R.E.M. to reissue 'Radio Free Europe' in celebration of track's 40th anniversary

R.E.M. have announced the reissue of their 1981 debut single ‘Radio Free Europe’ to mark 40 years since the track’s initial release.

The 1983 version of the track is widely known among the band’s fans, but this reissue will allow fans to hear the original 1981 recording when it lands this July.

One of R.E.M.’s earliest songs, ‘Radio Free Europe’ was first recorded in the garage of influential producer Mitch Easter, who produced the bulk of the band’s formative catalogue.

For the first time since its initial release 40 years ago, R.E.M. are reissuing debut release “Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single).” Available to pre-order now, get “Radio Free Europe” on its original format, as an Athens-pressed 45 RPM 7" single: https://t.co/bhTPE5ZSqf pic.twitter.com/3hLcKpgwbo

— R.E.M. HQ (@remhq) May 18, 2021

In 1979, singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry were students at the University of Georgia, in the college town of Athens. Buck worked at Wuxtry Records, where Stipe often frequented. The two young men quickly bonded over their shared love of proto-punk bands like the Velvet Underground and Television. Roommates Mills and Berry, meanwhile, met in high school and had already played in several bands together in their hometown of Macon. The quartet later met through mutual friend, Kathleen O’Brien, and began casually playing music together.

On April 15, 1981, the band set up in Mitch Easter’s parents’ converted garage. The outfit recorded three songs: 'Sitting Still,' 'White Tornado,' and 'Radio Free Europe'. A copy of the tape eventually made its way to Jonny Hibbert, who owned the Atlanta-based indie label, Hib-Tone. Impressed, Hibbert offered to put out the band’s first single.

The track earned the band critical acclaim and an offer from I.R.S. Records. Under the new label, a more experienced R.E.M. re-recorded 'Radio Free Europe' with a slower tempo than its predecessor and slightly revised lyrics. The song was released as the band’s first official single with I.R.S., and appeared on their 1983 debut, Murmur.

Slated for release via Craft Recordings; the 'Radio Free Europe' reissue will be presented in its original format as a 45-RPM single, housed in a jacket featuring photography by Michael Stipe.

The single was also pressed in the band's hometown of Athens, Georgia at Kindercore Vinyl.

The ‘Cassette Set’ tape - also dropping on July 23 - will replicate the original packaging assembled by the band using photocopied cards and handwritten cassette labels by frontman Michael Stipe. This ultra-rare collection will be available exclusively via REMHQ.com as a bundle with the 7”, limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.

The official R.E.M. store will additionally be offering a custom, limited edition portable cassette player produced by Recording the Masters. The custom cassette players will be limited to just 500 worldwide.

‘Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single)’ tracklist:

Side A

‘Radio Free Europe’

Side B

‘Sitting Still’

‘Cassette Set (1981 demo tape)’ tracklist:

1. ‘Sitting Still (fast “Polka” version, snippet)’
2. ‘Sitting Still’
3. ‘Radio Free Europe’
4. ‘White Tornado’
5. ‘White Tornado (take 2, aborted)’

Photo credit: Chris Walter/WireImage