R.E.M. benefit EP for Radio Free Europe

 

R.E.M. Honors Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty with Never-Before-Released “Radio Free Europe 2025” Remix by Jacknife Lee   New remix is part of a five-track EP, with proceeds from the vinyl pressing to benefit RFE/RL on its 75th anniversary & World Press Freedom Day   The EP is also available to stream/download today [L-R]: Artwork for the EP and packshot of the vinyl   Click here to stream/pre-order the EP Click here to watch the video for “Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix)”   Athens, GA (May 2, 2025)—Four decades after igniting college-radio airwaves and launching R.E.M.’s remarkable career, their 1981 debut single “Radio Free Europe” is broadcasting a new signal. On Friday, May 2, R.E.M. proudly announces Radio Free Europe 2025, a five-track benefit EP led by a never-before-released 2025 remix by the band's longtime collaborator Jacknife Lee. The release celebrates the 75th anniversary of the “OG” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and arrives just ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, May 3.   Radio Free Europe 2025 is available to stream and download today. A limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl pressing—available for pre-order now exclusively via the official R.E.M. store and independent record stores—lands September 12. Proceeds from all vinyl sales will go to RFE/RL, an editorially independent nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation.   Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was established by the United States 75 years ago and currently broadcasts news and information in 27 languages to 23 countries where a free press is either banned by the government or under threat. Throughout the Cold War and continuing today, RFE/RL is often the only lifeline to the outside world for people living under extreme censorship.   Members of R.E.M. say this mission of promoting free expression has always resonated with the band.   “Whether it’s music or a free press – censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere. On World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe,” says Michael Stipe, lead singer and founding member of R.E.M.   “Radio Free Europe’s journalists have been pissing off dictators for 75 years. You know you’re doing your job when you make the right enemies. Happy World Press Freedom Day to the ‘OG’ Radio Free Europe,” says Mike Mills, bassist and founding member of R.E.M.   “To me, R.E.M.’s music has always embodied a celebration of freedom: freedom of expression, lyrics that make us think, and melodies that inspire action. Those are the very aims of our journalists at Radio Free Europe—to inform, inspire, and uphold freedoms often elusive to our audiences. We hold dictators accountable. They go to great lengths to silence us—blocking our websites, jamming our signals, and even imprisoning our colleagues,” says RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus.   Released through Craft Recordings, the Radio Free Europe 2025 EP was overseen by the band’s original producer Mitch Easter—who first captured R.E.M. at his Drive-In Studio during their maiden road trip to a professional studio in April 1981. That seminal session yielded the band’s earliest recordings of “Radio Free Europe,” “Sitting Still,” and the instrumental “Wh. Tornado,” all collected here.   The set opens with the 2025 remix by GRAMMY®-winner Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol, Taylor Swift, The Killers), who also produced R.E.M.’s final two studio albums, Accelerate and Collapse Into Now. Lee gives the track a fresh take while staying true to its indie-rock DNA. Completing the package are Mitch Easter’s original 1981 recordings—the sought-after Hib-Tone single mix of “Radio Free Europe,” its flip-side “Sitting Still,” the “Wh. Tornado” demo, and Easter’s long-rumoured, never-before-released 1981 remix “Radio Free Dub.”   In 2009, “Radio Free Europe” was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry for “setting the pattern for later indie-rock releases.”   Click here to pre-order/stream Radio Free Europe 2025 now. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

"Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix) RFE/RL Dispatch" TRACKLIST:   Radio Side: Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix)* Radio Free Dub (Mitch Easter 1981 Remix)*   Liberty Side: Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single) Sitting Still (Original Hib-Tone B-Side)  Wh. Tornado (From Cassette Set) **    *Never-before-released **First time on digital and vinyl     About R.E.M.: One of the most revered bands in popular music history, R.E.M. pioneered the alt-rock movement of the ’90s, influencing future acts like Radiohead, Nirvana, Pavement, and Pearl Jam. Formed in 1980, the group enjoyed an extraordinary three-decade-long run of creative vitality and multi-platinum sales before amicably disbanding in 2011. Despite great success, the band members never lost track of their core values—remaining outspoken in their views about political, social, and environmental issues, and never wavering when it came to artistic integrity. Throughout their career, R.E.M. released 15 studio albums, won three GRAMMY® Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2007) as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2024).   About Craft Recordings: Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Celia Cruz, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Isaac Hayes, John Coltrane, John Lee Hooker, Joan Baez, Joan Sebastian, Little Richard, Miles Davis, R.E.M., and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Alison Krauss, Daddy Yankee, Evanescence, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday, and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, HITCO, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation— ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness, and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers.   Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

R.E.M.'s "Up" 25th Anniversary Edition due Nov. 10 via Craft Recordings; previously unreleased “Daysleeper (‘Party of Five’ recording)

The 25th Anniversary Edition of R.E.M.'s bestselling 1998 album Up is due November 10 via Craft Recordings. The newly remastered reissue featuures a never-before-heard 11-song set from the band's taping of the TV show "Party of Five" along with expansive liner notes, new interviews with the band, HD-restored music videos, performance footage and more.

 

In celebration of the forthcoming reissue, the band is debuting the previously unreleased "Daysleeper ('Party of Five' Recording)" -- stream the track HERE. Check out the official media release below...Robert Kinsler

 

Craft Recordings is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of R.E.M.’s bestselling 11^th studio album Up with a series of expanded and remastered reissues, all of which are available for pre-order now and set for release on November 10. Created in partnership with the band, the Deluxe 2-CD/1 Blu-Ray edition offers a wealth of material for fans, including the band’s previously unreleased set from their guest appearance on the hit TV series “Party of Five.” Captured in 1999, the performance includes an 11-song setlist—including enduring hits like “Man on the Moon,” “Losing My Religion,” and “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)”—plus a spoken-word introduction. The accompanying Blu-ray features HD music videos from the 1998 album (“Daysleeper,” “Lotus” and “At My Most Beautiful”), a six-song performance from the era (titled Uptake) recorded in a London studio, the album’s original EPK, plus stunning hi-resolution and 5.1 surround sound audio. Housed in a 32-page hardcover book, the collection also includes new liner notes from journalist and Talkhouse Executive Editor Josh Modell (A.V. Club, SPIN, Rolling Stone, Vulture) featuring new interviews with the band members.

The expanded reissue, which features the album plus the “Party of Five” performance in its entirety, is also available in 2-CD, digital and hi-res configurations, while the 14-track, 2-LP album will be reissued on 180-gram vinyl. A limited-edition pressing on Green Marble vinyl is also available exclusively at R.E.M.’s official store along with special Up merchandise. All reissue formats feature newly remastered audio by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering.

Available to stream now is the remastered version of “Daysleeper,” as well as the band’s never-before-released performance of the song from the “Party of Five” taping. R.E.M.’s appearance on the teen drama (which launched the careers of Matthew Fox and Neve Campbell, among others) remains a fond memory. “The intersection of visual and musical art is always interesting, so it was cool to be a part of TV,” recalls bassist Mike Mills. Stream/share the “Party of Five” recording of “Daysleeper” HERE. Stream/share the remastered album version of “Daysleeper” and pre-order Up on 2-CD/1-Blu-ray, 2-CD, or 2-LP, and pre-save the deluxe digital album HERE.

The intimate concert, recorded at Los Angeles’ Palace Theatre, was populated by R.E.M. fan club members and served as an opportunity for the band to rehearse their latest material—plus beloved hits—ahead of touring. “There are dozens of great R.E.M. live sets out there, but nothing quite like this up-close oddity,” writes Josh Modell. “Loose and happy, the band runs through a good chunk of Up in front of a small crowd…Stipe is chatty, telling stories about accidentally ripping off Billy Corgan (and telling Corgan about it), playing with the Human League on a funny stage at that very venue, and more.”

