R.E.M. Releases MTV Unplugged Complete Sessions
R.E.M. was the only band to ever headline MTV’s acoustic “Unplugged” series twice, and now both those performances — from 1991 and 2001 – are available in a 2-CD set.
The 1991 performances features the entire original band — vocalist Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry, while the 2001 performance occurred after Berry left the band.
R.E.M classics are everywhere on the set, including “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine),” “Losing My Religion,” “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry),” and “Fall on Me.”
Eleven songs not included in the broadcasts also appear in the 33-song set, including “Fretless,” “Swan Swan H,” “Rotary 11,” “Get Up,” and “World Leader Pretend” from 1991 and “The One I Love,” “Disappear,” Beat a Drum,” “I’ve Been High,” “I’ll Take the Rain,” and “Sad Professor,” from 2001.
The set first appeared as a limited-edition vinyl set in April for Record Store Day, and Mills even signed copies of it at a record store in Scarborough, Maine.
Unplugged 1991/2001: The Complete Sessions is available on CD and as a digital download (iTunes and Amazon MP3.)
You can see the World Leader Pretend performance from 1991, via MTV:
Unplugged 1991/2001: The Complete Sessions Track List:
1991
- Half a World Away
- Disturbance at the Heron House
- Radio Song
- Low
- Perfect Circle
- Fall on Me
- Belong
- Love is All Around
- It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)
- Losing My Religion
- Pop Song 89
- Endgame
- Fretless
- Swan Swan H
- Rotary 11
- Get Up
- World Leader Pretend
2001
- All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)
- Electrolite
- At My Most Beautiful
- Daysleeper
- So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
- Losing My Religion
- Country Feedback
- Cuyahoga
- Imitation of Life
- Find the River
- The One I Love
- Disappear
- Beat a Drum
- I’ve Been High
- I’ll Take the Rain
- Sad Professor
Such a Good New !
Acoustics versions of REM are always as good as the studio versions.
We miss them