R.E.M. will release a limited-edition 4LP set on Record Store Day that collects the full, previously unreleased audio from the band’s two appearances, in 1991 and 2001, on MTV’s “Unplugged” series, featuring all 33 songs the band performed at the two tapings a decade apart, including 11 that never aired on either broadcast.
Titled Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions, the vinyl set will be packaged in a four-pocket gatefold sleeve, and sold exclusively at select independent shops participating in Record Store Day on April 19. To see a full list of participating stores, visit recordstoreday.com.
Full CD and digital editions of the “Unplugged” sessions will follow on May 20.
R.E.M. recorded its first “Unplugged” set on April 10, 1991, a month after the release of Out of Time, and its setlist reflects that. Among the five unaired songs included here are performances of B-sides “Fretless” and “Rotary 11,” as well as Green favorites “World Leader Pretend” and “Get Up.”
On May 21, 2001, R.E.M. made a rare second appearance on “Unplugged,” spotlighting its just-released second post-Bill Berry album, Reveal. The six unaired songs off that set include four from Reveal, plus “The One I Love” and “Sad Professor” off 1998’s Up.
Bassist Mike Mills will sign copies of Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions during Record Store Day at the Bull Moose record store in Scarborough, Maine.
See full tracklist below — and watch the full 1991 and 2001 broadcasts as well:
UPDATE: See a video trailer for the release below.
Tracklist: R.E.M., Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions
1991 Unplugged
Side 1
1.”Half A World Away”
2.”Disturbance at the Heron House”
3.”Radio Song”
4.”Low”
Side 2
1.”Perfect Circle”
2.”Fall on Me”
3.”Belong”
4.”Love Is All Around”
Side 3
1.”Its The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”
2.”Losing My Religion”
3.”Pop Song 89″
4.”Endgame”
Side 4
1.”Fretless” *
2.”Swan Swan H” *
3.”Rotary 11″ *
4.”Get Up” *
5.”World Leader Pretend” *
2001 Unplugged
Side 5
1.”All The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)”
2.”Electrolite”
3.”At My Most Beautiful”
4.”Daysleeper”
Side 6
1.”So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)”
2.”Losing My Religion”
3.”Country Feedback”
4.”Cuyahoga”
Side 7
1.”Imitation of Life”
2.”Find the River”
3.”The One I Love” *
4.”Disappear” *
Side 8
1.”Beat a Drum” *
2.”I’ve Been High” *
3.”I’ll Take the Rain” *
4.”Sad Professor” *
* Not included in original television broadcast
Trailer: R.E.M., Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions
R.E.M., MTV “Unplugged” full 1991 broadcast
R.E.M., MTV “Unplugged” full 2001 broadcast
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Peter Buck: R.E.M. may release fan club singles ‘in a big box set for charity one day’
- Video: R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Bill Berry and Mike Mills play ‘Superman’ in Portland
- R.E.M. carefully avoids actual reunion as all 4 members play Peter Buck’s wedding
- Video: R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Mike Mills go back to ‘Rockville’ with Ed Kowalczyk of Live
This is turning out to be a very good Monday — thanks SUE!
REM’s first Unplugged set is legendary (what times those were!), and their second appearance is somewhat overlooked but a really great showcase for the Up and Reveal material as well some fine earlier tracks. I’ve owned both of these as bootleg CDs and DVDs for years, but I’m glad for their appearance in the regular marketplace. I’ll be buying them again for sure.
REM may have “called it a day,” but even in absentia they’re still the best band on the planet.
This is cool. Now what do we have to do to get The Cure’s unplugged full session (with the Nick Drake cover) released?!?
Looking forward to this set, and I guess the Christmas Fan Club singles set might be likely come up in the near future.
Motion seconded. Tired of my popping and scratching MP3s of “Java” and “Wicked Game.” Christmas Fan Club Singles boxed set. Mumbles, Peter, Mikey, Bill, if you’re reading this site, make it so!
Motion thirded. I’ve always wondered whether their Xmas cover of “Academy Fight Song” was mastered at the right speed — it sounds fast, at least on the bootleg I have. It would be cool to have sanctioned, definitive versions of these tracks some day.