R.E.M. in the 1980s released six studio albums, a delightful collection of B-sides and covers, and a greatest hits LP. Each of the studio albums were more successful than their previous ones.
In the middle of that was 1986’s Lifes Rich Pageant, an attempt to bring the band out of the artsy darkness of mumbling lyrics and jangly guitars and into clarity and strength.
It worked.
From the first song, “Begin The Begin,” one hears the distinctive Peter Buck guitar and Michael Stipe vocal, but there’s feedback and heavier drums — not to mention that sweet Count Basie pun with the title. It’s new and improved R.E.M.
The band sure seemed eager to roll out all these new tunes for the audience of about 10,000 in Alabama on September, 5, 1986, because they played three encores and live debuted a heap of new tunes including a few that didn’t even make the album.
read more at: Setlist.fm