Draggin' the line by R.E.M.

[@cheesecake134]

I still own a copy of the Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack. It's a solid soundtrack. I also secretly like REM's cover better than the original just because I love Michael Stipe's voice so much.

[@PaulGoodeK]

I think that Berry or Mills sings lead on this.

[@timothybessemer7316]

I still like the Tommy James original a tad more but that said this is a tremendous cover!

[@oaksmane]

That soundtrack is highly underrated.

[@drbobdc8319]

Me too... :)

[@m0L3ify]

Yeah that soundtrack was the best! I still have my copy, too. I used to listen to it endlessly when I'd drive from LA to SF to visit my sister whenever I had a break at work. Good times.

[@wendydavis622]

I usually hate those earworms, LOVE IT when THIS song is stuck in my head for days!

[@travisporco]

this is a worthy cover...it's different (like it should be), but it keeps the harmonies and horns that really make this song pop

[@beare.5622]

Here’s a modern tribute to this timeless classic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJXSoKx7Z6uWf9E

[@shannonvanderhoof4810]

Gimme some Brass.. I love sounding 📯📯📯 TRUMPETS !!! 🔊❤🥁

[@griffinmoore6819]

The original I learned from my Dad when I was about six. He has an exceptional knack for liking just the right songs. He likes this version very much as I do also. No matter what a bad day I'm having or bad mood I'm in, if I play 'Draggin' the Line' (REM or Tommy James) I always feel better afterwards.

[@AstarOfDavid]

Check out the version by "Beat Goes Bang" from the "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitters Dead" sound track! and the one by "Cameron Dye"

[@TheNyteScrybe]

My dog Sam (miniature Schnauzer) really DID eat purple flowers...those tiny ones that carpet the woods in the early spring. I still think of Sam every time I see a purple flower.

[@guydreamr]

And every time you hear this song.

[@jamsee1]

Has a beach boys feel to it - with the bright sunshine and draggin' the line :)

[@Alan-gi2ku]

Great cover by a great band. The original is great also.

[@brianstrachan3464]

A great rendition to an old song. Best i ever heard/

[@andreafitzgerald6009]

this is the best song ever!

[@TheButchersApron]

Been looking for this for a long time. Not surprised to see it’s REM.

[@herbertluthe6850]

such a perfect cover! great pop music! the sun the moon and r.e.m.

[@daisywrabbit]

Wow, the last two minutes are hypnotic.

[@wjfc1968]

I used to hang around Athens georgia music scene allot back in the early 1990s, I visited the old church where r.e.m played, saw many bands, dryvin and crying, B52s, government mule, left front tire, and many more. Places like the handle bar, 40 watt, georgia theater and others. Plus the wuxtry record store. Great memories

[@Shamanator]

I started UGA in the Fall of '79 and boarded in the basement of Reed Hall Dorm (Rm 33); Bill Berry lived on the 3rd floor. We became friends the day before the 1st day of classes (a Sunday) after he started blasting "God Save the Queen" out of his dorm window, echoing 100dB off the outside of Sanford Stadium. I'll never forget the absolute freedom I felt, pogo dancing in the drizzle to The Sex Pistols under his window. He popped his head out -- "Hey, I'm Bill...who are you?" We ended up sharing a bowl in his dorm room, where he already had his drums set up. A month later we carried my Yamaha CP30 stereo electric piano up 4 flights of stairs and had the privilege of jamming out with Mike Mills, Bill, and some other guy (not Pete Buck) on guitar for several hours. Was in a mutual friends dorm room down from Bill's listening to the student radio station the night they supposedly decided to call themselves "REM" (via a pseudo poll on WUOG). Went to the first 6 Human Rights festivals; danced my heart out to Little Tigers, Pylon, Flat Duo Jets, Porn Orchard, Whitehouse China, Christy McCullough and the Challengers (!), Jason and the Nashville Scorchers, Widespread Panic at the original (and 2nd and 3rd) 40 Watt Clubs (where they had a keg in the corner with 8 oz plastic Solo cups of beer for a quarter!), Tyrones, The I & I, Uptown Lounge. Good times for both of us, @wjfc1968 !

