1983's Murmur Becomes a Shout

What else happened in 1983?  Well, a little band from Athens, GA, released their first album, arguably one of the best debut albums ever.  Now thanks to YouTube, you can listen and watch live versions of R.E.M.'s Murmur and understand why a few years later a little guy from south Alabama would fall in love with them, a love that continues to this day.  (Warning: Quality of the following links is hit-and-miss, but all are worth watching if for no other reason than to see Michael Stipe's ever-evolving hairstyles):

Radio Free Europe (1983, David Letterman)
Pilgrimage (02/07/83 The Chase, IN, USA)
Laughing (Live 02/07/83 The Chase, Indianapolis)
Talk about the Passion (1985, Raleigh)
Moral Kiosk (Live 10/10/82 The Pier, Raleigh)
Perfect Circle (MTV Unplugged, 1991)
Catapult (Live 10/10/82 The Pier, Raleigh)
Sitting Still (Live 19/06/84 Rock of The 80's)
9-9 (6-9-84 Passaic)
Shaking Through (02/07/83 The Chase, IN, USA)
We Walk (Live 10/10/82 The Pier, Raleigh)
West of the Fields (1984, Manchester, UK)

And to wrap up today's posts, here's a clip of R.E.M. performing "King of Birds," my favorite R.E.M. song and on any given day I would tell you it's my favorite song of all-time.

Comments

[zan]

I'm on a major REM kick lately (something about a new album?) so for this I thank you. Thank you, thank you.

[gypeassisago]

thanks much, man