R.E.M. - RADIO FREE EUROPE Demo Tape Mix

From the 1981 'Do Not Open' demo cassette that predated the Hib-Tone single.

[@zararity]

Why on this earth did they leave nearly all the really stunning unreleased demos and early mixes off the deluxe "Murmur"?! I would've bought it for these sort of gems!!!

[@sexobscura]

Peter Buck thought them a blight on their 'official' recorded output

[@synthmalicious7541]

⁠@@sexobscuraPeter Buck never figured out what a demo is I guess

[@rbraxley]

My most treasured possessions in the early 80s were a couple of R.E.M. demo cassettes which I had gotten ahold of, pre-Chronic. (My brother was a booking agent at Paragon, and they'd sent them to him. He gave them to me.) Sadly, they were stolen from me in London. Actually, on the evening when I went to see them at a gig while they were there recording Fables. Would love to have a collection of all of this early stuff. Thanks chout.

[@HOPEat]

The best version of this song. Deserved to be on Murmur.

[@peteolson6093]

Stipe's voice sounded brilliant from the very beginning! Thanks for posting!

[@fred6059]

Too cool!

[@REMchout]

I hope for a murmur box one day...there has to be more than what leaked recently.

[@mrblisterfist]

Gold!

[@zararity]

Good call. I reckon they should go for an R.E.M. 1980-1987 rarities boxset to cover all the years prior to Warners!

[@sydglover4842]

they have it's on spotify

[@thebestREM]

wow!

[@TomDavisVideo]

golden

[@REMchout]

@MrEX3 Same recording, slightly different earlier mix.

[@joycehall4866]

Michael Stipe is the BEST!

[@subwaygoddess1]

@Joyce Hall and this is my favorite version!

[@joycehall4866]

@@subwaygoddess1 Definitely the best!

[@RhiannaBarr]

This sounds similar to the "Eponymous" version

[@josephgurzynski1053]

Agreed. For some reason, I like this one better.

[@sexobscura]

*This version has a lot more bite than the Murmur or Hib-Tone releases*

[@manuels.2050]

It’s so sad that Michael characterized these vocals as being pseudo rockabilly. I’m a derogatory way, I think these are soooooo good!

[@AsdfAsdf-asdf]

Hi, first time looker at your REM page. Holy shit you have some real gems and I just subscribed. How can I get in reach of you? An email address will suffice.