[@richwall5220]

Great cover!

[@dewaynehairston6286]

I always thought Michael's voice would be perfect for this song ❤❤❤

[@rubeslevada3953]

I used to love this song - I remember I bought that CD with soundtrack of A.P.2 mostly because of this song

[@leeseburgefoley7166]

I'm diggin this

[@Chris-ey6rn]

Leese Burge Foley me too. Damn good cover 👍

[@richardwingo3031]

I don't know if i like the original more or the cover...... both excellent songs though. x3

[@IstasPumaNevada]

I feel like the mixing/sound quality on this is better than the original (though considering the respective time period/tech and (probably) budgets, it better be, heh), and between that and hearing the REM cover first via Austin Powers during a young point in my life, I prefer this version.

[@joycehall4866]

Awesome cover! Always amazing.

[@rogrambo]

The original was by Tommy Jones and the Shondells in 1971. R.E.M. kills it. great song. This post is mainly just for the people that come in surprised to see the REM does this song..

[@80sbuttrock]

Actually this was TJ's first solo hit sans the Shondells

[@johncalaway4446]

Tommy James and the Shondells

[@Shamanator]

@@johncalaway4446 No, just Tommy James; he recorded it after leaving The Shondells in 1970. Written by Tommy James and Bob King.

[@scottspence1]

Count me as surprised. Covers can go either way, these guys nailed it

[@Gillesbisson]

PRETTY GOOD COVER

[@bhk5150]

Nice cover.

[@mrsmixmusic666]

Sneaking in the Crimson and Clover vibe.

[@IstasPumaNevada]

And doing it repeatedly, and repeatedly.

[@subwaygoddess1]

AWESOME cover! ✌️🎶🎤🎸🥁🔥💙

[@bluelava4282]

Unexpected Cover…. Awesome

[@northidahoman665]

Damn! This is a good cover.

[@billlong1206]

Well Done!!! 👍👍👍👍

[@SCOTTONTAPE]

This song IS summer.

[@massvt3821]

But...he digs snow and rain, too.......

[@m0L3ify]

"My dog Sam eats purple flowers, We ain't got much, but what we've got's ours." I always thought this line was "My dog Sam eats purple flowers, I think I much prefer weak-eyed sours" 😂

[@IstasPumaNevada]

Hah, yep, though for me it was "I think I'd much prefer we'd got sours". And no, I had no idea what it was supposed to mean. :D

[@shannonvanderhoof4810]

Whiskey Sour's 🌾🍹🍒

[@m0L3ify]

@@shannonvanderhoof4810 haha I like that!

[@matterpimp3146]

Love that they used a tremolo effect on the guitar, feels like a nod to another great hit from Tommy James and the Shondells.

[@debjones60]

Absolutely love rem’s version of this song. Just spot on, better than original dare I say, in my opinion 😂

[@ericsantana1184]

My playlist begins here. Hope to play this while traveling with the love of my life my girlfriend.

[@massvt3821]

The best cover of any song I've ever heard. This is just as enjoyable as the original by Tommy James and the Shondells..

[@baffledanderanged2101]

This is the best version of this song!😊❤

[@matthewstetson1840]

Of course, Mills nailed the bass part.

[@kfm-yd2ev]

REM did cool versions of classics... Draggin' the Line (Tommy James and the Shondells), Iam Superman (originally done by The Clique), among a few others but these two, in my opinion, are the best

[@ldolphin34]

Without Michael stipe, the rest of the band was in a one-time group with Warren Zevon called the Hindu Love Gods that did a bunch of Blues covers, and a rousing rendition of Prince's Raspberry Beret. That Prince cover has to be heard to be believed.

[@andreafitzgerald6009]

this song is in my favorite key F sharp!

[@jeffreykent5271]

love it

[@richardwize4460]

Totally on point, well done.

