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Anthology covers R.E.M.'s early years

Material that R.E.M. recorded early in its career for the I.R.S. label will be getting the anthology treatment this year in the form of separate CD, two-CD and DVD releases due in stores Sept. 12.

The single-disc set--titled "And I Feel Fine ... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987"--contains 21 previously released hits and favorites, while the two-disc "collector's edition" adds a second 21-track CD containing a mix of alternate takes, previously unreleased mixes and live recordings. Ten of the tracks are previously unreleased.

The DVD collection--dubbed "When The Light Is Mine ... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 Video Collection DVD," features more than two hours of video content, including 11 music videos. Also featured are previously unreleased television performances, previously unreleased interview footage and an acoustic performance from the film "Athens, GA--Inside/Out."

The tracklistings for all three sets follow:

"And I Feel Fine ... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 (CD)"

1. Begin the Begin
2. Radio Free Europe
3. Pretty Persuasion
4. Talk About the Passion
5. (Don't Go Back To) Rockville
6. Sitting Still
7. Gardening at Night
8. 7 Chinese Bros.
9. So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
10. Driver 8
11. Can't Get There From Here
12. Finest Worksong
13. Feeling Gravity's Pull
14. I Believe
15. Life and How to Live It
16. Cuyahoga
17. The One I Love
18. Welcome to the Occupation
19. Fall on Me
20. Perfect Circle
21. It's The End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

And I Feel Fine ... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 (2-CD Collectors' Edition)
(Contains Disc 1 + Rarities Disc)

1. Pilgrimage (Mike's pick)
2. These Days (Bill's pick)
3. Gardening at Night (slower electric demo; previously unreleased)
4. Radio Free Europe (Hib-tone version)
5. Sitting Still (Hib-tone version)
6. Life and How to Live It (Live at the Muzik Centrum, Utrecht, Holland 9/14/87; previously unreleased)
7. Ages of You (Live at the Paradise, Boston 7/13/83; previously unreleased)
8. We Walk (Live at the Paradise, Boston 7/13/83; previously unreleased)
9. 1,000,000 (Live at the Paradise, Boston 7/13/83; previously unreleased)
10. Finest Worksong (other mix)
11. Hyena (demo) (previously unreleased)
12. Theme from Two Steps Onward (previously unreleased)
13. Superman
14. All the Right Friends (previously unreleased; later version released on Vanilla Sky soundtrack)
15. Mystery to Me (demo; previously unreleased)
16. Just A Touch (live in-studio version; previously unreleased)
17. Bad Day (session outtake; previously unreleased)
18. King of Birds (last song cut from the best of ... )
19. Swan Swan H (live, acoustic from "Athens, GA -- Inside Out")
20. Disturbance At The Heron House (Peter's pick)
21. Time After Time (annElise) (Michael's pick)

When The Light Is Mine ... The Best Of The I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 Video Collection (DVD)

1. Wolves, Lower
2. Radio Free Europe
3. Talk About The Passion
4. Radio Free Europe ["The Tube" 11.18.83]
5. Talk About The Passion ["The Tube" 11.18.83]
6. So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
7. Left of Reckoning
8. Pretty Persuasion ["The Old Grey Whistle Test" 11.20.84]
9. Can't Get There From Here
10. Driver 8
11. Life And How To Live It
12. Feeling Gravity's Pull
13. Can't Get There From Here ["The Tube" 10.25.85]
14. Fall on Me
15. Swan Swan H [Athens, GA -- Inside/Out]
16. The One I Love (3:22)
17. It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
18. Finest Worksong (3:51)

Extras:
"The Cutting Edge" October 1983

  • Broadcast Segment

  • Additional Interviews

  • "The Cutting Edge" June 1984
  • Edited Broadcast Segment

  • Additional Interviews

  • Driver 8

  • Wendell Gee

  • (Don't Go Back To) Rockville

  • Time After Time (annElise)

  • Pageantry