REM - early "Sitting Still" (but not the polka version) + Mitch Easter interview

[underpants]

https://www.nme.com/news/music/r-e-m-share-original-1981-mix-of-radio-free-europe-so-we-had-a-chat-with-their-producer-2987824

R.E.M. are celebrating their 40th anniversary by reissuing the original version of their classic debut track ‘Sitting Still’ – the first time since 1981 that the single has been re-released. Check it out below along with our interview with producer Mitch Easter.

The song was re-recorded for R.E.M.’s 1983 debut album ‘Murmur’, but the band have said they prefer the faster original single version, which was released on small US indie label Hib-Tone Records and co-produced by Mitch Easter – who was also behind the desk for ‘Murmur’ and ‘Reckoning’.

The reissued 7”, to be released on July 23, also features the original version of fellow ‘Murmur’ sing ‘Radio Free Europe’. The same date sees a special cassette release, limited to 1,500 copies, of ‘Cassette Set’. Originally only 400 copies were made, which the band circulated to interested music industry people. Featuring cassette labels handwritten by frontman Michael Stipe, ‘Cassette Set’ comprises the 7” songs plus ‘White Tornado’, a snippet of an alternative “polka” version of ‘Sitting Still’ and an aborted version of ‘White Tornado’ featuring a mistake by guitarist Peter Buck.

https://www.nme.com/news/music/r-e-m-share-original-1981-mix-of-radio-free-europe-so-we-had-a-chat-with-their-producer-2987824

[jpak]

1. I bought that single from Peter Buck

When he worked at Wuxtry records in Athens GA

[jpak]

2. PS I hated the Murmur version too

Not fast enough

Yup