About R.E.M.:

Having established a powerful legacy as one of the most enduring and essential rock bands in popular music history, R.E.M. pioneered the alt-rock movement of the ’90s, influencing the likes of Radiohead, Nirvana, Pavement and Pearl Jam. Formed in 1980, the group enjoyed an extraordinary three-decade-long run of creative vitality and multi-platinum sales before amicably disbanding in 2011. Despite great success, the band members never lost track of their core values—remaining outspoken in their views about political, social, and environmental issues, and never wavering when it came to artistic integrity. Throughout the course of their career together R.E.M. released a total of 15 studio albums, won three GRAMMY® Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

About Craft Recordings: 

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers. 

Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Photo credit Patrik Andersson

UP 25TH ANNIVERSARY TRACKLISTS:

Deluxe Edition (2-CD/1-Blu-Ray):

Disc 1 – Up (remastered audio)

1. Airportman

2. Lotus

3. Suspicion

4. Hope

5. At My Most Beautiful 

6. The Apologist

7. Sad Professor

8. You’re In The Air

9. Walk Unafraid

10. Why Not Smile

11. Daysleeper

12. Diminished

13. Parakeet

14. Falls To Climb

Disc 2 – Party of Five Recording

1. Introduction

2. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?

3. Lotus  

4. Daysleeper

5. Country Feedback

6. Walk Unafraid

7. Losing My Religion

8. Parakeet

9. The Apologist

10. It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

11. I’m Not Over You

12. Man On The Moon

Disc 3 – Blu-ray

1. Up – 5.1 Surround Sound

2. Up – Hi-Resolution Audio

3. This Way Up (press kit)

4. Uptake (six-song performance)

5. Daysleeper (music video) 

6. Lotus (music video)

7. At My Most Beautiful (music video)

Expanded Edition (2-CD/Digital):

Disc 1 – Up (remastered audio)

1. Airportman

2. Lotus

3. Suspicion

4. Hope

5. At My Most Beautiful

6. The Apologist

7. Sad Professor

8. You’re In The Air

9. Walk Unafraid

10. Why Not Smile

11. Daysleeper

12. Diminished

13. Parakeet

14. Falls To Climb

Disc 2 – Party of Five Recording

1. Introduction

2. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?

3. Lotus

4. Daysleeper

5. Country Feedback

6. Walk Unafraid

7. Losing My Religion

8. Parakeet

9. The Apologist

10. It’s The End Of The World (And I Feel Fine)

11. I’m Not Over You

12. Man On The Moon 

Up (2-LP Remastered Vinyl):

Side A

1. Airportman
2. Lotus
3. Suspicion

Side B

1. Hope
2. At My Most Beautiful
3. The Apologist
4. Sad Professor

Side C

1. You’re In The Air
2. Walk Unafraid
3. Why Not Smile
4. Daysleeper

Side D

1. Diminished
2. Parakeet

3. Falls To Climb

R.E.M.'s long out-of-print albums 'Around the Sun' and 'Collapse Into Now' available on vinyl

The recent release of R.E.M.'s long out-of-print titles Around the Sun (2004) and Collapse Into Now (2011) on vinyl by Craft Recordings is the perfect opportunity to rediscover two outstanding full-length classics from the beloved Athens, Georgia-spawned band's second half of their incredible career.

Both casual and hardcore fans of R.E.M. will appreciate how amazing the albums sound (both albums were cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and were pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Memphis Records Pressing). Additionally, vinyl aficionados can find limited editions exclusively at REMHQ.com; the 2-LP Around the Sun is available on an Opaque White color variant, while the 1-LP Collapse Into Now can be found in Milky Clear vinyl. Other exclusive official merchandise is also available on the website.

Following the release of their acclaimed albums Up (1998) and Reveal (2001), R.E.M.'s 13th LP Around the Sun was released in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War; the 13-track album finds R.E.M. (singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Rieflin) tackling a troubled world with musical and literate depth. The album shines via the glorious opener "Leaving New York" (the single is bolstered by a sumptuous chorus), ambitious electronica-tinged "Electron Blue," wistful piano-anchored "Make It All Okay," luxurious "I Wanted To Be Wrong," soaring "Wanderlust" and longing "Around the Sun." Around the Sun topped the album charts in the UK, Sweden and Germany, among other territories, and landed at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.

