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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 number four 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 number 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. 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.[1] The song is about Stipe's great friend, the actor and musician River Phoenix.

"E-Bow the Letter" was ranked number 21 on NME magazine's list of the "Singles of the Year".[2] In 2003, the song was placed on R.E.M.'s compilation In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003. Pitchfork Media founder and owner Ryan Schreiber described it on the website as "possibly one of the greatest songs ever written."[3]

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"[4] – 1:58

12" and CD Maxi single

  1. "E-Bow the Letter – 5:22
  2. "Tricycle"[4] – 1:58
  3. "Departure" (Rome soundcheck)[5] – 3:33
  4. "Wall of Death"[6] (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

Weekly charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 23
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 27
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 48
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 6
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[11] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 11
Invalid chart entered Germany2 65
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 32
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 6
Scotland (OCC)[16] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 49
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[19] 2
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[20] 15

Year-end charts

Chart (1996) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] 53
Canada Rock/Altenrative (RPM)[22] 30

See also

References

  1. ^ Monroe, Jazz (27 September 2018). "Listen to R.E.M. and Thom Yorke's Version of "E-Bow the Letter" | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 September 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ "End of Year Lists". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  3. ^ R.E.M.: New Adventures in Hi-Fi: Pitchfork Review
  4. ^ a b Recorded during soundcheck at the Riverport Amphitheater, St. Louis, Missouri; September 22, 1995.
  5. ^ Recorded during soundcheck at the Paleur, Rome, Italy; February 22, 1995.
  6. ^ Taken from the Richard Thompson tribute album, Beat the Retreat. Produced by John Keane.
  7. ^ "R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  8. ^ "R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  9. ^ "R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9921." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9925." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  12. ^ "R.E.M.: E-Bow the Letter" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – E-Bow the Letter". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  14. ^ "R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  15. ^ "R.E.M. – E-Bow the Letter". VG-lista. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  18. ^ "REM Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  19. ^ "REM Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  20. ^ "REM Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  21. ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
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