REM: And I Feel Fine: Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-198

<img src="http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GTJSLM.01._SS400_SCLZZZZZZZ_V41575639_.jpg" alt=" - " />

does anyone have this? is it worth the deeply discounted $12.49 on amazon (thanks ggw)?

i already have all their albums from this era on CD, but the bonus disc looks pretty solid … does it also include a DVD?

I was looking at the same thing until I read this guys post on Amazon:

Everyone already knows what's involved on the first disc of this package, so I'll just stick with disc 2.

DISC 2

"Pilgrimage" is the album version from Murmur.

"These Days" is the album version from Lifes Rich Pageant.

"Gardening At Night (Demo)" is a slowed down version played on electric guitar, which was re-recorded during the Reckoning sessions. The song has a certain beauty to it that is emphasized by hearing it at half speed.

"Radio Free Europe (Hib-Tone)" is the version that appeared on the original RFE single, back in 1981 on Hib-Tone records. This was also released on Eponymous. I like this version just as much as the one from Murmur.

"Sitting Still (Hib-Tone)" is the b-side to the aforementioned single and while it's the same recording that appears on Murmur, it's a different mix that I actually prefer because it has a lot more texture to it.

"Life And How To Live It (Live)" is taken from a classic 1987 show in Utrecht, Holland. A very frantic, high energy version with Michael also introducing the song by telling the story behind it.

"Ages of You (Live)" , "We Walk (Live)" and "1,000,000 (Live)" are all taken from a 1983 show in Boston. "Ages of You" is a great b-side that wasn't played that often, "We Walk" becomes a lot of fun when played live and "1,000,000" was only played during the early tours.

"Finest Worksong (Other Mix)" also appeared on Eponymous (though it was called Mutual Drum Horn Mix). This features additional horns by The Uptown Horns & Steve Berlin. Not radically different from the original, but nice.

"Hyena (Demo)" was recorded during the Fables of The Reconstruction sessions. It improved pretty dramatically when it was recorded for LRP, so this version is interesting because you can hear how it evolved.

"Theme From Two Steps Onward (Demo)" was recorded during the Lifes Rich Pageant sessions. This track has been widely bootlegged for years and now we finally have a clear and polished version. Would have fit nicely on LRP.

"Superman" is the album version from Lifes Rich Pageant. This was released as a single so it actually would have made more sense on the first disc.

"All The Right Friends (Outtake)" is one of the band's earliest songs. This version was recorded during the Murmur sessions and it probably has more character than the version that was re-recorded for the Vanilla Sky soundtrack.

"Mystery To Me (Demo)" is again, one of the band's earliest songs. This version was recorded during the Lifes Rich Pageant sessions. Probably the weakest song of the demo versions on this disc, but kind of fun to hear.

"Just A Touch (Live in-studio)" once again dates back to the earliest days and this version was recorded during the Reckoning sessions. It's a bit lifeless compared to the LRP version, but it's interesting to hear in this setting.

"Bad Day (Outtake)" was recorded during the Lifes Rich Pageant sessions and like "All The Right Friends", this version probably has more character than the version that was re-recorded for the In Time compilation.

"King of Birds" is the album version from Document.

"Swan Swan H (Acoustic Version)" comes from the Athens, GA-Inside/Out film and it's not radically different from the album version, as it's recorded with basically the same type of instrumentation, but there is a certain intimacy to it.

"Disturbance At The Heron House" is the album version from Document.

"Time After Time (AnnElise)" is the album version from Reckoning.

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa08:
does it also include a DVD?

And no, I think Amazon is mistakenly referring to the DVD, When the Light Is Mine The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 Video Collection which came out at the same time.

i wonder if there is anything there that was not on the IRS reissues that came out in the 90s. i'll have to check when i get home (although, i never got the reckoning reissue, oh well).

It's absolutely worth it. Yeah - there's plenty on here that's not on those reissues.

Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
i wonder if there is anything there that was not on the IRS reissues that came out in the 90s. i'll have to check when i get home (although, i never got the reckoning reissue, oh well).

According to this, there are a few tracks that are previously unreleased.

http://www.remhq.com/flash/news/news.html?news_id=2148

Originally posted by vansmack:
I was looking at the same thing until I read this guys post on Amazon:

what about this post turned you off to the album?

I meant to post about this when it came out as the remastered version of these hits sound great! Hopefully, this serves as a teaser for what the remastered versions of those earlier albums will sound like if they ever get released. The guitar jangles clearer, the rhythm section is given more punch. Not nearly as muddy

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa08:
what about this post turned you off to the album?

The same concerns that Venerable had - I feared that I had most of this already and with todays digital media I'm less concerned about the convenience of having it all in one place.

I don't think I would at $24, but at $12 I'm leaning towards giving it a shot.

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
Hopefully, this serves as a teaser for what the remastered versions of those earlier albums will sound like if they ever get released.

This is what I'm hoping for. For that matter, the entire IRS backcatalog seems to be stuck in EMI's ghetto. Time for someone offer some TLC (hey, Seth?).

Beatles remasters are imminent; Kraftwerk remasters have supposedly been ready for over two years; still waiting for Springsteen.

It's worth $12.49 just for disc 2. Early REM was the greatest.

I don't understand why someone would buy something they already have…

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
I don't understand why someone would buy something they already have…

For some CDs the available version sounds like crap. Remasters often, but not always, sound better, sometimes dramatically. They also often come with more extensive liner notes and bonus tracks (not always worthwhile of course).

The currently available REM CDs on IRS are crap and haven't changed in 20 years (yeah, CDs are that old now). Kosmo's post gives me hope that remastered versions would be a real improvement. If they were to be as much an improvement as the David Sylvian remasters from a few years ago then they will definitely be worth buying. Again.

just for argument's sake, but isn't part of the charm of these early REM records the muddy lo-fi production values?

wouldn't remasters of it be like a remaster of a GBV album?

i had no problem with the original masterings of the R.E.M. records muddy sound and all… however, it's nice to hear those tracks in their remastered format as well, it's letting getting a chance to hear an old favorite in a new light. whats exciting is they taking care to enhance the original material and not just compress the stuffing out of them and slap them on a new release.

trying to remaster anything intentionally recorded lo-fi on cassette recorders, etc isn't really much of an option…

A lot of CDs released during the transition from LPs were produced from masters intended for LPs. Eventually, engineers learned to make masters intended for CDs and the sound improved. At first there was a sense of blind faith in the CD being a format that would magically make everything sound glorious. The reality was that the CD was a format with its own fidelity quirks.

I bought it yesterday from amazon.

After going up to $14.99 yesterday, the price for the 2-disc collector's edition on Amazon has dropped to $9.99! That's 60% off. :eek:

There used to be a 20-bit, gold-disc remaster of Murmur available, as oxymoronic as that seems, but it's now out of print. I never purchased it due to its high price, but I've always been curious as to how it sounds.