Following the release of their 14th album Accelerate in 2008, the members of R.E.M. collectively decided to record their final album, Collapse Into Now. Produced by Jacknife Lee (The Cars, U2, Snow Patrol), the album was recorded between November 2009 and September 2010 in Berlin, New Orleans and Nashville. At the time of its release, Mills noted: "It's more of a personal record than a political one. Current events do come into our mind when we write, but the themes here are more universal." The purposeful track listing opens with the confessional rocker "Discoverer," one of Stipe's only autobiographical songs (the track includes guest vocals from Patti Smith). Early highlights abound on the 12-track masterwork; my favorites include the propulsive rocker "All The Best" (whose lyrics foreshadow R.E.M. disbanding in September 2011), the undeniably ravishing “Überlin,” and driving melody-showered gem "It Happened Today" featuring guest vocals by Eddie Vedder and The Hidden Cameras' Joel Gibb. Standouts on the last half of the album include the speedy "Mine Smell Like Honey," freewheeling rocker "Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter," and alluring "Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I." 

Robert Kinsler

Essential R.E.M. titles returning to vinyl on July 14, 2023

For those who have not heard R.E.M.'s "Around The Sun" and "Collapse Into Now,", really do highly recommend those albums...Robert Kinsler

R.E.M.’S LONG OUT-OF-PRINT ALBUMS  AROUND THE SUN AND COLLAPSE INTO NOW RETURN TO VINYL JULY 14   2004’s chart-topping Around the Sun includes the singles “Leaving New York,” “Electron Blue,” and “The Outsiders”   The band’s acclaimed final studio album, 2011’s Collapse Into Now, includes “Überlin,” “Oh My Heart,” and “It Happened Today”

