Lou Gramm's "Midnight Blue" by R.E.M.

[85vikings]

I searched this thinking no way. Thanks for downloading, saw it live in Davenport Iowa Halloween 1987

[SpammerOvTheGods]

I've got a boot from LA on the LRP tour that has this as well; need to convert that vinyl to zeros and ones...anyway, thanks!

#@!

[wildcatter63]

Damn, thought I knew all the REM oddities... (Was at Ft Garbage Ga in '84... Weekend escapes to the 40 Watt Club... need I say more?) BRAVO for finding this....

[theding101]

Collective 'WTF?' sums it up. Cameron Colisseum (Duke U) in '87 - they played this and I've cranked up Foreighner's version ever since. Remeber the Heartbreak Beat splice in as well. They also used a line from 'Red Rain' in a song as well....

[kouzie]

I was at this show and this song was a total blast. Actually, the entire show was pretty amazing and possibly the best of the entire `87 tour.

[quack10]

How about the the Psychadelic Furs "Heartbreak Beat" towards at the end? Nice.

[jerzeytarzan]

Saw him do this. It pissed off a lot of my hard core REM friends but I loved it. I love REM and I love this song. And I hate false prentention.

[cc92103]

I first heard Gramm's Midnight Blue just a couple of months ago, and have a strong liking for it. Glad to see Mr. Stipe felt the same way. I could listen to Stipe singing Orange Crush and Midnight Blue all day long.

[leicestergirl63]

Interesting cover of Midnight Blue but nobody could sing it like Lou Gramm. It was the perfect song for him and it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up whenever I hear it. Michael Stipe just didn't cut it here.

[socruelu2]

WOW!!! I can't believe you found this! I never knew that REM did this! I absolutely love Lou Gramm's version and this blows me away. Not the greatest sounding though. But it's kind of cool!!!!

[jackspicerisland]

Read that interview when I was in high school and since the Gramm song was a massive guilty pleasure for me, always wanted to hear this. THANK YOU so much for detective work...this version doesn't disappoint!

[BobbyKoch]

God, I HATE this band !

[Lukather1979]

Honest !

[mc2NY]

Actually...a pretty cool cover...one of those really unexpected choices by a band.

[northernlitez1]

I like REM-singing their own songs-they did'nt do a great Lou Gramm classic any favors!

[koerts1]

I remember this show at the UIC Pavilion. Michael Stipes' voice was amazing. And not only does he sing a little Psych Furs and U2, but note also the bit of Michael Jacksons' Bad in between. I remember hearing all of those things within Midnight Blue and thinking how no one would believe me that they did it. I now have proof, if a little late. Thanks for posting this!

[billinhp]

They played this a bunch of times on this tour - and they were even asked about it by Spin or Creem - they just liked the song - played it in Seattle, and Phoenix I know that.

[coupedup3214]

They totally butchered this song... R.E.M. SUCKS!!!!!

[Talktalkization]

Wow, this was some kind of rare suprise, I'm not that much into REM but not for Lou Gramm/Foreigner, I'm a big fan, thank you for sharing this.

[andycane1]

Excellent find! I've been trying to find this for a LONG time.

[theroseboy]

This made my day! Thanks

[LesGomez]

What's great about this cover is that it took everyone by surprise. Mike wasn't pretending he was Lou Graham. Alternative vs. Pop/Rock? Nope..just good music. I think that was the message, if there even was one.

[jfe271]

I never would have believed that REM covered this if I hadn't heard it myself. Thanks for uploading this!!!

[moondough]

Astounding find. Job well done, sir! Thanks. Love how two totally different rock worlds collide here.

[napelvision]

this blows!!

[4bibimimi]

10,000 Maniacs opened 4 REM on this tour. Jerry A. would go apeshit when they played this, no matter how many times he'd heard it. It's an Upstate NY thang, bay-bay.

