Radio Song
"Radio Song" is the fourth single released by R.E.M. from their 1991 album Out of Time, where it appeared as the opening track.
"Radio Song" | ||||
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Single by R.E.M. | ||||
from the album Out of Time | ||||
B-side | "Love Is All Around" (live) | |||
Released | November 4, 1991 | |||
Recorded | September–October 1990 | |||
Length | 4:15 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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R.E.M. singles chronology | ||||
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Lead singer Michael Stipe once said that he hoped everyone had enough sense of humor to realize that he was "kind of taking the piss of everyone," himself included.[1]
Stipe also asked KRS-One, leader of Boogie Down Productions (of which Stipe was a fan), to contribute to the track. He provides some backing vocals for the track, as well as a closing rap, and appears prominently in the video.
Track listing
All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
US/UK/Germany 7" / US/UK cassette
- "Radio Song" – 4:15
- "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15
UK "Collectors' Edition" CD
- "Radio Song" – 4:15
- "You Are the Everything" (live)3 – 4:43
- "Orange Crush" (live)² – 4:03
- "Belong" (live)4 – 4:47
US/Germany CD / US 12"/maxi-cassette
- "Radio Song (Tower of Luv Bug mix)" – 4:14
- "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15
- "Belong" (live)4 – 4:07
UK/Germany 12"
- "Radio Song" – 4:15
- "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15
- "Shiny Happy People (Music Mix)"
Notes
1 Recorded on Rockline, Los Angeles, California; April 1, 1991.
2 Incorrectly listed as "Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia; November 13, 1989"; actually from Miami Arena, Miami (FL), April 29, 1989.
3 Taken from the live performance video, Tourfilm.
4 Recorded at the Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina; November 10, 1989.
Details for the second and third live recordings (tracks three and four) for "Collectors' Edition" are not provided on the CD materials.
Charts
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
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Ireland (IRMA)[2] | 5 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[3] | 56 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[4] | 28 |
Personnel
- R.E.M.
- Bill Berry – drums
- Peter Buck – guitar
- Mike Mills – organ
- Michael Stipe – lead vocals
- Additional musicians
- David Arenz – violin
- Ellie Arenz – violin
- Mark Bingham – string arrangement
- David Braitberg – violin
- Andrew Cox – cello
- Reid Harris – viola
- Peter Holsapple – bass guitar
- Ralph Jones – double bass
- Kidd Jordan – baritone, tenor and alto saxophone
- Dave Kempers – violin
- KRS-One – rapping
- Scott Litt – echo-loop feed
- Elizabeth Murphy – cello
- Paul Murphy – lead viola
Use in other media
The song was featured in the Cameron Crowe film Singles (1992), although it is not included in the official soundtrack album.[5]
Bingo Hand Job version
A live version of Radio Song was released in early 2019 via Noisetrade. Recorded in 1991 at The Boderline in London, the track was credited to Bingo Hand Job, a pseudonym for R.E.M. and guests (who also adopted various fake names). A recording of the much bootlegged full concert was officially released in April 2019 as Live at the Borderline 1991.[6]
References
- Black, Johnny (2004). Reveal: The Story of R.E.M.. London: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-776-5.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Radio Song". Irish Singles Chart.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – R.E.M. – Radio Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "R.E.M.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- "Singles Soundtrack". TheUncool.com. 2015. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017.
- 'Bingo Hand Job' Noisetrade.com accessed 20 April 2019.