R.E.M. Album: “Great Beyond [US CD5/Cassette Single]”

I had the radio turned down low when I heard this song. I turned it up to listen. I went an bought the single.

** I STRONGLY RECOMMEND GETTING THE OTHER (MAXI) VERSION OF THIS SINGLE (see Amazon search query results for R.E.M.) instead of this version.

The great and worthwhile surprise of that single is the 3 LIVE tracks recorded in England during last summer's tour. It makes for a great souvenir for anyone who saw R.E.M. on tour last year - or wanted to! The CD has One I Love followed by a lengthy version of Everybody Hurts (with audience singalong) and the closer Man On The Moon. The live version of MOTM is much better and so much more energetic than the original studio version from the album Automatic For The People. If this appeals to you, then I recommend that CD.

Of course, the CD also includes the title track Great Beyond, which I think sounds like the Automatic For The People album. But the Great Beyond, in my view, is less enjoyable than the 3 live tracks.

Be sure to get the Maxi version of the CD with the 3 live tracks and NOT this version with only 1 extra track. Note that on my CD, it doesn't say that the 3 extra tracks are live - but they are indeed live!

Another brilliant song from REM.# It takes a few listens but this is REM at their near best.

The clarity of Stipe's voice and string arrangements are piercing; one of the best cuts from the band in many years.....

It seems like I have been waiting for this single for forever! I really didn't want the soundtrack, but I liked this song because it's catchy.