[phlapjacks]

Wow, man! Great find! I too read about this in RS back in my REM-obsessed days; always wanted to hear it. Great song, great cover. Love Mike's harmonies, and Michael vamping at the end on Psychedelic Furs and U2. Thanks for the leg work. What a gem!

[dirklongest]

Sorry guys, for me R.E.M never was Rock n roll, and i sure don't apreciate them. I heard about them the first time when "loosing my religion" came out ( what a horror song) and i was told, they are an old, famous rock band?? WTF! I can't stand the voice of the singer. And, what are they doing this song anyhow? They should do a festival with u2, marillion, etc. in a locked up place only for their fans, making sure, no sound would reach the outside.

[fackit74]

lol i agree

[feargal75]

I appreciate REM ... but nobody can replace LOU GRAMM's so magic and powerful voice !!!!!! even after his so important health problems, he remains as one of the best pop/rock voices for the last 30 years.

[barques95]

The crowd was doing a collective "WTF?!"

[kcmann4152]

I cant even fathom what was going through Mikes head trying to sing this song that was only for Lou

[fastfoodclowns]

I admit, I am not a fan of R.E.M. And this recording proves what I always suspected: Michael Stipe is tone-deaf!!! Midnight Blue is a great tune, but Stipe can't sing it.

[profile11me]

i agree... do you think something made him that way or was he just born like that?

[dirklongest]

Bravo!

[hazor777]

Durn ?.....not half bad.....I love Lou Gramm's version , but this is better than what I expected .... God Bless Lou Gramm,....that guy has been through ALOT over the last 10 years or so...

[twistygirl]

saw them do this in 1987 and it was pure heaven... there was no question that it wasn't a joke, this is an amazing song

[metrozebra]

Me too, I saw them in 1987 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax VA with 10000 Maniacs. Loved this cover...what a great show.

[LoyalRaiderFan]

It's a great song...and a great cover...thanks for finding!

[SaintHubbins07]

Wow, thanks for posting, I think I read the same article... Michael said that people thought it was a goof, but that they loved it... I always wondered how it would sound... after all this time I find out. Sweet.

[tonfan]

wow - REM covering a Lou Gramm tune-if I did'nt hear it and read all of these eyewitness accounts I would've cried bullshit- but here it is ! EPIC !

[Murlinson12]

Thank you so much for posting this. I love the original, I love Lou Gramm, I love REM, I love you for finding this. I saw REM on this tour countless times, and each time they played it, it ROCKED.

[Trance1972]

While this is a great song, why is every You-Tube version sounds so 'echoey'

[Rauoul]

I can't believe someone found this, from the UIC concert during the Document Tour. I remember when they started the riff thinking, cool, REM covering a great Lou Gramm tune. My ex-wife, my late brother and I had a great time at that concert. RIP brother. . remember you dancing around to the tunes that night. . . Greg Thayer 1970-2007.

[ondeafearsblog]

Sorry to hear about the too-young death of your brother. Glad I was able to conjure up some happy memories.

[TruthAxe]

@Rauoul Peace come to you.

[scottymacIII]

@Rauoul I've told this story over the years, saw this tour in knoxville, tn @ UT and tho we all mad fun of lou grahm(saw foreigner in 79 in knoxville with head east ) i think 10,000 maniacs opened, the entire show ROCKED, especially this song, it was 1 of 2 encores.", sharpenin stones walkin on coals, to improve your business......." im glad u have some good memories of hangin with your brother, me & my bro cant be in same room with each other more than 5 min, and we're in our 40's

[Whiskers231]

Holy crap, that's awesome!  One of my favorite bands covering one of my favorite songs!

[fgldnglbs]

From one of my Spectrum memories, R.E.M./10,000 Maniacs tour in '87. It was the Work Tour, so If it worked, it worked.

[dfeuger]

This was an encore song REM sang during their 1987 tour with the 10,000 maniacs. Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant sang it together at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA, when I saw them. Loved it then and love it now. Thank you for posting!

