REM - When I Was Young rare track 1985 (audio)

Lyrically, this song is the precursor to what became "I Believe"...it's mentioned in the liner notes of Fables Of The Reconstruction, but not included on the album. Live recording presumably from 1985.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• REM
• R.E.M.
• 1985
• Chronic
• Town
• Murmur
• Reckoning
• Fables
• Lifes
• Rich
• 80's
• Michael
• Stipe
• Peter
• Buck
• Bill
• Berry
• Mike
• Mills
• rock

[fallandbounce]

Ha! This is from a tape l recorded at the Providence show (Pembroke Field, Brown U.) in March of '85... l think l still have the original. The distortion always bothered me, l wish l knew more about audio then... l made a couple of copies for friends, but never tried to sell any. Funny. Small world....

[REMchout]

nice...those bootlegs spread around lots through the years, i've been waiting to hear from someone who actually recorded one!

[leugbol]

@VAThrasher Ohhhh yes yes!! I can't wait!

[VAThrasher]

Hey heads up, a reissue of Reconstruction is coming out July 13th and it will have a demo version of this song/i believe entitled "throw those trolls away". i'm looking forward to hearing it. thanks for posting this.

[sashwap]

@sashwap ha, i don't remember writing this. i like the song a lot more now, it seems.

[sashwap]

@BushmenKing that's an excellent point; "i believe" is a big favorite of mine as well. this song does rock, though.

[michaelstipefan777]

im guessing this is supposed to be I believe in an early stage

[BushmenKing]

I Believe is one of my favorite REM track, so I'm actually glad they abandoned this.

[sashwap]

it's pretty clear why they abandoned this song -- even though the musical aspect is GREAT, the vocal melody just isn't there. stipe's chorus is stillborn, mills steps up with the backing vocals to hold it together, but his part is, in turn, kinda cheesy.

i still hope they release a studio version someday :)

[qba5775]

I still rather like 'I Believe' the way it is altough THIS stuff is much more powerful and damn me, what a disco bassline! Just imagine Mike bouncin' 'round with his shitty purple axe all stage long...!

But, what really turns me on, is that opening riff to the following song=D So does anyone have Little America from this show?

[Podle]

I was thinking that when I saw the title. It definitely changed between this recording and the studio take!

[danbit5]

cuyahoga i think on lifes rich paegant,uses the same line i think:)