REM - Wichita Lineman - 1994

[rjbradburn]

*single :D

[rjbradburn]

yeah was on that mini album called a" singl" ;)

[rcarriwill]

I love you Michael. you are such a great singer. great performance.

[raelraven2]

Would someone PLEASE re-post the REM version without the obnoxious interview plunked down in the middle during the guitar solo!

[heidigretel]

@raelraven2 i have upload audience video of REM perform WIchita Lineman @ Australia 1995. no other proshot video of REM perform Wichita Lineman. only this video :)))

[raelraven2]

@heidigretel I have seen the audio video from Australia and really appreciate you posting it. However, there used to be an audio posting of the clean, live version. I believe it was released on the mini-album "Bittersweet Me." Someone had downloaded that on here. I may be wrong about the album title; to be honest, I'm not a humongous REM fan, but I do love their version of this song.

[mfactor88]

cant beat Glen Campbells 6 string bass....but still a nice tribute song m50

[whkrause]

Once you get over the novelty you realize they are laying down one of the deepest grooves ever.

[daffy16324]

For a new age type of band, REM did a good rendition of the classic song WICHITA LINEMAN my all-time favorite of Mr. Glen Campbell, right on guys!

[NancyinColorado]

I'm a huge REM fan, and I also like this song. It's not the greatest cover, but it's cool they recorded it.. check out their version of 'King of the Road' on their album Dead Letter Office.. LOVE that one.

[krkraz]

But this version connects God better with the eternity of communication for Mankind.

[takalua911]

Wrist-slittingly bad version of an epic song.

[TheBradster61]

Personally I think it completely sux compared to the original. Glen Campbell's version was much more melodic and the musicianship was waaayyy better. These guys are just a bunch of dam hippies that have smoked way to much weed.

[eartha911]

love ya Glenn, but this rendition has the grit and pain that the lyrics evoke

[crazydavedisco]

I'm no fan of REM but I thought this was fantastic - Great cover

[aprilglaspieable]

Well it's Jimmy Webb, and he wrote brilliant chord changes.

[scottymacIII]

in the 70's Glen Campbell's songs scored in the pop charts more than country, ie southern nights, Freedy Johnston has a really good rendition of this tune as well.

[jairlucio1]

What a GREAT cover! The voice even sounds like Glen Campbell... well, it WOULD sound like him, if he was born in 1970.

[soundzok]

As others have said, the guitar chords seem to be off, but otherwise its a great version.

[chuckyray95]

love this song and i love REM. Very impressed with their cover :)

[simonjeacle]

What a voice, pwerfect. Thanks Michael.

[neilzep]

@simonjeacle yes He has...a gifted voice.

[jaytruschel]

If you dont like this video or song, your either deaf or blind (possibly both).

[mystrol3]

OH my goodness this has to be the best remake i have ever heard and i really liked glenn's version the best! this is awesome

[jeffreydebra1]

This is a very interesting choice for the REM boys.

[raelraven2]

Glen Campbell's version can't be bested, but then again I've never heard a bad version of this song. It is quite simply one of the finest-crafted pop/country songs ever.

[subhumanx7]

@raelraven2 Amen to that. I can't even listen to most country music but this is high on my list of exceptions!

[artistofideas]

Yes, my sheet music copy has the wrong chords, too. :-)

Meanwhile ... I see that Michael (foolishly) "corrects" the grammar ... changing "don't look like rain" TO "doesn't look like rain" ... messing up the flow ... and ignoring the fact that the songwriter chose the "don't" intentionally (given the class background of the narrator).

Anyway :-) That song is a kind of touchstone for songwriters ... for good reason.

[imfree707]

Very nice performance!

[USCountryMusic]

This song was not written by Glen Campbell but by Jimmy Webb who wrote numerous songs for Glen Campbell. I prefer Glen's rendition over this one btw.

[dcmacleod1]

great tribute from a great band...glen campbell was one of the best song writers ever...and rem is one of the best bands ever...so great fit...i dont think any band but rem could pull this off...plus who ever would of thought to do a cover of this!!!

[Torrpeter]

Good rendition

[junysaerus]

i love rem and i love him singing this song brilliantjunysaerusxxxx

[pbainbridge]

That guitars all wrong, Stipe's voice perfect.!

[Abkeda]

@pbainbridge Agreed!

