Complete Rarities: Warner Bros. 1988–2011
R.E.M. · 2014
509 min · 131 tracks · alternative rock · folk rock · jangle pop
A sprawling collection of R.E.M.'s eclectic and experimental outputs, blending live performances with rare studio gems.
Why this album works
This album matters as it provides fans with an exhaustive look at R.E.M.'s creative process and lesser-known tracks, including previously unreleased material. It reflects the band's influence on the alternative rock scene and serves as a testament to their enduring legacy, particularly in the wake of their breakup.
- Best for
- dynamic live performances throughout eclectic mix of rare tracks wave-like pacing and flow
- Context
- Released in 2014, 'Complete Rarities: Warner Bros. 1988–2011' arrived after R.E.M. disbanded in 2011, serving as a retrospective of their extensive catalog during their tenure with Warner Bros. This compilation showcases the band's evolution from college rock pioneers to alternative icons, encapsulating significant moments throughout their career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sonic Youth· Tori Amos· Frank Zappa· Beck· The Offspring· They Might Be Giants· Melvins· Nirvana
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Funtime 2:14
Disc 2
- 1 Ghost Rider 3:46
- 2 Dark Globe 1:52
Disc 3
- 1 Pop Song 89 (acoustic version) 2:57
Disc 4
- 1 Memphis Train Blues 1:40
- 2 Skin Tight (live Orlando, FL April 30, 1989) 2:04
Disc 5
- 1 Losing My Religion (acoustic) (live at KFOG) Standout 4:44
- 2 Losing My Religion (live in Dublin 2005) 4:53
- 3 Rotary Eleven 2:32
Disc 6
- 1 You Are the Everything (live - Greensboro Coliseum, NC 11/10/1989) 4:43
- 2 Love Is All Around (live) 3:13
Disc 7
- 1 Shiny Happy People (Dance to the Music mix) 4:44
- 2 Shiny Happy People (Pop mix) 4:04
- 3 Shiny Happy People (Hip mix) 3:36
Disc 8
- 1 It’s a Free World Baby 5:12
- 2 Winged Mammal Theme 2:55
- 3 First We Take Manhattan 6:03
Disc 9
- 1 Everybody Hurts (album fade) 4:58
- 2 Mandolin Strum 3:45
- 3 Orange Crush (live version) 4:00
Disc 10
- 1 Man on the Moon (album edit) 4:44
- 2 Arms of Love 3:32
Disc 11
- 1 World Leader Pretend (live Charleston WV 4/28/91) 5:16
- 2 Belong (live Charleston WV 4/28/91) 4:40
- 3 Low (live Charleston WV 4/28/91) 4:59
Disc 12
- 1 The Lion Sleeps Tonight 2:41
- 2 Fretless 4:50
Disc 13
- 1 Everybody Hurts (live 9/2/93-Los Angeles for the MTV Video Awards) Standout 5:34
- 2 Orange Crush (instrumental) 3:49
Disc 14
- 1 Fall on Me (live) 3:23
- 2 Me in Honey (live) 4:16
- 3 Finest Worksong (live) 4:11
Disc 15
- 1 Drive (live 1992) 4:17
- 2 Funtime (live 1992) 2:16
- 3 Radio Free Europe (live 1992) 4:43
Disc 16
- 1 What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? (live at SNL-11/12/94) 4:06
- 2 Bang and Blame (live at SNL-11/12/94) 4:54
- 3 I Don’t Sleep, I Dream (live at SNL-11/12/94) 3:50
Disc 17
- 1 What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? (radio version) 3:59
- 2 Monty Got a Raw Deal (live) 4:22
- 3 Everybody Hurts (live Athens, GA ’92) 5:42
- 4 Man on the Moon (live Athens, GA ’92) Standout 5:23
Disc 18
- 1 Bang and Blame (without between track noise) 4:52
- 2 Losing My Religion (live Athens 1992 applause faded) 4:43
- 3 Country Feedback (live Athens 1992 applause faded) 4:19
- 4 Begin the Begin (live Athens 1992) 3:48
Disc 19
- 1 Undertow (live) 5:05
- 2 Wichita Lineman (live) 3:18
- 3 New Test Leper (live acoustic) 5:29
Disc 20
- 1 Tricycle (instrumental) 1:58
- 2 Departure (live Rome soundcheck) 3:33
- 3 Wall of Death 3:08
Disc 21
- 1 The Wake-Up Bomb (live version; Atlanta) 5:08