[ivanrich]

incredible... I remember when Lou Gramms version was out.. hearing that REM was covering this song. NEVER GOT TO HEAR IT... and here it is. THanks so much for posting this.

It's either cherry red... or midnight blue.

[heartbreakbustop]

ironically, REM is in the Rock'n'Roll hall of fame, while none AOR band is...pathetic

[withinspace]

oh man this is great. Thanks much for uploading this.

[jsnrave1974]

I can say as the host subscriber that this song I have found is hard to find. The song is gold. The lyrics are timeless in a way. The song makes me cry. It makes me cry because it makes me happy.

Joyfull tears.

[MetallicBill]

REM salute a band that paved real AOR rock and still does, I applaud them

[timkelly]

What is he singing between Heartbreak Beat and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and after I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For?

[jlamour]

Awesome cover! I saw the very end of REM at Voodoo. Sorry butt the Butthole Surfers put on a better show.

[MagicPinata]

I just discovered this tacked on to the end of a bootleg from the Work Tour. I had never heard them do this cover before, I checked youtube and here it is. Thanks for sharing!

[indig0ding0]

From a massive fan of REM, I totally LOVED this song when I was growing up, so cool to see the bands you love inspired by the other bands you love!

[Hepcize]

I saw R.E.M. on tour when I was a student at Michigan State. I was sitting next to the sound board and could see the playlist. I couldn't believe that they were going to do Midnight Blue. It turned out to be one of the hightlights of the night. The other highlight was singing 'Happy Birthday' to Natalie Merchant. Good times....

[Hepzn]

Wow.  Love Natalie Merchant. Love the user name.

[Flirri]

Wow, had no idea this existed. Always liked this song for some reason, neat to see it's appreciated by people who matter, lol.

[feargal75]

I appreciate R E M - however, please let Lou Gramm performing this song with his so magic and powerful voice !!!!!

[MetallicBill]

Lou's health directly effected his voice and he bowed out of Foreigner, it's truly sad. He's an equal to Mr. Paul Rodgers of Bad Co.

[feargal75]

MetallicBill - thanks for your comment - Lou Gramm is still considered as one of the best voices for the last 30 years !!

[putdownan8dude]

i saw them do this live, not sure if it was this show, there was two in chicago that tour. crazy stuff!

[SoccerFrk767]

haha "if we didn't live her, in America, well...we'd probably live somewhere else." you gotta love Michael Stipe lol

[SoccerFrk767]

A great band performing a great song. well done. And polksalad1234 is right. Stipe is paying homage to Lou Gramm through this cover. not competing with him. A great song. Good job REM!

[coyoteracer11]

Great find man, well done. Bet the REM crowd was a bit bemused to find this among 'Orange Crush' and 'The End of the World' :-)

[polksalad1234]

way cool hes doing the FURS heart break beat

[polksalad1234]

awessome!;;thanks for the post;I dont thinkk stipe is trying to compete with lou folks;Its about the joy of doing a kick ass song

[tdillpickle]

Ugh.

[taniaepp]

Oooh The midnight Blue, this one was a bugger to find, but I did it yeah!

[RCharan821]

Murmur is a classic, but Stipe can't compare to Lou Gramm here. His voice just isn't as melodic. I expected more. This is embarrassing.

[ses620]

I have been wanting to hear rem's version of this song since the late 80's. Thanks for posting.

[alrea]

cool, and no one's voice can compare to Michael's.

[foghatconcertseries]

glad Michael Stipe liked it... those college band guys always hate popular rock, so this made me happy

[derfunkhaus]

Thanks for posting this!

I saw R.E.M. perform at Clemson University on this same tour, and they covered "Midnight Blue" that night. Stipe pulled out a music stand that apparently had a lyric sheet on it. As an R.E.M. fan, Lou Gramm's song seemed at the time like the epitome of uncool "classic rock," but it really opened my ears to hear them sing it. I love the Lou Gramm version now, too. It is a great song.

[ilovelou2]

cool, but no one's voice can compare to Lou's