Superman (The Clique song)
| "Superman" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by R.E.M. | ||||
| from the album Lifes Rich Pageant | ||||
| B-side | "White Tornado" | |||
| Released | November 1986 (U.S.) March 1987 (Europe) |
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| Format | 7" Vinyl | |||
| Recorded | April - May 1986 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 2:54 | |||
| Label | I.R.S. Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler | |||
| Producer | Don Gehman | |||
| R.E.M. singles chronology | ||||
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"Superman" is a 1969 song by the Texas band The Clique, made more famous in 1986 when recorded by R.E.M.
It was written by Mitchell Bottler and producer/songwriter Gary Zekley and originally released as the b-side to The Clique's hit "Sugar on Sunday," itself a cover of a Tommy James and the Shondells song.
R.E.M. recorded it for their fourth album, Lifes Rich Pageant. It was released as a single and received a fair amount of radio play, but did not chart on the main U.S. singles chart, though it did reach #17 on Billboard magazine's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[1]
Contents |
[edit] R.E.M. version
Lead singer Michael Stipe was not as enthusiastic about recording the song as the other band members were, and as a result bassist Mike Mills debuted on lead vocals with Stipe providing background.
The B-side to the single, a surf rock instrumental entitled "White Tornado", was first recorded by the band in 1981. The version used on the single was recorded in January, 1984, during the Reckoning sessions, but remained unreleased until "Superman."
Gary Zekley joined R.E.M. on stage during a performance at Northern Illinois University in De Kalb, Illinois, on October 21, 1986.
The R.E.M. version was played during the "Tempus, Anyone?" episode (3x14) of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
The song appears in a CSI: NY episode.
[edit] 7": IRS / IRM 128 (UK)
All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
- "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) - 2:52
- "White Tornado" - 1:56
[edit] 12": IRS / IRT 128 (UK)
- "Superman" (Gary Zekley / Mitchell Bottler) – 2:52
- "White Tornado" – 1:56
- "Femme Fatale" (Lou Reed) – 2:50
[edit] 12": IRS / ILS 65025 5 6 (Holland)
- "Superman" (Gary Zekley/Mitchell Bottler) - 2:52
- "White Tornado" - 1:56
- "Perfect Circle" - 3:30
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 17 |