- 2 Binky the Doormat (live version Atlanta) 5:02
- 3 King of Comedy (808 State remix) 5:37
Disc 22
- 1 Be Mine (Mike on Bus version) 4:54
- 2 Love Is All Around 3:02
- 3 Sponge 4:05
Disc 23
- 1 Emphysema 4:24
- 2 Sad Professor (live in studio version) 4:01
- 3 Why Not Smile (Oxford American version) 3:01
Disc 24
- 1 Surfing the Ganges 2:28
- 2 Suspicion (live in studio version) 5:39
- 3 Lotus (Weird mix) 4:34
Disc 25
- 1 Electrolite (live from Jools Holland) 3:58
- 2 Man on the Moon (live from Jools Holland) 5:15
- 3 Suspicion (live at Ealing Studios) 5:27
Disc 26
- 1 At My Most Beautiful (radio remix) 3:33
- 2 Passenger (recorded from “Later” with Jools Holland) 7:11
- 3 Country Feedback (recorded from “Later” with Jools Holland) 6:51
- 4 So. Central Rain (live from “Later”) 4:04
Disc 27
- 1 The Great Beyond 4:14
- 2 The One I Love (live from Glastonbury Festival) 3:10
- 3 Everybody Hurts (live from Glastonbury Festival) 6:21
- 4 Man on the Moon (live from Glastonbury Festival) 5:24
Disc 28
- 1 Yellow River 2:35
- 2 165 Hillcrest 1:35
- 3 Imitation of Life (live from Trafalgar Square) 3:54
Disc 29
- 1 Summer Turns to High (32 Chord Song demo) 3:10
- 2 I’ve Been High (live video version) (Channel V, Sydney) 3:17
Disc 30
- 1 The Lifting (original version) 5:20
- 2 Beat a Drum (Dalkey demo) 4:27
- 3 2JN 3:26
Disc 31
- 1 Favorite Writer 2:57
- 2 Out in the Country 3:23
- 3 Adagio (unused tune) 3:29
Disc 32
- 1 Turn You Inside Out 4:17
- 2 Chance (dub) 2:35
- 3 Drive (live version 1992) 4:00
- 4 Star Me Kitten 3:32
- 5 Revolution 3:05
- 6 Leave (alternate version) 4:42
- 7 The Lifting (demo) 5:20
- 8 The One I Love (live version MMM Sydney) 3:24
Disc 33
- 1 Maps & Legends (live rehearsal version) 3:18
- 2 Tongue (live rehearsal version) 3:52
- 3 Little America (live rehearsal version) 2:59
- 4 South Central Rain (live rehearsal version) 3:29
- 5 Imitation of Life (live rehearsal version) 3:51
Disc 34
- 1 So Fast, So Numb (live Athens rehearsal sessions, 2004) 3:52
- 2 All the Right Friends (live Athens rehearsal sessions, 2004) 2:50
Disc 35
- 1 Animal (new mix) 3:55
- 2 Pretty Persuasion (live NYC 2003) 4:02
- 3 Welcome to the Occupation (live NYC 2003) 2:46
Disc 36
- 1 You Are the Everything (live Raleigh, NC-Oct. 10, 2003) 3:31
- 2 These Days (live Toronto-Sept. 30, 2003) 3:27
- 3 (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville (live Oslo NRK P1 National Radio-Oct. 25, 2003) 4:36
Disc 37
- 1 Wanderlust (live-Santa Barbara, CA 2004) 3:04
Disc 38
- 1 Sweetness Follows (live recorded in Cincinnati-Oct. 27, 2004) 4:04
Disc 39
- 1 Horse to Water (live in Vancouver) 2:36
- 2 Indian Summer 5:01
Disc 40
- 1 Living Well Is the Best Revenge (live in London) 3:16
- 2 Auctioneer (live in London) 2:46
- 3 Hollow Man (live in London) 2:45
- 4 Supernatural Superserious (live in London) 3:23
- 5 Fall on Me (live in London) 2:49
- 6 West of the Fields (live in London) 3:14
- 7 Horse to Water (live in London) 2:18
- 8 Man-Sized Wreath (live in London) 2:36
- 9 Man on the Moon (live in London) 4:53
Disc 41
- 1 Mr. Richards (Vancouver) 3:54
- 2 Living Well Jesus Dog 4:21
Disc 42
- 1 Airliner 2:21
- 2 Redhead Walking 2:12
Disc 43
- 1 Houston (iTunes live from London) 2:19
Disc 44
- 1 Harborcoat (live at the Olympia original mastering) 4:13
- 2 Letter Never Sent (live at the Olympia) 3:17
- 3 Second Guessing (live at the Olympia) 2:55
- 4 Pretty Persuasion (live at the Olympia) 4:26
Disc 45
- 1 NOLA-4/26/10 2:53
- 2 That Someone Is You (live in the studio) 1:45
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.