Los Angeles, CA (May 16, 2023)–Craft Recordings celebrates the enduring legacy of R.E.M. with vinyl reissues for two long out-of-print titles from the second half of the band’s celebrated career: 2004’s Around the Sun and 2011’s Collapse Into Now. The chart-topping Around the Sun includes such highlights as “Leaving New York,” “Aftermath,” “Electron Blue,” and “Wanderlust,” plus “The Outsiders.”Collapse Into Now, which marks the band’s 15th and final studio album, includes the singles “Überlin,” “Oh My Heart” and “It Happened Today.” Arriving July 14 and available for pre-order today, both albums were cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Memphis Records Pressing.    Additionally, fans can find limited editions exclusively at REMHQ.com: the 2-LP Around the Sun will be available on an Opaque White color variant, while the 1-LP Collapse Into Now can be found in Milky Clear vinyl, along with exclusive official merchandise.   One of the most revered acts to emerge from the American underground, Athens, GA’s R.E.M. was formed in 1980 by Michael Stipe (vocals), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass), and Bill Berry (drums). An influential force in the post-punk college scene, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and multi-GRAMMY® Award winners rose to become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed bands in the world, thanks to their idiosyncratic blend of brash tunefulness and poetic lyrics on such best-selling albums as Out of Time (1991), Automatic for the People(1992), and Monster (1994).   By the turn of the millennium, the band had ventured into new sonic territory, exploring electronic textures and the use of synthesizers with albums like Up (1998) and Reveal (2001). R.E.M.’s 13th LP, Around the Sun, continued that evolution. Written as America grappled with the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War, the album reflected the somber tone of the era and found the band blending political commentary with meditations on love, loss, and a fast-changing world.   Marking the band’s final collaboration with producer Pat McCarthy (The Waterboys, U2) and their first with drummer Bill Rieflin, Around the Sun features the singles “Leaving New York” (a Top 5 hit in the UK and No.1 on Billboard’s AAA chart), “Wanderlust,” the melancholic “Aftermath,” and the trippy “Electron Blue.” Other highlights include the politically charged “Final Straw” and the poignant “Outsiders,” featuring guest vocals by rapper Q-Tip. Praised by Blender for its “arresting musical moods” and “strong choruses,” Around the Sun topped the album charts in the UK, Germany, and Sweden, among other territories, and landed at No.13 on the Billboard 200.   Not long after the release of their following album, Accelerate (2008), the members of R.E.M. collectively decided to conclude their time together with one final album. Produced by Jacknife Lee (The Cars, Taylor Swift, U2), Collapse Into Now was recorded over the course of a year in Berlin, New Orleans, and Nashville. For their 15th studio effort, the band took a broader approach to their writing, allowing for an expansive collection of songs that spoke to universal themes.   Among the highlights is “Discoverer,” one of Michael Stipe’s only autobiographical songs. Featuring an appearance by Patti Smith (who also lends her voice to closer “Blue”) the song serves as a love letter to New York City. “It’s about realizing that the city offers you this unbelievable potential and opportunity; all the things you are looking for in your teens and your twenties,” Stipe told Interview Magazine. The album also includes the joyful “Mine Smell Like Honey,” plus singles “Überlin,” “Oh My Heart,” and the soaring “It Happened Today,” featuring guest vocals by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and The Hidden Cameras’ Joel Gibb. The breakneck “Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter,” meanwhile, finds Stipe duetting with Peaches, with a special appearance by longtime Patti Smith guitarist, Lenny Kaye.   While the band chose not to tour behind the album, they partnered with a variety of prominent filmmakers and artists (including Sam Taylor-Wood, Jim Herbert, and James Franco), who directed music videos for each track. Speaking to Interview, Stipe explained, “The idea was to present a 21st-century version of an album. What does an album mean in the year 2011, especially to generations of people for whom the word album is an archaic term? I wanted to present an idea of what an album could be in the age of YouTube and the Internet.”   Released one year after R.E.M.’s 30th anniversary, Collapse Into Now served as a triumphant cap to the band’s celebrated career, landing in the Top 5 in the US, UK, and across Europe, and drawing praise from outlets around the globe. Uncut noted that the album “bristles and fizzes with invigorating quantities of wit and fury,” while Under the Radar declared, “You’re listening to a legendary band utterly revitalized, operating at the peak of their formidable powers.” The Village Voice hailed the album’s “signature balance of folky and punky,” while Spin mused that it “sounds like a familiar friend – reliable in all the best ways, but still capable of quietly insinuating surprises.”   Click here to pre-order Around the Sun and Collapse into Now.   Around the Sun Vinyl Tracklist   Side A 1.      Leaving New York 2.      Electron Blue 3.      The Outsiders   Side B 1.      Make It All Okay 2.      Final Straw 3.      I Wanted To Be Wrong   Side C 1.      Wanderlust 2.      Boy In The Well 3.      Aftermath   Side D 1.      High Speed Train 2.      The Worst Joke Ever 3.      The Ascent Of Man 4.      Around The Sun     Collapse Into Now Vinyl Tracklist:   X-Axis 1.      Discoverer 2.      All the Best 3.      Überlin 4.      Oh My Heart 5.      It Happened Today 6.      Every Day Is Yours To Win   Y-Axis 1.      Mine Smell Like Honey 2.      Walk It Back 3.      Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter 4.      That Someone Is You 5.      Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando And I 6.      Blue     About R.E.M.: One of the most revered bands in popular music history, R.E.M. pioneered the alt-rock movement of the ‘90s, influencing future acts like Radiohead, Nirvana, Pavement, and Pearl Jam. Formed in 1980, the group enjoyed an extraordinary three-decade-long run of creative vitality and multi-platinum sales before amicably disbanding in 2011. Despite great success, the band members never lost track of their core values – remaining outspoken in their views about political, social, and environmental issues, and never wavering when it came to artistic integrity. Throughout their career, R.E.M. released a total of 15 studio albums, won three GRAMMY® Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.   About Craft Recordings: Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers.    Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.