[groovycindy1]

I cannot find this on any of REM albums - anyone know if they recorded it on a CD?

[tj2904]

@groovycindy1 It was a B-side to Bittersweet Me.

[zigmiester]

I build the roads to power poles for the linesman and they have balls of steel.

[harrydeanbentzel]

theyd be the best country band ever if they cose to....theyre that good

[looking4ferdy]

And the lyrics go.... ' and if it snows that stretch down south won't ever stand the 'strain', not the 'pain'. :-)

[TheMidnightBell07]

Hey, I don't like REM but they did a great job with this cover.

[wiiwouldntliketoplay]

This song is awesome, could they have put the interview at the beginning or end instead or ruining the song

[occams99]

@wiiwouldntliketoplay Smells like lawyers to me.

[christopheroldman]

Agree, shite, expected better....

[MarcoUCI]

Great cover, I love R.E.M.! 

[BalladOfThinMan]

Michael never was a good singer; but R.E.M isn't mainly about vocals.

[jwkjr1]

Oh yea !!!

[ksharpe10]

To bad they interrupt the Guitar Solo, do they not know that the lyrics are the spaces between the cool solos???

[huskyjerk]

Buck starts with a Gibson, or some such guitar, and ends with a Rickenbacher. Now, how does he do that?

[squirrel1612]

I think the guitar work is better than the voice.

[MyAxolotl]

This is Great,, Micheal is a good singer, and has a nice voice,,

[Luneleger]

It would be better if Michael was a good singer or had a nice voice.

[almadora]

spooky  coincidental perfection.

[yakkiduk1023]

I love the fact Michael looks like he's singing Kareoke in this

[twangville]

I have this as a live performance on the songs of Jimmy Webb, by REM; they called it quits today

[DrChillmoore]

This would have been much better without the interview segment right in the middle

[jipidibipity]

its cool to have lived in the light of this giant single since its release and for R.E.M to have devoted time to it here.

[djarmstro]

"the original by glen campbell" - wrong. It's a jimmy webb song. Glen campbell covered it and popularized it, but it's not a glen campbell original.

[JcSuperConga]

@djarmstro Wasn't Jimmy Webb a song writer? I thought Glen Campbell was the first to record it?

[looking4ferdy]

@JcSuperConga Correct. :-)

[looking4ferdy]

@djarmstro Yes, Glen is the original singer, Jimmy Webb wrote it 'for' Glen Campbell. Glen Campbell was the first to release this song, so not a cover. :-)

[MrCretemaniam]

This is great , and I love REM , but have special spot for Glen Campbell  , for his great songs when I was a kid , and also my dad worked with him on his tv show .Dad was guitar player . My woman flew through Phoenix today and I just sent her Glen's by the time I get to Phoenix for the hell of it .....I love YT ... can find anything here

[imkluu]

This would have been good if REM did it first but the original by Campbell is better.

[Scollier20]

R.E.M. is very UNIQUE, kinda different from other artist, they are breath taking!!

[Scollier20]

I have GOT to say this, REM is, at the very top of my list, for the best artist, and too, this song, I LOVE it, by Glen Campbell, when I was a small child, I grew up on this song, and to hear REM sing it, they are awesome, I cannot find the words to describe REM and this SPECIAL song.

Jan Collier from GA

[Scollier20]

I have GOT to say this, REM is, at the very top of my list, for the best artist, and too, this song, I LOVE it, by Glen Campbell, when I was a small child, I grew up on this song, and to hear REM sing it, they are awesome, I cannot find the words to describe REM and this SPECIAL song.

Jan Collier

[jvedoe]

Wish REM played the right chords... but it's good they paid homage to Glen who now at 75 has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Check out Glen's recordings of this. The master at work.

[jjam002]

first time i heard this cover, excellent. but the devill is in the lyrics to this classic. R.E.M. did an awsome job, but this was an awesome song already!

[redjimmer9]

i'm sure glen and jimmy would be made up with this tribute coz lets face it thats what it is these guys write so much quality they dont need to cover

[chrisgreen67]

Wow! Never heard this. Best version I've ever heard of the song.

[15179]

Incredibly good cover, the song suits their early-90s sound so well. You can't compare it to the original, it's just a different take on it which works in its own right. Johnny Cash's version was yet another exhibition of his drug-wrecked voice destroying a classic tune, and should never have been recorded. :-p

[Filotimos]

REM can f*ck off with this opportunistic cover and interview, go back to the stunning original or second to none Johnny Cash.

