R.E.M. to Release 2 ‘Unplugged’ Concerts for Record Store Day

It’s been two-and-a-half years since R.E.M. “called it a day as a band,” but the Georgia group isn’t done bestowing fans with gifts.

Michael Stipe on the End of R.E.M. as We Know It

The band will release Unplugged: The Complete 1991 And 2001 Sessions as part of Record Store Day on April 19th. The group is the only band to headline the popular MTV live performance show twice, and will release, alongside complete versions of both concerts, 11 unaired songs. The 4-LP set will initially be released on vinyl before being available on CD and digital outlets on May 20th.

The unaired tracks — five from the band’s 1991 set and six from their 2001 show — include tracks from 1998’s Up and 2001’s Reveal, as well as a more somber version of 1987’s “The One I Love.”

Last year, R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills told Rolling Stone that any sort of official reunion was unlikely. “We said we’re done and we’re done,” Mills said. “If we honestly thought there was a chance of a reunion tour, we might have said so at the time.”

In September 2011, the band wrote on their website, “As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.”

Last November saw the band partially reunite at guitarist Peter Buck’s solo show in Athens, GA, when drummer Bill Berry and Mills performed with Buck on the band’s 1984 track “(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville.” R.E.M.’s last album, Collapse Into Now, was released in 2011.

On Record Store Day, R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills will sign copies of the set at Bull Moose record store in Scarborough, Maine. Visit Record Store Day’s website for a list of participating outlets.

R.E.M. Unplugged Tracklisting 

1991 Unplugged

Side One

1.”Half A World Away”
2.”Disturbance at the Heron House”
3.”Radio Song”
4.”Low”

Side Two

1.”Perfect Circle”
2.”Fall on Me”
3.”Belong”
4.”Love Is All Around”

 Side Three

1.”Its The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”
2.”Losing My Religion”
3.”Pop Song 89″
4.”Endgame” 

Side Four

1.”Fretless”*
2.”Swan Swan H”*
3.”Rotary 11″*
4.”Get Up”*
5.”World Leader Pretend”*

2001 Unplugged

Side Five

1.”All The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)”
2.”Electrolite”
3.”At My Most Beautiful”
4.”Daysleeper”

Side Six

1.”So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)”
2.”Losing My Religion”
3.”Country Feedback”
4.”Cuyahoga”

Side Seven

1.”Imitation of Life”
2.”Find the River”
3.”The One I Love”*
4.”Disappear”*

Side Eight

1.”Beat a Drum”*
2.”I’ve Been High”*
3.”I’ll Take the Rain”*
4.”Sad Professor”*

* Not included in original television broadcast 

R.E.M. Unplugged (1991)

R.E.M. Unplugged (2001)