to present to the R.E.M. community a basically-unheard artifact: the Cassette Set from Spring 1981.
In April 1981 the band began their relationship with Mitch Easter by visiting his Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to record a few songs for a demo. They had done a few demo sessions previously, but were not satisfied with the results (mainly at Joe Perry's Bombay Studio) and eventually hooked up with Easter.
On April 15, 1981 Easter and the band recorded (at least) three tracks: "Sitting Still", "Radio Free Europe" and "White Tornado". On the next day they mixed the tracks, and eventually had a demo cassette run (approx. 400 copies, according to Peter Buck) to send to journalists, clubs and labels ahead of their initial visit to New York City.
On May 24, 1981 the band returned to the Drive-In Studio and laid down some overdubs onto "Radio Free Europe" and then Hib-Tone label owner Johnny Hibbert mixed both "Radio Free Europe" and "Sitting Still" on the 25th. Easter felt the Hibbert mixes were seriously lacking, so he, on his own time, mixed his own versions for consideration. The band, Easter and Hibbert then had a mixing bakeoff of both "Radio Free Europe" and "Sitting Still", and as famously (well, relatively speaking) known, despite everyone but Hibbert liking the Easter mixes better Hibbert pulled rank and used his mixes on the band's debut 7" on Hib-Tone. Something went awry in the process, the record was mastered terribly, and Buck famously smashed his copy and put it on his wall (following the "Radio Free Europe" lyric).
(I place the call out now: I've never heard an original Hib-Tone "Radio Free Europe", so I can't speak for the mastering/pressing quality or Hibbert's mixes, so if anyone cares to feed me with a transfer of their Hib-Tone 7", I'm all ears. I will gladly tart it up for the blog and post it too.)
Easter's proposed mix for the 7" is the only one the band has seen fit to issue since then, on 1988's Eponymous compilation, and then on 2006's compilation of the I.R.S. years And I Feel Fine...The Best Of The I.R.S. Years 1982-1987.
Stepping back a bit: before issuing the 7", the band chose the original, pre-overdubbed, recordings of "Sitting Still" / "Radio Free Europe", with "White Tornado" added in, to make up their demo cassette. Jokingly, "Sitting Still" was prefaced by a few seconds of a fast run through of the song done in Polka-style, and "White Tornado" was followed by an aborted "White Tornado" take where Buck lays down a huge stinker of a mistake, the song grinds to a halt, and Buck is heard apologizing before Easter's voice appears. On the final 100 copies the band added a hilarious "Radio Dub" mix of "Radio Free Europe", done by Easter on April 23, 1981 on a lark with instruments/voices/effects dropping in and out of the mix, dub-style.
I don't think the "Sitting Still" or "White Tornado" snippets have ever been collected on bootleg, and if they have, I've never heard them. "Radio Dub" is a bit more known, but still fantastically rare. And of course this Cassette Set is the only place to get the very original Easter mixes of "Sitting Still" and "Radio Free Europe", both of which are far better than any subsequent issue of these tracks.
Blog friend Chris H. is the owner of an original Cassette Set, given by Michael Stipe on June 20, 1981 to a member of the band Bunny Drums when that band supported R.E.M. at Emerald City, in Cherry Hills, New Jersey. Chris obtained it in 2001 and then subsequently transferred it to CD-R, and then offered it to the blog for the public.
The Cassette Set was self-assembled by the band, using photocopied cardstock for the J-card inlays, and handwritten cassette labels by Stipe. Some copies featured color photograph inserts all cut up, but Chris' copy is missing these.
Chris gave me his raw transfer of the tape, I worked my magic on it, and here we are. There are few times when I'm so confident as to say you'll not find something better out there quality-wise, but this is one of them. I expected something that I would need to do a lot of cleanup work on, but barring a bit of EQ, this set came to me in absolutely stunning, beautiful condition. I think the results speak for themselves and I am honored to have the chance to give this to the community, as it's a very unique, special part of the band's history.
This is a great demo, illustrating the importance of Mike Mills' bassline. His work really holds this piece together.
Mike mills bass line in this song is top
I like this raw version. Bass is all over the place. A real punk feel. I like the effect on the voice during the chorus. You can't screw this song up its too good!
I was a student at UGA at this time, and saw R.E.M. every chance I got; first at a University Union show where they opened for (and blew away) the Brains. I think it was their 3rd public performance. I had a couple of the band's early demo cassettes, including this one. They were my prized possessions, but were stolen when I was squatting in Rotherhithe, in London. Ironically, they were stolen from my flat the night I went to see R.E.M. perform (don't remember the venue) with the woman who has been my wife now for 28+ years. They were in London recording Fables. I guess that was, literally, a different millennium.