[shedendboy1]

@Filotimos, You F*uck off, REM Are the Greatest band ever, The Johnny Cash version of this is Awful.

[TheBradster61]

@shedendboy1

rem SUX!

[696cerberus]

@TheBradster61 you sux.

[pt8648]

Beautiful job R.E.M. and thanks heidigretel for posting.

[doobeedoo58]

the original was better

[jarwick]

OK children, have we forgotten who we are dealing with, HELLO?

[RedSlug360]

@atrybus I think it's from the documentary "REM Rough Cut"

[bennymalone]

@RedSlug360 Yes, you're right I remember seeing it on Channel 4 (UK) around the time of Monster.

[rbl0925]

They couldn't figure out a song that begins with an Fmaj7 resolves to D...amazing...but they made a living for 20+ years.

[hiddentreasure73]

@rbl0925 Your music lessons paid off bro!! someone should've told Robert Johnson or Lightnin that or BB!! Ya know B.B.'s not too good with cords "When Love Comes To Town" (U2 B.B. King) Scales dont make a guitar cry and ya cant be taught how to bring the train with a harp!!! It comes from the Soul!!!! "All I got is this red guitar 3 cords and the truth" Hendrix!!!!

[atrybus]

Does anybody know where this clip is from? 

[zappadead13]

smooth and hypnotic version of the Great Jimmy Webb story like part two of By the time I get to Phoenix Is that Jamie gangel

[BARRIEMOREBARLOW]

Not bad.

[goodcatsmith]

Sing, enjoy what you sing.

[Excaliber02]

Totally screwed up the lyrics on the second verse. The word is "STRAIN", he says "PAIN". Lines on a pole undergo a strain when weight is applied, not pain. Another reason to keep the song in the hands of the original.

[KEGGERAtRanchview]

:)

[rowanhig]

Love it.Classic song with that rem twist.my second favoourite cover ever.

[hinbieger]

An unnecessary version. Glen owns this one!!!

[laridee22]

I love it when newer artists try to cover old artists' work. It makes it easier to prove how much better singers from the 60s and 70s were.

[714AD]

Not bad but it needed just a touch of the original orchestration.

[carissegavina]

i love this song, i also love REM's version..



[trottheblackdog]

Without all the pop record production stuff in their sound, they sound just like a bunch of high schoolers.

[portstewartsam]

@trottheblackdog most high-schoolers can't write good songs though, that's the difference

[apachescalp]

FANTASTIC REMAKE...............

[looking4ferdy]

Any band that takes on Witchita Lineman is good by me. :-) It may not be perfect, but at least It's they have good taste.

[homeney]

uh, hello people?? this is a REHEARSAL! so what if it doesn't have all the polish of a final piece. R.E.M. are an outstanding band and that's that.

[BelindaKyle]

Just goes to show you that not only can Michael Stipe pull off any song he likes, but that Jimmy Webb is an enduring songwriter.

[Dendog]

rem, what a shitty band, and their original suck too...was this a freebee release or did people actually pay money for this?unbelievably horrible.....yeah the version with Stone Temple Pilots is really good, at age 70+ Glen Campell can still sing

[MrQuaker62]

@Dendog chill dude, too much hate in the world, be kind.

[MrCadillacdawg]

Check out Glenn Campbell with Stone Temple Pilots playing this tune...now that is simply brilliant!!!!

[usetobefast]

@MrCadillacdawg Thanks!

[heidigretel]

@usetobefast

you are very welcome :)))))

[gafy38]

"Those with musical knowledge" Who do you think you are Den ???

[Dendog]

Truly awful performance from a lame band. Lame. Those with musical knowledge understand this. Hey, even the losers get lucky sometimes.

[MrQuaker62]

@Dendog Chill, it's just a song....relax.....there....fee­l better?

[skatan22]

This is weak.

[Rasshullet]

Aaach!! Was ist los! This was really boooring. And a man pining for a run to the loo. Hoping he'll reach the "Li-i-i-i-i-ine" before it's too late!

This is pure torture to the ears! My neighbour can fart that song better than this guy.

[dacritter]

@Rasshullet bart your more like 70 and have no idea who rem is sad that a man your age is still close minded sad

[SharkSport]

Glen owns it, but this is good.

[LEBERLY1964]

Simply brillaint.

[Dendog]

This sucks. These guys are not capable of hearing let alone playing the right changes. And the guitar solo is beyond lame.

[dacritter]

@Dendog your an idiot,with no music knowledge so shut your pie hole you moron

[Rasshullet]

@dacritter So REM is a good band? And everybody should know that? What a stupid argument! Any performer should be judged by their performance, not by their uncritical fans.

This video is showing some people playing and 'singing' a very good song in a really terrible way. Perhaps they perform better otherwise, but that is irrelevant in this case, be they're HAM, WHAM or REM

[dacritter]

@Rasshullet your an idiot

[English2Elvish]

@dacritter "You're"...

[dacritter]

@English2Elvish either way hes still an idiot

[Stephanjnj]

A nice take on a classic song.

[stormruston]

Are you kidding me!!! OK that shows a band that respects the wishes of their mates, and little dialogue in the middle shows why. Kudo's to a group of musicians.

[muzikkraz]

I love REM...but they should've that classic song alone!..I'll vote for it but some will understand what I say..thanks

I love REM for loving this song enough to sing it!

Wow!

[inkey2]

@muzikkraz yeah, they should have put a touch of reverb on his voice to thicken it up

[delboy20091]

I played this loads of times on the bittersweet me cd single when it were released,great cover version.

[Nefraneer]

This is a spectacular cover. Perfectly true to the original spirit.

This, by the way, is from a documentary. Hence, the cutaway. I dig it.

[froggo66]

What sets R.E.M. covers apart is the respect they show to the songs, no matter how corny or "commercial" the originals. Peter's solo here is pure artistry in terms of integrity to the original. I have a b side somewhere of R.E.M. doing "Yellow River," a pop hit by one-hit wonder Christie from 1969 or so. With this song, too, they bring dignity to the original, even though it would likely be considered a goofy pick for R.E.M. Love those guys!

[OTRKurtz88]

I don't know why but when Stipe says "see you tomorrow at 1" (if that is Stipe) it just gave me a strange feeling that they're real people and gives a glimpse into their lives... if anyone gets me, prob not :P

[57FLOW]

Keep it nice & simple; always the best way I think. But ditch the Interview! Ergo any atmosphere is lost.

[57FLOW]

Keep it nice & simple; always the best way I think. But ditch the Interview! Ergo any atmosphere is lost.

[TheAugustLeo]

The Glen Campbell version just seems more haunting. Look alikes don't sound alike.

[reebrenslip]

I hated it when I saw them play it live in 93 or 94, it just didn't fit their set list. But I love it it now.

[michaelsmorrison]

Its on the wire and everyone knows

Democracy follows where freedom goes

And when the sun rises then love is there

Because freedom lives when everyone cares

[michaelsmorrison]

Its on the wire and everyone knows

Democracy follows where freedom goes

And when the sun rises then love is there

Because freedom lives when everyone cares

[SomethingReal1119]

Not crazy about this version, just not the right kind of song for the boysimho. BUT, I've liked REM since their college garage band days back in the early 80's, so don't go all nuts on me! haha If you haven't heard James Taylor's or jazz pianist Alan Pasqua's versions, please check 'em out. They are gorgeous (that is, if you like the song, of course!) Peace, fellow youtubers.... :0)

[miss30427]

Nice work! Light, pleasant, yet rich rendition. I'm proud of you Georgia Boys!

[thehenryal]

I agreed with judewish...

[nat00ben06]

Other versions of this song are good like REM, but Glen Campbell sounds like he means it when he sings this song and Jimmy Webb would associate this song with Glen Campbell more then anyone else.

[drkvogel]

Nowhere near the original. Not Stipe's fault... Buck's. Sounds like he couldn't give a shit, and why change that classic chord progression to something that's so pedestrian and obvious? Taking the Americana thing too far? Respect the original!

[TheGB1950]

@drkvogel Jimmy Webb"S version with billy Joel and Jerry Doulgus is nicer than Glen's in my mind Webb's the writer anayway. (I wasn't a big glen C fan away)

[Nightrelic]

Great vocal by Stipe. I wasn't expecting this to be so good. It rocks!

[ACVB2006]

He got the spirit of irt

[146747]

What a tribute to Glen Campbell.

[RSlug789]

Really nice version. The slightly rough vocal quality really is appropriate for the song.

