R.E.M.: E-Bow the letter CD Collectors edition (UK & Europe) 1996. Check video with Patti Smith

Description

E-Bow The Letter is one of R.E.Ms finest songs of the 1990s, and the centrepiece of one of their most neglected and undervalued albums, New Adventures In Hi-Fi. Containing a terrific, guitar driven arrangement, and an unusual, but catchy melody, the song is essentially a showcase for Michael Stipes quick-fire, somewhat oblique lyric, although containing some wonderful moments (such as Dreaming of Maria Callas/Whoever she is). The songs success is driven from its unusualness the lyric and chord structure are certainly unconventional, and the plain weirdness of Stipes lyric. As such, it does not warrant literal explanation, but is nevertheless an enthralling listening experience.

“E-Bow the Letter” is the first single from R.E.M.s tenth studio album New Adventures in Hi-Fi. It was released in August 1996 just weeks before the albums release. During the same month, R.E.M. signed its then record-breaking five-album contract with Warner Bros. Records. Although it peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart, the highest any R.E.M. song charted in the UK until “The Great Beyond” in 2000, the song fared less well in the United States, reaching only #49 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became R.E.M.s lowest charting lead single since “Fall on Me” released from Lifes Rich Pageant in 1986, when the band was on a smaller record label, I.R.S. Records.

Patti Smith sings guest backing vocals on this song. The songs title refers to the EBow, an electromagnetic field-generating device that induces sustained vibration in an electric guitar string (creating a violin-like effect), and to a “letter never sent” by Michael Stipe. It is believed[by whom?] that the letter in question was written to actor River Phoenix expressing Stipes concern for his friends spiralling substance abuse with the letter never being sent due to Phoenix’s death. Guitarist Peter Buck can be seen using an EBow in the video for the song at approximately 1:27 to 1:30. R.E.M. has also played the song live with artists including Thom Yorke singing Patti Smiths vocal part.
“E-Bow the Letter” was ranked number 21 on NME magazines list of the “Singles of the Year”.

All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe, except where noted.
“E-Bow the Letter” 5:22
“Tricycle” 1:58
“Departure” (Rome soundcheck) 3:33
“Wall of Death” (Richard Thompson) 3:07

R.E.M.
Michael Stipe vocals
Mike Mills bass, organ, mellotron, moog synthesizer
Peter Buck guitar, electric sitar
Bill Berry drums, tambourine
Additional personnel
Patti Smith vocals on “E-Bow the Letter”

Chart (1996) Peak position:
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 23
Canadian RPM Singles Chart 6
Canadian RPM Alternative 30 1
Irish Singles Chart 8
Norwegian Singles Chart 6
UK Singles Chart 4
US Billboard Hot 100 49
US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales 39
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 2
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 15

———————————————————

Look up, what do you see?
All of you and all of me
Fluorescent and starry
Some of them, they surprise

The bus ride, I went to write this, 4:00 AM
This letter, fields of poppies, little pearls
All the boys and all the girls sweet-toothed
Each and every one a little scary, I said your name

I wore it like a badge of teenage film stars
Hash bars, cherry mash and tinfoil tiaras
Dreaming of Maria Callas, whoever she is
This fame thing, I don’t get it

I wrap my hand in plastic to try to look through it
Maybelline eyes and girl-as-boy moves
I can take you far
This star thing, I don’t get it

I’ll take you over, there, I’ll take you over, there
(Aluminum, tastes like fear, there)
(Adrenaline, it pulls us near)
I’ll take you over
(It tastes like fear, there)
I’ll take you over

Will you live to 83?
Will you ever welcome me?
Will you show me something
That nobody else has seen?

Smoke it, drink
Here comes the flood
Anything to thin the blood
These corrosives do their magic slowly and sweet

Phone, eat it, drink
Just another chink
Cuts and dents, they catch the light
Aluminum, the weakest link

I don’t want to disappoint you
I’m not here to anoint you
I would lick your feet
But is that the sickest move?

I wear my own crown and sadness and sorrow
And who’d have thought tomorrow
Could be so strange?
My loss here we go again

I’ll take you over, there, I’ll take you over, there
(Aluminum, tastes like fear, there)
(Adrenaline, it pulls us near)
I’ll take you over
(It tastes like fear, there)
I’ll take you over

Look up and what do you see?
All of you, all of me
And fluorescent and starry
And some of them, they surprise

And I can’t look it in the eyes
Seconal, Spanish fly, absinthe, kerosene
Cherry-flavored neck and collar

I can smell the sorrow on your breath
The sweat, the victory and sorrow
The smell of fear, I got it

I’ll take you over, there
(Aluminum, tastes like fear)
(Adrenaline, it pulls us near)
I’ll take you over, there
(Aluminum, tastes like fear)
(Adrenaline, it pulls us near)

I’ll take you over, there
(It tastes like fear)
(It pulls us near)
I’ll take you over
(I’ll take you over)

It tastes like fear
(It pulls us near)
Pulls us near
(Tastes like fear)
Tastes like fear
(Nearer, nearer)

Pulls us near
Over, over, over, over
(Nearer, nearer)
Over, over, over, over
Yeah, look over
(I’ll take you there)
(I’ll take you there)

Oh, over
(I’ll take you there)
Over, let me
(I’ll take you there)
(I’ll take you there)
There, there, there, baby, yeah

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R.E.M.   E-Bow The Letter
Label: Warner Bros. Records   W0369CDX, Warner Bros. Records   9362-43765-2
Format: CD, Maxi-Single
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 1996
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
Tracklist
1 E-Bow The Letter (Seattle Studio) 5:24
Producer, Mixed By Scott Litt
Vocals Patti Smith
2 Tricycle (St. Louis Soundcheck) 1:59
Mixed By, Steel Guitar John Keane
Producer Scott Litt
Recorded By Jo Ravitch, Joe O’Herlihy, Scott Litt
3 Departure (Rome Soundcheck) 3:35
Mixed By Scott Litt
Performer [Additional Musician] Nathan December, Scott McCaughey
Producer R.E.M., Scott Litt
Recorded By Jo Ravitch, Joe O’Herlihy, Scott Litt
4 Wall Of Death (Athens Studio) 3:07
Mixed By, Producer John Keane

Phonographic Copyright (p) R.E.M./Athens L.L.C.
Copyright (c) R.E.M./Athens L.L.C.

Written-By Berry* (tracks: 1 to 3), Stipe* (tracks: 1 to 3), Mills* (tracks: 1 to 3), Buck* (tracks: 1 to 3), Richard Thompson (tracks: 4)

Track 2 recorded in St. Louis, Missouri, on 22 September 1995.
Track 3 recorded in Rome, Italy, on 22 February 1995.
1996 R.E.M./Athens Ltd.
© 1996 R.E.M./Athens Ltd.
Collectors edition cd.
Barcode: 09362-43765-21
Matrix / Runout: 936243765-2