I know that most of REM's songs are first class but i want to know if there is going to be the very best of rem album released. I want classics like "great beyond","everybody hurts","losing my religion" and "nightswimming all rolled onto one because at the moment it is costing me a fortune and it is too complicated buying all those albums!!!Thanks

-- Anon (The_SAS_Man@btinternet.com), July 05, 2000

Answers

I don't think theres any plan to release a best of album at present. Certainly it would be hard to do, since IRS have the rights to half of rem's songs (everything before '87) whereas warner bros have the rights to everything since then, so it would be compicated legally to arrange. There is 'eponymous' and 'the best of rem' which cover the best of the irs stuff, but none of the songs you mention above would be included in that.

-- mark (MarkStephenBell@hotmail.com), July 06, 2000.

And it should satay that way! I think 'Best Of' and other compalitions albums are just a lazy and cheap way of getting money, and blatanly cheating the fans (probably a good reason why R.E.M. left I.R.S). You might as well just buy all the R.E.M. albums, as there is only usually one crap song on each, and the rest are endless classics.

-- Andy (HEREICOME@TOSAVETHEDAY.com), July 07, 2000.

There are usually no crap songs on each...or at least, i can't think of any...except maybe airportman

-- mark (MarkStephenBell@hotmail.com), July 08, 2000.

and old man Kensey

-- Jon Kinsey (eeg@btinternet.com), July 08, 2000.

THe albums are much better, just buy them slowly by that you can really listen to one before getting the next.. YOu should priotise too like get Document last....... and maybe something like fables or new ad first.

-- Amit B (amitb84@hotmail.com), July 08, 2000.

AIRPORT man is a great song.... my advise too those who don't respect it yet is too listen to it late night it sounds really mystical then, brilliant! Bit like star me kitten...

the only real bad song is hairshirt... haven't heard one person who likes that one a lot...

-- Amit B (amitb84@hotmail.com), July 08, 2000.

Hairshirt is one of my favourites !!!

-- Suzanne (clanlennie@zoom.co.uk), July 08, 2000.

Hairshirt is definitely among the bad REM songs. I think the only truly bad REM songs (from the major album releases) are Airportman & Hairshirt & The Wrong Child.

-- Eddie Yo (Mr_BRETT@angelfire.com), July 10, 2000.

and here i am liking all three of those songs.

-- jason (boxelder1932@aol.com), July 10, 2000.

They are all fantastic songs in their own way. If you are having trouble buying all their albums, check in collectors record shops. I bought nearly all of R.E.M.'s albums in the space of about 2 months when I first got into them for less than #30 which I guess is about $45.

-- Matt p (phelpsyboy@yahoo.co.uk), July 10, 2000.