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E-Bow the Letter

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"E-Bow the Letter"
Song
B-side"Tricycle"

"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 album's 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.

The song features American singer-songwriter and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith performing backing vocals. Smith was cited as a major influence by band members Michael Stipe and Peter Buck and also provided backing vocals for "Blue" the closing track on the band's final studio album Collapse into Now.

History

The song's 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 Stipe's concern for his friend's spiraling 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 Smith's vocal part. During the music video, Michael Stipe can be seen scribbling something on a music sheet, revealing that Stipe is left-handed.

"E-Bow the Letter" was ranked number 21 on NME magazine's list of the "Singles of the Year".[1] In 2003, song was placed on R.E.M.'s compilation In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.

Track listing

All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe, except where noted.

7", Cassette and CD single

  1. "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:22
  2. "Tricycle"[2] – 1:58

12" and CD Maxi single

  1. "E-Bow the Letter" – 5:22
  2. "Tricycle"[2] – 1:58
  3. "Departure" (Rome soundcheck)[3] – 3:33
  4. "Wall of Death"[4] (Richard Thompson) – 3:07

Personnel

A photograph of Patti Smith looking to the side of the camera while performing onstage
Patti Smith—an influence on Peter Buck and Michael Stipe—provided backing vocals to the song.
R.E.M.
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[5] 23
Canadian RPM Singles Chart 6
Canadian RPM Alternative 30 1
Irish Singles Chart 8
Norwegian Singles Chart 6
UK Singles Chart[6] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 49
US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[7] 39
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[7] 2
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[7] 15

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "End of Year Lists". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  2. ^ a b Recorded during soundcheck at the Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, Missouri; September 22, 1995.
  3. ^ Recorded during soundcheck at the Paleur, Rome, Italy; February 22, 1995.
  4. ^ Taken from the Richard Thompson tribute album, Beat the Retreat. Produced by John Keane.
  5. ^ "Discography R.E.M." australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 22, 2015. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  6. ^ "UK chart". Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  7. ^ a b c d "New Adventures in Hi-Fi - R.E.M. - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
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