Tag: Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987

R.E.M. releases monster 131-track Warner Bros. rarities set, puts 'Chronic Town' on iTunes

R.E.M. releases monster 131-track Warner Bros. rarities set, puts ‘Chronic Town’ on iTunes

It’s been a big week for R.E.M. fans — even bigger than we thought, with not just the release of the band’s 1991 and 2001 “MTV Unplugged” sets and the previously reported digital collection of I.R.S.-era rarities, but also a digital companion featuring a whopping 131 tracks from the band’s Warner Bros. period.

New releases: R.E.M., Devo, The Mission, Paul Heaton, Neville Staple, The Cramps

New releases: R.E.M., Devo, The Mission, Paul Heaton, Neville Staple, The Cramps

This week’s releases include a pair of titles from R.E.M. (the band’s 1991 and 2001 “Unplugged” sessions, plus a digital rarities set), a collection of Devo demos, a new best-of from The MIssion, a new album from Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot of The Beautiful South, a Cramps vinyl reissue and more.

R.E.M.'s 50-track 'Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987’ due out digitally next month

R.E.M.’s 50-track ‘Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987’ due out digitally next month

A new 50-song compilation of early R.E.M. material called Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987 is due out digitally next month, but appears to be largely, if not completely, comprised of tracks previously assembled on 1987’s out-of-print Dead Letter Office, a more recent I.R.S. years best-of and singles.