I'm currently reading the book "Cool Town" all about Athens. Highly recommend if you haven't heard about it. Especially if you were there.
@@matthewwalter91 I was, and am, there. I work at UGA. Couldn't tell you a thing about the music scene now, however.
I thought you were going to say "Ironically, they were stolen from my flat the night I pulled off a heist."
@@bowrudder899 My life has never been that exciting.
Fables of the Reconstruction is such an amazing recording. I always wondered how much London helped shape it. It’s timeless and can hold its own against any rock and roll record
I'm going to burn a version of Murmur replacing the released version of the song with this one. I listened to the album that way and I just can't believe it- Murmur is by far and away the best R.E.M. album when you do it. I've always had a problem with the album version of R.F.E. and when I make the substitution the problem is just gone and it is perfection!
Oh, dear God, this is an amazing song. Immediately takes me back nearly 40 years. And this is by far the best version. Accept no substitutes. Bless you, Mitch Easter.
This is brilliant! I like this better than the original version! It’s faster!
Mike mills or stipe said that it “squashed the released version like a grape.”
You mentioned good ol' Bombay Studios, located in "Beautiful Downtown Smyrna." I have fond memories of that place. My band (The Emperors) recorded a 45 there the same week that REM came in (early-February 1981). Atlanta had a pretty exciting music scene at the time.
This version whacks the Hib-Tone mix out of the park. This is the one they should be re-releasing for the 40th anniversary!
I think they are reissuing this cassette as well! Google R.E.M. Cassette Set. It's mentioned on several sites.
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
There is a little angel reading this message. Good luck to you today. 💌💌💌 Love R.E.M 💚💚💚💚💚
A more driving, percussive sound on this one- I like it!
Great job on pulling up the signal and managing to keep the noise floor down! I’ll always love the first album for the warmth and texture, but this is how I remember them sounding at the LA Palladium, 1983.
Young, bare-bones REM was so much fun!
Listened to this mix a dozen times, and there are some hidden gems in there. Most, but not all, are quite appealing to the ear. The low end is usually lost on cassette as low end noise, but this is marvelous. The up tempo and low polish feels so robust. Fantastic.
This sounds great for a 32 old cassette! Thanks for the upload!
40 now!
@@robtberardi 42 😀
I can't remember but this could be like the flexidisc version that came free with Trouser Press music magazine.
Either way, this is the best I've heard.
Brilliant. So full of energy. Saw them many times over the years including at least 10 shows in the Athens, GA area.
seamless and without the jarring effects from the murmur release - cassette recordings set forth this calm vibration that feeds the ears without bashing them
Love this mix! It's funny in a way because Mitch Easter gets the credit/blame for slowing REM's quick tempo down on recordings which helped create the "Southern Gothic" sound of the first albums. Personally, I love REM's IRS work and I love to hear glimpses of their very early live sound, too.
Great historical object. Makes me miss cassettes even more now.
If I were to compile a list of my favorite songs, this would be at the very top for sure! :)
Ten year later, I was a baby who lived ten minutes away from where this was recorded.
Winston-Salem represent!
Wow this sounds fantastic! Thanks for the upload!
Original de 1981
Me colapso en mi cabeza
Super full
REM ❤️
Mitch is my favorite producer
I prefer this Demo version than the official version of this song!
3:17 very nice
they knew their sound.
Cassette Nation.
So damn good!
Very excellent.😇😇😇😇
Amazing-thank you.
The house still looks the same.. i live here...
Ty my friend
wow thank you so much
It is the Hib-Tone version that was on 45 rpm. I can't remember the B-side. This copy sounds better...
My mom burned this on the eponymous cd
Is the original pressing of the single not on the internet? Seriously?? I have it. Saw them for the first time in December 1980 and got pretty jazzed when I found their single at a downtown shop a few months later. Let me know if it's truly not out there and I'll do a capture of my copy for ya.
this is *way on par* with the Murmur version
the Hib-Tone can go ta hell
initial impulse
It's "Cherry Hill, NJ," not "Cherry Hills, NJ." Emerald City was an excellent venue. 20 Mins from Philadelphia. Saw the Taking Heads, Happy Mondays, Elvis Costello, Prince, and many others there.
Can any nerds guess what kind of tape this? I’m curious
TDK D-C60?
Honey Bee
*hmmm - missed that bit **0:47*