[@vintagecrowspirit]

I never realised this was an R.E.M song, despite having watched Austin Powers 2 for many years. That explains why I liked this song when I heard it in the movie :")

[@SoulShines4Music]

It's actually *not* an R.E.M. song, it's originally by Tommy James and came out in 1971. 😉

[@eddieschwab864]

Yep originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells

[@thomasedmundrichards]

🤦‍♂️

[@madams6198]

Great fucking cover!!! Wow.

[@earthtruthhunters1642]

One of the rare ones that is better than the original. Weird this version is not on Spotify.

[@conservat1vepatr1ot]

Just came here losing my mind over that fact...

[@derekdavila432]

Very very good....but better? No chance

[@earthtruthhunters1642]

@@derekdavila432 freedom is beeeeutiful man. Tomato toematto. I love both versions but lean toward REM. To be honest I grew up with James version, didn't know till 2020 that REM covered it. How can I not know that for 30 years? Be blessed man.

[@PsychedelicFerret]

Excellent cover :) didn't know it even existed till right now. Like Tommy's version better though :) Nice fuzzy throwback to the psychedelic 60's :)

[@earthtruthhunters1642]

@@PsychedelicFerret TOTALLY

[@eclecticreader961]

The best version of Draggin' The Line.

[@morrisonreed1]

I didn't no the ga boys covered this one , damn these guys are good , I believe in coyotes

[@scottburton9701]

Fantastic cover of a Tommy James hit from 1971.

[@colinl5951]

Don't tell mom about the babysitter.....we found the buick though lol

[@cynbartek9324]

I just discovered this version today [SLAPS FOREHEAD]. How did I miss this all these years?? I do like it better than the original by Tommy James (sorry).

[@jimbloom3853]

Efficiently responding to others’ emotions has great survival value, especially for social species, such as primates, who establish close, long-term bonds with group members.. Previous research in humans has shown that one component of this strong sensitivity to others’ emotions is heightened attention to their affective state

[@jamesmacgillivray9607]

Very good

[@d_r_h_1778]

The last time I heard this song I was a kid

[@toddszabo6258]

Best version of this song.

[@robertcubinelli4961]

Best version of the Shondells classic.

[@daliborsnajdr6871]

It's Tommy James solo stuff not The Shondells track

[@detlefzimmer3956]

@@daliborsnajdr6871 yes....in 1971......

[@michaelhughes5595]

Always subliminally addictive....always

[@zachdrejza8515]

Tommy James and the Shondells, the best unknown band there ever was.

[@eddieschwab864]

Unknown?? They had hits in BOTH the 60s and the 70s. Tommy James was also an excellent songwriter AND producer as well...

[@steveshattah]

Best unknown 100 million record selling band ever.

[@teresayoung237]

Good versions that I didn't know existed, but Tommy James and the Shondells still the best, but this version is good too..

[@thomasedmundrichards]

This is better

[@buckylad123]

If you listen near the end its got abit of "The Lifting" vibe.

[@lisamarie225]

Tres cool

[@douglas2902]

I come across The spy who shagged me soundtrack at a yard sale for $1 and it was every penny

[@torybrown7730]

I love the original by Tommy James but REM do an AMAZING job of it.

[@detlefzimmer3956]

musikalisch für mich stärker wie das Original von 1971, yeah !

[@powoodworker1751]

Well done.

[@Kirstondo]

Holy shit I didn’t know this was R.E.M

[@MobinKiadeh]

This is the cover done for Austin Powers 2, the original was by Tommy James and the Shondells.

[@eddieschwab864]

@@MobinKiadeh even though they were covering it I'm thinking it was made long before Austin Powers 2. I'm not sure if it was on automatic for the people, out of time, or one of the other albums I know it was not on Monster or anything later oh, I'm pretty sure also that it was not on Green

[@perfectfan2006]

check out Tommy James back tracks on youtube and his movie story will be out soon as casting gets done

[@davidcombs5427]

Very respectful of the original,

[@regleclaire5669]

the day tat someone says that to you is the day yo've met a REAL REM fan..........just sayin.

[@daltonbutler2]

This song gives me shivers... what's that all about

[@thomasedmundrichards]

You’re cold maybe. Put a jumper on

[@conservat1vepatr1ot]

It’s been said before and now once more, this cover is better than the original. (Of course, that’s just an opinion).