[themosh54]

I miss Bill.

[Buanand]

Although I like REM I wasn't sure what to expect from this version. Except for the break-in interview, this was really, really good.

[Hypocatastasis]

fuck you all! this is a good version of the song

[cupidstunt82]

I like REM but this just pales in comparison with the original. Badly.

[dantean]

This is lovely. Listening to the Campbell original, however, you can hear what a beautiful, beautiful voice Glen had. A bell-like clarity.

[58msd]

I remember when the original was in the top 40 rotation. I must say its a nice version. First time I ever heard it.

[richardnixonisgod]

This just might be the best guitar riff ever written.

[fairandpale]

I LOVE THIS!

[JakeLex]

This song brings out the creepiness that kind of lays under the surface of the original. if in Campbell's version, the Wichita Lineman is a guy separated from his love by his work, in this version, Stipe makes him sound like a creep using his access to the phone lines to stalk someone. Amazing how differently a line like "I can hear you through the wires..." can be interpreted...

[Waschbear69]

@JakeLex he is a line man not a phone man . the text says he is looking for an overload and can here it in the wires.I used to hang power lines in GA. and we would always have to change out these really huge fuses and try to inspect the lines for anything that might cause a massive black out. anyways he is talking about electricity,

not listening in on someone.

[ptollis565]

OMG! I NEED to find this on CD!  It is just BEAUTIFUL and very very well done!

[gmiket]

Search for "Dennis Brown Wichita Lineman" to see how its done

[apoculamus]

Not fair to say they got the chords wrong - it's more accurate to state that they did a recomposition, a perfectly legit way for a musical act with some creativity and originality to "own" a song in the course of covering it. Great musicians do it all the time - Tal Farlow and Barney Kessel did so constantly. In the end the song is the same song but it's been recharted just enough so that it's different but the same. You might not like the chords they used, but that's your choice.

[SniffingFarts]

Nice job by REM on this song.

[jecwiiwiin]

Hey... the chords must be right... it's where they placed the colored dots on the neck of the guitar ! The term "Musician" has a much broader meaning today !

[elkabongish]

@jecwiiwiin Word. I guess these guys didn't really pore over a *recording* of the tune to see if those entry level changes they were playing were, well, right. Gawd what crap. But hey! They're REM! Anything they touch is frickin' genius!

[GeminiGuy1957]

41 tone deaf dislikes. :(

[mulroasted]

90s + REM................ what else is there? !

[tunesmith100]

But yes, the chord changes are noticeably wrong guys.....

[tunesmith100]

Kudo's to great songwriters ! Jimmy Webb.....well done man......

[gazzah54]

amazing cover

[retread01]

Christ, they didn't even get the chords right! Like some cheap cover band.

[mjmcc15]

Great song, great cover Stipes voice was made for that, but why the cut to a interview? Totally ruined it.

mjmcc15

[earthalien77]

VERY COOL RENDITION...SMOOTH VOCALS BY MR. STIPE-

[veda1954]

The only one to really nail this song is James Taylor. Glen Campbell did a great version in the 60's, but JT sings it as it's meant to be sung. Stipey, leave it. There are some songs you've just got to walk away from.

[LolasTubular]

LOVE this version. It does sound a bit better on the EP I'm afraid ("Bittersweet Me" EP). Mikey's voice is a tad off here. Still, the man can do no wrong in my book. xo

[guitarded99]

I love REM, but holy shit....this is horrible. They got the chords all wrong. Stipe is a better singer than this. Stick to what you do well, boys

[veda1954]

@guitarded99 I agree, this is awfull !!!!

[gearoiddom]

Not really an REM fan... but listening to this fine cover version could change that! :-)

[bayrockwhk]

I don't see the iTunes download thing. Where can I find this? It's brilliant...

[bayrockwhk]

I don't see the ipod download thing. Where can I download this?

[devtrev]

Just plain wrong.

[Bobster986]

@DakotaY12  And unfortunately they may never will, but I really like this version too! GBY!

[hellbloodyhell]

It's the second time I come across this, and I still find it completely flavourless. They are just playing approximately the right chords and singing to it. Extrordinarily amateurish guitar work, total lack of creativity and originality. 100% fail.

[jazdrum68]

Wow I'm suprised, but they are from Georgiaaaaaaa right!!!!!!!