R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe + So. Central Rain (Hifi Mono) [10-6-83]

[Hi Fi Mono] This is the cleanest capture I had of this first USTV performance.
While the image and sound is basically sharper than the other version on my channel, there is a small visual tracking error at about 2 minutes, 20 seconds, which also lends a brief audio glitch. As in life itself, nothing is perfect.

[@rubberbiscuit99]

The shyest front man of all time. Love this band so much since I heard the first note from them.

[@rickthomas422]

This music owned me when I was a teenager. I don't know that 43-year-old me would have appreciation for this song if I'd not first appreciated it with my 14-year-old ears.

[@HugoFDiaz]

I love to see them have a lot of fun playing this song!!! I saw this vid 100 times and I don’t tire

[@PaulMikna]

Rickenbacker heaven!

[@Tsip89]

This was fantastic. Thanks!

[@dennisyoung7984]

I can’t imagine how hard they practiced for this performance. Absolutely perfect, both songs. REM was amazing, fully formed sound right out of the gate

[@jimmybootz1277]

Very well said also very true

[@copersucar1]

agree

[@1monki]

They toured and performed live a lot during this time. And they played songs that hadn't been released, yet. So, they worked out the songs in live performances and generally knew the audience's reaction before releasing it. The other song they played that night was So. Central Rain, which was on their following album.

[@JayKim-pu7ul]

One of the greatest ever!

[@patches6309]

I memba watching this performance. It's all we talked about in high school how cool they sounded! They blew up huge after this great performance.

[@dspf68]

Liked them. Then they played So. Central Rain live on Dave. Game changer, my favorite band ever!

[@CynthiaAllenStrawberry]

Saw them 8/18/83 at Shea Stadium!

[@jaysmith3095]

One guitar flub at 7:18….amazing though. A brand new, untitled song on their national debut to their target audience. Guts!

[@philpaule472]

40 years ago today !!!

[@grungetea]

In 1993 Eddie Vedder looked like Michael Stipe in 1983

[@Sal.Manila]

I can’t decide whose playing was the tightest-Mills’, Buck’s or Berry’s. Truthfully, all four guys were on point; a very sold sound for live TV. I also liked how Letterman seemed to treat them well. But when he asked about the other notable talent emerging from Athens, nobody from REM was willing to mention the B-52’s. I felt an awkward sense of unspoken contempt, or, perhaps a rivalry.

[@wsjustice]

All I could think about was how Letterman respected Michael Stipe's resistance to being in the spotlight. Dude was stealthy back there.

[@dspf68]

Dave mentioned the B-52's first

[@ncsupi]

I had to watch the vocal dynamics in and away from the mic to see if it matched the track (always the quickest tell, even with compression), and it definitely is legit. I almost doubted it because of how good they sounded for live tv in 1983, both in the mix and the performance. Those guys were (are) pros.

[@ncsupi]

I would have been scandalized to find they had used canned music, but it just sounded that good.

[@TheMollyjustin]

You can tell they were proud of this song...every reason to be so. The writing, lyrics...each member molded into this song perfectly. They knew they reached that magicical spot. (Radiofree Europe).

[@jkrycz]

The Los Angeles Times was correct, that was one of the best releases of 1983.

[@bodbn]

now they can't anything right

[@Ophicinepublicidade]

AWESOME!

[@garau2]

Love intro..

[@jimgeary]

Mills pimpin the English Beat!

[@DukeJon1969]

Amazing set. I wonder what happened to them? 😅

[@dspf68]

Hall of Fame!!!!

[@davidhalprin9997]

I mean this is the syart of one of the biggest American rockk bands.

[@Alfie198]

Love REM and Michael Stipe was so attractive.

[@kevinlakeman5043]

Loved this when I saw it live as a 15 yr. old and still love it now. Buck was such a spazz, but I really like his guitar style. And Mills was not only a terrific bassist but also a very good harmony singer. Letterman couldn't have been more gracious and respectful, but still Stipe had to be....Stipe at the time, which meant contrarian arrogant guy too cool to talk to the host. He's still a dick about being on the show.

[@Selena_H.]

I saw Michael refuse to name the show prior to playing "So. Central Rain" during the Austin show that's shared here on KZbin (Maybe Austin City Limits, I'm not sure). Why are you saying Peter is a "spazz"? (ugly word, to any one who has lived in Australia, anyways off topic....). Genuinely curious, is he unfriendly in person, and that's why you called him that? Edit: Here's the link to "South Central Rain" : kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5ClfJp-hrKfmrssi=qitZFdL5FuaB-ALY. I love the way Michael doesn't mention David Letterman❣️ Ha ha ha 🤣🤣🤣

[@pagrampagram]

I wonder if the boys got to meet Julia Child?