[@Wolfdragon92584]

I love this interpretation of the song. Much more of an "alternative" vibe to it than the original. Is Mills singing lead here? The voice sounds lighter than Stipe's.

[@robcohen5585]

It does sound more like Mills. Maybe he was in charge if covers as he sang lead on "I am Superman" too.

[@Wolfdragon92584]

@@robcohen5585 He did. He has a lovely voice. On their early stuff you can hear Bill Berry sing backup as well. It's mesmeric.

[@odommcallister6014]

Sigh, I'll always be sad they never covered Crimson and Clover

[@Elpeletas]

As hard as it may be to believe... in my opiniont hey've improved the song! 🤯🤎

[@duskmysticblackman6466]

"DRAGGING THE LINE INTO THE UNITED STATES CONFEDERACY"! TUES. 12/5/2023.

[@mdollabg]

Who produced this cover? It’s very William Orbit no?

[@dennisyoung4631]

*Bucyrus-Erie dragline excavator…* - it’s what they do….

[@lordgodkingbufu2158]

i'm pissed that it's geoblocked on spotify

[@1388yank]

Credit for nailing it but it's basically just an exact cover. I'd have liked to hear them add a bit of their own flair to it but that's just me being picky! About the equvilant of Weezer covering The Rains Down in Africa 😂

[@KylesSocietyofMisfit]

Did you not hear the layers of reverb effects as they melted into that whole jam section? I think this is a good cover for people who wish the song cwas longer. The same formula but different vibe~

[@isaacheres1354]

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

[@dannysuter7658]

Pretty good cover but tommy james is the man and original are the best 9/10 times but damn good job on this one

[@regleclaire5669]

Who posted that ? you gotta let the little girl on roller skates tell her mom that she needs coco..........I hear you precious........

[@ericsantana1184]

Austin Powers.

[@Sierrariley18]

Someone who lives in Vegas by choice is No Rock Star.

[@Burt472]

Noted

[@leeseburger2937]

Who's doing that?

[@dobrautero]

This cover is done by Tommy Rowe. Not REM.

[@MobinKiadeh]

No this is R.E.M, it was done for the movie Austin Powers 2.

[@matthewpeterson1599]

Mobin Kiadeh tommy Rowe does the original... google it

[@MobinKiadeh]

matthew peterson​ no the original was done by Tommy James and the Shondells. R.E.M covered the song for the movie Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me, which is the one in this video.

[@matthewstetson1840]

Duh.

[@donnasanchez1399]

it is OK but tommy james does it better

[@perfectfan2006]

t/y donna

[@1966CARTER]

True but it is worth listening to

[@eclecticreader961]

I prefer R.E.M. Tommy James is too country and not enough groove.

[@quentinwade8506]

R.E.M's version is superior I must tell you

[@coyotebongwater817]

This is Tommy James and the Shondells doesn’t sound anything like REM

[@BigRalphN]

Sorry. This Is REMs cover from The Spy Who Shagged Me album. Very true to the original but if you search you will find the original and hear the difference immediately

[@Bigstarrocker9]

This version is good but nothing comes close to the original

[@mddell58]

*Wow. Nothing like the original, by Tommy James & the Shondells. Nothing.*

[@chriswesterfield2042]

nonsensical why rem covered this song

[@arlenfosburgh9511]

Way to ruin it good song.

[@lynnbergreen8131]

Still not as good as the original.

[@j.mardis4395]

This song is a fart compared to the original

[@soshego877]

Not as impacting

[@kennethkrause6366]

Tommy James did the original.

[@Weyjx]

Nice try but no cigar. I still prefer Tommy James .

[@peacefulruler1]

Sucks!

[@delcrowe9712]

REM ruined a Hollies classic.

[@wroughtironmgtow9558]

this version sucks

[@perfectfan2006]

cool they did it buttttt not even close to how much Tommy James did with so little under such a rotten situation as he had back then. he did my baby and kicked the Beatles out of number 1 when he was 15 years old his talent was a gift from god