February 05, 2024

1985 - August: R.E.M. “Fables of the Reconstruction”

37 minutes

The year 1985 would find the band R.E.M. in transition between college band success and the mainstream powerhouse they were to become in future years. The quartet of Michael Stipe on vocals, Mike Mills on bass and vocals, Peter Buck on guitar, and Bill Berry on percussion and backing vocals were moving towards a greater variety of instrumentation and a bit more experimentation with their third studio album, Fables of the Reconstruction.

The album actually has two names, as "Fables of the Reconstruction" was the name if you held the cassette or album with one side up, and if you flipped it over the name appeared as "Reconstruction of the Fables." The suggestion of the name "Reconstruction" came from Michael Stipes' father who was a carpenter. It is also a loaded term in the American South from which the Athens, Georgia band hails — “Reconstruction” is the period of time immediately following the American Civil War when the South was being brought back into the Union. The songs on the album have a darker sound than earlier works, and the lyrics draw from Southern Gothic works. This was the first album recorded outside the U.S., as the band traveled to London to work at Livingston Studios with producer Joe Boyd.

While the singles from the album would not be considered hits in the United States, the album reached number 28 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and number 35 on the UK Albums Chart. It would feature two singles, “Driver 8’ and“Can't Get There from Here,” which would become well known over time.

Rob brings us this transitional album for today's podcast

Driver 8

The second single released from the album refers to the Southern Crescent train line. It ran under the Southern Railway until 1979 when Amtrak bought them out, and continues as the Amtrak Crescent today. “And the train conductor says take a break, Driver 8.”

Green Grow the Rushes

This deeper cut was written as a pact between Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs, relating to the poor treatment of indigenous peoples and migrant workers. “Green grow the rushes, go. The compass points the workers home.”

Maps and Legends

Inspired by preacher and Southern folk artist Howard Finster, this song uses the reading of a map as a metaphor for reading a person. Like the map reveals stories in little symbols on it, people are the accumulation of their experiences and stories.

Can't Get There from Here

This song was the lead single from the album and peaked at number 10 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart - meaning it peaked at about 110 in US popularity. It is the first R.E.M. song to have a horn section. You can sense the Soul inspiration in it. The lyrics about “Philomath” refer to an unincorporated community just outside of Athens, Georgia.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Weird Science by Oingo Boingo (from the motion picture “Weird Science”)

Two geeky high school students create the perfect woman in this sci-fi comedy partly based on Frankenstein, and largely based on the 1951 comic “Made of the Future” by Al Feldstein.

STAFF PICKS:

Drive by The Cars Lynch brings us a version of the Cars single from the 1985 Live Aid concert. Bassist Benjamin Orr takes on the lead vocal duties for this ballad which was written by frequent front man Ric Ocasek. The studio version appeared on their 1984 album Heartbeat City, and became one of the bands biggest hits.

Take On Me by a-ha

Bruce features the first US hit by a Norwegian band. While a-ha released the song twice before without it becoming a hit, the third release with its video combining pencil sketch animation and live performance would propel it to the number 1 slot in the U.S. Its 2 1/2 octave-spanning chorus makes it one of the hardest songs to sing.

Summertime Girls by Y & T

Wayne's staff pick is a hair band rocker, the first and only hit by Y&T. It went to number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was played frequently on the television series “Baywatch.” The Band Y&T was originally known as "Yesterday & Today," and although they don't have many hits they have sold over 4 million albums worldwide, and were an inspiration for Lars Ulrich of Metallica to become a musician.

Dancing in the Street by David Bowie and Mick Jagger

Rob closes out the staff picks with a cover originally recorded by Martha and the Vandellas in 1964 (but we all agreed that the Van Halen cover is the best there is).Jagger and Bowie's version made it to number 7 on the US chart and number 1 on the UK chart. This collaboration was their contribution to the Live Aid charity movement.

NOVELTY TRACK:

Tequila by The Champs

We close out this week's podcast with the tune that helped Pee Wee Herman avoid catastrophe at the hands of a biker gang in “Pee Wee's Big Adventure.”

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings